JP2008151339A - Gear unit and housing for adjusting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gear unit for an adjusting system enabling a bearing element for a driving shaft to be positioned with a minimum play, and to provide a housing for the gear unit. <P>SOLUTION: The gear unit 1 for the adjusting system comprises the gear housing 8 having a cover body 10, the driving shaft 4 provided in the gear housing 8, and at least one bearing element 9 for supporting the driving shaft 4 in the gear housing 8 in the axial direction. The cover body 10 has at least one connection element 11 protruded inside the gear housing 8. The connection element 11 engages with the bearing element 9 to position the bearing element 9 in the axial direction when the cover body 10 is mounted on the gear housing 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The invention relates to a gear unit of an adjustment system and a housing of such a gear unit according to the preamble of claim 1.

  This type of gear unit is known from US Pat. No. 6,057,056 which describes a worm gear with less play in which the bearing collar of the drive worm is supported axially on both sides. In this case, a stopper surface that is elastically deformed as a part of the bearing shell is formed on one of both side surfaces of the bearing collar.

  A worm gear used for adjustment driving of an automobile is known from Patent Document 2 in which a worm shaft of a drive worm is attached in a radial direction to two spherical bearing caps supported by a gear housing. The spherical bearing cap is pushed into the corresponding storage opening of the gear housing by the housing cover.

German patent application DE 42 16 332 A1 German Patent Application Publication No. DE 38 15 356 A1

  The object of the present invention is to provide a gear unit of an adjustment system in which the bearing elements of the drive shaft can be positioned with as little play as possible. The present invention further provides a housing for such a gear unit.

  This object is achieved according to the invention by a gear unit with the configuration of claim 1 and a gear unit housing with the configuration of claim 13. Preferred refinements of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

  According to this, the present invention is based on the idea of positioning the bearing element in the axial direction using the connecting element, and this connecting element is provided in the cover body of the gear housing and is installed in the inner space of the gear housing. When projecting and the cover body is mounted, it engages the bearing element and consequently positions the bearing element in the axial direction. In this case, the bearing element is preferably supported elastically in the axial direction by the connecting element, so that it is basically mounted without play in the axial direction, i.e. without play.

  By positioning the bearing element in the axial direction without play, the drive shaft or a force transmission structure connected to the drive shaft, for example a drive worm, is also positioned without play in the axial direction. In that case, the bearing element is provided with, for example, a sliding surface facing in the axial direction for such a force transmission structure. Since the bearing element elastically supported in the axial direction is positioned accurately, it becomes an axial bearing of the drive shaft which is basically free of play. Any reaction force generated in the axial direction is absorbed by the gear housing via the coupling element and distributed in the gear housing.

  A further advantage of the present invention is that the gear unit components may be designed with a relatively large tolerance. The relatively large tolerances can be compensated for by the elastic support of the bearing elements. The elastic holding of the bearing element can also compensate for the thermal stress that occurs between the metal part and the plastic part of the gear unit.

  In one refinement of the invention, the connecting element has at least two locating fingers that protrude from the cover body and are preferably elastic structures with elasticity. These two positioning fingers are located, for example, on opposing surfaces of the bearing element, and each positioning finger is engaged to connect to its respective surface of the bearing element. This engagement may be made on a side edge or edge of the bearing element or in a recess provided for this purpose, such as a groove or notch on the bearing element.

  In a further refinement, the positioning fingers are tapered which become thinner as the distance from the cover body increases. Specifically, each positioning finger has a holding surface that presses against the recess of the bearing element, and the width of the holding surface decreases as the distance from the cover body increases. This makes it possible to fix the bearing element with the positioning fingers in the axial direction without play. This is because, due to the taper of the positioning finger, the play between the positioning finger and the corresponding recess of the bearing element decreases as the penetration depth of the positioning finger increases.

  In one form, the bearing element has means to prevent twisting of the bearing element in the gear housing. The means for preventing twisting comprises, for example, an axial groove formed in the bearing element.

  The gear unit manufacturing method includes a step of preparing a gear housing having a cover body provided with a connecting element protruding inside the gear housing, a step of preparing a drive shaft, and at least one for supporting the drive shaft in the axial direction. Preparing two bearing elements, installing the drive shaft in the gear housing before the cover body is fixed to the gear housing, fixing the cover body to the gear housing and engaging the connecting element with the bearing element And, in the process, a cover body fixing step to the gear housing for positioning the bearing element in the axial direction. When the cover body is fixed to the gear housing, the bearing element is supported by the coupling element, preferably axially.

