Actuator of an apparatus for level adjustment of a motor vehicle

An actuator comprising:

• a spindle held against rotation;
• a nut supported for rotation about the spindle such that rotation about the spindle causes the nut to move axially with respect to the spindle;
• a first gear driveably connected to the nut, the gear defining a first annularly closed running contour, a second annularly closed running contour, and a latching contour, wherein the two running contours have a common portion and the latching contour has a common point with the first running contour;
• and
• a locking unit supported to move in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the first gear, the locking unit engaging the contours of the first gear so as to follow the first running contour in response to rotation of the first gear in a first direction, follow the second running contour in response to rotation of the first gear in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and follow the latching contour in response to rotation of the first gear in the second direction starting from the common point, the locking unit configured to preclude further rotation in the second direction upon reaching an end of the latching contour.

A level adjustment apparatus for a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a spindle held against rotation with respect to the vehicle;
• a nut supported for rotation about the spindle such that rotation about the spindle causes the nut to move axially with respect to the spindle to adjust a level of the vehicle;
• a first gear driveably connected to the nut, the gear defining a first annularly closed running contour, a second annularly closed running contour, and a latching contour, wherein the two running contours have a common portion and the latching contour has a common point with the first running contour;
• an electric motor driveably connected to the first gear;
• and
• a locking unit supported to move in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the first gear, the locking unit engaging the contours of the first gear so as to follow the first running contour in response to rotation of the first gear in a first direction, follow the second running contour in response to rotation of the first gear in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and follow the latching contour in response to rotation of the first gear in the second direction starting from the common point, the locking unit configured to preclude further rotation in the second direction upon reaching an end of the latching contour.