Component assembly for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A component assembly for a motor vehicle includes a housing and an actuating element that is rotatable about an axis. The assembly also includes an actuator which is configured to cause a rotation of the actuating element. The assembly further includes a rotatable shaft which extends along a shaft axis and is disposed between the actuating element and the actuator and which is coupled to the actuating element and the actuator. The shaft is guided through a first through opening in the housing. A sealing system is provided in a radial direction perpendicular to the shaft axis so as to be between the shaft and a first internal wall of the first through opening. The sealing system has a sealing element support having a first side and a second side that faces away from the first side. The sealing element support is fastened in the first through opening. The sealing element support has a second through opening having a second internal wall. The shaft is guided through the second through opening. A first sealing element is fastened in a locationally fixed manner to the sealing element support on the first side of the sealing element support. The first sealing element has a third through opening through which the shaft is guided. The first sealing element by way of a third internal wall of the third through opening bears in an encircling manner on the shaft. And the first sealing element is designed from felt.

Claims

1. A component assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing having a first internal wall defining a first through opening; an actuating element that is rotatable about an axis; an actuator which is configured to cause rotation of the actuating element; a rotatable shaft which extends along a shaft axis and is disposed between the actuating element and the actuator and which is coupled to the actuating element and the actuator, the shaft also extending through the first through opening; and a sealing system arranged between the shaft and the first internal wall in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the shaft axis, the sealing system comprising: a first sealing element; and a sealing element support having a first axial side and a second axial side that faces away from the first side, the sealing element support being fastened in the first through opening and having a second internal wall defining a second through opening, wherein the shaft extends through the second through opening, wherein the first sealing element is fixedly fastened to the first axial side of the sealing element support, wherein the first sealing element has a third internal wall that defines a third through opening through which the shaft extends, the third internal wall bearing in an encircling manner on the shaft, and wherein the first sealing element is made from felt.

2. The component assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element support is press-fitted into the first through opening.

3. The component assembly according to claim 1, wherein: a radially external side of the sealing element support has a collar which protrudes axially beyond a support plane on which the first sealing element is supported by the sealing element support, and the collar has a height above the support plane that is at least 30% of a thickness of the first sealing element along the shaft axis.

4. The component assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first sealing element is compressed between the collar and the shaft.

5. The component assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a second sealing element arranged on the second axial side of the sealing element support in the first through opening, and the second sealing element bears in an encircling manner on the shaft.

6. The component assembly according to claim 5, wherein: the second sealing element has an elastic seal lip, the second sealing element comprises PTFE or fluorocarbon, and the second sealing element is designed in the form of a doughnut which bears at least partially on a shoulder of the first through opening.

7. The component assembly according to claim 5, wherein: the second sealing element has an annular outer portion and an annular inner portion, the inner portion bears on the shaft, and the inner portion is angled from the outer portion in a direction toward the first sealing element.

8. The component assembly according to claim 5, wherein the second sealing element is non-releasably fastened to the second side of the sealing element support.

9. The component assembly according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is a motor, an electric motor, or a brushless DC motor.

10. A component assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing; an actuating element that is rotatable about an axis; an actuator which is configured to cause rotation of the actuating element; a rotatable shaft which extends along a shaft axis and is disposed between the actuating element and the actuator and which is coupled to the actuating element and the actuator, the shaft also extending through a first through opening in the housing; a sealing system arranged in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the shaft axis so as to be located between the shaft and a first internal wall of the first through opening; and a first sealing element, wherein the sealing system has a sealing element support having a first side and a second side that faces away from the first side, wherein the sealing element support is fastened in the first through opening, wherein the sealing element support has a second through opening having a second internal wall, wherein the shaft extends through the second through opening, wherein the first sealing element is fastened in a fixed manner in relation to the sealing element support on the first side of the sealing element support, wherein the first sealing element has a third through opening through which the shaft extends, wherein the first sealing element by way of a third internal wall of the third through opening bears in an encircling manner on the shaft, wherein the first sealing element is made from felt, wherein a second sealing element is provided on the second side of the sealing element support in the first through opening, wherein the second sealing element bears in an encircling manner on the shaft, and wherein the second sealing element is non-releasably fastened to the second side of the sealing element support.

11. The component assembly according to claim 7, wherein: the second internal wall of the second through opening of the sealing element support is spaced apart in an encircling manner from the shaft, and the inner portion of the second sealing element protrudes into a space defined in the radial direction between the second internal wall and the shaft.

12. The component assembly according to claim 5, wherein: the second sealing element, on a side facing the sealing element support, is coated or wetted with an elastomer, and the elastomer is made of an elastomer material that is different from a second sealing element material from which the second sealing element is made.

13. The component assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element support is made from the same material as the housing in the region of the first through opening.

14. The component assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first through opening is disposed in a cover of the housing.

15. The component assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a bearing configured to mount the shaft, wherein: the bearing is disposed in a portion of the first through opening toward which the second axial side of the sealing element support faces, and the bearing is a rolling bearing, a needle bearing, a ball bearing, or a friction bearing.

