DRIVE UNIT FOR MOTOR VEHICLE APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive unit for motor vehicle applications, which is equipped with an electromotive drive (6, 7, 8) having an electric motor (6) and a drive wheel (8). In addition, an actuating element (5) which is acted upon by the drive wheel (8) is provided. A crown gear transmission stage is implemented between a pinion (7) on an output shaft of the electric motor (6) and the drive wheel (8). According to the invention, the drive wheel (8) has a spiral contour (9) and/or toothed contour (11) for acting on the actuating element (5).

Claims

1. A drive unit for motor vehicle applications, comprising an electromotive drive comprising an electric motor, a drive wheel, an actuating element acted upon by the drive wheel, and a crown gear transmission stage is implemented between a pinion on an output shaft of the electric motor and the drive wheel, wherein the drive wheel has a spiral contour and/or a toothed contour for acting upon the actuating element.

2. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive wheel comprises a crown toothing on a first respective surface of the drive wheel, and wherein the spiral contour is provided on a second respective surface of the drive wheel opposite the first respective surface of the drive wheel equipped with the crown toothing.

3. The drive unit according to claim 2, wherein the toothed contour is provided on the first respective surface of the drive wheel equipped with the crown toothing.

4. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is designed as a pivot lever mounted to rotate about an axis of the pivot lever.

5. The drive unit according to claim 4, wherein the axis of the pivot lever is defined by a bearing pin, standing vertically on a housing cover.

6. The drive unit according to claim 4, wherein the pivot lever rests with a stop on a head side of the pivot lever against the spiral contour.

7. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the spiral contour in an undeflected end position at least partially overlaps the pivot lever.

8. The drive unit according to claim 7, wherein an axis of the drive wheel and the axis of the pivot lever are arranged perpendicular to each other.

9. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor with the output shaft and the pinion thereon forms a right-hand angle of engagement with the drive wheel with the crown toothing.

10. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor with the output shaft has a longitudinal extension which is aligned in a direction of a center of the drive wheel.

11. The drive unit according to claim 4, wherein the electric motor with the output shaft has a longitudinal extension which forms an acute angle with the axis of the pivot lever.

12. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive wheel and the actuating element are each designed as plastic injection-molded parts.

13. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element includes a gear wheel arch, and wherein the electric motor with the output shaft has a longitudinal extension which is oriented tangentially in comparison to the gear wheel arch on the actuating element.

14. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element acts upon a transmission lever of a motor vehicle latch.

15. A motor vehicle latch, comprising the drive unit according to claim 1, and a locking mechanism acted upon by the drive unit.

16. The drive unit according to claim 8, wherein the spiral contour is a helical spiral surface wound around an axis of the drive wheel.

17. The drive unit according to claim 4, wherein the toothed contour of the drive wheel interacts with an associated toothed contour on the pivot lever, wherein an axis of the drive wheel and an axis of the pivot lever run parallel to one another.

Description

[0019] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with the aid of a drawing showing only an exemplary embodiment; in the figures:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows the drive unit according to the invention in connection with a motor vehicle latch for electrically opening a locking mechanism,

[0021] FIG. 2 shows the drive unit in a perspectival front view and rear view, and

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a variant of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0023] The figures show a drive unit for motor vehicle applications. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the drive unit is used in conjunction with a motor vehicle latch 1 shown therein. This means that the motor vehicle latch 1 is equipped with the relevant drive unit. For this purpose, the motor vehicle latch 1 has a locking mechanism 2, 3 consisting of a rotary latch 2 and pawl 3 which are each rotatably mounted on a lock case 1. In the context of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the axis for the pawl 3 is defined by a bearing pin 4 which for this purpose stands vertically on the lock case 1 or, generally, on a housing cover 1. A release lever 5 is also mounted on the bearing pin 4 axially parallel with the pawl 3.

[0024] In the context of the present invention, the release lever 5 is a specially designed actuating element 5 which, in the context of the illustrations, is designed as a pivoting lever 5 rotatably mounted about the axis defined by the bearing pin 4, and specifically as a release lever 5 in the variant according to FIG. 1. The basic structure of the drive unit includes an electromotive drive 6, 7, 8.

[0025] The electromotive drive 6, 7, 8 is in turn equipped with an electric motor 6 and a drive wheel 8. In addition, a pinion 7 is realized on an output shaft of the electric motor 6. Between the pinion 7 on the output shaft of the electric motor 6 and the drive wheel 8, a crown gear transmission stage is provided which can best be understood from the right-hand illustration in FIG. 2. In fact, at this point, helical toothing or evoloid toothing are used on the one hand on the pinion 7, and on the other on the drive wheel 8 or a crown toothing 8a on the drive wheel 8.

