EP4010555B1 - Sliding door drive for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sliding door drive for a motor vehicle with a drive unit comprising at least one electric drive, a transmission connected downstream of the drive, wherein a winding drum arranged on an axis can be driven by means of the drive unit, a mechanical brake being provided for the drive unit, and wherein the brake can be manually disengaged from the drive unit.

More and more electrically operated sliding doors are being used in today's motor vehicles. This makes access to the motor vehicle easier and/or gives children, for example, the opportunity to operate large sliding doors to get in and out. Sliding doors are used in vans as well as in passenger cars. The use of electric DC motors to drive the sliding doors requires that sufficient power supply is available to operate the sliding door. In order to be able to move the sliding door and thus open and/or close it even in the event of a power failure or power outage, various approaches to solutions have become known.

From the DE 198 19 421 C2 A sliding door for a motor vehicle has become known, in which the sliding door is connected to a cable pull unit with a door arm and the cable pull unit has at least one cable pull and at least one winding drum for winding and unwinding the cable. The winding drum is driven by a reversing drive motor via an intermediate gearbox, with a rope strand connected to the door arm being wound up on the winding drum when the sliding door is closed and another rope strand connected to the support arm being unwound from the winding drum, and in addition the drive motor and the gearbox are arranged on the inside of the body and a cable guide is provided for the cable pull. To implement an emergency operation, the transmission has a drive shaft for the output shaft, which counteracts the spring action and maintains a rotary driver is axially displaceable relative to the output shaft. Furthermore, the drive shaft can be uncoupled or coupled from a coupling bushing surrounding it by means of axial displacement, an actuating lever being coupled and uncoupled in two defined end positions for the functional positions. After uncoupling, the drive motor is separated from the drive shaft so that the sliding door can be operated manually.

Another emergency operation is out of the box DE 296 13 848 A1 known. In another context, namely for the stroke adjustment of a sunroof in a motor vehicle, a motor transmission drive unit is known, in which the transmission has a drive shaft for the output shaft and the drive shaft is mounted axially displaceable relative to the output shaft against spring action and while maintaining a rotational drive. The output shaft can also be decoupled or coupled from a coupling bushing surrounding it by means of axial displacement, the coupling bushing being connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a drive gear driven by the drive motor.

In addition, you know from the DE 38 27 359 A1 a swing-out external sliding door for a motor vehicle, in which the door leaf is guided via a roller carriage along a guide rail arranged on the outer wall of the vehicle. An endless round cable is used to drive the roller carriage and thus the door leaf, one drum of which runs within the guide rail and is guided around a deflection roller in the area of the door opening, while the other drum runs directly behind the guide rail to the end of the guide rail. The round cable is connected to the roller carriage so that when the round cable is driven appropriately by the drive roller, the roller carriage can be moved back and forth into the guide rail to open and close the door leaf. The drive roller is connected to the drive motor via a controllable clutch, which allows the sliding door to be opened by hand in an emergency.

Finally, a sliding door with an electric drive is known, in which an endless cable is also provided, which is used to open and close the Sliding door is guided in opposite directions around a corresponding circulation path. The drive is designed in such a way that in the idle state there is no connection between the drive motor or gear and the cable drum through which the cable is driven. Only when the electric motor drive is set in motion is a positive connection established (compare US 5,737,875 A ).

The US 2002/088180 A1 , EP 1 676 972 A2 , US 6,125,586 A or CA 2 085 718 A1 disclose sliding door drives according to the preamble of claim 1.

The known state of the art shows possible solutions for emergency operation of a sliding door, but overall there is room for improvement. In particular, the means for emergency operation are tied to complex design solutions or require a lot of space due to their drives. This is where the invention comes into play. The object of the invention is to provide an improved emergency actuation for a sliding door drive in a motor vehicle. In particular, it is the object of the invention to provide an emergency actuation that requires little space and can be easily integrated into existing systems. Furthermore, it is the object of the invention to provide a structurally simple and cost-effective solution for emergency operation of a sliding door drive in a motor vehicle.

The problem is solved by the features of independent patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. It should be noted that the exemplary embodiments described below are not restrictive.

According to claim 1, the object of the invention is achieved in that a sliding door drive for a motor vehicle is provided with a drive unit, comprising at least one electric drive, a gearbox connected downstream of the drive, wherein a winding drum arranged on an axle can be driven by means of the drive unit, wherein a mechanical brake is provided for the drive unit, wherein the brake can be manually disengaged from the drive unit, the brake being drivable by means of a gear, in particular a worm gear, the means for manually actuating the brake being designed as part of the gear of the brake drive , and wherein the means for manual operation extends through a housing cover.

