Drive device

• US 7,263,909 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Weis, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ridley; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson; Matthew A.
• Application Number:
  US10/718,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20040099077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 74/53, 74/54, 74/55, 74/891.4, 744/05, 744/11, 744/43, 744/46, 743/91, 744/25, 292/201
• US Class Current: 74/425
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/34 of geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/16 comprising worm and worm-wheel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19633 Yieldability in gear trains
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19828 Worm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19907 Sound deadening

Abstract

The present invention is electronically driven locking device for a locking element of a motor vehicle. The device has a motor, a gear wheel including a gear ring, a hub, and an elastic intermediate element, and a control disk. The motor is linked to the gear ring via a worm gear which is arranged to turn the gear. The control disk is linked to the locking element such that when the gear ring is turned, the hub is turned via the intermediate element which in turn engages the locking element to close or open. The intermediate element is arranged to absorb kinetic energy in the device.

Claims

1. An electronically driven locking device for electronically engaging and disengaging a locking element of a motor vehicle, wherein the locking device is coupled to

actuating means having a motor and a worm gear, said motor arranged to drive said worm gear and generate kinetic energy resulting in application of a torque to said locking device, said locking device comprising:

a gear wheel comprising a gear ring, a hub, an elastic intermediate element and a central axis upon which the gear ring, hub and elastic intermediate element are arranged,

wherein each one of said gear ring, hub and elastic intermediate element has a lateral side that is substantially perpendicular to said central axis,

wherein said gear ring and hub are joined together by said elastic intermediate element and via a material to material bond, so that the intermediate element is sandwiched between a lateral side of the gear ring and a lateral side of the hub,

wherein said gear ring and hub each comprise circumferential teeth, said gear ring teeth being arranged to engage said worm gear such that force from said worm gear is imparted upon said gear ring; and

a control disk comprising circumferential teeth arranged to interact with said hub teeth such that rotational force may be exchanged between said control disk and hub, said control disk mechanically linked to said locking element such that said torque is absorbed by said intermediate element.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said gear ring and hub comprise a plastic and said intermediate element comprises an elastic plastic.

3. The apparatus device to claim 1, wherein the control disk comprises means for effecting a locking and a releasing of the control disk.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said locking element is part of a door lock of said motor vehicle.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one arm mechanically coupled to said control disk, said at least one arm facilitating imparting of a drive force on said locking element from said control disk.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said at least one arm comprises two arms mechanically linked via a single rotatable shaft, and said two arms are spring biased to said control disk.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said control disk comprises a plurality of tracks, and said two arms further comprise end extensions engaging said tracks.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein two of said plurality of tracks are located on opposite sides of said control disk.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprises a first and a second stop element, said first stop element located at a circumferential location of said control disk and said second stop element located in a path of movement of said first stop element so as to engage said first stop element, wherein when said first stop and second stop elements engage on another said control disk is halted in a direction of said path of movement.

10. The drive element according to claim 1, wherein said torque comprises kinetic energy with said device after deactivation of said motor.