Actuating unit for a motor vehicle lock and corresponding method of production

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuating unit for a motor vehicle lock, comprising a motor element and a drive for moving the motor element, a Bowden cable connected to the motor element and a connecting element for the Bowden cable. The invention further relates to a method of production. The aim of the invention is to simplify production of an actuating unit having a Bowden cable. According to the invention, the connecting element for the Bowden cable is angular, especially L-shaped, and a leg thereof, in the case of an L shape preferably the long leg thereof, is connected to the remainder of the housing. The angular form or L shape and the connection of one leg of such a shape to the remainder of the housing of the motor element results in a large surface or a large peripheral edge of the connecting part which can be connected to the remainder of the housing. As a result, the connecting element can be firmly secured to the remainder of the housing such that the latter withstands the forces of a motor element even when the movement of the motor element is not limited with the aid of a microswitch but with the aid of the connecting element.

Claims

1. An actuating unit, comprising: a motor element; a drive for moving the motor element; a housing sized to receive the motor element, the housing forms a portion of a connecting element; a Bowden cable connected to the motor element, the Bowden cable having a core that spans along a length of the Bowden cable; the connecting element configured to receive the Bowden cable, wherein the connecting element is angular to form an L-shape, the connecting element including a longer leg and a shorter leg that are formed in one piece, the longer leg is connected to a portion of the housing to cover the motor element wherein the motor element is configured to move linearly relative to the longer leg; and wherein the motor element has a widening section configured to serve as a stop for an internal wall of the connecting element with an opening for the core of the Bowden cable, the widening section defines a hole into which the core of the Bowden cable extends and is connected to the motor element by press fitting.

2. The actuating unit according claim 1, characterized in that the motor element being made of metal.

3. The actuating unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing of the actuating unit consisting of no more than 2 parts.

4. The actuating unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the housing parts are connected to each other by bolts and/or a hinge.

5. The actuating unit according to claim 3, characterized in that a hinge is provided at a free end of the longer leg of the connecting element, connected to another housing part.

6. The actuating unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive of the actuating unit is accommodated in part of the housing containing the longer leg of the connecting element, connected to another housing part.

7. The actuating unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element contains a ring-shaped seat for a sheath of the Bowden cable.

8. The actuating unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element serves as a stop restricting the movement of the motor element.

9. A method for installing the actuating unit according to claim 1, comprising: inserting a core of the Bowden cable through the opening in the connecting element, pushing an inserted end of the core into an opening in the motor element, and compressing the opening to form a press-fit connection.

10. The actuating unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor element being made of metal.

11. The actuating unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing of the actuating unit consisting of no more than 2 parts.

12. The actuating unit according to claim 11, characterized in that the housing parts are connected to each other by bolts and/or a hinge.

13. The actuating unit according to claim 12, characterized in that a drive of the actuating unit is accommodated in part of the housing containing the longer leg of the connecting element, connected to another housing part.

14. The actuating unit according to claim 13, characterized in that the connecting element contains a ring-shaped seat for a sheath of the Bowden cable.

15. The actuating unit according to claim 14, characterized in that the connecting element serves as a stop restricting the movement of the motor element.

16. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the Bowden cable is configured to move linearly relative to the longer leg.

17. The actuating unit according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element defines an opening that receives an inserted end of a core of the Bowden cable, and wherein the opening is compressed to form a press-fit connection between the connecting element and the core of the Bowden cable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1: shows a section of an actuating unit

(2) FIG. 2: shows the housing of an actuating unit

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(3) FIG. 1 shows a section of an actuating unit with a motor element 1, in form of a spindle, which can be linearly moved to and fro between two end positions by a drive 20 namely an electric motor. A Bowden cable is connected to spindle 1, containing a core 2 and a sheath 3. A leg 4 of an angular connecting element for the Bowden cable is connected to the remainder of the housing with its other leg not shown in FIG. 1. The leg 4 of the connecting element contains a ring-like seat 10 surrounding the sheath or cover 3 of the Bowden cables. The position of the sheath 3 of the Bowden cable is thus advantageously stabilised. The core 2 of the Bowden cable extends through an adapted opening 11 at the free end of the leg 4.

(4) On the end facing the connecting element 4, the motor element 1 contains a disc-like widened area 5, serving as a stop. As a result, the force that can be transferred to the connecting element 1 by the motor element in an end position, is evenly transferred. The base of the widened area 5 is circular. The inner wall adjoining the opening 11, is coplanar. The surface of the widened area 5, facing this inner wall is also coplanar. The two surfaces are thus adapted to each other.

(5) Spindle 1, namely the motor element, is made of metal. The end with the widened area 5 contains a hole not shown into which a core 2 of the Bowden cable extends. The core 2 is secured in the hole by press fitting. The core 2 of the Bowden cable is thus connected to motor element 1 by press fitting.

(6) FIG. 2 shows a housing of such an actuating unit with a single-piece angular connecting element and a further single-piece rear housing part 6. A leg 7 of the connecting element is, amongst other things, connected to the other part 6 of the housing by bolting. The connecting element 4 contains housing areas 8 with internal thread, in which in each case a bolt has been inserted from the rear in order to bolt together the two housing parts 6 and 8.

(7) The unit also contains a hinge 9, connecting the connecting element with the remaining rear-sided housing part 6. The hinge 9 is arranged at the free end of the leg 7, serving to connect the two housing parts.

(8) The motor of the actuating unit is accommodated in part of the housing containing the leg 7 of the connecting element.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(9) 1: Spindle 2: Core of a Bowden cable 3: Sheath of a Bowden cables 4: Leg of a connecting element 5: Widened area 6: Rear-sided housing part 7: Leg of connecting element 8: Housing area with internal thread 9: Hinge 10: Ring-shaped seat 11: Opening in housing part