  In the following, the invention will be described in detail using preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 shows a gear unit for an automobile adjustment system. The gear unit 1 has a drive motor 2 having a motor shaft 21 connected to the drive shaft 4 via a clutch device 3. The clutch device 3 is illustrated as a claw-shaped clutch as an example. However, another form may be used. It is also possible to extend the motor shaft 21 so that the motor shaft 21 directly forms the drive shaft 4 of the gear unit 1.

  A drive worm 41 is provided on the drive shaft 4. The drive shaft 4 and the drive worm 41 may be formed as a single part. A multi-part structure is possible as well, for example, a drive worm 41 is shrink-fitted onto the drive shaft 4. The drive worm 41 is engaged with a worm gear 5 connected to the output shaft 6 or a worm gear 5 having such a shaft. The output shaft 6 is connected to an output element (not shown), for example, a pinion or a cable drum. The drive worm 41 and the worm gear 5 form a worm gear mechanism.

  Furthermore, an electronic unit 7 is installed on the side of the drive motor 2. Specifically, the electronic unit 7 provides a control system for the drive motor 2 and a power source for the drive motor 2. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the drive motor 2, the clutch device 3, the drive shaft 4 with the drive worm 41, the worm gear 5 and the electronic unit 7 are installed in a common gear housing 8. It is likewise possible to store the electronic unit 7 and / or the drive motor 2 separately and not be surrounded by the housing 8.

  The bearing elements for the axial and / or radial bearings of the drive worm 41 are not shown in FIG. 1 and 2 show an exemplary embodiment of the improvement according to the invention, showing the positioning of at least one bearing element.

  FIG. 1 shows a gear unit 1. The gear unit 1 includes a gear housing 8 that houses a drive worm and a worm gear, and also supports a cover body 10 of the gear housing 8 and a drive shaft 4 and a drive worm 41 provided in the gear housing 8. 9 is also included. To make FIG. 1 easier to understand, the drive shaft, drive worm and worm gear are not shown in FIG. These are designed, for example, according to the configuration shown in FIG. In one refinement, the gear unit 1 may likewise comprise a drive motor and / or an electronic unit, as shown in FIG.

  Within the gear housing 8, the bearing element 9 is arranged in the region of the notch 81 of the gear housing 8. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, two positioning fingers 111 and 112 that are formed on the inner surface of the cover body 10 and project in the direction of the gear housing 8 enter the notch 81. In addition to the bearing element 9, further bearing elements, for example spherical caps (not shown), can also be provided in the bearing housing 82 of the gear housing 8 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the bearing element 9 has a center hole 91 for mounting the drive shaft of the gear unit, and an upper first circumferential groove 92 is formed in the circumferential direction as a recess. A lower second circumferential groove 93 is formed in the circumferential direction. The first circumferential groove 92 and the second circumferential groove 93 are formed on the bearing element 9 at positions opposite to each other in the radial direction. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bearing element 9 is formed as a bushing in the shape of a cylinder or a truncated cone. However, the bearing element 9 may be of different shapes, for example in the form of a spherical cap having a spherical or substantially spherical outer peripheral surface with a center line along the axial direction of the central hole 91.

  In the bearing element 9, an axial sliding surface 95 that contacts a drive worm provided in the gear housing 8 is formed on an end surface facing the gear housing 8. The bearing element 9 constitutes a radial bearing and an axial bearing for the drive worm. Thereby, the bearing element 9 protects the drive motor (not shown) from the reaction force in the axial direction. Specifically, the generated axial force is diffused into the gear housing 8 by the bearing element 9 via the first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112 and absorbed by the gear housing 8. By protecting the drive motor from axial forces, it is possible to use a cost-effective motor that does not need to be designed to have a large axial support force.

  The cover body 10 has a connecting element 11 on its inner surface, which connecting element 11 comprises two positioning fingers 111 and 112 in the exemplary embodiment shown. The first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112 are formed integrally with the bearing cover 10 and are integrated with the bearing cover 10. The first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112 protrude from the inner surface of the bearing cover 10 in a substantially vertical direction. The first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112 are preferably elongate elastic structures, so that the bearing element 9 can be held and positioned essentially without play.

