DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR DRIVING AN ACTUATOR ELEMENT

Abstract

A drive arrangement for driving an actuator is provided. The drive arrangement includes a drive device and a housing part which can be connected to or is connected to the drive device. At least one first plug-in element is arranged or configured on the drive device in the form of a pin- or peg-like plug-in projection. At least one second plug-in element corresponding to the at least one first plug-in element is arranged or configured on the housing part, and includes bore-like sockets. The drive device is connectable to the housing part via a plug-in connection at the first plug-in element and the second plug-in element.

Claims

1. A drive assembly for driving an actuator, comprising: a drive device and a housing part connected to the drive device; at least one first plug-in element including either a pin-like or peg-like projection, or a bore-like socket formed on the drive device; and at least one second plug-in element corresponding to the at least one first plug-in element including either a bore-like socket or a pin-like or peg-like projection formed on the housing part; wherein the drive device is non-rotatably connected to the housing part via a plug-in connection formed by an interaction of the at least one first plug-in elements on the drive device and the at least one second plug-in elements on the housing part.

2. The drive assembly according to claim 1, wherein the drive device is attached to the housing part via at least one clamping element.

3. The drive assembly according to claim 2, wherein the at least one clamping element includes a clamping washer.

4. The drive assembly according to claim 3, wherein the clamping washer is supported with a first attachment section on a cylindrical bearing section of the drive device extending at least in part into the housing part, and supported with a second attachment section on an inner surface of the housing part.

5. The drive assembly according to claim 4, wherein a drive shaft of the drive device passes through the cylindrical bearing section.

6. The drive assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first plug-in element is a pin-like or peg-like projection, and the at least one second plug-in element is a bore-like socket.

7. The drive assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first plug-in element is disposed or formed on an end surface of the drive device, and the at least one second plug-in element is disposed or formed on an end surface of the housing part disposed opposite the end surface of the drive device.

8. The drive assembly according to claim 7, wherein the respective first and second plug-in elements are disposed or formed on a circumference, such that they are distributed evenly or unevenly on the respective end surfaces of the drive device and the housing part.

9. The drive assembly according to claim 1, wherein the drive device is coupled directly or indirectly to an actuator element when it is connected to the housing part.

10. (canceled)

11. A drive assembly for a chain or hub gear shifter of a bicycle, the drive assembly comprising: a generally cylindrical drive device having an end surface and a drive shaft extending along a central axis thereof and beyond the end surface, the end surface defining a plurality of first surface features thereon; and a generally cylindrical housing having an interior receiving space configured to receive the drive shaft, the housing having an end surface defining a plurality of second surface features thereon configured to engage the first surface features to connect the drive device to the housing in a non-rotatable manner.

12. The drive assembly of claim 11, wherein the first surface features are projections and the second surface features are sockets, each socket sized and configured to receive and couple to a corresponding one of the projections.

13. The drive assembly of claim 11, wherein the first surface features are sockets are the second surface features are projections, each socket sized and configured to receive and couple to a corresponding one of the projections.

14. The drive assembly of claim 11, wherein the drive shaft is coupled to a coupling element that is, in turn, connected to a spindle supported for rotation within a bearing.

15. The drive assembly of claim 11, wherein the drive device and the housing are enclosed within a common cylindrical sleeve or tube.

16. The drive assembly of claim 11, wherein the drive shaft extends from a body that is not received by the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The disclosure below is based on exemplary embodiments, with reference to the drawings. The drawings are schematic diagrams, wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a view of a drive assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a partial view of a shifting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a view of a drive assembly 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The view shown in FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of the drive assembly 1.

[0028] The drive assembly 1 serves to drive an actuator element (not shown). The drive assembly 1 comprises a drive device 2 and a housing part 3.

[0029] The drive device 2 comprises an, e.g. electrical, drive motor (not shown), as well as, optionally, a gear unit (not shown) coupled thereto. The housing part 3 delimits a receiving space 4, in which certain components of the drive assembly 1 can be or are disposed. A bearing element 5 (cf. FIG. 2) is included in the components that can be or are disposed in the receiving space 4 delimited by the housing part, typically a roller bearing for supporting a spindle element 6 (cf. FIG. 2), as well as certain parts of the drive device 2, e.g. a drive shaft 7, which extends, at least in part, into the receiving space 4 delimited by the housing part, when the drive device 2 is connected to the housing part 3.

[0030] First plug-in elements 8 are disposed or formed on the end surface of the cylindrical drive device 2. The first plug-in elements 8 in the exemplary embodiments shown in the Figures are each pin-like or peg-like projections. The first plug-in elements 8 can also be referred to or regarded as dowels.

[0031] Second plug-in elements 9 are disposed or formed on the end surface of the cylindrical housing part 3. The second plug-in elements 9 are each bore-like sockets in the exemplary embodiments shown in the Figures.

[0032] The second plug-in elements on the housing part correspond functionally and structurally to the first plug-in elements 8 on the drive device. A first plug-in element 8 and a corresponding second plug-in element 9 can be referred to or regarded in this respect as corresponding plug-in partners of a plug-in connection. With respect to the embodiments of the respective first and second plug-in elements 8, 9 depicted in the exemplary embodiments shown in the Figures, this means that for each first plug-in element 8 designed as a projection, there is a second plug-in element 9 having a socket corresponding to the projection, into which the projection can be inserted.

