Planetary gear transmission systems or components – Planet periphery surrounds axis of interacting gear
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-18
2001-09-04
Estremsky, Sherry (Department: 3681)
Planetary gear transmission systems or components
Planet periphery surrounds axis of interacting gear
C192S015000, C297S36700R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283886
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a drive for adjustment devices in motor vehicles. In particular, the invention serves to facilitate the adjustment of component parts of a vehicle seat or of the entire vehicle seat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
DE 196 53 722 A1 discloses a manual drive acting on both sides to produce a rotary movement. The device has a stepped switch mechanism that contains a fixing device that locks torque occurring on the output side. The stepped switch mechanism is arranged between a drive and an output element. The fixing device is formed as a loop spring brake and prevents the undesired displacement of the adjustment device, for example a seat back.
In order to achieve this fixing position a relatively complicated mechanism is required having a number of component parts that have to be fitted together in an expensive assembly process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a simple, cost-effective drive that can be adapted with low expense to different components of a vehicle adjustment device. The drive is to be particularly suitable for adjusting seat components.
By arranging a self-locking gearbox between a stepped switch mechanism and the device that is to be adjusted it is possible, in a simple and cost-effective manner, to prevent torque applied on the output side from causing undesired displacement of the device that is to be adjusted, such as the seat back or seat cushion of a vehicle seat.
Furthermore, through a suitable transmission ratio of a gearbox, it is possible to adapt to the requirements of the device or components that are to be adjusted. For example, for a seat height adjustment as compared to a seat length adjustment, a substantially smaller step width is used per displacement stroke with a simultaneously higher force expense.
In order to adapt the displacement path per stroke of the stepped switch mechanism to the relevant area of use, a reduction or translation step is arranged between the self-locking gearbox and the stepped switch mechanism. When adjusting the seat length, as a rule, greater displacement paths per stroke are desired than when adjusting the seat height. Consequently, for adjusting the seat length a gear step will be provided with a translation step, while for adjusting the seat height a reduction will be applied. When adjusting the seat height, a reduction does indeed have an advantage, in addition to the finer adjustability, that the relatively high operating forces based on the weight of the seat user are reduced.
In addition to the gear step, or as an alternative thereto, it is possible to mount a transmission member between the self-locking gear and the stepped switch mechanism whereby a spatial uncoupling of the two structural groups becomes possible. The stepped switch mechanism can thus be mounted at a place where it can be easily operated by the user, irrespective of where the displacement is actually to take place. The gear is preferably mounted near the device that is to be displaced but can however equally be connected to the device to be displaced through a transmission member. Transmission members can be for example shafts and traction drives, but are not restricted to these.
The type of self-locking gear is thereby freely selected in principle, however planetary, tumbler, or eccentric gears are preferred wherein an inclined spur wheel, an inclined ball wheel, or cyclo gears, as well as worm or spindle gears, can all be used depending on conditions.
While the gear is driven by a stepped switch mechanism it is connected on the output side to a seat height, seat incline, seat length, seat cushion depth, or head rest adjustment device.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the gear is connected on the output side directly to a seat backrest to produce a direct adjustment.
As an alternative to a direct action on the device to be displaced, the gear may have an output shaft with an output element mounted thereon for moving the device to be adjusted. This output element is preferably formed as a pinion however, other designs such as a worm, spur wheel, or friction clutch element are also possible.
In order to allow the simplest possible interface between the stepped switch mechanism and the gear, the stepped switch mechanism has at its output a drive element, coupled to the gear. The drive element operates as a coupling member between the structural groups of the stepped switch mechanism and gear and can be a common constituent part of both structural groups.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the drive element is formed as a pinion and can in the case of a tumbler or eccentric gear be both the eccentrically rotating gearwheel and the stepping element of the stepped switch mechanism.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the drive element can be formed as only a constituent part of the gear that is driven by the stepped switch mechanism through for example, an eccentric bearing, the formation of a planetary gear part, or the like.
Furthermore, it is possible to arrange at least one gear step between the drive element and the gearbox to produce a suitable input transmission.
If the gear is formed as a tumbler or eccentric gear there is the advantage of providing an output element with an inner gearing in which an eccentrically mounted spur wheel rotates with a smaller number of teeth compared to the inner gearing, the spur wheel being coupled in force locking or positive locking engagement with the drive element.
As an alternative to a force locking or positive locking connection between the spur wheel and drive element, the drive element can be formed as the spur wheel of the tumbler or eccentric gear and mounted eccentric relative to the inner teeth of the output element.
In an additional embodiment of the present invention, an eccentric is formed on the drive element, and a spur wheel is mounted on the eccentric and is driven by the eccentric to engage in a tumbler or eccentric gear.
In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the tumbler or eccentric gear has a housing in which are mounted an eccentric, driven by the drive pinion and connected to a planetary wheel, and also an output hollow wheel connected to an output shaft and engaging with the planetary wheel. The planetary wheel has a drive wheel engaging with the output hollow wheel, and an axially adjoining support wheel that engages with a support hollow wheel fixed on the housing.
In order to ensure a simple force-saving operation of the adjustment device, the stepped switch mechanism has a drive lever that is hand operated and with which the stepped switch mechanism, and thus the drive element, is moved or turned in one direction or another selectively, starting from a neutral position. The drive element is thereby only turned when the drive lever is moved from the neutral position while it is not turned when the drive lever is moved in the direction of the neutral position.
In a preferred embodiment of the drive, the drive lever can swivel about a drive axis and is in active connection with the drive element through at least one rocker element which rocks to and fro between two end positions depending on the drive direction. In each end position of the rocker movement, toothed areas of the rocker element engage teeth of the drive element and thus produce a force locking connection between the drive lever and the drive element. In this way the drive element is turned stepwise about a certain angle.
In order to take up the smallest possible structural space, the drive element is provided with inner teeth in which the rocker element engages during each relevant rocker movement. The rocker element is mounted for example to swivel on a holding plate that in turn is mounted on the drive axis of the stepped switch mechanism. The rocker element and the holding plate can thereby be made of plastics or metal and are preferably connected together prior to assembly through a film hinge or an ideal break point.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2746331 (1956-05-01), Anderson
Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG Coburg
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Estremsky Sherry
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