RU2575324C2 - Adjusting gear for, in particular, vehicle seat lengthwise adjustment - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: motor car construction.

SUBSTANCE: claimed adjusting fear comprises the body (30) locked at the first part (10) displacing relative to the second part (12). Said gear is arranged inside the body. Lead screw (40) extends from said body (30) to be engaged by the nut (50) with said second part (12). Gear body (30) is made of plastic with multiple bent metal insert (60) embedded therein. Two walls (60b, 70b) of one or several metal inserts (60, 70) are directed perpendicular to the lead screw axis (A) and partially cover said lead screw (40).

EFFECT: sufficient thrust at the impact without extra thrust disc.

15 cl, 4 dwg

Description

The invention relates to a regulating mechanism, in particular for longitudinal adjustment of a car seat, in accordance with the features of the restrictive part of claim 1 of the claims.

Such a control mechanism is known, for example, from DE 3640197 A1. There, for applying force to the car seat, an engine is provided, which is fixed on the lower supporting part of the vehicle body. The motor drives the drive unit of the adjustable seat. This drive device has a mechanism housing that is fixedly mounted on the lower supporting part, as well as a lead screw that is connected to this drive device. By means of a nut element, the lead screw is engaged with the upper support part, so that the upper support part is movable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the lower support part. The rotation of the lead screw displaces the nut element along the lead screw, as a result of which the upper support part and the seat connected to it can move forward and backward relative to the lower support part. At the same time, the mechanism case consists entirely of metal, and the end of the lead screw on which the lead nut is mounted is placed in it. This travel nut is connected to a drive worm, which is driven by the engine through a proper engine shaft.

A similar control mechanism is shown in FR 2749053. A spindle protruding from the mechanism body is also described there. The lead screw extends from the mechanism housing, which is fixed on the upper guide of the vehicle seat adjustment device.

The lead screw penetrates the nut element, which is fixedly fixed on the lower chassis of the car. When the spindle rotates, the upper guide moves relative to the lower guide fixed on the panel of the chassis base of the car, depending on the direction of rotation of the spindle, forward or backward.

In the event of a car impact, high forces arise that can carry the car seat out of the guide device, which, of course, means a high safety risk. This security risk should be minimized. Therefore, FR 2749053 provides special shock protection. This shock protection consists essentially of a metal support disk, which is located between the mechanism body and the nut element. This supporting disk is mounted near the case of the mechanism on the spindle and at the same time extends into the hole of the upper guide rail with its external dimensions. The dimensions of the hole of the upper guide rail of the seat are selected so that the support disk during normal operation can freely rotate in this hole. For this, the hole provided on the axis of the screw in the upper guide is slightly larger than the width of the support disk. In the event of an impact, that is, when axial forces act on the seat, this support disk can abut against the upper guide, which contributes to effective protection against impact.

Problematic is the relatively complex design of this regulatory mechanism. The upper guide should be provided with a separate hole in which the support disk can be inserted in the form of a separate structural element, which should be welded to the lead screw. It is also problematic that the guide device has an asymmetric design.

The present invention is based on the task of providing a regulating mechanism, in particular for longitudinal adjustment of a car seat, which allows efficient support upon impact and does not need a separate support disk.

This problem is solved using a regulatory mechanism with the characteristics of paragraph 1 of the claims.

The invention is based essentially on the fact that the necessary support upon impact is carried out by means of a mechanism body made in a special way. The case of the mechanism consists of plastic, in which at least one metal embedded part is integrated, transmitting the lead screw forces arising from a frontal or rear impact to the upper seat guide, and thus providing the possibility of a sufficient power circuit between the upper and lower guide of the seat.

For this, the regulating mechanism has a mechanism body, which is fixed on the first part, for example, the upper guide mechanism of the longitudinal adjustment of the seat. This first part has mobility with respect to the second part, for example, the lower guide rail of the vehicle longitudinal adjustment device. A mechanism is located inside the mechanism case, a lead screw being issued from the mechanism case, and this lead screw being engaged with the second part by means of a nut element. The case of the mechanism in accordance with the invention consists of plastic. However, unlike traditional plastic cases, at least one repeatedly bent metal embedded part is embedded in the plastic, i.e. metal cage. At the same time, at least one wall of the metal embedded part is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the screw, and this wall at least partially covers the screw on the side of the mechanism housing, which is aligned with the nut, preferably U-shaped.