  Further measures can be taken to accurately position the bearing element 9 without play using the elastic first positioning finger 111 and the elastic second positioning finger 112. For example, in a variation of the illustrated embodiment, the first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112 have an elongated shape that tapers gradually as the distance from the bearing cover 10 increases. As a result, the holding surface 111a of the first positioning finger 111 and the holding surface 112a of the second positioning finger 112 are gradually narrowed as the distance from the bearing cover 10 increases, that is, the holding surfaces 111a and 112a. The width of the bearing element 9 along the axial direction is reduced. The holding surfaces 111 a and 112 a are in pressure contact with the bottom surface and both side surfaces of the first circumferential groove 92 and the second circumferential groove 93 of the bearing element 9. Since the first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112 are elongated and tapered, the holding surface 111a of the first positioning finger 111 and the holding surface 112a of the second positioning finger 112 are in the first circumferential direction. When pushed into the groove 92 and the second circumferential groove 93 to some extent, from the side edge or side surface extending laterally as viewed from the axial direction of the first circumferential groove 92 and from the axial direction of the second circumferential groove 93. As a result, the bearing element 9 is fixed to the first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112 without play in the axial direction, and from the bearing cover 10. The distance is determined.

  In another embodiment, the bearing element 9, the first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112 are designed to engage each other in a latching manner. For example, the holding surface 111a of the first positioning finger 111, the holding surface 112a of the second positioning finger 112, the first circumferential groove 92 and the second circumferential groove 93 are circular in at least a partial region in the circumferential direction. Or other retaining structures are provided on the holding surfaces 111a and 112a and the circumferential grooves 92 and 93.

  In one modified embodiment, the assembly of the gear unit 1 is performed as follows. First, the bearing element 9 described above and a further bearing element, for example a spherical bearing cap (not shown), are arranged on the axially spaced sides of the drive worm (corresponding to the drive worm 41 in FIG. 3), In this process, it is arranged on the corresponding drive shaft 4. The drive shaft 4 is guided in the center hole 91 of the bearing element 9 and the center hole of the further bearing element, and as a result, the drive shaft 4 and the drive worm 41 are positioned in the radial direction.

  A further bearing element is provided in the housing 82 of the gear housing 8 and provides an axial bearing for the drive shaft and drive worm. The bearing element 9 according to the invention is positioned in the region of the notch 81 in the gear housing 8.

  When the bearing element 9 is introduced into the gear housing 8, the axial grooves 94 of the bearing element 9 engage with corresponding protrusions (not shown) formed on the gear housing 8, resulting in a bearing The element 9 is preliminarily arranged in the gear housing 8 in the desired orientation and so as not to be twisted, i.e. positioned in the rotational direction.

  Next, the cover body 10 having the first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112 is attached to the gear housing 8. For the first time in this process, the first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112 engage with the first circumferential groove 92 and the second circumferential groove 93 of the bearing element 9. The first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112 are formed in the cover body 10, and the bearing element 9 is elastically supported in the axial direction by mounting the cover body 10, and the axial direction of the bearing element 9 is The bearing element 9 is positioned axially such that the sliding surface 95 is pressed against the radially extending sliding surface of the drive worm adjacent thereto. In this case, first, the tapered tip of the first positioning finger 111 and the tapered tip of the second positioning finger 112 are engaged with the first circumferential groove 92 and the second circumferential groove 93. To do. As the cover body 10 is mounted, the first positioning finger 111 and the first circumferential groove 92, and the second positioning finger 112 and the second circumferential groove 93 are gradually and deeply engaged, The play between the first positioning finger 111 and the first circumferential groove 92 and the play between the second positioning finger 112 and the second circumferential groove 93 are reduced. And is supported in the axial direction. After the cover body 10 is completely mounted, the bearing element 9 is fixed without play by the first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112 and is simultaneously supported in the axial direction. Furthermore, the bearing element 9 abuts on the drive worm without play by the axial support by the first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112.

  Since the bearing element 9 is elastically supported in the axial direction, the drive worm and gear housing 8 may be designed, for example, with relatively large tolerances, which makes it more cost effective. It becomes possible to use a part having it. These component tolerances are compensated by the elastic support of the bearing element 9 by the first positioning finger 111 and the second positioning finger 112. Thermal stresses occurring between metal parts and plastic parts can also be compensated in this way. It is also possible to form the drive shaft or drive shaft and drive worm from metal and to form the bearing element 9 and the gear housing 8 from plastic.

