Driving Device

• US 20090199668A1
• Filed: 02/11/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stabilus GmbH (Stabilus S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Stabilus GmbH (Stabilus S.A.)
• Inventors: Hillen, Jorg, Frieb-Preis, Timo, Batosky, Oleg, Kohns, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,156,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/424.71
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/622 using screw-and-nut mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/726 Ring gears; Internal gears
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/334 by using pulse generators
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/41 for multiple motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/2015 Means specially adapted for stopping actuators in the end position; Position sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19702 Screw and nut
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2186 Gear casings

Abstract

A driving device for a hatch in a motor vehicle includes a first fastening element which can be connected to a stationary structural component, a second fastening element which can be connected to a movable structural component, a spindle drive including a threaded spindle having an axis of rotation and a spindle nut arranged on the threaded spindle, and a rotary drive having a driveshaft for rotating spindle to move the first fastening element axially relative to the second fastening element. A stroke detection sensor for continuously detecting the position of the movable structural component includes a rotatable sensor element driven in rotation by the driveshaft and a stationary sensor element for continuously detecting the rotational position of the rotatable sensor element. A gear reduction unit is provided between the driveshaft and the rotatable sensor element so the revolutions of the sensor element are reduced by about 14:1.

Claims

1. A driving device for a hatch in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a first fastening element which can be connected to a stationary structural component;

a second fastening element which can be connected to a movable structural component;

a spindle drive comprising a threaded spindle having an axis of rotation and a spindle nut arranged on the threaded spindle;

a rotary drive comprising a driveshaft for rotating said spindle about said axis of rotation to move the first fastening element axially relative to the second fastening element;

a spindle sensor for detecting revolutions of the spindle;

a stroke detection sensor for continuously detecting the position of the movable structural component, the stroke detection sensor comprising a rotatable sensor element driven in rotation by the driveshaft and a stationary sensor element for continuously detecting the rotational position of the rotatable sensor element; and

a gear reduction unit between the driveshaft and the rotatable sensor element.

2. The driving device of claim 1 wherein the gear reduction unit comprises:

an annular gear which is fixed against substantial rotation, the annular gear having an inside diameter;

an eccentric cam fixed to the driveshaft for driving the annular gear to wobble;

a gear wheel having an external diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the annular gear, wherein the gear wheel engages the annular gear so that the gear wheel rotates less than the drive shaft, wherein the rotatable sensor element is driven to rotate by the gear wheel.

3. The driving device of claim 2 wherein the annular gear has a plurality of bore holes with a diameter, each bore hole receiving a stationary pin having a diameter, wherein the diameter of the bore holes is larger than the diameter of the pins by twice the eccentricity of the eccentric cam.

4. The driving device of claim 2 wherein the annular gear has internal teeth and the gear wheel has external gear which engage the internal teeth.

5. The driving device of claim 2 wherein the rotatable sensor element has an axially projecting stop and the stationary sensor element has a groove which receives said stop, the groove having circumferential ends which limit the range of rotation of the rotatable sensor element relative to the stationary sensor element.

6. The driving device of claim 5 wherein the rotatable sensor element engages the wheel frictionally and is rotationally movable relative to the gear wheel.

7. The driving device of claim 6 further comprising a carrier on which the rotatable sensor element and the axially projecting stop are arranged, the carrier having a sleeve which is concentric to the axis of rotation, the gear wheel having a central hole which frictionally engages the sleeve.

8. The driving device of claim 1 wherein the stroke position sensor is a rotary potentiometer, the rotatable sensor element is a potentiometer wiper, and the stationary sensor element is an annular potentiometer path.

9. The driving device of claim 1 further comprising an annular carrier disk on which the stationary sensor element is arranged.

10. The driving device of claim 1 further comprising a second rotatable sensor element driven in rotation by the driveshaft via the gear reduction unit, and a second stationary sensor element for detecting the rotational position of the second rotatable sensor element.

11. The driving device of claim 10 wherein the rotatable sensor element and the second rotatable sensor element are arranged on a common carrier.

12. The driving device of claim 10 wherein the stationary sensor element and the second stationary sensor element are arranged on a common carrier.

13. The driving device of claim 10 wherein the second rotatable sensor element is a wiper contact and the second stationary contact element is a contact element.

14. The driving device of claim 1 wherein the rotatable position sensor comprises a magnet and the stationary sensor element comprises a reed contact.

15. The driving device of claim 14 further comprising a stationary carrier having a window in which the reed contact is arranged.

16. The driving device of claim 1 further comprising a rotatable carrier having a lug which serves as the rotatable sensor element, the stationary sensor element comprising a biased reed contact.

17. The driving device of claim 16 further comprising a stationary sensor carrier having a window, the biased reed contact being arranged in the window.

18. The driving device of claim 1 wherein the spindle sensor comprises stationary sensor element comprises at least one stationary Hall sensor and a magnet ring fixed to the drive shaft adjacent to the at least one Hall sensor.

19. The driving device of claim 1 wherein the spindle sensor comprises at least one stationary Hall sensor, a stationary magnet arranged opposite the at least one Hall sensor, and a fan washer fixed to the driveshaft and arranged between the at least one Hall sensor and the magnet.

20. The driving device of claim 1 further comprising a housing containing the spindle sensor, the stroke detection sensor, and the gear reduction unit so as to form a structural unit penetrated by the driveshaft.

21. The driving device of claim 2 wherein the spindle sensor comprises a magnet ring fixed to the driveshaft, the stroke detection sensor comprising a stationary carrier for the stationary sensor element and a rotatable carrier for the rotatable sensor element, the driving device further comprising a cup-shaped housing containing the magnet ring and the carriers in a sandwich structure.

22. The driving device of claim 1 further comprising a coupling between the rotary drive and the spindle, wherein the coupling can be opened.

23. The driving device of claim 1 further comprising a gear unit between the rotary drive and the spindle.

24. The driving device of claim 23 further comprising a housing tube in which the rotary drive and the gear unit are arranged.