Spindle drive with integrated locking

Abstract

A spindle drive for a member to be driven includes a driven spindle with a longitudinal axis extending through a spindle nut. The spindle drive includes the spindle nut having a pusher dog with first and second contact surfaces for driving the member. The contact surfaces are oriented in opposite directions to each other along the longitudinal axis of the spindle. First and second drive surfaces are provided, facing each other and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of the spindle. A distance between the two drive surfaces exceeds a distance between the contact surfaces. The spindle drive further includes an actuator provided connected to the spindle nut for actuating another device, when the pusher dog between the drive surfaces is being displaced.

Claims

1. A spindle drive for a member to be driven, comprising a driven spindle with a longitudinal axis X-X, which extends through a spindle nut, wherein the spindle nut comprises a pusher dog having a first contact surface and a second contact surface configured to drive the member, said first contact surface disposed opposite said second contact surface along the longitudinal axis X-X of the spindle, a first drive surface of the member arranged parallel to a second drive surface of the member are provided and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis X-X of the spindle, a distance A between the first and second drive surfaces exceeds a distance B between the first and second contact surfaces, and an actuator connected to the spindle nut is configured for actuating a locking device, when the pusher dog is being disposed between the first and second drive surfaces, wherein the locking device is actuated before at least one of the first and second contact surfaces contacts at least one of the first and second drive surfaces, wherein the member comprises a spindle nut housing that houses the spindle nut, wherein in the spindle nut housing an elongated hole is provided, which forms the first drive surface and the second drive surface, and the pusher dog comprising the first contact surface and the second contact surface and projecting into the elongate hole, wherein a spring member is disposed within the spindle nut housing and is configured to counteract unwanted clearance in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis X-X of the spindle.

2. The spindle drive according to claim 1, wherein the locking device is a rocker arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The disclosure will be explained in more detail by way of the following figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1: is a strongly simplified conceptual draft of a spindle drive according to the disclosure, and

(3) FIG. 2: is a first embodiment of a spindle drive according to the disclosure in perspective representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) FIG. 1 illustrates the basic operating principle of a spindle drive 20 according to the disclosure. A spindle 22 extends through a spindle nut 24 and has a longitudinal axis X-X. The spindle nut 24 is displaceable along the spindle 22 along the longitudinal axis X-X.

(5) The spindle nut 24 comprises a pusher dog 26, which comprises a first contact surface 28 and a second contact surface 30. The two contact surfaces are facing in opposite directions along the longitudinal axis X-X.

(6) The pusher dog 26 or the contact surfaces 28, 30 may be brought into contact with a first drive surface 32 or a second drive surface 34 by displacing the spindle nut 24. The two drive surfaces 32, 34 are firmly connected to a drive member 36, which in turn, is coupled to a member to be displaced, for example a door wing, via a holder 38. A distance A between the two drive surfaces 32, 34 exceeds a distance B between the two contact surfaces 28, 30, so that the pusher dog 26 is displaceable between the two drive surfaces 32, 34, without the contact surfaces 28, 30 and the drive surfaces 32, 34 contacting each other or displacing the drive member 36, respectively.

(7) Furthermore, an actuator 40 is shown, which also is firmly connected to the spindle nut 24. Another member, preferably a locking device, may be actuated via the actuator. In the conceptual draft shown, a rocker arm 42 may be seen for this purpose as an example, which is operated by the actuator 40. What is essential is that the rocker arm 42 will be operated before the respective contact surface 28, 30 will come into contact with the corresponding drive surface 32, 34. The rocker arm 42 may be spring-loaded, to be reset into the original position following actuation. Thus, it is possible according to the disclosure, to initiate or to actuate two totally different operations via the spindle nut 24, respectively.

(8) FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the disclosure, which is suitable especially for the drive of a door wing or window wing. As a drive member 36, a spindle nut housing 44 is provided herein, which comprises an elongated hole 46. The elongated hole 46 essentially extends along the longitudinal axis X-X. The holder 38 is attached to the spindle nut housing 44, via which holder a door wing, which is not shown, is drivable.

(9) The elongated hole 46, at its end, forms the two drive surfaces 32, 34. In the working example shown, the pusher dog 26 is of round shape. The actuator 40 is as well attached to the spindle nut 24 and preferably is for unlocking a rotary latch.

(10) Furthermore, a spring member 48 is shown, which counteracts unwanted clearance of the spindle drive 20.

(11) Furthermore, an auxiliary spindle nut 50 is disposed within the spindle nut housing 44 and is also driven by the spindle 22. In order to avoid displacement of the spindle nut housing 44, while the pusher dog 26 is disengaged with the drive surfaces 32, 34, the auxiliary spindle nut 50 has increased play or clearance, in the interior. It is not before this play has been overcome, that the auxiliary spindle nut 50 drives the spindle nut housing 44. The play and the length of the elongated holes 46 are adapted to each other, such that the contact between the contact surfaces 28, 30 and the drive surfaces 32, 34 will not be made before also the play within the auxiliary spindle nut 50 has been overcome.

(12) The disclosure is not limited to the working example shown, but is suitable for all drive systems, which may be included in a spindle drive 20. Instead of locking devices, also other members may be driven via the actuator 40.