Drive device

• US 8,596,153 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stabilus GmbH (Stabilus S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Stabilus GmbH (Stabilus S.A.)
• Inventors: Arenz, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rogers, Adam D
• Application Number:
  US12/290,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20090113803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,854 Days
• Field of Search: 74/892.3, 74/893.6, 74/893.7, 74/893.9, 74/894, 74/894.1, 74/894.5, 745/024, 745/026, 296/56, 296/100.1, 296/106, 296/146.8, 493/33, 493/34, 493/37, 493/39, 493/40
• US Class Current: 74/89.23
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/622 using screw-and-nut mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/627 operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables using flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/619
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/548 Trunk lids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18576 including screw and nut

Abstract

Disclosed is a drive device for the automatic opening and closing of hinged lids, especially motor vehicle lids. The drive device includes a housing, a rotary drive installed in the housing, at least one spindle drive, which can be driven by the rotary drive and which comprises a threaded spindle and a spindle nut, a connecting device mounted on the spindle nut, and at least one actuating pull, comprising a cable and a sleeve, where one end of the cable is attached to the connecting device.

Claims

1. A drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids, comprising:

a housing;

a rotary drive mounted in the housing;

a first spindle drive coupled to the rotary drive, the first spindle drive comprising;

a threaded spindle; and

a first spindle nut;

a connecting device mounted on the first spindle nut; and

an actuating pull, the actuating pull comprising a cable and a sleeve,

wherein a first end of the cable is attached to the connecting device, and

wherein the connecting device is a U-shaped web.

2. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 1, wherein the actuating pull is configured as a push-pull cable.

3. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 1, wherein the cable further comprises an endpiece having an area of reduced diameter, where the area of reduced diameter is adapted to be inserted into the connecting device.

4. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 1, further comprising a second spindle drive coupled to the rotary drive, the second spindle drive comprising:

a second threaded spindle;

a second spindle nut; and

a connecting device mounted on the first spindle nut,

wherein the spindle drives are parallel to each other.

5. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the spindle drives is arranged coaxially to the rotary drive.

6. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the spindle drives is arranged axially parallel to the rotary drive.

7. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 4, further comprising a drive assembly coupling the first spindle drive to the second spindle drive.

8. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 7, wherein the drive assembly comprises

a first gear mounted coaxially with the first spindle drive;

a second gear mounted coaxially with the second spindle drive; and

a third gear coupling the first gear to the second gear.

9. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 8, wherein the first spindle nut and the second spindle nut are configured to move in opposite directions.

10. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 7, wherein the first spindle nut and the second spindle nut are configured to move in a same direction.

11. A drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids, comprising:

a housing including;

a cover; and

a retaining device;

a rotary drive mounted in the housing;

a first spindle drive coupled to the rotary drive, the first spindle drive comprising;

a threaded spindle; and

a first spindle nut;

a connecting device mounted on the first spindle nut; and

an actuating pull, the actuating pull comprising a cable and a sleeve, wherein a first end of the cable is attached to the connecting device,

wherein a first end of the sleeve of the actuating pull is attached to the retaining device, and

wherein the cover has a slot extending in an axial direction, wherein the connecting device projects out of the cover through the slot.

12. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 11, wherein the slot is at least partially covered by a first safety device.

13. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 12, wherein the first safety device is an integral part of the cover.

14. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 12, further comprising a second safety device adapted to cover a part of the slot not covered by the first safety device.

15. The drive device for opening and closing hinged motor vehicle lids according to claim 14, wherein the second safety device is configured to be placed radially onto the cover.