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DE-102025105412-B3 - Door drive device for adjusting a vehicle door relative to a vehicle body

DE102025105412B3DE 102025105412 B3DE102025105412 B3DE 102025105412B3DE-102025105412-B3

Abstract

A door drive device (2) for adjusting a vehicle door (11) relative to a vehicle body (10) comprises a motor (20), a gearbox (25), and a spindle (24) rotatable about a longitudinal axis (L). The motor (20) is operatively connected to the spindle (24) via the gearbox (25), and the spindle (24) is rotatable about the longitudinal axis (L) when driven by the motor (20). A spindle nut element (27) is threaded to the spindle (24) such that by rotating the spindle (24), the spindle nut element (27) can be moved relative to the spindle (24) along an adjustment direction (V) pointing along the longitudinal axis (L). A guide rail (23) serves to guide the spindle nut element (27) during movement along the adjustment direction (V). The guide rail (23) is formed by forming in a sheet metal bending process and has a profile that is closed all around the adjustment direction (V).

Inventors

  • Tobias GAGEL
  • Daniel Schnapp

Assignees

  • BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE SE & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT, BAMBERG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250213

Claims (20)

  1. Door drive device (2) for adjusting a vehicle door (11) relative to a vehicle body (10), comprising a motor (20), a gearbox (25), a spindle (24) rotatable about a longitudinal axis (L), wherein the motor (20) is operatively connected to the spindle (24) via the gearbox (25) and the spindle (24) is rotatable about the longitudinal axis (L) driven by the motor (20), a spindle nut element (27) which is threaded in connection with the spindle (24) such that by rotating the spindle (24) the spindle nut element (27) is movable along an adjustment direction (V) pointing along the longitudinal axis (L) relative to the spindle (24), a guide rail (23) for guiding the spindle nut element (27) during movement along the adjustment direction (V) and a push rod (21) connected to the spindle nut element (27) for transmitting an adjustment force between the vehicle door (11) and the Vehicle body (10), characterized in that the guide rail (23) is formed by forming in a sheet metal bending process and has a profile closed around the adjustment direction (V).
  2. Door drive device (2) according Claim 1 , characterized in that the guide rail (23) is formed from a metal sheet, in particular a steel sheet.
  3. Door drive device (2) according Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the guide rail (23) is formed as a stamped-bent part from a sheet metal part.
  4. door drive device (2) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that sheet metal sections (290, 291) of the guide rail (23), which are bent towards each other about the adjustment direction (V), are connected to each other at a connection point (29).
  5. Door drive device (2) according Claim 4 , characterized in that the sheet metal sections (290, 291) are connected to each other longitudinally along the adjustment direction (V) at the connection point (29).
  6. Door drive device (2) according Claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that the sheet metal sections (290, 291) are connected to each other at the connection point (29) by a form-fit, friction-fit or material-fit connection
  7. door drive device (2) according to one of the Claims 4 until 6 , characterized in that the sheet metal sections (290, 291) are joined together at the joint (29) by clinching, clipping, riveting or flanging.
  8. door drive device (2) according to one of the Claims 4 until 7 , characterized in that the sheet metal sections (290, 291) are joined together at the joint (29) by welding or gluing.
  9. door drive device (2) according to one of the Claims 4 until 8 , characterized in that edges (292, 293) of the sheet metal sections (290, 291) abut each other at the joint point (29).
  10. Door drive device (2) according Claim 9 , characterized in that the edges (292, 293) of the sheet metal sections (290, 291) are connected to each other at the joint (29).
  11. Door drive device (2) according Claim 9 or 10 , characterized in that the edges (292) are connected to each other via form-locking sections (295) engaging in form-locking openings (294).
  12. Door drive device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide rail (23) is axially closed via a cover element (234).
  13. Door drive device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide rail (23) has a sliding guide section (232) for slidingly guiding the spindle nut element (27) along the adjustment direction (V) and a spindle housing section (233) for receiving the spindle (24).
  14. Door drive device (2) according Claim 13 , characterized in that the connection point (29) is arranged on the sliding guide section (232) or on the spindle housing section (233).
  15. Door drive device (2) according Claim 13 or 14 , characterized in that the spindle nut element (27) has a sliding section (270) for sliding along the sliding guide section (232).
  16. door drive device (2) according to one of the Claims 13 until 15 , characterized in that the spindle nut element (27) has a spindle nut section (271) which engages in thread with the spindle (24), wherein the spindle nut section (271) is movable in the spindle housing section (233) along the adjustment direction (V).
  17. Door drive device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide rail (23) has a clearance (237) in an axial area, viewed along the adjustment direction (V), in the area of which the guide rail (23) is fully open.
  18. Door drive device (2) according Claim 17 , characterized by a housing assembly (28) which encloses at least one gear wheel (250) of the gearbox (25) and carries the motor (20), wherein the guide rail (23) is attached to the housing assembly (28) in the area of the clearance (237).
  19. Door drive device (2) according Claim 18 , characterized in that the guide rail (23) has at least one first fastening tab (239) for connection with the housing assembly (28).
  20. Door drive device (2) according Claim 19 , characterized in that the at least one first fastening tab (239) is bent over on the guide rail (23) such that the at least one first fastening tab (239) extends along a plane perpendicular to the adjustment direction (V).

