# US 11,305,672 B2 · Spindle drive, and comfort drive having a spindle drive > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,672 B2 - Document ID: US11305672B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/356,523 - Filed: 2019-03-18 - Published: 2019-09-26 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-20 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH - Inventors: Anna Martiny; Christof Angerer; Enrique Adame Ramirez Raul; Gilles Peter; Markus Riedinger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305672B2 ## CPC - B60N 2/067: {by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms} - B60N 2/02246: {Electric motors therefor} - F16H 1/16: comprising worm and worm-wheel - F16H 25/2003: {with arrangements for taking up backlash (F16H25/2209 takes precedence)} - B60N 2/02253: {characterised by the transmission between the electric motor and the seat or seat parts} - F16H 2025/2084: {Perpendicular arrangement of drive motor to screw axis} - F16H 2025/209: {using worm gears} - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A spindle drive (10), having a gear housing (15) which is connected to a drive motor (12), the gear housing (15) having a housing main body (16; 16a) and at least one housing cover (18; 18a, 20; 20a) which is connected to the housing main body (16; 16a), the housing main body (16; 16a) and the at least one housing cover (18; 18a, 20; 20a) delimiting a receiving space (24) for a drive element (25) which interacts with the drive motor (12), the drive element (25) being connected to a spindle (28) which penetrates the receiving space (24), means (37) being provided, in particular in the form of a shaft ring, for arranging the drive element (25) in the receiving space (24) in a manner which is free from axial play, and the means being arranged in a receiving region (39) in the receiving space (24). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spindle drive (10) comprising a gear housing (15) which is connected to a drive motor (12), the gear housing (15) having a housing main body (16; 16a) and a housing cover (18; 18a, 20; 20a) which is connected to the housing main body (16; 16a), the housing main body (16; 16a) and the housing cover (18; 18a, 20; 20a) delimiting a receiving space (24) for a drive element (25) which interacts with the drive motor (12), the drive element (25) being connected to a spindle (28) which penetrates the receiving space (24), and means (37) for arranging the drive element (25) in the receiving space (24) in a manner which is free from axial play, the means (37) being arranged in a receiving region (39) in the receiving space (24), wherein means for adjusting the size of the receiving region (39) are configured to, via a threaded connection (45; 45a) with the housing cover (18), set and adjust the size of the receiving region (39) along a direction that runs coaxially with respect to a rotational axis (32) of the spindle (28). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spindle drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the threaded connection (45) comprises an external thread (46) on the housing cover (18) and an internal thread (43) on an inner wall (42) of the housing main body (16), wherein a centerline of the threaded connection (45; 45a) is collinear with the rotational axis (32) of the spindle (28). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The spindle drive according to claim 2, characterized in that the internal thread (43) extends over an entire height of the main housing body (16), wherein the height runs in a direction of the rotational axis (32) of the spindle (28), and in that the housing cover (18) is a first housing cover, and wherein a second housing cover (18) is provided, wherein the first and second housing covers are arranged on opposite end sides of the housing main body (16). ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The spindle drive according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing main body (16) and the housing cover (18) consist of plastic and are configured as an injection molded part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The spindle drive according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing cover (18) is of annular configuration with a through opening (48) for the spindle (28). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The spindle drive according to claim 5, characterized in that the housing cover (18) has an axial thrust face for the drive element (25). ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The spindle drive according to claim 2, characterized in that the means (37) for arranging the drive element (25) in the receiving space (24) is an axial spring element which is configured to be pressed axially against the drive element (25) by the housing cover (18) and by way of the threaded connection (45). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The spindle drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive element (25) is a worm gear and consists of plastic. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The spindle drive according to claim 1, wherein the means (37) for arranging the drive element (25) in the receiving space (24) includes a shaft ring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The spindle drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive element (25) is a worm gear and consists of POM. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The spindle drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for adjusting the size of the receiving region (39) includes an element (40a), wherein the threaded connection (45a) comprises an external thread (55) on the element (40a) and an internal thread (58) on the housing cover (18a), and wherein a centerline of the threaded connection (45a) is collinear with the rotational axis (32) of the spindle (28), and wherein the element (40a) is of annular configuration with a through opening (48) for the spindle (28). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The spindle drive according to claim 11, characterized in that the element (40a) is a bearing element (52, 54). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The spindle drive according to claim 12, characterized in that the bearing element (52, 54) is hat-shaped in cross section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The spindle drive according to claim 13, characterized in that the means (37) for arranging the drive element (25) in the receiving space (24) is an axial spring element compressed between the drive element (25) and a brim-like portion of the hat-shaped bearing element having a largest radius from the rotational axis (32) of the spindle (28). ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The spindle drive according to claim 12, characterized in that the bearing element (52, 54) is a first bearing element, wherein a second bearing element (52, 54) is provided, and wherein the first and second bearing elements are arranged on opposite end sides of the housing main body (16). ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The spindle drive according to claim 11, characterized in that the housing main body (16) and the element (40a) consist of plastic and are configured as an injection molded part. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The spindle drive according to claim 11, characterized in that the element (40a) has an axial thrust face for the drive element (25). ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The spindle drive according to claim 11, characterized in that the means (37) for arranging the drive element (25) in the receiving space (24) is an axial spring element which is configured to be pressed axially against the drive element (25) by the element (40a) and by way of the threaded connection (45a). ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A comfort drive (100), having a spindle drive (10) which is configured according to claim 1. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A seat adjusting drive, having a spindle drive (10) which is configured according to claim 1.