Screw arrangement and seat arrangement comprising a screw arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9885403-B2
Application number	US-201615144963-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2016
Priority date	May 4, 2015
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to a screw arrangement ( 10 ), comprising: a drive unit ( 16 ) for introducing a torque into the screw arrangement, a drive element ( 24 ) driven in rotation about a main axis (A) of the screw arrangement by the drive unit ( 16 ) and having an external thread ( 30 ), and a driven element ( 12 ) having an internal thread ( 32 ), which is in threaded engagement with the drive element ( 24 ). The invention further relates to a seat arrangement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A screw arrangement, comprising:
a drive unit for introducing a torque into the screw arrangement, the drive unit having an electric motor and being housed in a distal end of a drive-side tube body,
a drive element driven in rotation about a main axis of the screw arrangement by the drive unit and having an external thread, and
a driven element having an internal thread, which is in threaded engagement with the drive element,
wherein an internal thread axial extension of the internal thread of the driven element is greater than an external thread axial extension of the external thread of the drive element, and wherein the drive unit, including the electric motor, and the drive element are radially disposed within the driven element.

2. The screw arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein, in a contracted state of the screw arrangement, the drive unit is received inside the driven element and enclosed by the internal thread of the driven element at least in part.

3. The screw arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the drive unit provides the torque thereof at a drive shaft, the drive element being coupled to the drive shaft so as to transfer torque but be axially displaceable, and a suspension element having one or both a damping and suspension effect in the axial direction being arranged between the drive element and the drive shaft.

4. The screw arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the drive element is braced on a support portion in the axial direction, the support portion being axially fixed with respect to a housing of the drive unit or being formed by a housing of the drive unit or being formed on a drive-side tube body which receives the drive unit.

5. The screw arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a housing of the drive unit is coupled to the driven element so as to be rotationally engaged but axially displaceable.

6. The screw arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein at least one projection which is rotationally engaged with the housing of the drive unit is guided in at least one axial groove of the driven element.

7. The screw arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein the drive element is braced on a support portion in the axial direction, the support portion being axially fixed with respect to the housing of the drive unit or being formed by the housing of the drive unit or being formed on a drive-side tube body which receives the drive unit and wherein the support portion and the at least one projection are formed on a common control body arranged axially between the drive unit and the drive element.

8. The screw arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the drive unit provides the torque thereof at a drive shaft which passes through a through-opening in the control body.

9. The screw arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the drive unit includes one or both a gear unit and a battery for providing electrical energy for driving the electric motor and/or a control unit for the electric motor.

10. The screw arrangement according to claim 9 , wherein the electric motor and said one or both the gear unit and the battery are interconnected to form a module which can be handled as a unit.

11. The screw arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is accommodated in a drive-side tube body.

12. The screw arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the drive-side tube body has externally accessible electric contacts for one or both of actuating and powering the drive unit.

13. A seat arrangement comprising a seat height adjustment means which has a screw arrangement, comprising:
a drive unit for introducing a torque into the screw arrangement, the drive unit having an electric motor,
a drive element driven in rotation about a main axis of the screw arrangement by the drive unit and having an external thread, and
a driven element having an internal thread, which is in threaded engagement with the drive element,
wherein an internal thread axial extension of the internal thread of the driven element is greater than an external thread axial extension of the external thread of the drive element, and wherein the drive unit, including the electric motor, and the drive element are radially disposed within the driven element.

14. The seat arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the seat arrangement has a single vertical central column arranged so that substantially the entire gravitational force introduced via a seat of the seat arrangement is receivable by the central column, and the central column being formed by the screw arrangement.

Assignees

• Stabilus Gmbh

Inventors

• Loehken Lars
• Probst Ulrich
• Piroth Raphael
• Mueller Markus

Classifications

• A47C3/24

  with vertical spindle · CPC title

• F16H25/20 Primary

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

• F16H2025/2075

  Coaxial drive motors · CPC title

• F16H2025/2062

  Arrangements for driving the actuator · CPC title

• F16H57/0006

  Vibration-damping or noise reducing means specially adapted for gearings (devices for varying tension of belts, ropes or chains with damping means F16H7/0829; toothed members with construction providing vibration damping F16H55/14; reducing vibrations or noise of the gearbox casing F16H57/028; suppression of vibrations or noise of gear selectors F16H59/0208; control of hydrostatic fluid gearing preventing or reducing vibrations or noise F16H61/4183) · CPC title