16. The component assembly according claim 5, wherein the second sealing element is an element which is separate from the sealing element support.

17. The component assembly according to claim 5, wherein the second sealing element has an elastic seal lip.

18. The component assembly according to claim 5, wherein the second sealing element largely comprises PTFE or fluorocarbon.

19. The component assembly according to claim 5, wherein the second sealing element is configured in the form of a doughnut which bears at least partially on a shoulder of the first through opening.

20. The component assembly according to claim 10, wherein the actuating element is a motor, an electric motor, or a brushless DC motor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become obvious to the person skilled in the art from the description hereunder of exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended drawings, which exemplary embodiments are however not to be interpreted as limiting the concepts described herein. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section through a component assembly;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an enlarged fragment of the sealing system from FIG. 1; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross section through a further design embodiment of a component assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section through a component assembly 1. This component assembly 1 can be a throttle flap system or a general-purpose actuator, for example.

(6) The component assembly 1 may be suitable for installation in a motor vehicle. The component assembly 1 can however also be specified for use or installation, respectively, in a motor vehicle.

(7) The component assembly has a housing 2 (in part schematically illustrated in the form of a block) which here has a housing cup 3 and a cover 4. The component assembly 1 furthermore has an actuating element 5 that is rotatable about an axis A, furthermore an actuator 6 (illustrated merely as a block) which is specified for causing a rotation of the actuating element 5, and a rotatable shaft 7 which extends along a shaft axis W and is disposed between the actuating element 5 and the actuator 6 and which is coupled to the actuating element 5 and the actuator 6.

(8) The shaft 7 is guided through a first through opening 8 in the housing 2, wherein a sealing system 20 is provided in a radial direction R perpendicular to the shaft axis W so as to be between the shaft 7 and a first internal wall 9 of the first through opening 8.

(9) The sealing system 20 has a sealing element support 30 having a first side 31 and a second side 32 that faces away from the first side 31, wherein the sealing element support 30 is fastened in the first through opening 8.

(10) The sealing element support 30 has a second through opening 33 having a second internal wall 34, wherein the shaft 7 is guided through the second through opening 33. A first sealing element 40 is fastened in a locationally fixed manner to the sealing element support 30 on or at, respectively, the first side 31 of the sealing element support 30. The first sealing element 40 has a third through opening 41 through which the shaft 7 is guided.

(11) The first sealing element 40 by way of a third internal wall 42 of the third through opening 41 bears in an encircling manner on the shaft 7, and the first sealing element 40 is designed from felt. The felt can be produced from natural fibers or from plastics-material fibers. The felt is particularly advantageously resistant to temperatures in the range from −40° C. to 160° C., or even −50° C. to 170° C.

(12) The sealing element support 30 here, in a merely exemplary manner, is press-fitted into the first through opening 8. The sealing element support 30 therein is held in a force-fitting or friction-fitting manner, for example. The sealing element support 30 can also be fastened in a materially integral manner, for example be adhesively bonded or welded. Other fastening possibilities are however also conceivable; the sealing element support 30 can also be screw-fitted, for example.

(13) The sealing element support 30 on the radial external side thereof in an exemplary manner here has a collar 35 which protrudes beyond a support plane 36 on which the first sealing element 40 is disposed. The collar 35 here has a height H1 above the support plane 36 which is at least 80% of a thickness D of the first sealing element 40. The first sealing element 40 is radially particularly positively guided or positioned, respectively, on account thereof. The thickness D can be at least 1 mm, preferably at least 3 mm, for example.

(14) The support plane 36 per se has a support plane height H2. The support plane height H2 can be at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 1 mm, for example.

(15) The first sealing element 40 here is compressed between the collar 35 and the shaft 7.

(16) In this exemplary embodiment a second sealing element 50 is provided on the second side 32 of the sealing element support 30 in the first through opening 8. Here, the second sealing element 50 bears in an encircling manner on the shaft 7.

(17) The second sealing element 50 an elastic seal lip. This seal lip is at most 1 mm thick when viewed along the axial direction, for example. On account thereof, the seal lip is particularly flexible.

(18) The second sealing element 50 here, in a merely exemplary manner, is made largely, to an extent of more than 50%, of PTFE or fluorocarbon (FKM). On account thereof, the second sealing element is particularly stable in relation to high and low temperatures and in relation to chemical changes on account of aggressive media. However, the use of other materials is also possible, depending on the intended use and the application conditions.

(19) The second sealing element 50 here is designed in the form of a doughnut. The doughnut bears at least partially on a shoulder 11 of the first through opening 8. The doughnut in this portion, when viewed along the axial direction, is disposed between the sealing element support 30 and the shoulder 11. The second sealing element 50 a fourth through opening 54 through which the shaft 7 protrudes in the assembled state.

(20) The second sealing element 50 here, in a merely exemplary manner, has an annular outer portion 51 and an annular inner portion 52. The second sealing element 50 by way of the inner portion 52 bears on the shaft 7. The inner portion 52 here, in a merely exemplary manner, in relation to the outer portion 51 is angled in the direction of the first sealing element 40.

