Housing for a transmission

Abstract

A housing for a transmission, in particular an actuator housing. The housing having a housing wall and ribs that protrude from the housing wall to the outside and/or inside. The protruding ribs are at least partially arranged such that they form a honeycomb-shaped structure on the housing wall.

Claims

1. A housing for an actuator, the housing comprising: a tubular housing wall which defines a longitudinal axis of the housing; a plurality of ribs protruding radially outward from the tubular housing wall, and the plurality of ribs forming a plurality of hexagonally shaped honeycombs; a threaded spindle disposed within the tubular housing wall, and the threaded spindle is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis and linearly displaceable relative to the housing; and each of opposed axial ends of the housing includes a respective screw attachment eye extending radially outward from the housing.

2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of hexagonally shaped honeycombs are consecutively arranged along the longitudinal axis of the housing.

3. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of hexagonally shaped honeycombs are uniformly distributed on the tubular housing wall.

4. The housing according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of hexagonally shaped honeycombs defines a respective symmetry axis thereof.

5. The housing according to claim 4, wherein the respective symmetry axes extend perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and the respective symmetry axes are parallel to each other.

6. The housing according to claim 4, wherein the respective symmetry axes are perpendicular to a plane that extends along the longitudinal axis of the housing such that the longitudinal axis lies within the plane.

7. The housing according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality ribs extends radially outward from the tubular housing wall by a same radial height such that a radially outermost surface, formed by the plurality of ribs, is concentric with the tubular housing wall.

8. The housing according to claim 1, wherein oppositely disposed ribs within the plurality of ribs have at least one of: an approximately identical spacing relative to one another, an identical spacing relative to one another, a spacing of inner edges that is approximately 11 mm, and a spacing of the inner edges that is exactly 11 mm.

9. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the tubular housing wall has longitudinal ribs protruding therefrom, the longitudinal ribs extend axially along the tubular housing wall parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and, relative to the tubular housing wall, the longitudinal ribs have a greater radial height than a radial height of the plurality of ribs forming the plurality of hexagonally shaped honeycombs.

10. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing is produced by one of an aluminum die casting process, a magnesium die casting process and a plastic injection molding process.

11. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the respective screw attachment eyes are configured to attach the housing to a chassis or a body of a vehicle.

12. A housing for an actuator, the housing comprising: a tubular housing wall which defines a longitudinal axis of the housing; a plurality of ribs that laterally protrude from the tubular housing wall and form a plurality of hexagonally shaped honeycombs, and each of the plurality of hexagonally shaped honeycombs defines a respective honeycomb symmetry axis; the plurality of ribs extend from the tubular housing wall such that the plurality of hexagonally shaped honeycombs extend perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and the respective honeycomb symmetry axes are parallel to each other; from lateral points of view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each of the plurality of hexagonally shaped honeycombs is symmetric about the respective honeycomb symmetry axis thereof; and each of the plurality of ribs transitions into another one of the plurality of ribs with a rounding of a radius of 3.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is described below on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective depiction of a housing or of an actuator,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a depiction of a housing or actuator according to FIG. 1 in a side view,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective partial view of a housing or a housing part,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a honeycomb used on the housing wall of the housing according to FIG. 1, 2 or 3,

(6) FIG. 5 shows another perspective depiction of a housing part according to FIG. 3 for the purpose of representation of the honeycomb structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 1 shows a perspective depiction of a two-piece housing 1, which can be used for an actuator 5, for example in a displaceable or length-adjustable rod for the displacement of a wheel carrier or several wheel carriers in the chassis of a motor vehicle.

(8) The housing 1 is formed by a first housing part 7 situated on the right or at the rear when viewed in the drawing, which is connected to a front or left additional housing part 6. A joint or dividing line 12 can be seen in the drawing, with an imaginary plane extending through the joint which serves as a connecting plane between the housing part 6 and the housing part 7. The two housing parts 6, 7 are connected to one another in a form-fitting manner by means of several screws 9. For the purpose of attaching the housing 6, 7 or the actuator 5 to a chassis or to the body, several screw attachment points or eyes 11 are arranged on the housing parts 6 or 7. A threaded spindle 13 extends through the complete or assembled housing 1, which threaded spindle extends parallel to the longitudinal axis L.sub.g of the housing 1. An electric motor (not depicted) can be flange-mounted on a screw attachment surface 14 of the housing part 7, which electric motor is able to displace or to shift the spindle 13 relative to the housing 1 linearly along the longitudinal axis L.sub.g by means of a toothed belt or V-ribbed belt or a gear train or wave train and a spindle nut. If the housing 1 is connected by means of the screw attachment points 11 to a vehicle axle of a vehicle for example, and the end of the spindle 13 is connected to a fork, which engages with a steering lever of a wheel carrier for example, the linear displacement of the spindle permits a track or camber adjustment of the wheel carrier or of the wheel of the vehicle rotatably mounted thereon.

(9) FIG. 2 provides essentially the same features, said FIG. 2 is a side view of the perspective depiction of the housing 1 according to FIG. 1. In addition to the housing in FIG. 1, the rear housing part 7 has an additional third screw attachment point or an eye 11. Both figures will be seen to show a smooth-walled housing region 17 in particular in the region of the screw attachment surface 14 provided for the not depicted electric motor. The front housing part 6 likewise has regions formed as a smooth-walled housing region 16. If the longitudinal regions of the housing parts 6 and 7 which actually pertain to the housing and which are formed slightly conical are viewed either in FIG. 1 or in FIG. 2, it is evident that, in almost all of the longitudinal direction, the housing is not represented with smooth walls, but rather with a honeycomb structure 4. In other words, the honeycomb structure is formed on the smooth-walled structure. The honeycombs W.sub.1, W.sub.2 and W.sub.3 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis L.sub.g when viewed in the longitudinal direction. The honeycombs are formed as six-sided figures and extend in a hexagonal formation. The honeycombs are produced by arranging ribs or bars 3 on the housing wall 18, thus forming the honeycomb structure 4.