To increase the impact strength in one of the improvements of the invention, two or more walls of a metal embedded part or several metal embedded parts can also be oriented directly perpendicular to the axis of the screw screw and at least partially cover the screw screw on the side of the mechanism housing that is compatible with the nut element . In this case, as if a package of metal plates covers the lead screw and in case of impact perceives axial forces.

In one of the improvements, these two or more adjacent walls can be bent from the solid metal half of the housing or formed by two inserted into each other, separate metal embedded parts.

Preferably, the mechanism housing is configured such that all support locations of the mechanism housing along the entire perimeter are made of plastic or, respectively, are surrounded by plastic. Thus, in accordance with the invention, it is not required to provide any separate support sleeves as additional structural elements. This improves the tolerance chain.

In addition, it is possible that also on the side of the mechanism body facing away from the nut element, walls of metal embedded parts are provided, which are also perpendicular to the axis of the screw.

In addition, in the framework of the invention, at least one metal embedded part is integrally molded wall, which serves as a mounting tab of the mechanism housing. By means of this mounting plate, the mechanism housing can, for example, be connected to the upper guide of the seat adjustment device, for example, screwed on.

It turned out that the indicated and at least one metal embedded part made in the form of a part obtained by being flexible in a die or a part obtained by deep drawing is expedient and easy to manufacture.

In one of the improvements of the regulating mechanism, it is provided that a tubular flange is formed on the plastic case for input of the drive shaft.

In addition, in order to increase the strength of a metal cage embedded or poured into a plastic casing, using several bent metal embedded parts to form this metal cage, these parts can be welded together.

Although, in principle, the control mechanism may be equipped with a fixed or rotary lead screw, the concept of a control mechanism provided with a rotary lead screw is preferred in the present case. In addition, it is also, in principle, possible that instead of the lead screw a gear rack is used, which is meshed with the parts of the mechanism located in the mechanism body.

In accordance with the invention, the plastic of the mechanism housing is adapted in color to the first part, i.e. the upper guide, or the second part, i.e. the lower guide, or a device connected to these two parts, for example, a seat cushion in the seat system, or a seat guide lining, or a vehicle mat. Compared to commonly used metal cases (zinc, aluminum or steel), for which color-matching should be applied in a labor-intensive manner, when individually painting plastic, the mechanism case can be optimally adapted to the surrounding background.

The invention and its advantages are explained in more detail below with examples of implementation. Shown:

FIG. 1: a regulating mechanism for longitudinally adjusting a car seat, including a mechanism body, a threaded spindle, a nut element, as well as a designated upper guide and a lower guide;

FIG. 2: the regulating mechanism of FIG. 1 is fragmented in the region of the mechanism body, which includes two parts of the body and two metal embedded parts in a perspective view obliquely in front;

FIG. 3: control mechanism of FIG. 2 in a perspective view obliquely from the back, including metal embedded parts already embedded in two parts of the housing, and

FIG. 4: sectional view of the control mechanism of FIG. 3 along a section plane extending vertically through the mechanism body and intersecting the axis of the lead screw.

In the figures below, the same reference signs mean the same parts with the same meaning.

In FIG. 1 as an example, a longitudinal adjustment device of a car seat is schematically shown. The seat 5 is mounted in the seat stand, which is fixedly connected to the first part 10, in this case, the upper guide. This first part 10 can move relative to the second part 12, here the lower guide. The second part 12, for example, is fixedly connected to the bottom of the chassis of the car, and this second part is screwed to the bottom of the chassis of the car.

The relative longitudinal movement of the first part 10 and the second part 12 is achieved using the regulatory (permutation) mechanism. For this, the regulating mechanism has a mechanism body 30 in which the mechanism is mounted. This mechanism includes, for example, a drive worm engaged with an engine not shown, which is engaged with a running nut. In this case, the spindle nut is rotatably mounted on the spindle screw 40, which preferably protrudes from the mechanism body 30 on one side. In this case, the mechanism body 30 by means of a mounting bracket 22, and the other end of the lead screw 40 by means of an additional fixing tab 20 is fixedly connected to the first part 10, for example, screwed through the mounting holes 21, 23. The other end of the lead screw 40 is rotatably mounted in the mounting tab twenty.

A sleeve or nut element 50 is mounted on the lead screw 40, which, in turn, is fixedly connected to the second part 12, that is, the lower guide. This nut element 50 includes a substantially nut block 51 having an internal thread in which the lead screw 40 can rotate. This nut block 51 is held by a U-shaped bracket 52, through which the lead screw 40 protrudes through both U-shaped flanges. legs 53 with holes 54, this U-shaped bracket 52 is screwed to the second part 12, that is, the lower guide.