  In a further exemplary embodiment, the two positioning fingers are axially spaced and engage a notch on the axially spaced bearing element or engage an end face of the bearing element. By further refinement, it is possible to position as described above even with further bearing elements and / or additional bearing elements.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a gear unit with a cover body having a gear housing, a bearing element and a connecting element in the form of two positioning fingers projecting into the gear housing. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the cover body, the positioning finger, and bearing element which were shown by FIG. It is the perspective view which showed the gear unit for motor vehicle adjustment systems with each component.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gear unit 2 Drive motor 21 Motor shaft 3 of a drive motor Clutch device 4 Drive shaft 41 Drive worm 5 Worm gear 6 Output shaft 7 integrated with worm gear 7 Electronic unit 8 Gear housing 81 Notch 82 for connecting element to enter Further bearing element Housing 9 for bearing element 91 Center hole 92 of bearing element First circumferential groove 93 Second circumferential groove 94 Axial groove 95 for preliminary arrangement Axial sliding surface 10 Cover body / bearing cover 11 Connection Element 111 Connecting element first positioning finger 111a Tapered holding surface 112 Connecting element second positioning finger 112a Tapered holding surface

Claims (18)

A gear housing (8) comprising a cover body (10);
A drive shaft (4) provided in the gear housing (8);
In a gear unit (1) of an adjustment system comprising at least one bearing element (9) for axial support of the drive shaft (4) in the gear housing (8),
The cover body (10) has at least one connecting element (11) protruding into the gear housing (8), and the connecting element (11) connects the cover body (10) to the gear housing (10). 8) A gear unit (1) of an adjustment system, characterized in that when mounted on 8), it engages with said bearing element (9) to position said bearing element (9) in the axial direction.   Control system gear according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling element (11) engages the bearing element (9) to elastically support the bearing element (9) in the axial direction. Unit (1).   Gear unit (1) of an adjustment system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coupling element (11) has at least two positioning fingers (111, 112) protruding from the cover body (10). .   Gear unit (1) of an adjustment system according to claim 3, characterized in that the positioning fingers (111, 112) are elastic structures.   5. A method according to claim 3, wherein each of the two positioning fingers (111, 112) located on opposite sides of the bearing element (9) is connected to each side of the bearing element (9). Gear unit (1) of the adjustment system, characterized in that it is engaged.   Gear of an adjustment system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the positioning fingers (111, 112) are tapered as the distance from the cover body (10) increases. Unit (1).   In Claim 6, each said positioning finger (111, 112) has a holding surface (111a, 112a) press-contacted to the recessed part (92, 93) of the said bearing element (9), The said holding surface (111a, 112a) The gear unit (1) of the adjustment system, characterized in that the width of the adjustment system decreases as the distance from the cover body (10) increases.   Adjustment system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing element (9) has at least one recess (92, 93) engaged with the coupling element (11). Gear unit (1).   9. The connecting element (11) according to claim 8, wherein the connecting element (11) has at least two positioning fingers (111, 112) protruding from the cover body (10), the bearing elements (9) being diametrically opposite one another. Two circumferential grooves (92, 93) positioned on the side and extending in the circumferential direction are provided as the recesses, and each of the positioning fingers (111, 112) is engaged with a corresponding circumferential groove. The gear unit (1) of the adjusting system.   10. The bearing element (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises means (94) for preventing twisting of the bearing element (9) in the gear housing (8). The gear unit (1) of the adjusting system.   Gear unit (1) of an adjustment system according to claim 10, characterized in that the means (94) for preventing twisting comprise an axial groove formed in the bearing element (9).   Gear unit (1) of an adjustment system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing element (9) is formed as a bushing or a spherical cap. In a housing for a gear unit (1) of an adjustment system, having a cover body (10) and housing a drive shaft (4) and a bearing element (9) for axial support of the drive shaft (4) ,
The cover body (10) has a coupling element (11), and when the cover body (10) is mounted, the coupling element (11) engages with the bearing element (9) to form the bearing. Housing for gear unit (1) of an adjustment system, characterized in that the element (9) is positioned axially.   Gear unit of an adjustment system according to claim 13, characterized in that the coupling element (11) engages the bearing element (9) to elastically support the bearing element (9) in the axial direction. 1) Housing for.   Gear unit (1) of an adjustment system according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the coupling element (11) has at least two positioning fingers (111, 112) protruding from the cover body (10). Housing.   Housing for gear unit (1) of an adjustment system according to claim 15, characterized in that the positioning fingers (111, 112) are elastic structures.   17. A gear unit (1) for an adjustment system according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the positioning fingers (111, 112) have a tapered shape that becomes thinner as the distance from the cover body (10) increases. housing.   18. The holding surface (111a, 112a) according to claim 17, wherein each positioning finger (111, 112) has a holding surface (111a, 112a) that presses against a recess (92, 93) of the bearing element (9). ), The housing for the gear unit (1) of the adjustment system, characterized in that the width decreases as the distance from the cover body (10) increases.

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