Actuator for a motor vehicle, more specifically for a motor vehicle seat

1. An actuator for a motor vehicle comprising:

an electric motor having an output shaft;

a gearbox that is connected to the output shaft and includes a spindle nut;

a spindle that engages the spindle nut, wherein the spindle nut comprises a main portion being defined by radial end faces and at least one axial socket, the axial socket (a) is solidly connected to the main portion, (b) comprises an internal thread cooperating with the spindle and (c) comprises a cylindrical intermediate piece commencing at the main portion and an outer portion extending outward from the cylindrical intermediate piece, the outer portion is configured to be radially elastic;

an elastic element that fits against the axial socket and pushes the internal thread thereof into engagement with the spindle; wherein the elastic outer portion extends around the entire circumference of the spindle, at least one recess is provided in the outer portion of the axial socket, and the at least one recess does not extend into an area between the end faces; and

a gear housing having opposite openings for passage of the spindle, wherein the spindle nut is disposed in the gear housing.

2. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the main portion comprises an inner thread that is built according to the same principle as the internal thread and continues the internal thread.

3. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the elastic element is at least partially annular.

4. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the main portion has a larger outer diameter than the axial socket.

5. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein there is provided at least one bearing that abuts the circumference of the axial socket.

6. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the main portion has an inner thread and that the internal thread is continuously connected without interruption to the inner thread.

7. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the axial socket is longer or shorter than the main portion in the axial direction.

8. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the spindle comprises a spindle thread, the spindle thread and the internal thread each define thread peaks, thread valleys and thread flanks, and that the internal thread and the spindle thread are matched so that, when the internal thread is pushed into the spindle thread, the thread flanks abut first before the thread peaks of the one thread come into abutment with the thread valleys of the other thread.

9. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the spindle nut comprises a toothed external surface and that the toothed external surface is only disposed in the main portion and not on the axial socket.

10. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the actuator is an actuator for a motor vehicle seat.

11. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the axial socket is integral with the main portion.

12. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein there is provided at least one bearing that fits laterally against the main portion.

13. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least one axial recess is provided in the axial socket.

14. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess is provided in an outer surface of the outer portion of the axial socket.

15. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the intermediate piece is thicker than the outer portion.

16. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein a bearing is provided, the bearing is received on the intermediate piece and abuts the gear housing.

17. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein an end of the elastic element contacts the recess.

18. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the recess is an area of the outer portion having reduced wall thickness.

19. The actuator as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the recess does not extend into the cylindrical intermediate piece.

20. An actuator for a motor vehicle comprising:

an electric motor having an output shaft;

a gearbox that is connected to the output shaft and includes a spindle nut;

a spindle that engages the spindle nut, wherein the spindle nut comprises a main portion being defined by radial end faces and at least one axial socket, the axial socket (a) is solidly connected to the main portion, (b) comprises an internal thread cooperating with the spindle and (c) comprises a cylindrical intermediate piece commencing at the main portion and an outer portion extending outward from the cylindrical intermediate piece, the outer portion is configured to be radially elastic;

an elastic element that fits against the axial socket and pushes the internal thread thereof into engagement with the spindle; wherein the elastic outer portion extends around the entire circumference of the spindle, at least one recess is provided in the outer portion of the axial socket, wherein the main portion is designed for absorbing adjusting forces, and that the at least one axial socket absorbs less than 80% of the adjusting forces;

a gear housing having opposite openings for passage of the spindle, wherein the spindle nut is disposed in the gear housing; and

protective parts affixed in at least a portion of the openings and at least partially enclosing the spindle, wherein each protective part has an abutment surface contacting the gear housing and limited by one of a cylinder and a ball.

21. An actuator for a motor vehicle comprising:

an electric motor having an output shaft;

a gearbox that is connected to the output shaft and includes a spindle nut;

a spindle that engages the spindle nut, wherein the spindle nut comprises a main portion defined by radial end faces and at least one axial socket, the axial socket (a) is solidly connected to the main portion, (b) comprises an internal thread cooperating with the spindle and (c) comprises a cylindrical intermediate piece commencing at the main portion and an outer portion extending outward from the cylindrical intermediate piece, the outer portion is configured to be radially elastic;

an elastic element that fits against the axial socket and pushes the internal thread thereof into engagement with the spindle; wherein the elastic outer portion extends around the entire circumference of the spindle, at least one recess is provided in the outer portion of the axial socket; the at least one recess does not extend into an area between the end faces, wherein the main portion is designed for absorbing adjusting forces occurring in the event of an accident, and that the at least one axial socket absorbs less than 80% of the adjusting forces;

a gear housing having opposite openings for passage of the spindle, wherein the spindle nut is disposed in the gear housing;

protective parts affixed in at least a portion of the openings and at least partially enclosing the spindle, wherein each protective part has an abutment surface contacting the gear housing and limited by one of a cylinder and a ball; and

a bracket, wherein the protective parts are retained in position by the bracket, the bracket forming a surrounding grip around a top of the gear housing.

22. An actuator for a motor vehicle comprising:

an electric motor having an output shaft;

a gearbox that is connected to the output shaft and includes a spindle nut;

a spindle that engages the spindle nut, wherein the spindle nut comprises a main portion and at least one axial socket, the axial socket (a) is solidly connected to the main portion, (b) comprises an internal thread cooperating with the spindle and (c) comprises a cylindrical intermediate piece commencing at the main portion and an outer portion extending outward from the cylindrical intermediate piece, the outer portion is configured to be radially elastic;

an elastic element that fits against the axial socket and pushes the internal thread thereof into engagement with the spindle; wherein the elastic outer portion extends around the entire circumference of the spindle, at least one recess is provided in the outer portion of the axial socket, the recess is an area of the outer portion having reduced wall thickness, an end of the elastic element contacts the recess, and the recess does not extend into the cylindrical intermediate piece; wherein the main portion is designed for absorbing adjusting forces occurring in the event of an accident, and that the at least one axial socket absorbs less than 80% of the adjusting forces.