When the drive worm of the mechanism is driven by a motor not shown, the lead screw 40 also rotates. The rotation of the lead screw 40 leads to the fact that, depending on the direction of rotation of the lead screw 40, the upper part and together with it the upper guide along with the seat 5 on it in the image of FIG. 1 moves to the right, while the seat 5 is back, or the upper part 10 to the left, while the seat 5 is forward.

Particularly reliable upon impact (collision, accident), an embodiment of the mechanism housing 30 is contained in the following Figures 2-4.

In FIG. 2 shows the control mechanism of FIG. 1 is fragmented in the region of the body 30 of the mechanism in perspective view obliquely from above. The housing 30 of the mechanism consists of two parts 80, 90 of the housing. In each of these parts 80, 90 of the housing there is a metal embedded part 60, 70. The metal embedded parts 60, 70 are preferably made in the form of parts obtained by flexible in a stamp, or parts obtained by shaped casting, and either embedded in parts 80, 90 enclosures, or they are filled in appropriately. Both parts 80, 90 of the casing with metal embedded parts 60, 70 located therein cover the end of the lead screw 40 on which the lead nut 42 is mounted, and also, for example, preferably has a disk-shaped end plate 41. The lead nut 42 is engaged with the drive screw 44 which is provided on one side or in a preferred manner at both ends with a hole 45 for inserting a drive shaft. These two parts 80, 90 of the casing with metal embedded parts 60, 70 also cover the drive screw 44. Preferably, the two parts 80, 90 of the casing after mounting are properly fastened to each other, for example, ultrasonically welded to each other, glued, connected hot stamping, laser welded, riveted or twisted. Depicted in FIG. 2, the lower part of the housing 90 also has a tubular flange 92, through which the unimaged drive shaft can engage with the hole 45 of the driving worm 44.

Two metal embedded parts 60, 70 to increase the impact strength of the housing 30 of the mechanism are made in a special way. Namely, to one of their walls, they at least partially enclose the lead screw 40 in its alignment with that shown in FIG. 1 with a wrench 50 to the side, in the present embodiment of FIG. 2 U-shaped. Even if, to increase the impact strength, it would be sufficient to provide only one of the metal embedded parts 60, 70, in the parts 80, 90 of the housing shown in FIG. 2 preferably two metal embedded parts are arranged in a manner.

The metal insert 60 has a first wall 60a that extends parallel to the axis A of the screw 40 and is slightly longer than the nut 42. From this wall 60a of the metal insert 60, two walls 60b and 60c extend at right angles to the axis A of the screw. The bent wall 60c is massive and designed to grip the end plate 41 at the end of the lead screw 40. The front wall 60b, like the rear wall 60c, is oriented perpendicular to the axis A of the lead screw and has a U-shaped hole 60h into which it can protrude a lead screw 40. On the upper side of this U-shaped wall 60b, at the right angle to the direction of the nut member 50, another wall 60d is bent having a circular hole 60e. This wall 60d, provided with a corresponding hole 60e, serves as a foot for fastening the mechanism case 30 shown in FIG. 1 to the upper part 10 and thereby the upper guide by means of a suitable screw connection.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, another round-shaped wall portion 60f, which has a circular opening 60d, extends approximately parallel from the wall 60a upward. This wall portion 60f covers the rear flange of the driving worm 44 shown in FIG. 2, and serves, on the one hand, to further increase the stability of the entire mechanism body 30, and on the other hand, this wall part 60f provides the possibility of very good removal of friction heat or, accordingly, frictional heat that occurs during rotation of the driving worm 44.

It should be noted that the wall portion 60f, as well as the wall 60b, with its U-shaped opening 60h, does not come into direct contact with the drive screw 44 or, respectively, the lead screw 40. On the contrary, they serve exclusively as support points for the screw 44 and the lead screw 40 wall portions of housing portion 80, which, as mentioned, are made of plastic. For this purpose, the wall 60f provided with the hole 60g and the wall 60b provided with the U-shaped hole 60h are plastic coated on all sides of the housing part 80, so that the support points for the worm 44 and the lead screw 4 are exclusively plastic support points that are integrated in part 80 or, respectively, 90 of the body.

