# US 2013/0152645 A1 · Actuating unit for automotive applications

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- Number: US 2013/0152645 A1
- Document ID: US20130152645A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/819,696
- Filed: 2010-08-31
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2010-08-31
- Assignees: Kiekert AG
- Inventors: Thorsten Bendel; Claus Topfer; Winfried Schlabs
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152645A1

## CPC

- E05B 81/06: using rotary motors
- E05B 15/1635: {of plastics materials (springs E05B15/04)}
- E05B 81/25: {Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections}
- E05B 81/20: for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
- E05B 81/64: Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
- E05B 85/02: Lock casings
- E05B 2015/1664: {for lock housing (E05B17/002, E05B17/0041, E05B17/0045 take precedence)}
- Y10T 70/7062: Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Actuating unit for automotive applications, especially motor vehicle door locks (1), comprising a drive (2) and with an actuator (3, 4) which can be pressurised by the drive (2), wherein the actuator (3, 4) is wholly or partially made of plastic.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An actuating unit for automotive applications, namely motor vehicle door locks (1), with a drive (2), and with an actuator (3, 4) which can be pressurised by the drive (2), wherein the actuator (3, 4) is wholly or partially made of plastic.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The actuating unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plastic wholly or partially contains a self-reinforced polymer material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The actuating unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein the self-reinforced polymer material comprises rod-shaped molecules which are predominantly arranged on the longitudinal side of the actuator (3, 4).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3)

The actuating unit in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised by the fact that the actuator (3, 4) as a linear actuator (3, 4), is preferably formed as a spindle drive.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The actuating unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuator (3, 4) at least demonstrates a spindle (3) and a spindle nut (4) accommodated in a housing 14.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The actuating unit in accordance with claim 5, wherein the spindle nut (4) is permanently fixed in the housing 14.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The actuating unit in accordance with claim 5, wherein the spindle nut (4) together with an external toothed wheel (7) forms a combined worm/spindle nut gearbox (4, 7).

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The actuating unit in accordance with claim 7, wherein the worm/spindle nut gearbox (4, 7) is formed as a single-piece component (4, 7), especially a plastic component (4, 7).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The actuating unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuator (3, 4) demonstrates a connected connecting means (6) for the pressurisation of the motor vehicle door lock (1).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The actuating unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuator (3, 4) demonstrates a connected component (9) for the triggering of a sensor (10), such as a switch (10), and this component (9) constitutes an anti-twist safeguard.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The actuating unit in accordance with claim 5, wherein the spindle (3) is equipped with a thread (12) especially an interrupted thread (12) on its outer circumferential surface, which engages into a continuous internal thread of the spindle nut (4).

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The actuating unit in accordance with claim 9, wherein the actuator (3, 4) is connected with a connection piece (11) for the connecting means (6) on the head side.