Description

The invention relates to a door drive device for adjusting a vehicle door relative to a vehicle body according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a door drive device comprises a motor, a gearbox, and a spindle rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The motor is operatively connected to the spindle via the gearbox, so that the spindle can be rotated about its longitudinal axis by the motor. A spindle nut element is threaded to the spindle in such a way that, by rotating the spindle, the spindle nut element can be moved relative to the spindle along an adjustment direction pointing along the longitudinal axis. A guide rail is provided to guide the spindle nut element during movement along the adjustment direction. A push rod is connected to the spindle nut element to transmit an adjustment force between the vehicle door and the vehicle body. A door drive device for adjusting a vehicle door relative to a vehicle body is, for example, made from the DE 10 2018 131 933 A1 known. Another design of a door drive device with a spindle drive is derived from the WO 2021/023893 A1 known. In one of the WO 2024/193762 A1 In the known door drive device, a guide rail is formed for guiding a slide arrangement through a fully enclosed extruded aluminum profile. In one of the DE 10 2019 211 932 A1 In a known door drive device, a guide rail is formed to guide a slide arrangement through a sheet metal bending part. In a door drive device where moving a spindle nut element along a guide rail creates an adjustment force between a vehicle door and the vehicle body, a cost-effective design is essential. Ideally, the guide rail should have a fully enclosed profile to protect its interior from environmental influences such as dirt ingress. However, it must be considered that the guide rail may require a cutout for connecting it to a gearbox housing. This involves considerable post-processing effort when manufacturing the guide rail as an (aluminum) extruded profile or a (plastic) extruded profile. The object of the present invention is to provide a door drive device for adjusting a vehicle door that enables a cost-effective design and also protects a rail system from environmental influences. This problem is solved by an object having the features of claim 1. Accordingly, the guide rail is formed by forming in a sheet metal bending process and has a profile that is completely closed around the adjustment direction. Forming the guide rail as an integral, one-piece component using a sheet metal bending process allows for cost-effective manufacturing. Because the guide rail is manufactured by forming it using a sheet metal bending process, a metal sheet, particularly a steel sheet, can be used for its production, resulting in a particularly cost-effective manufacturing process. In particular, the guide rail can be formed as a stamped and bent part from a sheet of metal, especially steel. Manufacturing the guide rail as a stamped and bent part allows, for example, a recess to be formed on the guide rail before it is formed to create the guide rail itself. This recess allows the guide rail to be connected to, for example, a gearbox housing. By stamping the sheet metal and then bending it, the guide rail's shape can be variably adapted, and it can also be manufactured cost-effectively. The guide rail has a closed profile, at least in those axial areas (viewed along the adjustment direction) where no opening is provided for connecting the guide rail to a housing assembly, particularly a gearbox housing. Due to the fully enclosed profile, formed by sheet metal bending, dirt cannot easily penetrate the interior of the guide rail from the outside. This protects the guide rail and spindle nut system from environmental influences, ensuring consistent sliding properties and, consequently, consistent sliding forces, low wear, and good acoustics throughout the service life of the door drive device. In one embodiment, sheet metal sections of the guide rail, bent towards each other in the direction of adjustment, are joined together at a joint. The guide rail is formed by sheet metal bending such that it has a completely closed profile. The sheet metal sections bent towards each other are joined together, ensuring that the guide rail is permanently completely closed and preventing the ingress of dirt even at the joint between the sheet metal sections. In one embodiment, the sheet metal sections are connected to each other longitudinally along the adjustment direction at the joint. The sheet metal sections are bent towards each other in the adjustment direction. This results in an approximately linear connection between the sheet metal sections at the joint, oriented longitudinally along the adjustment direction, through which the sheet metal sections are permanently and reliably connected to each other during operation. In one embodiment, the sheet metal sections are connected to each other at the joint by a form-fit, friction-fit, or material-fit connect