Driving apparatus for swing door
View Patent ↗An embodiment driving apparatus for a swing door includes a drive shaft that is linearly movable, a drive casing rotatably disposed around the drive shaft, and a conversion mechanism configured to convert a linear movement of the drive shaft into a rotational movement of the drive casing, wherein the conversion mechanism includes a first spiral groove provided in an exterior surface of the drive shaft, a second spiral groove provided in an interior surface of the drive casing, and a plurality of balls interposed between the first spiral groove and the second spiral groove.
1 . A driving apparatus for a swing door, the driving apparatus comprising:
a drive shaft that is linearly movable;
a drive casing rotatably disposed around the drive shaft; and
a conversion mechanism configured to convert a linear movement of the drive shaft into a rotational movement of the drive casing, wherein the conversion mechanism comprises a first spiral groove provided in an exterior surface of the drive shaft, a second spiral groove provided in an interior surface of the drive casing, and a plurality of balls interposed between the first spiral groove and the second spiral groove;
a sleeve fixed to an exterior surface of the drive casing, wherein the drive casing is connected to the swing door through the sleeve; and
a suppressor received in the sleeve and a spring configured to cause the suppressor to be biased downwardly, wherein the suppressor is configured to suppress an upward movement of the drive casing by a biasing force of the spring.
2 . The driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the second spiral groove is recessed from the interior surface of the drive casing by a predetermined depth; and
the predetermined depth of the second spiral groove is less than a thickness of the drive casing.
3 . The driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a radius of each ball is substantially the same as a cross-sectional radius of the first spiral groove and a cross-sectional radius of the second spiral groove.
4 . The driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the conversion mechanism further comprises a ball retainer disposed between the drive shaft and the drive casing; and
the ball retainer comprises a plurality of through holes configured to receive the plurality of balls, respectively.
5 . The driving apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein:
the drive casing comprises an upper stopper and a lower stopper mounted therein; and
the upper stopper and the lower stopper are configured to restrict a movement of the ball retainer.
6 . The driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first spiral groove has a single-start spiral configuration or a multi-start spiral configuration; and
the second spiral groove has a single-start spiral configuration or a multi-start spiral configuration.
7 . The driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the drive casing comprises an upper stopper and a lower stopper disposed therein; and
the upper stopper is disposed in an upper portion of the drive casing and the lower stopper is disposed in a lower portion of the drive casing.
8 . A driving apparatus for a swing door, the driving apparatus comprising:
a drive shaft that is linearly movable;
a linear actuator coupled to the drive shaft to cause the drive shaft to move linearly;
a drive casing rotatably disposed around the drive shaft; and
a conversion mechanism configured to convert a linear movement of the drive shaft into a rotational movement of the drive casing, wherein the conversion mechanism comprises a first spiral groove provided in an exterior surface of the drive shaft, a second spiral groove provided in an interior surface of the drive casing, and a plurality of balls interposed between the first spiral groove and the second spiral groove;
a sleeve fixed to an exterior surface of the drive casing, wherein the drive casing is connected to the swing door through the sleeve; and
a suppressor received in the sleeve and a spring configured to cause the suppressor to be biased downwardly, wherein the suppressor is configured to suppress an upward movement of the drive casing by a biasing force of the spring.
9 . The driving apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the linear actuator comprises:
a cylinder tube having a first open end and a second open end opposing each other;
a piston movable in the cylinder tube;
a first end cover mounted in the first open end of the cylinder tube; and
a second end cover mounted in the second open end of the cylinder tube.
10 . The driving apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein:
the linear actuator further comprises an internal rod mounted at the center of the piston; and
the internal rod comprises a first extension portion extending from the piston toward the first end cover and a second extension portion extending from the piston toward the second end cover.
11 . The driving apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a lubricating bush and a packing provided between the drive shaft and the linear actuator, wherein the packing is located below the lubricating bush.
12 . The driving apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein:
the lubricating bush comprises a lubricating groove provided in an interior surface thereof; and
the lubricating groove is open to the exterior surface of the drive shaft.
13 . The driving apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the lubricating bush comprises a brass material.
14 . The driving apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the packing comprises:
an inner contact portion contacting the exterior surface of the drive shaft;
an outer contact portion contacting the linear actuator; and
a recessed portion provided between the inner contact portion and the outer contact portion.
15 . The driving apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein:
the inner contact portion comprises a plurality of inner lips having different inner diameters; and
the plurality of inner lips define a step structure.
16 . A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body;
a swing door coupled to the vehicle body and configured to cover an aperture in the vehicle body;
a swing arm having a first end portion mounted on an interior surface of the swing door;
a driving apparatus, wherein a second end portion of the swing arm is connected to the driving apparatus, and wherein the driving apparatus comprises:
a drive shaft that is linearly movable;
a drive casing rotatably disposed around the drive shaft; and
a conversion mechanism configured to convert a linear movement of the drive shaft into a rotational movement of the drive casing, wherein the conversion mechanism comprises a first spiral groove provided in an exterior surface of the drive shaft, a second spiral groove provided in an interior surface of the drive casing, and a plurality of balls interposed between the first spiral groove and the second spiral groove;
a sleeve fixed to an exterior surface of the drive casing, wherein the drive casing is connected to the swing door through the sleeve; and
a suppressor received in the sleeve and a spring configured to cause the suppressor to be biased downwardly, wherein the suppressor is configured to suppress an upward movement of the drive casing by a biasing force of the spring.
17 . The vehicle according to claim 16 , wherein:
the second spiral groove is recessed from the interior surface of the drive casing by a predetermined depth; and
the predetermined depth of the second spiral groove is less than a thickness of the drive casing.
18 . The vehicle according to claim 16 , wherein a radius of each ball is substantially the same as a cross-sectional radius of the first spiral groove and a cross-sectional radius of the second spiral groove.
19 . The vehicle according to claim 16 , wherein:
the conversion mechanism further comprises a ball retainer disposed between the drive shaft and the drive casing;
the ball retainer comprises a plurality of through holes configured to receive the plurality of balls, respectively;
the drive casing comprises an upper stopper and a lower stopper mounted therein; and
the upper stopper and the lower stopper are configured to restrict a movement of the ball retainer.
20 . The vehicle according to claim 16 , wherein:
the driving apparatus further comprises a linear actuator coupled to the drive shaft to cause the drive shaft to move linearly; and
the linear actuator comprises a cylinder tube having a first open end and a second open end opposing each other, and a piston movable in the cylinder tube.