(21) In the embodiment illustrated here, the second sealing element 50 is an element which is separate from the sealing element support 30 and able to be tailored to the respective specific application. The second sealing element 50 bears in an encircling manner on the shaft 7 and at the radially outer periphery of the second sealing element 50 does not abut the first internal wall 9 of the first through opening 8. Rather, a void 55 is situated there (see FIG. 2). In this way, the second sealing element 50 is self-centering when assembled on the shaft. An external diameter of the second sealing element 50 in this exemplary embodiment is thus smaller than an internal diameter of the first through opening in that portion where the second sealing element 50 is assembled.

(22) Alternatively, the second sealing element 50 in an embodiment not illustrated here can be fastened to the second side 32 of the sealing element support 30. For example, a non-releasable fastening, for example by adhesive bonding or welding, can be present here. The sealing element support 30 conjointly with the two sealing elements 40, 50 can thus be made and installed as a modular unit.

(23) The second internal wall 34 of the second through opening 33 of the sealing element support 30 is spaced apart in an encircling manner from the shaft 7 by a spacing B. The spacing B can be 0.05 mm to 2 mm, for example, preferably 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

(24) The second sealing element 50 by way of the inner portion 52 thereof protrudes into the space which in the radial direction R extends between the second through opening 33 and the shaft 7. For example, the inner portion can protrude into the space by at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 1 mm. On account thereof, a sealing system 20 which is of a particularly compact and small construction in the axial direction is achieved.

(25) In this exemplary embodiment the sealing element support 30 is designed from the same material as the housing 2 in the region of the first through opening 8. The first through opening 8 here is disposed in the cover 4.

(26) However, it is also possible for different materials to be used. In this instance, the coefficients of thermal expansion of the two materials are advantageously very similar across the range of the operating temperatures so as to minimize thermal stresses and leakage paths.

(27) A bearing 12 which mounts the shaft 7 is furthermore disposed in a portion that faces the second side 32 of the sealing element support 30 in the first through opening 8. The bearing 12 can be configured as a rolling bearing, a needle bearing, a ball bearing, or a friction bearing, for example.

(28) The component assembly can be assembled in the following steps, for example (method for producing a component assembly): first, the housing 2 (here: the cover 4 of the housing 2) having a first through opening 8, as well as the shaft 7, the sealing element support 30, the first sealing element 40 and the second sealing element 50 are provided (the sealing element support 30 and the second sealing element 50 here are mutually separate elements merely in an exemplary manner). A bearing 12 is furthermore optionally provided. Furthermore, the actuator 6 (for example an electric motor) and the actuating element 5 can be provided.

(29) If a bearing 12 has been provided, the bearing 12 in a first step is assembled, for example press-fitted, in the first through opening 8. In a further step, the shaft 7 is guided through the first through opening 8. In a further step, the second sealing element 50 is assembled in that the latter by way of the fourth through opening 54 thereof is push-fitted over the shaft 7, for example. In a further step, the sealing element support 30 conjointly with the first sealing element 40 preassembled thereon, for example, is assembled in, for example press-fitted into, the through opening 8. The sealing element support herein can be press-fitted onto the second sealing element 50 in the axial direction. Finally, the actuator 6 and the actuating element 5 can be coupled to the shaft 7.

(30) FIG. 2 shows an enlarged fragment of the sealing system from FIG. 1.

(31) It can be readily seen in FIG. 2 that the second sealing element 50 on the side thereof that faces the sealing element support 30 is coated or wetted with an elastomer 53. The elastomer 53 can comprise, or largely (to the extent of more than 50%) comprise, for example, natural rubber, rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer rubber (EPDM) or silicone, or be composed of one of these materials. However, other materials for the elastomer 53 are also conceivable.

(32) The elastomer 53 helps in sealing off a secondary path for fluid media. For example, this secondary path can run between the sealing support 30 and the second sealing element, around the second sealing element 50, and then downward through the first through opening 8 in the figure.

(33) The sealing effect in relation to this secondary path is further increased when the sealing element support in the figure is pressed with a force F from above along the axial direction onto the second sealing element 50 (see the downward-pointing arrow). The elastomer 53 is in this instance compressed and seals off a secondary path in a particularly effective manner.

(34) The material of the elastomer 53 here is different from the material of the second sealing element 50.

(35) The elastomer 53 here is non-releasably connected to the second sealing element 50.

(36) It can be readily seen that, when viewed in the radial direction R, the void 55 is situated between the first internal wall 9 and an outer periphery of the second sealing element 50. The sealing element support 30 in the region of the support plane 36, at least on the second side 32, by way of the spacing B is furthermore spaced apart from the shaft 7.

(37) FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross section through a further embodiment of a component assembly.

(38) The embodiment of FIG. 3 here differs from that from FIG. 1 only in that the second sealing element 50 is dispensed with.

(39) Correspondingly, all steps which relate to the second sealing element 50 are absent in the method for producing this component assembly.

(40) The component assembly can be, for example, an electric general-purpose actuator or a throttle flap or an exhaust-gas return valve or a wastegate for a turbocharger, without being limited to these embodiments.