[0033] The drive device 2 can be connected to the housing part 3 through the interaction of the respective first plug-in element 8 on the drive device and the respective second plug-in element 9 on the housing part. This is a non-rotatable, i.e. not suitable for transferring torque, plug-in connection. The drive device 2 is thus connected in a non-rotatable manner to the housing part 3 by means of a plug-in connection that can be or is formed by the interaction of the respective first plug-in element 8 on the drive device and the respective second plug-in element 9 on the housing part.

[0034] In this manner, a substantially simplified concept for connecting a drive device 2 to a corresponding housing part 3 is implemented with respect to the installation of the drive assembly 1.

[0035] It should be noted that, even though it is not shown in the Figures, it would also be possible in theory for the first plug-in elements 8, or some of them, to be bore-like sockets. Analogously, the second plug-in elements 9, or some of them, could also be pin-like or peg-like projections.

[0036] It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the drive device 2 is attached to the housing part by means of a clamping element 10 when it is connected to the housing part 3. This attachment is understood to be an axial attachment, via which the axial position of the drive device 2 connected to the housing part 3 is fixed in relation to the housing part 3. The attachment of the drive device 2 to the housing part 3 cannot become unintentionally detached, but it can be either releasable (without damage or destruction) or non-releasable.

[0037] The clamping element 10 is a clamping washer, e.g., a ring-shaped or annular disk-shaped component in the manner of a retaining ring or locking ring, for the axial structural securing of different objects that are to be attached to one another.

[0038] It is clear that the clamping washer is supported on a cylindrical, e.g., hollow cylindrical, bearing section 11 of the drive device 3 extending into the housing part 3 with a radially inner first attachment section 10a with respect to the axis of symmetry of the clamping washer, in the state shown in FIG. 1, in which the drive device 2 is connected to the housing part 3, and on an inner surface, e.g., an inner base surface here, of the housing part 3 with a radially outer second attachment section 10b with respect to the axis of symmetry of the clamping washer. The respective attachment sections 10a, 10b on the clamping washer are thus formed on or in the region of the outer and inner circumferences of the clamping washer.

[0039] The drive shaft 7 of the drive device 2 passes through the hollow cylindrical, or sleeve-like bearing section 11. The hollow cylindrical bearing section 11 thus has a passage, not described in greater detail, for the drive shaft 7. As can be derived in conjunction with the following explanations of FIG. 2, the drive shaft 7 of the drive device 2 is that shaft that is coupled to the actuator element that can be or is driven via the drive assembly 1.

[0040] The hollow cylindrical bearing section 11 is disposed or formed on a non-rotatably supported section of the drive device 3. The hollow cylindrical bearing section 11 is thus not moveably coupled to the drive shaft 7 passing through it. Rotational movements of the drive shaft 7 therefore do not cause rotational movements of the hollow cylindrical bearing section 11. Nevertheless, a sliding contact can exist between the inner circumference of the hollow cylindrical bearing section 11 and the outer circumference of the drive shaft 7 passing through it. Accordingly, the hollow cylindrical bearing section 11 can be formed by a material having good sliding properties in the region of its inner circumference, e.g. brass, and/or it can be provided with a coating made of a material having good sliding properties, e.g. graphite.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a partial view of a shifting device 12 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The illustration shown in FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the shifting device 12.

[0042] The shifting device 12 can form, e.g. a chain or hub shifter of a two-wheeled vehicle, in particular a bicycle. The shifting device 12 comprises an actuator 13, here a linear actuator, the degree of freedom of movement of which is indicated by the double arrow 14. The actuator 13 can be or is driven via the drive assembly 1. The actuator 13 comprises a hollow cylindrical, e.g., a sleeve-like or tube-like receiving element 15, in which the drive assembly 1, as well as other components of the actuator 13, to be explained in greater detail herein, are disposed or attached.

[0043] The drive device 2 can be or is coupled indirectly to an actuator element (not shown), e.g. a shift cable, when it is connected to the housing part 3. The coupling of the drive device 2 to a corresponding actuator element takes place via the drive shaft 7. It can be seen that the drive shaft 7 is non-rotatably coupled to a coupling element 16. The coupling element 16 is non-rotatably coupled to the spindle element 6, which is rotatably supported via the bearing element 5. There is an attachment section 17 formed on the spindle element 6, here in the form of a spindle nut, for attaching the actuator element that is to be, or is, driven.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0044] 1 drive assembly [0045] 2 drive device [0046] 3 housing part [0047] 4 receiving space [0048] 5 bearing element [0049] 6 spindle element [0050] 7 drive shaft [0051] 8 first plug-in element [0052] 9 second plug-in element [0053] 10 clamping element [0054] 10a first attachment section [0055] 10b second attachment section [0056] 11 bearing section [0057] 12 shifting device [0058] 13 actuator [0059] 14 double arrow [0060] 15 receiving element [0061] 16 coupling element [0062] 17 attachment section