Gearbox for a powered running board
AssigneeMagna Exteriors Inc.
InventorsJerry Godfrey, Desmond P. Jamieson, V-Bond Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved gearbox for use with a vehicle running board system. The improved gearbox includes an actuator having a rotating shaft. A first stage gear is connected to a first end of the rotating shaft of the actuator. An overmolded transfer gear in rotatable engagement with the first stage gear. There is a second stage screw shaft having a gear portion in rotatable engagement with the overmolded transfer gear, and an output end for providing output force from an improved gearbox. The overmolded gear provides reduced vibration and distributes contact stress between the overmolded gear and the first stage gear and the gear portion of the second stage screw shaft.
Claims23
A gearbox for a vehicle step, comprising:
- an actuator having a rotating shaft;
- a first stage of the gearbox having a first stage gear that is connected to the rotating shaft;
- an overmolded transfer gear in rotatable engagement with the first stage gear, and
- a second stage of the gearbox containing a second stage screw shaft having a gear portion in rotatable engagement with a second stage gear and a drive gear that rotates with the second stage screw shaft and is engaged to a driven gear for providing output force from the gearbox, wherein the overmolded gear is connected to a common shaft and the common shaft is connected to the second stage gear for transferring force from the first stage to the second stage.
A gearbox for a vehicle step comprising:
- an actuator having a rotating shaft;
- a first stage of the gearbox wherein the rotating shaft of the actuator extends into the first stage and a first stage gear connected to a first end of the rotating shaft;
- an overmolded transfer gear in rotatable engagement with the first stage gear;
- a second stage of the gearbox containing a second stage screw shaft having a gear portion in rotatable engagement with a second stage gear and a drive gear engaged to a driven gear for providing output force from the gearbox, wherein the overmolded gear is connected to the second stage gear for transferring force from the first stage to the second stage, and the overmolded gear and the second stage gear provide reduced vibration and contact stress is distributed between the overmolded gear and the first stage gear and the second stage gear and the gear portion of the second stage screw shaft;
- an output shaft having one end connected to a bracket that is connected to a step and a second end extending into the second stage of the gearbox and being connected to the driven gear, wherein the bracket is connected to a vehicle;
- an angular contact bearing rotatably supporting a first end of the second stage screw shaft;
- and
- a tapered roller bearing rotatably supporting a second end of the second stage screw shaft, wherein the angular contact bearing and the tapered roller bearing are positioned along the axis of the second stage screw shaft, wherein the second stage gear is connected to a common shaft and the overmolded transfer gear is connected to the common shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.