Single-stage gear reduction output mechanism having a locking gear with pin receiving guide holes and anti-back drive capability for automotive seat adjuster drives

An automotive seat adjuster drive comprising:

• a gear housing bracket;
• a gear housing extending from said gear housing bracket to define a cavity therein;
• an axle shaft disposed within said cavity of said gear housing and extending along an axis of rotation;
• said axle shaft being supported within said cavity of said gear housing such that said axle shaft is free to rotate about said axis of rotation;
• an eccentric carried on said axle shaft and including a first bore that is concentric with said axle shaft and a first bearing surface that is eccentric relative to said axle shaft;
• an actuator mounted to said gear housing and rotatably coupled to eccentric for driving rotation of said eccentric about said axis of rotation of said axle shaft;
• said axle shaft extending through said first bore in said eccentric with a slip fit such that said eccentric is free to rotate relative to said axle shaft;
• a first gear carried on said axle shaft that is rotatably coupled to said axle shaft such that said first gear rotates with said axle shaft about said axis of rotation;
• a second gear carried on said first bearing surface of said eccentric and disposed in meshing engagement with said first gear;
• said second gear including a second bore and a centerline axis that extends co-axially through said second bore;
• said first bearing surface of said eccentric extending through said second bore in said second gear with a slip fit such that said eccentric is free to rotate relative to said second gear;
• said first gear and said second gear having a planetary arrangement where said centerline axis of said second gear is parallel to and spaced from said axis of rotation of said axle shaft;
• said second gear including an external flange with first and second guide holes that extend through said external flange;
• a first support pin rigidly fixed in place relative to said axle shaft that is parallel to said axis of rotation of said axle shaft, is cylindrical in shape, and extends through said first guide hole in said external flange of said second gear;
• a second support pin rigidly fixed in place relative to said axle shaft that is parallel to said axis of rotation of said axle shaft, is cylindrical in shape, and extends through said second guide hole in said external flange of said second gear;
• and
• said first and second guide holes having first and second guide hole radii and said first and second support pins having first and second support pin radii that are smaller than said first and second guide hole radii such that said second gear is free to move in a planetary, wobbling movement about said axis of rotation in response to rotation of said eccentric while contact between said first bearing surface of said eccentric and said second bore of said second gear, contact between said first support pin and said first guide hole of said external flange, and contact between said second support pin and said second guide hole of said external flange prevents said first gear from driving rotation of said second gear.

An automotive seat assembly comprising:

• a frame including two side plates and front and rear cross-members that extend across said frame between said side plates;
• a sector gear rotatably coupled with said rear cross-member that rotates with said rear cross-member;
• a gear housing bracket attached to one of said side plates of said frame;
• a gear housing extending from said gear housing bracket to define a cavity therein;
• an axle shaft disposed within said cavity of said gear housing and extending along an axis of rotation;
• said axle shaft being supported within said cavity of said housing such that said axle shaft is free to rotate about said axis of rotation;
• an output pinion rotatably coupled with said axle shaft that rotates with said axle shaft;
• said output pinion including pinion teeth that are meshingly engaged with said sector gear;
• an eccentric carried on said axle shaft and including a first bore that is concentric with said axle shaft and a first bearing surface that is eccentric relative to said axle shaft;
• an actuator mounted to said gear housing and rotatably coupled to eccentric for driving rotation of said eccentric about said axis of rotation of said axle shaft;
• said axle shaft extending through said first bore in said eccentric with a slip fit such that said eccentric is free to rotate relative to said axle shaft;
• a first gear carried on said axle shaft that is rotatably coupled to said axle shaft such that said first gear rotates with said axle shaft about said axis of rotation;
• a second gear carried on said first bearing surface of said eccentric and disposed in meshing engagement with said first gear;
• said second gear including a second bore and a centerline axis that extends co-axially through said second bore;
• said first bearing surface of said eccentric extending through said second bore in said second gear with a slip fit such that said eccentric is free to rotate relative to said second gear;
• said first gear and said second gear having a planetary arrangement where said centerline axis of said second gear is parallel to and spaced from said axis of rotation of said axle shaft;
• said second gear including an external flange with first and second guide holes that extend through said external flange;
• a first support pin rigidly fixed in place relative to said axle shaft that is parallel to said axis of rotation of said axle shaft, is cylindrical in shape, and extends through said first guide hole in said external flange of said second gear;
• a second support pin rigidly fixed in place relative to said axle shaft that is parallel to said axis of rotation of said axle shaft, is cylindrical in shape, and extends through said second guide hole in said external flange of said second gear;
• and
• said first and second guide holes having first and second guide hole radii and said first and second support pins having first and second support pin radii that are smaller than said first and second guide hole radii such that said second gear is free to move in a planetary, wobbling movement about said axis of rotation in response to rotation of said eccentric while contact between said first bearing surface of said eccentric and said second bore of said second gear, contact between said first support pin and said first guide hole of said external flange, and contact between said second support pin and said second guide hole of said external flange prevents said first gear from driving rotation of said second gear.