Machine element or mechanism – Mechanical movements – Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
Patent
1993-12-10
1995-12-12
Marmor, Charles A.
Machine element or mechanism
Mechanical movements
Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
248429, 384 34, F16H 2902
Patent
active
054739586
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a spindle drive for an adjusting mechanism for vehicle seats. Such a drive is known, for instance, from DE-OS (German Patent Application) No. 37 25 158. In this literature of reference, a rail firmly connected with the vehicle seat is driven via a rotating spindle which, in the axial direction, is firmly connected with the seat. The drive is effected through a regulating unit which makes the spindle rotate, with the rotation of the spindle being transformed into a longitudinal motion of the seat.
From DE-OS (German Patent Application) No. 39 19 398 it is known to provide a vehicle seat adjusting mechanism with a drive nut formed fast with the vehicle whereon a rotating spindle connected with the seat supports itself and which thus, by means of its rotation, moves the seat in its longitudinal direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention thus proceeds from an adjusting mechanism of the type for a vehicle seat including a spindle engaging a drive nut to move the vehicle seat. It is an object of this invention to simplify the known design of such a spindle drive and to improve it, in particular with regard to the guidance of the upper rail as well as with regard to a protection against any possible tilting of the seat guideway relative to the guideway parts formed fast with the vehicle.
Thus, on principle, this invention consists in simultaneously using the drive nut, held fast to the vehicle, also for guiding the upper rail of the seat. This provides the possibility to improve and simplify the guideway of the upper rail.
A particularly effective support of the upper rail and, thus, of the seat will be achieved via the drive nut, the seat being supported in the vertical direction, i.e., in the direction of the biggest load.
A considerably improved guiding behavior will be achieved between the drive nut and the upper rail by means of longitudinal recesses and projections thereon which form a guideway for the upper rail in the longitudinal direction of the spindle. Thereby, the upper rail will be largely prevented from being displaced sideways, i.e., in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the spindle. Thus, the drive nut not only will take care of conveying the seat in the longitudinal direction of the spindle but will additionally take care of receiving the load of the seat in the horizontal direction as well as of guiding the upper rail in the lateral direction.
It is recommended to use a guide rail in the upper rail which runs in the longitudinal direction of the upper rail and which plunges into a longitudinal groove in the drive nut if the action of the lateral guidance of the drive nut is to be symmetrical. The additional advantage of such a type of guidance lies in that the cross-sectional surface of the rail guided in the groove is relatively small as compared with the cross-sectional surface of the drive nut itself so that the thus created guideway system is likewise relatively indifferent to temperature variations, in particular to a strong change in temperature. This particularly applies to the dimensions in the lateral direction.
In developing this invention further, the guide rail can be connected with the upper rail in one piece. This can be done by means of a cupping process, by means of casting or by means of extrusion.
However, the rail may also be of a separate material, in particular of a slidable material which furthers and supports the sliding properties of the upper rail on the drive nut.
A particularly simple design is rendered by having the guide rail essentially extending over the entire length of the upper rail and slidingly projecting into a corresponding recess of the drive nut. The guide rail can be of a separate slidable material improving the slidability of the upper rail on the drive nut.
If the guideway is subjected to less heavy use it is also possible to use a combination of characteristics in which the drive nut has a projection which may be connected firmly with the nut or even may be formed in o
REFERENCES:
patent: 4838511 (1989-06-01), Terada et al.
Jeck Horst
Menne Hans G.
Alfred Teves GmbH & Co. OHG
Kim Chong H.
Lewis J. Gordon
Marmor Charles A.
Seitter Robert P.
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