Adjustment drive for a steering column, drive unit for an adjustment drive, motor-adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle, and method for producing an adjustment drive for a steering column

A drive unit for an adjustment drive, comprising:

• a transmission in which there is mounted a drive wheel which when driven rotates about a drive axis and
• a transmission wheel in operative engagement with the drive wheel;
• the transmission wheel rotatably mounted in the transmission about a transmission axis,
• wherein the transmission is composed of a drive module, which comprises the drive wheel, and of a transmission module, which comprises the transmission wheel, wherein the drive module and the transmission module are connected to one another by a joining connection that is non-releasable,
• wherein the drive module comprises a drive part housing in which the drive wheel is mounted, wherein the transmission module comprises a transmission part housing in which the transmission wheel is mounted, wherein the drive part housing is connected to the transmission part housing via the joining connection,
• wherein the transmission part housing comprises an exterior tubular portion that is coaxial to the transmission axis and that is partially surrounded by the drive part housing,
• wherein the drive part housing and the exterior tubular portion of the transmission part housing are sized and shaped to permit the exterior tubular portion to translate along or parallel to the transmission axis within the drive part housing prior to formation of the joining connection.

A motor-adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a carrying unit which is configured to attach to a vehicle body;
• an actuating unit held by the carrying unit;
• a steering spindle rotatably mounted in the actuating unit about a longitudinal axis;
• and
• an adjustment drive which is connected to the carrying unit and to the actuating unit and by which the actuating unit is adjustable relative to the carrying unit;
• wherein the adjustment drive comprises:
• a threaded spindle that engages in a spindle nut;
• and
• a drive unit having a transmission in which there is mounted a drive wheel which when driven rotates about a drive axis and which is in operative engagement with a transmission wheel which is rotatably mounted in the transmission about a transmission axis and is connected to the threaded spindle or the spindle nut;
• wherein the transmission is composed of a drive module, which comprises the drive wheel, and of a transmission module, which comprises the transmission wheel, wherein the drive module and the transmission module are connected to one another by a joining connection that is non-releasable,
• wherein the drive module comprises a drive part housing in which the drive wheel is mounted, wherein the transmission module comprises a transmission part housing in which the transmission wheel is mounted, wherein the drive part housing is connected to the transmission part housing via the joining connection,
• wherein the transmission part housing comprises an exterior tubular portion that is coaxial to the transmission axis and that is partially surrounded by the drive part housing,
• wherein the drive part housing and the exterior tubular portion of the transmission part housing are sized and shaped to permit the exterior tubular portion to translate along or parallel to the transmission axis within the drive part housing prior to formation of the joining connection.