# US 10,119,599 B2 · Spindle drive for an adjusting element of a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,599 B2 - Document ID: US10119599B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/772,934 - Filed: 2014-03-06 - Published: 2016-06-02 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-07 - Assignees: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Hallstadt - Applicants: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Hallstadt - Inventors: Uwe Fischer; Christian Saxstetter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119599B2 ## CPC - F16H 25/20: Screw mechanisms (with automatic reversal F16H25/12) - B60J 5/101: {for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans} - E05F 15/611: for swinging wings - E05F 15/622: using screw-and-nut mechanisms - E05Y 2900/546: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards - F16H 2025/204: {Axial sliding means, i.e. for rotary support and axial guiding of nut or screw shaft} - F16H: GEARING - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract Disclosed herein is a spindle drive for an adjustable element of a motor vehicle, wherein a drive unit and a spindle/spindle nut mechanism arranged downstream of the drive unit in the drivetrain, for generating linear drive movements are provided, wherein the spindle/spindle nut mechanism has a spindle and a spindle nut meshing with the spindle, wherein the spindle drive has two drive portions which run telescopically inside one another during a motorized adjustment, wherein the spindle is assigned to one drive portion and the spindle nut is assigned to the other drive portion wherein the two drive portions are coupled in a torque-transmitting manner to provide an antitwist safeguard. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spindle drive for an adjustable element of a motor vehicle, the spindle drive comprising: a drive unit; a spindle nut mechanism arranged downstream of the drive unit in a drivetrain of the spindle drive, for generating linear drive movements, the spindle nut mechanism comprising a spindle and a spindle nut meshing with the spindle; a spindle drive portion and a nut drive portion that run telescopically inside one another during a motorized adjustment, the spindle drive portion comprising a guide tube; and an anti-twist mechanism comprising at least one first shaped portion within the guide tube and a corresponding at least one mating shaped portion in a region of the spindle nut; wherein during the motorized adjustment, the spindle nut runs along an axis of the spindle within the guide tube and is safeguarded against twisting with respect to the guide tube by the anti-twist mechanism; and wherein the spindle drive portion and the spindle nut drive portion are coupled in a torque-transmitting manner by the anti-twist mechanism, wherein the at least one first shaped portion is or can be brought into torque-transmitting engagement with the corresponding at least one mating shaped portion, wherein the at least one first shaped portion is inclined towards the corresponding at least one mating shaped portion, thereby forming a radial force component for supporting the torque-transmitting engagement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anti-twist mechanism and the corresponding torque-transmitting engagement are provided in both directions of rotation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first shaped portion is of convex design and the corresponding at least one mating shaped portion is of concave design, or wherein the corresponding at least one mating shaped portion is of convex design and the at least one first shaped portion is of concave design. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first shaped portion and/or the corresponding at least one mating shaped portion is or are designed to be curved at least in part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first shaped portion comprises a first wedge surface and the corresponding at least one mating portion comprises a second wedge surface, wherein the first wedge surface and the second wedge surface define a wedge angle, and wherein the torque-transmitting engagement comprises an interaction between the first wedge surface and the second wedge surface that forms the radial force component for supporting the torque-transmitting engagement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one first shaped portion and/or the corresponding at least one mating shaped portion is or are designed to be flat such that the wedge angle is less than 50 degrees. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wedge angle is less than 45 degrees. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first shaped portion comprises a plurality of first shaped portions and the corresponding at least one mating shaped portion comprises a corresponding plurality of mating shaped portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plurality of first shaped portions and/or the corresponding plurality of mating shaped portions are arranged uniformly about the spindle axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first shaped portion and the corresponding at least one mating shaped portion are part of encircling, closed contours. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a spindle nut tube and first and second connections for channeling out the linear drive movements, wherein the first connection is connected to the spindle drive portion and the second connection is connected to the spindle nut drive portion, wherein the spindle nut is connected via the spindle nut tube to the second connection, and wherein the spindle nut tube runs at least in part in the guide tube of the spindle drive portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spindle nut projects radially through at least one opening in the spindle nut tube, and wherein a through-projecting part of the spindle nut provides at least a part of the corresponding at least one mating shaped portion for anti-twist safeguarding. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 12, wherein the part of the spindle nut projecting through the opening extends laterally beyond the edge of the opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spindle nut is arranged in the spindle nut tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spindle nut is arranged in the spindle nut tube at one end of the spindle nut tube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first shaped portion or the corresponding at least one mating shaped portion is a constituent part of an encircling, closed contour. ### Claim 17 A spindle drive for an adjustable element of a motor vehicle, the spindle drive comprising: a drive unit; a spindle nut mechanism arranged downstream of the drive unit in a drivetrain of the spindle drive, for generating linear drive movements, the spindle nut mechanism comprising a spindle and a spindle nut meshing with the spindle; a spindle drive portion and a nut drive portion that run telescopically inside one another during a motorized adjustment, the spindle drive portion comprising a guide tube; and an anti-twist mechanism comprising at least one first shaped portion within the guide tube and a corresponding at least one mating shaped portion in a region of the spindle nut; wherein during the motorized adjustment, the spindle nut runs along an axis of the spindle within the guide tube and is safeguarded against twisting with respect to the guide tube by the anti-twist mechanism; wherein the spindle drive portion and the spindle nut drive portion are coupled in a torque-transmitting manner by the anti-twist mechanism, wherein the at least one first shaped portion is or can be brought into torque-transmitting engagement with the corresponding at least one mating shaped portion; wherein the spindle nut is designed as a plastic injection-molded part; and wherein the spindle nut and the spindle nut-side shaped portion for anti-twist safeguarding are injection-molded into or onto the spindle nut tube by the plastic injection-molding process. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The spindle drive as claimed in claim 17, wherein the anti-twist mechanism and the corresponding torque-transmitting engagement are provided in both directions of rotation.