[0026] Furthermore, and in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the drive wheel 8 on its surface opposite the crown toothing 8a is equipped with a spiral contour 9. The spiral contour 9 serves to act upon the actuating element 5. In the context of the variant according to FIG. 1, the actuating element 5 is designed as a pivot lever or release lever 5, as already explained. As a result, a rotational movement of the drive wheel 8 about its axis 10 in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated in FIG. 1, causes the release lever 5 there to also perform a pivoting movement in a counterclockwise direction about its axis defined by the bearing pin 4. The counterclockwise rotation of the release lever 5 results in the pawl 3, which is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the release lever 5, also being pivoted counterclockwise around the common bearing pin 4 in the example, and thereby leaving its locking position with the rotary latch 2. As a result, the rotary latch 2 can swing open with the assistance of a spring and can release a previously captive locking bolt (not shown). The associated motor vehicle door and the locking mechanism 2, 3 are consequently opened by an electric motor.

[0027] By comparing FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the pivot lever 5 rests with a stop 5a on the head side against the spiral contour 9. According to the exemplary embodiment, the spiral contour 9 has a constant pitch compared to the axis 10 of the drive wheel 8. In principle, an increasing or decreasing pitch can also be used here, depending upon which output force curve is desired.

[0028] According to the exemplary embodiment, the crown gear transmission stage between the pinion 7 and the drive wheel 8 or the crown toothing 8a there represents the only transmission stage, such that a particularly compact structure is observed. This is also due to the fact that the axis 10 of the drive wheel 8 and the axis, formed by the bearing pin 4, of the pivot lever 5 are arranged largely perpendicular to each other. Furthermore, the design is such that the electric motor 6 together with its output shaft and the pinion 7 thereon describe a predominantly right-hand angle of engagement in comparison to the drive wheel 8 with the crown toothing 8a. In addition, the electric motor 6, together with its output shaft and the pinion 7 in question, has a longitudinal extension which forms an acute angle a with the axis of the pivot lever 5 or the bearing pin 4 defining the axis. This is best understood from the illustration on the right in FIG. 2. The angle a may assume values from 10 to 40.

[0029] It can be seen that the spiral contour 9 in an undeflected end position of the pivot lever 5 at least partially overlaps the pivot lever 5. This is illustrated in FIG. 1. In fact, the end position of the pivot lever 5 in question corresponds to the fact that the pivot lever 5 in this case rests with its head-side stop 5a on a low point of the spiral contour 9. In contrast, the spiral contour 9 with its highest point overlaps the pivot lever 5. In this undeflected end position of the pivot lever 5, a stop is automatically provided for the electromotive drive 6, 7, 8.

[0030] In order to achieve and implement particularly economical production, according to the exemplary embodiment, at least the drive wheel 8 and the actuating element or the pivot lever 5 are each designed as plastic injection-molded parts. In principle, the pinion 7 on the output shaft of the electric motor 6 can also be designed as a plastic injection-molded part. This not only results in economical production, but also an overall low weight is observed. In addition, there are low frictional forces.

[0031] Comparable advantages and effects are observed in the variant shown in FIG. 3. Instead of the spiral contour 9 therein, a toothed contour 11 is provided on the drive wheel 8 in order to be able to act upon the actuating element 5 or the pivot lever or the release lever 5 as shown in FIG. 1. In fact, by means of the actuating element or pivot lever 5, the locking mechanism 2, 3 can be opened in a way similar to the previously described variant. It can be seen that, for this purpose, in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, a transmission lever 14 is additionally implemented, which is also basically unnecessary.

[0032] In the variant according to FIG. 3, the toothed contour 11 is specifically designed as a central pinion 11 which is provided on the same side or surface as the crown gear 8a of the drive gear 8. A gear wheel arch 12 on the actuating element or pivot lever 5 meshes with the central pinion 11. This causes pivoting movements by the pivot lever or the actuating element 5, which can be limited as required by means of a stop 13 on the actuating element 5. The pivoting movements of the actuating element 5 are then in turn transmitted to the transmission lever 14 or act thereon.

[0033] It can be seen that the electric motor 6 including the pinion 7 is arranged in its longitudinal extension defined thereby relative to the drive wheel 8 and the crown gear 8a such that the relevant longitudinal extension is directed towards the center of the drive wheel 8. This applies to all variants.

[0034] Furthermore, the longitudinal extension in question in the variant according to FIG. 3 is predominantly oriented tangentially compared to the gear wheel arch 12.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0035] 1 Motor vehicle latch [0036] 2 Rotary latch [0037] 3 Pawl [0038] 4 Bearing pin [0039] 5 Actuating element [0040] 6 Electric motor [0041] 7 Pinion [0042] 8 Drive wheel [0043] 8a Crown toothing [0044] 9 Spiral contour [0045] 10 Axis [0046] 11 Toothed contour [0047] 12 Gear wheel arch [0048] 13 Stop [0049] 14 Transmission lever