IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,429,112
Granted Patent B2
US 12,429,112 · App. 18/621,078 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Drive device for an opening mechanism for opening a movable opening element of a vehicle, and opening system for a vehicle

Inventors: Johannes Langkau (Olsberg, DE); Jost Kleine-Weischede (Kamen, DE); Matthias Humpe (Oelde, DE); Bodo Buecker (Arnsberg, DE)
Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
F16H1/06F16H57/031B60K2015/0538E05Y2201/11E05Y2201/71E05Y2600/626E05Y2900/534
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,429,112
App. No.
18/621,078
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drive device for an opening mechanism for opening a movable opening element of a vehicle. The drive device comprising: a drive unit for generating the drive torque; a housing having a mounting side which can be oriented towards a vehicle part of the vehicle in order to mount the drive device; and a gearbox for increasing the drive torque of the drive unit. The gearbox having a drive-side, first gearbox unit comprising a first gear which has a first axis of rotation and a first radius, and an output-side second gearbox unit for coupling with the opening mechanism having an output axis. The first gearbox unit and the second gearbox unit being operatively connected to one another. An opening system is also provided.

Claims (36)

1. A drive device for an opening mechanism to open a movable opening element of a vehicle, the drive device comprising:

a drive unit to produce a drive torque;

a housing with a mounting side that is oriented towards a vehicle part of the vehicle to mount the drive device;

a transmission to increase the drive torque of the drive unit, the transmission comprising a first gear unit on the driven side that includes a first gear that has a first rotational axis and a first radius, and includes a second gear unit on the output side for coupling to the opening mechanism and having an output axis; and

a cover element provided inside of the housing,

wherein the first gear unit and the second gear unit are in operative connection with one another,

wherein the output axis extends in an output region between the mounting side and the first rotational axis, and has a distance from the first rotational axis that is smaller than the first radius,

wherein the second gear unit has a second gear for rotation about the output axis,

wherein the first gear and the second gear are in operative connection through a third gear that is axially connected to the first gear,

wherein the first gear and the second gear are separated from one another by a cover of the cover element, and

wherein the housing has a spreading geometry via which at least two retaining elements of the cover element, which extend from the cover to a housing cover of the housing, are adapted to be pressed in opposite directions during mounting of the first and second gear units so that the cover element is immobilized between a first housing element of the housing and the housing cover.

2. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the first gear, the second gear, and the third gear are each designed as a spur gear.

3. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the cover element has, for supporting the second gear, an axle spindle that extends from the cover and defines the output axis.

4. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the first gear and the third gear are integrally connected to one another.

5. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the second gear has a second radius and the third gear has a third radius, and wherein the second radius and the third radius are equal or essentially equal in size.

6. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the first gear unit is multistage in design.

7. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the second gear and/or the third gear are made of metal.

8. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing has fastening elements via which the housing is adapted to be fastened to the vehicle in a fastening direction that is substantially parallel to the first rotational axis.

9. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is arranged within the housing.

10. An opening system for a vehicle, the opening system comprising:

a movable opening element for uncovering a vehicle opening of the vehicle;

an opening mechanism for opening the movable opening element; and

the drive device according to claim 1 .

11. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the first gear and the third gear are both connected to a rotary guide, wherein the rotary guide is a transmission shaft.

12. The drive device according to claim 11 , wherein the housing includes a first housing element and a housing cover, wherein an inner surface of the housing cover has a rotary guide receptacle extending therefrom, and wherein the rotary guide is mounted in the rotary guide receptacle.

13. A drive device for an opening mechanism to open a movable opening element of a vehicle, the drive device comprising:

a drive unit to produce a drive torque;

a housing with a mounting side that is oriented towards a vehicle part of the vehicle to mount the drive device;

a transmission to increase the drive torque of the drive unit, the transmission comprising a first gear unit on the driven side that includes a first gear that has a first rotational axis and a first radius, and includes a second gear unit on the output side for coupling to the opening mechanism and having an output axis; and

a cover element provided inside of the housing,

wherein the first gear unit and the second gear unit are in operative connection with one another,

wherein the output axis extends in an output region between the mounting side and the first rotational axis, and has a distance from the first rotational axis that is smaller than the first radius,

wherein the second gear unit has a second gear for rotation about the output axis, wherein the first gear and the second gear are in operative connection through a third gear that is axially connected to the first gear,

wherein the first gear and the second gear are separated from one another by a cover of the cover element,

wherein the housing includes a first housing element and a housing cover, wherein the first housing element has positioners that extend in parallel to the first rotational axis, and

wherein the cover of the cover element has openings through which the positioners of the first housing element extend when the cover element is mounted in the housing.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2024
From: LANGKAU, JOHANNES; KLEINE-WEISCHEDE, JOST; HUMPE, MATTHIAS; BUECKER, BODO
To: HELLA GMBH & CO. KGAA
Reel/Frame 067515/0809 →
Priority Claims (2)
DE 10 2021 125 218.0 · Sep 29, 2021 · national
DE 10 2022 100 974.2 · Jan 17, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2022074606 · Sep 5, 2022
Related Publication 20240240506A1 · Jul 18, 2024
References Cited (21)
US 3821567A · Erwin · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 10637327B2 · Niekamp · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10731729B2 · Masuzawa · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10836251B2 · Takeuchi · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10883298B2 · Hsieh · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11639165B2 · Baer · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20130220073A1 · Suto · 2013 [cited by examiner]
DE 102008039313A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
DE 202009011844U1 · 2011 [cited by examiner]
DE 102012111847A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
DE 102014107900A1 · 2014 [cited by examiner]
DE 102016118243A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 102016217710A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 102017131096A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005054950A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008039096A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019011616A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2017029124A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
English translation of DE102014107900A1 from WIPO (Year: 2014). [cited by examiner]
English translation of DE202009011844U1 from WIPO (Year: 2009). [cited by examiner]
International Search Report dated Dec. 2, 2022 in corresponding application PCT/EP2022/074606. [cited by applicant]