Open Architecture Power Length Adjuster Assembly For A Vehicle Seat And Method Of Manufacturing The Same

• Main Authors: ESSIAN, Matthew, TEER, Antal, NAPAU, Ioan, LENANE, Dean, NAPAU-STOICA, Radu Calin, NAPAU, Ileana Dacia, POPTANI, Sapan M, NAPAU, Mircea, NAPAU, Doina
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.01.2021
• Subjects: MACHINE TOOLS; MAKING GEARS OR TOOTHED RACKS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

A method of manufacturing a gear drive for a seat adjuster assembly may include applying a cutting process to a worm gear blank to cut gear teeth into the worm gear blank and form a single-enveloping worm gear; forming a worm with a helical thread that includes a pitch surface that is configured to mesh with the gear teeth of the single-enveloping worm gear. A longitudinal crown is created on the pitch surface of the helical thread of the worm such that the pitch surface has an arcuate profile moving from a proximal end of the worm to a distal end of the worm. In addition, a crowned tooth profile is created on the helical thread of the worm that extends in an angular direction between a top land and a bottom land of the helical thread. The crowned tooth profile bows outwardly along a convex curve.