The design of the sliding door drive according to the invention now makes it possible to use an existing brake directly for emergency operation. If the mechanical brake of the drive unit is connected to the drive unit so that a braking effect and thus holding the sliding door is possible, it is possible to manually release the brake from engagement with the drive unit and thus release the sliding door. The released sliding door can then be closed or opened manually.

A direct current motor is preferably used as the electric drive, which in turn is advantageous because the corresponding power supply is available in the motor vehicle. The electric drive interacts with a gear, preferably a worm gear, so that sufficient actuating force is available to drive the sliding door. The sliding door drive preferably works with pull ropes which are arranged on a winding drum and by means of which the sliding door can be actuated in an opening direction and a closing direction. The transmission connected downstream of the drive interacts with the winding drum, and it is also conceivable that at least one gear of the transmission can be formed in one piece with the winding drum, so that a safe transmission of the torque from the electric drive to the winding drum can be guaranteed at any time . Of course, it is also conceivable that two different winding drums are used, with, for example, a first winding drum being used to open the sliding door and a further winding drum to close the sliding door. The mechanical brake acts on the drive unit and is able to brake the drive unit and/or hold it in a position.

In a preferred embodiment, the brake comprises a brake lever. The brake lever of the brake is able to act on the drive unit and directly on movable parts of the drive unit. The use of a brake lever is advantageous in that it can be adjusted using a lever and thus sufficient braking forces can be introduced into the drive unit. Sliding doors can require different holding forces in the brake depending on their size and the opening in the motor vehicle that needs to be closed. By using a brake lever, the sliding door drive can be adapted to the different requirements in the motor vehicles, so that a sufficiently large braking torque can be introduced into the drive unit through the storage and the point of engagement of the brake lever in the drive unit.

The brake is preferably electrically actuable, which results in an alternative embodiment of the brake. The mechanical brake can be driven by an electric motor, with the brake lever preferably being driven by the electric motor. The brake lever is preferably driven by means of a gear, in particular a worm gear, which, on the one hand, results in easy and quick control of the brake lever and, on the other hand, the brake lever can introduce sufficient braking force into the drive unit. Of course, it is also conceivable to use a different type of toothing, so that, for example, a spur gear or a spindle drive is used to operate the brake lever. The type of gear is therefore a means of setting a corresponding braking force, influencing the actuation speed of the brake lever and adapting it to the mounting space available for the sliding door drive. In any case, it is advantageous according to the invention to drive the brake by means of a transmission in order to be able to adapt and adjust the aforementioned advantages individually to the requirements in the motor vehicle.

It can also be advantageous and represent a further embodiment variant of the invention if the brake lever can be brought into direct engagement with the transmission. Through the direct engagement of the brake lever in the transmission, a brake with a small space requirement can be provided because the brake is reduced to a minimal number of components. In particular, the brake lever can be pivotally mounted in a housing of the sliding door drive, with an axial end of the brake lever forming a bearing point of the brake lever, whereas an axial end opposite the bearing point forms a bearing point with the gear is engaged. The engagement surface of the brake lever and thus the braking contour of the brake lever can then act accordingly on the transmission of the drive unit downstream of the drive.

The drive unit has an electric drive and in particular an electric motor, wherein the electric motor enables the sliding door to be driven by means of the downstream transmission. Preferably, a worm or a gear is arranged on the output shaft of the motor of the sliding door drive, the worm or, for example, the spur-toothed gear interacting. The brake lever can be brought into direct engagement with the transmission and preferably with the driven worm wheel. This means that favorable lever ratios in the brake lever can be combined with a favorable engagement surface in the gearbox to ensure safe braking and holding of the sliding door. In particular, high holding forces can be combined by a favorable selection of the lever ratio on the brake lever with, for example, large diameters of the driven worm wheel in order to be able to brake and hold even large sliding doors with high weights. Likewise, with small sliding doors and low braking and holding forces, favorable lever ratios and engagement surfaces can be achieved in the braking and holding system of the sliding door drive.

According to the invention, the means for manually actuating the brake is designed as part of the transmission of the brake drive. If the means for manual actuation is directly part of the brake itself, an emergency actuation for the sliding door drive can be provided with minimal design means. Advantageously, the means for manual actuation is directly part of the transmission of the drive, wherein the transmission can be actuated by means of the means for manual actuation and thus the brake and preferably the brake lever can be brought out of engagement with the sliding door drive. Advantageously, the means for manual actuation can be a drive wheel and preferably a drive pulley, which in turn results in a variant embodiment of the invention. The training The means for actuation as a drive wheel makes it possible to introduce sufficient force into the drive of the brake or into the transmission of the drive of the brake, with a diameter of the drive disk being selectable in such a way that the diameter corresponds to the force necessary to adjust the brake is customizable. This means that smaller diameters can be selected for low forces in the brake than is necessary for high forces in the brake. In any case, the intervention of the manual means for actuation provides an opportunity to intervene in the sliding door drive, and in particular to intervene in an area that makes it possible to influence the sliding door drive with the least possible means. Here, the actuation chain of the sliding door drive is not directly intervened, but rather the braking system of the sliding door drive is intervened, whereby the intervention in the brake gearbox in turn intervenes in an area that can be accessed manually with low forces by the separate drive for the brake can be adjusted, since only the brake has to be released from engagement with the drive, so that the holding brake can be released with low forces, since only a secondary part of the sliding door drive, that is, not the primary drive chain of the sliding door drive, is intervened .

