Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a reservoir for an actuator and in one embodiment, a reservoir for an actuator of a vehicle latch. Still further, various embodiments of the present invention relate to a reservoir for a rotating component.
Electromechanical actuators commonly found in automotive door latches employ lubricants to increase the efficiency of gearing systems and maintain longevity. However and as the gear system rotates, much of this deposited lubricant is flung off the surfaces intended to have the lubricant deposited on. In addition, the lubricant that remains on these surfaces can become contaminated with dust, salt and many other types of debris commonly found in the environment surrounding the door latch.
If the intended grease quantity could remain in contact with the gearing surfaces, the system could maintain optimal efficiency, or run with higher efficiency than a system which allows the grease to move off the intended surfaces.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an apparatus and/or component and/or method for keeping a desired amount of lubricant of the gearing surfaces of the system.
In one embodiment, a worm drive system is provided. The worm drive system having: a motor for rotating a worm, the worm having a bearing surface rotatably received by a bearing surface integral with a housing the worm is located in, wherein a lubrication reservoir is located proximate to the bearing surface of the worm such that lubricants located in the reservoir are dispersed onto the bearing surface of the worm.
In another embodiment, a vehicle latch is provided, the vehicle latch having: an actuator with a worm drive system, the worm drive system having: a motor for rotating a worm, the worm having a bearing surface rotatably received by a bearing surface integral with a housing the worm is located in, wherein a lubrication reservoir is located proximate to the bearing surface of the worm such that lubricants located in the reservoir are dispersed onto the bearing surface of the worm.
In yet another embodiment, a method of lubricating a worm drive system is provided. The method including the steps of: rotatably mounting a bearing surface of a worm in a housing wherein the bearing surface rotatably engages a bearing surface integral with the housing; and lubricating the bearing surface of the worm via a reservoir located proximate to the bearing surface of the worm.
These and/or other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Although the drawings represent varied embodiments and features of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to illustrate and explain exemplary embodiments the present invention. The exemplification set forth herein illustrates several aspects of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
While the concept disclosed herein is referenced with a specific area of a worm-worm gear system, specifically the worm bearing. It is understood that this concept could also be adapted to any area of any gear system to retain the intended lubricant in the area of most importance, and maintain a reservoir of lubricant or lubricating media to constantly transfer it to the intended surfaces. As used herein lubricant or lubricating media may refer to any substance, such as oil, oils, grease or equivalents thereof or any other material, used for minimizing friction between at least two components.
Referring now to the FIGS., and in particular
The worm 14 is dual supported at the opposite end of the motor 12 by a bearing surface 20 integral with the worm 14, and is rotatably received by a bearing surface 22 integral with a retaining housing 24. As such, the worm 14 is secured to a shaft of the motor 12 and has integral bearing surface 20 rotatably received in the housing 24 and wherein bearing surface 20 of the worm 14 rotatably engages bearing surface 22 of the housing 24.
Also illustrated in
Referring now to
Reference is made to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,969,789; 6,568,741; 6,679,531; 8,328,249; 8,348,310; 8,894,106; and 8,967,679 and U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2010/0127512; and US 2014/0292000, the entire contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. In addition, it is noted that the terms “bottom” and “top” are used herein, unless otherwise noted, merely for convenience of description, and are not limited to any one position or spatial orientation.
The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/174,494, filed on Jun. 11, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1667285 | Clisson | Apr 1928 | A |
1940110 | Watts | Dec 1933 | A |
1949084 | Royle | Feb 1934 | A |
2041191 | Kunkle | May 1936 | A |
2551980 | Tholl | May 1951 | A |
2563562 | Stone | Aug 1951 | A |
2914864 | Clem | Dec 1959 | A |
2916201 | Hemfort | Dec 1959 | A |
3026850 | Clifton | Mar 1962 | A |
3112012 | Hoch | Nov 1963 | A |
3396611 | Smith | Aug 1968 | A |
3498159 | Wilmeth | Mar 1970 | A |
3969789 | Wize | Jul 1976 | A |
5186068 | Heller | Feb 1993 | A |
6568741 | Leung et al. | May 2003 | B1 |
6679531 | Rogers, Jr. et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
8328249 | Corrales | Dec 2012 | B2 |
8348310 | Vazquez et al. | Jan 2013 | B2 |
8894106 | Vazquez et al. | Nov 2014 | B2 |
8967679 | Estrada et al. | Mar 2015 | B2 |
20050173183 | Chikaraishi | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20060273672 | Inoue | Dec 2006 | A1 |
20100127512 | Vazquez et al. | May 2010 | A1 |
20140292000 | Vazquez et al. | Oct 2014 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20160363210 A1 | Dec 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62174494 | Jun 2015 | US |