Housing for a drive device, drive device and method for testing the tightness of a pressure compensating membrane

• US 8,356,520 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hurst, Richard, Kastinger, Guenter, Holzer, Thomas, Dudek, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Andre
• Application Number:
  US12/991,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20110167917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 73700-756
• US Class Current: 73/708
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2205/09 Machines characterised by drain passages or by venting, breathing or pressure compensating means
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/08 Insulating casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2186 Gear casings

Abstract

The invention relates to a housing (2) for a drive device, especially for an adjusting device and/or a windshield wiper drive in a motor vehicle, comprising a pressure compensating membrane (4) obturating a housing opening (7). The invention is characterized in that the pressure compensating membrane (4) has a peripheral sealing surface (11) which extends continuously in the direction of circumference. The invention further relates to a drive device and to a method for testing the operativeness of a pressure compensating membrane (4).

Claims

1. A housing for a drive device, the housing comprising a housing structure, and a pressure compensating diaphragm (4) which closes off a housing opening (7) in the housing structure, characterized in that the housing structure includes a sealing surface (11) which runs around the pressure compensating diaphragm (4), the sealing surface being formed by the upper end (12) of a circumferential wall (13) of the housing structure, wherein the wall runs around the diaphragm at a radial distance from the diaphragm, the upper end of the wall being offset from jagged surface structure radially outside of the wall and the sealing surface having a profile which is continuous in the circumferential direction.

2. The housing as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sealing surface (11) is arranged in a sealing plane.

3. The housing as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sealing surface (11), viewed along a longitudinal central axis of the housing opening (7), is arranged below an outer edge region of the pressure compensating diaphragm (4).

4. The housing as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sealing surface (11), as viewed radially outside and along a longitudinal central axis of the housing opening (7), is below a protective cover (9) above the pressure compensating diaphragm (4), the cover being fixed to the housing structure.

5. The housing as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the housing (2) has at least one reinforcement rib (18, 19, 20) situated at the outside of the housing structure.

6. The housing as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the reinforcement rib (18, 19, 20) has a section of reduced height so as to ensure a run-off of liquid situated between the pressure compensating diaphragm (4) and the reinforcement rib (18, 19, 20).

7. The housing as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the reinforcement rib (18, 19, 20) has a height extent which varies over its longitudinal extent.

8. The housing as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the reinforcement rib (18, 19, 20) has a wedge shape at least in sections.

9. The housing as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the reinforcement rib (18, 19, 20) has an aperture.

10. The housing as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the reinforcement rib (18, 19, 20) has a wedge shape at least in sections.

11. The housing as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the reinforcement rib (18, 19, 20) has a wedge shape at least in sections.

12. The housing as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the reinforcement rib (18, 19, 20) has an aperture.

13. The housing as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sealing surface (11) is arranged in a sealing plane which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of the housing opening (7).

14. A drive device, the drive device comprising a gearing held in a housing (2), the housing including a housing structure, and a pressure compensating diaphragm (4) which closes off a housing opening (7) in the housing structure, characterized in that the housing structure includes a sealing surface (11) which runs around the pressure compensating diaphragm (4), the sealing surface being formed by the upper end (12) of a circumferential wall (13) of the housing structure, wherein the wall runs around the diaphragm at a radial distance from the diaphragm, the upper end of the wall being offset from a jagged surface structure radially outside of the wall, and the sealing surface having a profile which is continuous in the circumferential direction.

15. A method for testing the functional capability of a pressure compensating diaphragm (4) using a testing device, the method comprising

providing a housing structure, and a pressure compensating diaphragm (4) which closes off a housing opening (7) in the housing structure, wherein the housing structure includes a sealing surface (11) which runs around the pressure compensating diaphragm (4), the sealing surface being formed by the upper end (12) of a circumferential wall (13) of the housing structure, wherein the wall runs around the diaphragm at a radial distance from the diaphragm, the upper end of the wall being offset from a jagged surface structure radially outside of the wall, and the sealing surface having a profile which is continuous in the circumferential direction, and

performing the functional capability test by placing the testing device in sealing contact against the sealing surface.