According to the invention, the means for actuation extends through a housing cover. If a drive pulley is arranged on the brake, the drive pulley can extend through the cover of the sliding door drive or the housing shell, whereby the operator is able to reach the brake or the brake release agent directly. The drive wheel or the drive disk is rotatably accommodated in the housing or forms part of the drive of the brake. Advantageously and in a further embodiment variant, the means for actuation has a surface structure, in particular a knurled structure. If the surface or an outer edge of the drive pulley is provided with a profile, easy and safe actuation of the drive pulley can be made possible. A knurled structure is preferably introduced into the surface, with knurled structures proving to be a safe means of engagement for manual operation have and are often used. The knurled structure may be attached to an annular outer surface of the drive pulley, but is preferably attached in the area that is manually accessible to the operator.

The means for actuation is preferably arranged on a drive wheel of the brake drive. The drive wheel of the brake drive is preferably a worm wheel of the brake motor. This means that the actuation chain of the brake lever can be directly influenced. The worm arranged on the output shaft of the brake motor preferably engages directly in a toothing of the brake lever. Thus, the brake lever can be actuated in accordance with the brake motor by means of the drive disk or the drive wheel for manual actuation. For this purpose, in the event of a power failure in which the brake motor cannot be released electrically, the drive wheel or drive pulley is rotated, as a result of which the worm in engagement with the brake lever is rotated and the brake can be released from the engagement of the sliding door drive.

Advantageously, the means for actuation can be designed in one piece with the drive wheel of the brake drive. A one-piece design of the drive wheel or the drive pulley with, for example, a worm of a worm drive can reduce the number of parts required to achieve emergency operation to a minimum, since only an expanded design of the worm, for example, is required. Advantageously, however, a multi-part design of, for example, the screw and drive pulley can also take place. It is advantageous if the means for actuation is positively, non-positively and/or materially connected to the drive wheel of the brake. The drive wheel or the drive disk can, for example, also be plugged onto the drive shaft of the brake motor and engage in a form-fitting manner in, for example, a worm. Depending on the requirements of the brake, a combined connection of the drive pulley with the worm wheel, for example, can take place. In any case, the training according to the invention allows manual loosening The brake provides a structurally favorable emergency actuation for a sliding door drive that requires minimal space.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings using a preferred exemplary embodiment. However, the principle applies that the exemplary embodiment does not limit the invention, but rather merely represents an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

• Figur 1 eine Teilansicht auf einen Schiebetürantrieb im Bereich einer Anbindung eines Antriebsseils und in einer Ansicht auf den Gehäusedeckel im Bereich der Bremse, mit einer manuell zugänglichen Rändelscheibe; und
• Figur 2 die Ansicht auf den Schiebetürantrieb gemäß der Figur 1, wobei der Gehäusedeckel nicht dargestellt ist, so dass die Ansicht auf die Antriebseinheit und die manuelle Betätigung der mechanischen Bremse für die Antriebseinheit erkennbar ist.

It shows:

• Figure 1 a partial view of a sliding door drive in the area of a connection to a drive cable and a view of the housing cover in the area of the brake, with a manually accessible knurled disk; and
• Figure 2 the view of the sliding door drive according to the Figure 1 , whereby the housing cover is not shown, so that the view of the drive unit and the manual actuation of the mechanical brake for the drive unit can be seen.

In the Figure 1 a sliding door drive 1 is shown in a plan view of a housing in the area of a drive for a mechanical brake 3 and a guide 4 for a drive cable 5. The Figure 1 shows the view of a housing cover 6, with a knurled disk protruding through the housing cover 6, so that the knurled disk 7 can be gripped and operated manually. In this exemplary embodiment, the knurled disk is shown as a cylindrical flat disk which protrudes through an opening 8 in the housing cover 6. The knurled disk 7 has a profiled surface, so that easy actuation and in particular turning of the knurled disk is possible. In addition to the opening 8 for the knurled disk 7, the housing cover 6 has recesses 9, 10, 11, which are used to hold or guide the electric drive 12, the worm wheel 13 and the drive cable 5. By means of a mounting opening 14, which is formed on the housing 2, the sliding door drive 1 can be attached, for example, to a body of a motor vehicle. In this exemplary embodiment, screws 15, 16 and clip connections 17, 18 can also be seen, by means of which the housing cover 6 can be connected to the housing 2.

