SINGLE-STAGE GEAR REDUCTION OUTPUT MECHANISM WITH A LOCKING FORK PROVIDING ANTI-BACK DRIVE CAPABILITY FOR AUTOMOTIVE SEAT ADJUSTER DRIVES

摘要

A single-stage gear reduction output mechanism for an automotive seat assembly including a gear housing bracket, gear housing, axle shaft, eccentric, and first and second gears. The axle shaft extends through the eccentric with a slip fit, the first gear rotates with the axle shaft, and the second gear is carried on a first bearing surface of the eccentric and meshingly engages the first gear in a planetary arrangement. A locking plate including first, second, and third slot cutouts is disposed within the gear housing. A support pin extends from the gear housing through the first slot cutout and a second bearing surface of the eccentric extends through the second slot cutout to support the locking plate and limit its movement along a lateral axis. The second gear includes a first pin that extends through the third slot cutout to prevent the first gear from back-driving the second gear.

主权项

1. A single-stage gear reduction output mechanism for an automotive seat adjuster drive, said single-stage gear reduction output mechanism comprising:
a gear housing bracket; a gear housing extending from said gear housing bracket to define a cavity therein; an axle shaft disposed within said cavity of said gear housing and extending along an axis of rotation; said axle shaft being supported within said cavity of said gear housing such that said axle shaft is free to rotate about said axis of rotation; an eccentric carried on said axle shaft and including a first bore that is concentric with said axle shaft, a first bearing surface that is eccentric relative to said axle shaft, and a second bearing surface that is concentric with said axle shaft; said axle shaft extending through said first bore in said eccentric with a slip fit such that said eccentric is free to rotate relative to said axle shaft; a first gear carried on said axle shaft that is rotatably coupled with said axle shaft such that said first gear rotates with said axle shaft about said axis of rotation; a second gear carried on said first bearing surface of said eccentric and disposed in meshing engagement with said first gear; said second gear including a second bore and a centerline axis that extends co-axially through said second bore; said first bearing surface of said eccentric extending through said second bore in said second gear with a slip fit such that said eccentric is free to rotate relative to said second gear; said first gear and said second gear having a planetary arrangement where said centerline axis of said second gear is parallel to and spaced from said axis of rotation of said axle shaft; a locking plate disposed within said cavity of said gear housing and including a first slot cutout, a second slot cutout, and a third slot cutout; a support pin rigidly fixed in place relative to said axle shaft that is parallel to and spaced from said axis of rotation of said axle shaft and that extends through said first slot cutout in said locking plate; said second bearing surface of said eccentric extending through said second slot cutout in said locking plate where said second bearing surface of said eccentric and said support pin cooperate to support said locking plate within said cavity of said gear housing and limit movement of said locking plate relative to said gear housing to movement along a lateral axis that is transverse to said axis of rotation of said axle shaft; and said second gear including a first pin that is spaced from and parallel to said centerline axis of said second gear where said first pin extends through said third slot cutout in said locking plate and prevents said first gear from driving rotation of said second gear.