Although, as already mentioned, a second metal embedded part 70 would not have been necessary, it turned out to be preferable to use it to further increase the impact strength of the mechanism body 30. This second metal embedded part 70 is made similarly to the first metal embedded part 60, but does not have the mentioned fixing foot, although such a fixing foot could be provided here if increased strength is desired when mounting the mechanism housing 30 on the upper guide 10. In particular, the second the metal embedded part 70 also has a longitudinal wall 70a extending parallel to the axis A of the lead screw 40, from which a massive rear wall 70c extends in the direction of the axis of the lead screw 40, and A parallel front wall 70b, which also includes a U-shaped hole 70h for at least partially enclosing the screw 40. Additionally, an annular wall 70f provided with an opening is provided on the longitudinal wall 70a at the top in the same way as the embedded part 60. 70e to enclose the flange of the driving worm 60 facing FIG. 2 to the observer. This wall 70f also serves primarily to remove heat, but also to increase the stability of the entire mechanism housing 30.

As already mentioned in connection with the first metal embedded part 60 and the housing part 80, the second metal embedded part 70 is also surrounded by a plastic housing 90 so that all the bearing points, that is, the bearing place for the drive screw flange 44 and the bearing screw position 40 , not in contact with the metal embedded part 70, but, on the contrary, with the plastic part 90 of the housing.

In FIG. 3 shows the control mechanism of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 also in perspective view, however, now obliquely from above from above to above, while in the parts 80, 90 of the housing, metal embedded parts 60, 70 have already been inserted or, respectively, are filled.

It is clearly seen that the wall 60d with its opening 60e of the first metal embedded part 60 protrudes forward from the housing part 80. The housing part 80 has an opening 81 into which the driving nut 42 and the driving worm 44 can slide in. This opening 81 at its end shown in FIG. 3 on the left is bounded by a slotted pocket 82 into which the end plate 41 of the lead screw 40 can be retracted. This pocket 82 is limited at the rear by a wall section 83 of the housing part 80. This wall portion 83 is captured by the wall 60c of the metal embedded part 60. On the opposite side pocket 82 of the hole 81 of the housing part 80, there is a U-shaped hole 86, which serves as a reference for the lead screw 40 and is limited around the perimeter by the plastic of the housing part 80. This reference region is provided with a reference number 87. The wall portion 60b of the metal embedded part 60 cannot, therefore, come into contact with the lead screw 40.

A second metal embedded part 70 is embedded in the second housing part 90. In FIG. 3, only the wall 70b of the metal embedded part 70 is visible. Here, it can also be clearly seen that the wall 70b in the direction of the screw 40 is coated with plastic of the second housing part 90, so that the metal embedded the part 70 also cannot come into contact with the lead screw 40. The housing part 90 has two wall parts 93, 94 protruding to the housing part 80, by which the housing 90 can be inserted into the corresponding recesses of the housing part 80. Thus, the wall portion 93 of the housing portion 90, when the housing portions 80 and 90 are inserted into each other, captures the wall 60c of the first metal embedded part 60, while the portion 94 of the housing wall 90 of the second metal embedded part 70 by the wall 70b of the first metal embedded part 60b details 60.

Thus, in the inserted state of the body parts 80, 90 with the metal embedded parts 60, 70 located therein, the lead screw 40 with its side facing the nut element 50 is covered by two walls 60b, 70b of the metal embedded parts 60, 70, so that in the event of an impact, the entire body 30 of the mechanism can very well perceive impact forces. Impact strength is further enhanced by the fact that the end plate 41 can also be supported by two directly adjacent metal walls, namely, the walls 60c and 70c of the metal embedded parts 60 and 70.

In FIG. 4 shows a similar view to FIG. 3 is a view of the mechanism, but now without a second part 90 of the housing, while the lead screw 40 is dissected along a plane in which the axis A of the lead screw lies. Along with a cross-sectional view of the lead screw 40, the lead nut 42, the driving worm 44 and the end plate 41 are also shown in cross-section in the drawing. The end plate 41 is not fixedly connected to the end of the lead screw 40. On the contrary, a ball element 49 is inserted into the end end of the lead screw 40, preferably a steel ball that extends somewhat from the end side of the lead screw 40. This ball element 49 serves as an axial support element. The end plate 41 may in the middle have a groove in which the ball element 49 can be supported. Already known reference signs refer to parts to which explanations have already been given, while in FIG. 4, the reference place 84 for the leading flange facing away from the observer is also clearly distinguishable worm 44. This bearing seat 84 is perimeter limited to plastic. The wall 60g of the metal embedded part 60, the explanations of which were given in connection with FIG. 2, the plastic part 80 of the housing is flooded here.