(10) As is customary in a honeycomb structure, the honeycombs have the same spacing relative to one another, so that the center points of the honeycombs have the same spacing relative to one another. For this purpose, the bars or ribs 3 have the same wall thickness or wall width and have a uniform height relative to the housing wall from which the bars or ribs 3 protrude. Further detailed information about the nature of the honeycombs W.sub.1,2,3 and the bars or ribs 3 and their arrangement on the housing 1 is provided in FIG. 3. The depicted honeycomb-shaped structure makes it possible to construct the housing as a whole with relatively thin walls. The depicted housing is produced by means of aluminum die casting and the honeycomb structure permits a much larger housing surface than in the case of a purely smooth-walled housing surface. This results in a very good heat dissipation to the surrounding environment. In order to obtain a particularly high level of stiffness in the main direction of stress extending in the longitudinal direction, a longitudinal rib 8 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis L.sub.g is formed on the housing part 6 and on the housing part 7. It can be seen from FIG. 1 that the longitudinal rib 8 protrudes further from the housing wall or is higher than the ribs or bars 3. The height of the longitudinal rib 8 was determined according to the calculated stress.

(11) FIG. 3 shows a segmented section of the rear housing part 7 of the housing 1. It can be clearly seen from the magnified depiction that the ribs or bars 3 have a uniform height and width. It can also be clearly seen that the honeycombs form a honeycomb structure composed of a hexagonal formation. The honeycombs W.sub.1 lie in a consecutive arrangement in the longitudinal direction. That is also the case for the honeycombs W.sub.2 and W.sub.3. It can be seen that the honeycombs W.sub.2 and W.sub.3 likewise lie next to one another when viewed in the longitudinal direction. The honeycombs W.sub.1 lie offset relative to the honeycombs W.sub.2 and W.sub.3. This arrangement thus produces a hexagonal formation or the honeycomb structure as described above. On the segment section of the housing part 7 it can also be seen that the honeycombs each have a base 18 which is coextensive with the housing wall 18. In other words, the honeycombs begin on the housing wall 18. It can be seen that the housing wall 18 is formed tubular in the form of a cylindrical external skin or a conical cylindrical external skin relative to the longitudinal axis Lg. The bars or the ribs 3 protrude from the housing wall 18 and all have a uniform height. An imaginary wall extending over the external extension of the ribs extends with the distance of the height of the ribs or bars 3 from the housing wall 18 such that it would form a concentric outer housing wall. It can be seen that the bars or ribs 3 do not protrude at a 90 degree angle from the housing wall. This is due to the fact that drafts must be provided for casting reasons or with respect to the demoldability of the housing which is produced by aluminum die casting. For the housing depicted here, drafts of approximately 3 degrees are provided in order to ensure demoldability from the aluminum die casting mold. The demoldability is also the reason why the symmetry axes of the respective honeycombs do not project vertically from the cylindrical and/or conically formed housing wall 18. The symmetry axes S.sub.W of each honeycomb extend parallel to one another and extend at right angles from an imaginary plane E.sub.L, which extends through the longitudinal axis Lg. This can be seen in particular from FIG. 5, which provides a similar depiction to FIG. 3.

(12) FIG. 5 also shows the housing segment according to FIG. 3, wherein the honeycombs extend starting from a plane which is not depicted in greater detail, which extends parallel to the plane E.sub.L, wherein the honeycombs are projected starting from this imaginary plane as honeycomb-shaped cylinders on the housing wall 18 or the surface of the housing part 7. It can be seen that this type of projection allows the presentation of a honeycomb structure on the housing wall 18 as depicted in FIG. 3 or in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(13) FIG. 4 is a schematic depiction of a honeycomb W.sub.1,2,3 and shows the internal diameter d, relative to the inner edges I which extend parallel to one another. It can be clearly seen that the inner edges do not run towards each other such that they would form a corner with an obtuse angle. The inner edges transition into one another with a rounding, with the roundings transitioning into one another with a radius of 3 mm starting from the center point M of the honeycombs W.sub.1,2,3.

(14) It shall be understood that the above-mentioned features of the invention can be used not only in the stated combinations, but also in other combinations or alone, without exceeding the scope of the invention. A mechanical reversal of the functions of the individual mechanical elements of the invention is also within the scope of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS LIST

(15) 1 housing 2 honeycomb 3 rib, bar 4 honeycomb structure 5 actuator 6 housing part, cover 7 housing part 8 longitudinal rib 9 screw 10 screw 11 screw attachment point, eye 12 joint, dividing line 13 spindle 14 screw attachment surface 16 smooth-walled housing part/region 17 smooth-walled housing part/region 18 honeycomb base, housing wall 19 drafts E.sub.L plane (along longitudinal axis) L.sub.g longitudinal axis housing S.sub.W symmetry axis honeycomb W.sub.1 honeycomb W.sub.2 honeycomb W.sub.3 honeycomb A rounding honeycomb I inner edge honeycomb M center point honeycomb d spacing inner edges honeycomb