Control unit for a closing drive for a motor vehicle lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10508478-B2
Application number	US-201615561115-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2016
Priority date	Mar 25, 2015
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to a control unit ( 1, 12 ), comprising a control element ( 4, 15 ), particularly for a closing drive of a motor vehicle lock. Said control unit comprises a housing ( 2, 13 ), a drive unit, and a spindle gear unit having a spindle nut and a spindle ( 3, 14 ). Said spindle gear unit can be driven by the drive unit and the control element ( 4, 15 ) can be moved by means of the spindle ( 3, 14 ), the control element ( 4, 15 ) having a means for guiding the control element ( 4, 15 ) in the housing ( 2, 13 ) so that the control element ( 4, 15 ) can be prevented from rotating about an axis of movement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An actuator unit comprising:
an actuating element for a closure drive of a motor vehicle latch; housing; and
a spindle for moving the actuating element, wherein the housing has at least two recesses that have different profiles, and wherein the actuating element has at least three elevations having different profiles that correspond to the different profiles of the at least two recesses for guiding the actuating element in the housing, so that distortion of the actuating element around a movement axis can be prevented,
wherein the at least three elevations includes at least one elevation having a rectangular profile and at least two elevations that each have an involute profile, and
wherein the at least two elevations and the at least one elevation are equidistantly spaced along a circumference of the actuating element.

2. The actuating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating element is guided into the housing in a form-fitting manner.

3. The actuating element according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two recesses are grooves.

4. The actuating element according to claim 1 , wherein the involute profile of one of the at least two elevations forms an involute toothing which is in a corresponding one of the at least two recesses of the housing.

5. The actuating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two elevations that each have an involute profile are formed as at least five involute toothings and wherein the at least one elevation that has a rectangular profile is formed as at least one rectangular toothing; wherein the at least five involute toothings and the at least one rectangular toothing are arranged on the circumference of the actuating element.

6. The actuating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating element and the spindle are formed as a single component.

7. The actuating unit according to claim 1 , wherein at least the actuating element and the spindle are made of plastic.

8. The actuating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating element is connected to a Bowden cable.

9. The actuating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two recesses for guiding the actuating element extend along the housing so that a linear movement of the actuating element can be enabled.

10. An actuator unit comprising:
an actuating element for a closure drive of a motor vehicle latch;
a housing; and
a spindle for moving the actuating element, wherein the housing is configured to guide the actuating element so that distortion of the actuating element around a movement axis can be prevented,
wherein the actuating element includes five involute toothings and a rectangular toothing that are arranged on a circumference of the actuating element and are guided in corresponding recesses of the housing.

Assignees

• Kiekert Ag

Inventors

• Töpfer Claus
• Kind Andreas
• Stötzer Jan

Classifications

• F16H2025/204

  Axial sliding means, i.e. for rotary support and axial guiding of nut or screw shaft · CPC title

• E05B81/20

  for assisting final closing or for initiating opening · CPC title

• F16H25/20

  Screw mechanisms (with automatic reversal F16H25/12) · CPC title

• E05B81/40 Primary

  Nuts or nut-like elements moving along a driven threaded axle · CPC title

• E05B81/25 Primary

  Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections · CPC title