To further increase the impact strength of the mechanism, the spindle 40 in the region indicated in FIG. 4, the reference numeral 40a is thickened, that is, in this region 40a has a larger diameter than in the remaining region of the spindle 40. This thickening serves for radial and axial geometrical closure. With respect to the axis A of the lead screw 40, a sleeve 47, 48 is provided in front of and behind this thickened area and is worn on the lead screw 40. These bushings 47, 48 are preferably made of metal. In the event of an impact, this thickened region 40a of the lead screw 40 is supported by sleeves 47 or 48, respectively, against the metal walls 60c or, respectively, 70c and 60b or, respectively, 70b of the metal embedded parts 60 and 70.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

5 Seat

10 First part, upper guide

12 Second part, lower guide

20 mounting bracket

21 hole

22 mounting bracket

23 hole

30 Mechanism housing

32 plastic wall

40 lead screw

40a Oversized lead screw portion 40

41 End plate

42 Running nut

44 Lead Worm

45 hole

47 Sleeve

48 Sleeve

49 Ball

50 Nut

51 Nut block

52 U-bracket

53 Fixing tabs

54 holes

56 holes

60 First metal embedded part

60a Wall

60b Wall

60c Wall

60d wall

60e hole

60f Wall

60g hole

60h U-shaped hole

70 second half of the body

70a Wall

70b Wall

70c Wall

70f Wall

70g hole

70h U-hole

80 The first part of the body

81 hole

82 Pocket

83 wall section

84 reference

86 U-hole

90 The second part of the body

92 flange

93 Wall part

94 Part of the wall

A Spindle axis.

Claims (15)

1. The regulating mechanism for longitudinal adjustment of the car seat, including a mechanism housing (30) fixed on the first part (10), which has mobility relative to the second part (12), while the mechanism is located inside the mechanism housing (30), and of the mechanism housing (30), a lead screw (40) is issued, which is connected by means of a nut element (50) to the second part (12), the mechanism housing (30) consisting of plastic and at least one repeatedly bent metal embedded part is embedded in the plastic ( 60), excellent in that the two walls (60b, 70b) of one or more metal embedded parts (60, 70) are directly next to each other oriented perpendicular to the axis (A) of the screw and at least partially cover the screw (40). 2. The control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall (60b) of the metal embedded part (60), oriented perpendicular to the axis of the screw (A) and at least partially covering the screw (40), is located on a matched nut element (50) the side of the body (30) of the mechanism. 3. The control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that both walls (60b, 70b) of the housing are bent each from a solid metal embedded part (60). 4. The control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that both walls (60b, 70b) are components of two different metal embedded parts (60, 70) inserted into each other. 5. The regulatory mechanism according to one of paragraphs. 1-4, characterized in that the at least one metal embedded part (60, 70) is embedded in the housing (30) of the mechanism of plastic so that all the bearing points of the housing (30) of the mechanism around the perimeter are made of plastic or surrounded by plastic . 6. The regulatory mechanism according to one of paragraphs. 1-4, characterized in that at least one additional wall (60s, 70s) is provided on the metal embedded part (60, 70), which is oriented perpendicular to the axis (A) of the lead screw and is located facing away from the nut element (50) side of the body (30) of the mechanism. 7. The regulatory mechanism according to one of paragraphs. 1-4, characterized in that on the at least one metal embedded part (60) the wall (60d) is integrally molded as a foot for attaching the mechanism body (30) to the first part (10). 8. The regulating mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one metal embedded part (60, 70) is made in the form of a part obtained flexible in a stamp. 9. The control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that on the body (30) of the plastic mechanism, a tubular flange (92) is formed to enter the drive shaft. 10. The regulatory mechanism according to one of paragraphs. 1-4, characterized in that when using several bent metal embedded parts (60, 70), these parts are attached to each other, in particular welded. 11. The regulating mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that by means of a mechanism installed in the housing (30) of the mechanism, the spindle (40) can be rotated. 12. The regulating mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic of the mechanism housing (30) is color-adapted to the first part (10) or the second part (12) or the device connected to these two parts (10, 12). 13. The control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the spindle nut (42) is flush with the spindle (40) in the form of a plastic part. 14. The control mechanism according to claim 13, characterized in that the lead screw (40) has a section (40a) with an increased diameter in the area of the lead nut (42). 15. The regulatory mechanism according to one of paragraphs. 1, 13 or 14, characterized in that the lead screw (40) at one end is engaged with the end plate (41), which is inserted into the pocket (82) of the mechanism housing (30).

Images