In the Figure 2 is now the partial area of the sliding door drive 1 according to Figure 1 shown in a view of the sliding door drive 1 without the housing cover 6. The electric drive 12 can be seen, on the output axle of which a worm 20 is mounted, the worm 20 engaging in a toothing of a brake lever 21 and interacting with the brake lever 21. In this exemplary embodiment, the knurled disk 7 is formed in one piece with the worm 20 of the mechanical brake 3. The brake lever 21 can be moved in the direction of arrow P1 by means of the electric drive 12 and the worm 20. The brake lever 21 can be brought into engagement with the drive of the worm wheel 13 and/or the downstream gear 13, so that braking of the sliding door drive is possible. Depending on the design of the sliding door drive 1, a braking effect can be achieved by means of the brake lever 21 in the direction of the worm wheel 13 or in an opposite direction. Mechanical braking of the sliding door drive is preferably made possible by means of the brake lever 21 and in an end position of the brake lever 21.

If there is a power drop or failure in the case in which the brake lever 21 is mechanically in braking engagement with the sliding door drive 1, the brake lever 21 can be adjusted manually using the knurled disk 7. Preferably, an operator can move the worm 20 by grasping the knurled disk 7 and turning the knurled disk 7 and thus move the brake lever 21 out of the braking engagement with the sliding door drive. After releasing the brake lever 21, the sliding door can then be moved manually, so that the sliding door can be opened or closed if, for example, there is a power failure in the motor vehicle.

In the Figure 2 the worm wheel 13 is also shown as part of the gear 13, with in this exemplary embodiment a winding drum 22 being formed in one piece with the worm wheel 13, the drive cable 5 being able to be wound onto the winding drum. The drive cable 5 is part of a Bowden cable, with the Bowden cable 23 being guided and/or held in the housing 2 and housing cover 6 by means of a spiral spring 24.

In this exemplary embodiment, the engagement between the brake lever 21 and the worm 20 is designed as a worm drive, but it is also conceivable to use an evoloid toothing or spur gearing as a drive for the brake lever 21. The selection of gearing is not limited and can be adapted depending on the application, for example to different forces and paths. It is also conceivable that the knurled disk 7 can be designed as a separate component, with the knurled disk 7 being able to be connected to the screw 20 in a force-fitting, positive and/or material-locking manner. Also shown is a positioning of the knurled disk 7 at an axial end 25 of the motor axis 19, but it is also conceivable to arrange the knurled disk 7 directly in the area of the housing of the electric drive 12 of the brake 3. It is also conceivable that a toothing and thus a translation is arranged between the knurled disk 7 and the worm 20 itself, so that, for example, easy movement of the brake lever 21 is possible.

Reference symbol list

1

Sliding door drive

2

Housing

3

mechanical brake

4

guide

5

drive rope

6

Housing cover

7

Knurled wheel

8th

opening

9, 10, 11

deepening

12

electric drive of the brake

13

Worm wheel, gearbox

14

Assembly opening

15, 16

screws

17, 18

Clip connection

19

axis

20

Snail

21

Brake lever

22

winding drum

23

Bowden cable

24

coil spring

25

axial end

P1

Arrow

Claims (9)

1. Sliding door drive (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising an electric drive having a drive unit and a transmission (13) connected downstream of the drive, it being possible for a winding drum arranged on an axle to be driven by means of the drive unit, a mechanical brake (3) being provided for the drive unit, and it being possible for the brake (3) to be manually disengaged from the drive unit, characterized in that
   the brake (3) can be driven by means of a transmission, in particular a worm gear, the means for manual actuation (7) of the brake (3) being designed as part of the transmission of the drive of the brake (3), the means for manual actuation (7) extending through a housing cover (6).
2. Sliding door drive (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the brake (3) comprises an actuating lever (21).
3. Sliding door drive according to either claim 1 or claim 2,
   characterized sin that the brake (3) can be actuated electrically.
4. Sliding door drive (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the brake lever (21) can be brought into engagement directly with the transmission (13) downstream of the drive.
5. Sliding door drive (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for manual actuation (7) is a drive wheel (7), in particular a drive disk (7).
6. Sliding door drive according to claim 5, characterized in that the actuation means (7) has a surface structure, in particular a knurled structure.
7. Sliding door drive according to either claim 5 or claim 6,
   characterized in that the actuation means (7) is arranged on a drive wheel (20) of the drive of the brake.
8. Sliding door drive (1) according to any of claims 5 to 7,
   characterized in that the actuation means (7) is integrally formed with the drive wheel (20) of the drive of the brake.
9. Sliding door drive (1) according to any of claims 5 to 8,
   characterized in that the actuation means (7) is connected to the drive wheel (20) of the brake in a form-fitting, force-fitting and/or integrally bonded manner.

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