The invention relates to an actuator unit, in particular an exterior mirror actuator unit for an exterior mirror unit for a motor vehicle.

An exterior mirror actuator unit is generally known and can for instance be provided in an exterior mirror unit to allow a mirror support, in particular together with a mirror cap placed around it, to be pivotally adjusted relative to a mirror base which is configured for mounting to the motor vehicle. With the aid of the actuator unit the mirror support is usually pivotable relative to the mirror base substantially about an upward axis between an operational position or so-called use position, a park position or so-called fold-in position, in which a reflecting element supported by the mirror support faces more towards the body of the vehicle, and a fold-out position towards which the mirror support, in particular together with the mirror cap, can be folded when an object, from behind, hits the mirror support or the mirror cap. With the aid of the exterior mirror actuator unit the exterior mirror unit can then be brought, for instance, from the park position to the use position, or vice versa, or be moved back from a fold-out position into the use position or into the park position. Usually, to that end, the actuator unit comprises a drive train with an electric motor which has a driven drive shaft on which a spiral gear, in particular a worm, is fixedly clamped. By using a spiral gear, in particular a worm, in the first step in the drive train, a relatively high rotational speed of the driven shaft of the electric motor can be converted in a single step to a relatively low rotational speed of the gear, for example a worm wheel, which engages the spiral gear. Furthermore, the drive train, by virtue of the spiral gear, can be made of relatively silent or low-noise design.

Additionally or alternatively, a generally known exterior mirror actuator unit may be provided in a mirror adjuster of an exterior mirror unit. Usually, a first part of such a mirror adjuster is fixedly connected with the mirror support and a second part of the mirror adjuster is fixedly connected with a mirror support plate, the mirror adjuster then being configured for adjusting at least one angular position of the mirror support plate relative to the mirror support. To that end, the mirror adjuster usually comprises at least one drive train, and often even two drive trains. Thus, the mirror support plate, and a reflecting element supported thereon, can often be rotated about a first axis, for instance a substantially vertical axis, with the aid of a first drive train and/or be rotated about a second axis, for example a substantially horizontal axis, with the aid of a second drive train. Usually, the drive train concerned comprises an electric motor which has a driven drive shaft on which a spiral gear, in particular a worm, is fixedly clamped.

It is noted that in a drive train of an exterior mirror actuator unit, as in particular for adjusting the mirror support between a fold-in position, use position, and park position, the spiral gear is usually made of brass. Making the spiral gear of metal, in particular of brass, and hence not of plastic or other material that upon heat-up, for instance as a result of friction in the drive train, may start to expand or otherwise deform relatively much, can counteract the spiral gear deforming, in particular expanding, relatively much and, as a result, possibly ending up sitting so much less fixedly on the drive shaft that the spiral gear can start to shift axially and/or slip around the drive shaft. However, by making the spiral gear of a metal (or metal alloy), manufacturing the spiral gear, even in the case where it is made of a relatively simply workable material such as brass, is relatively laborious, relatively labor-intensive and/or relatively expensive, for instance as a consequence of material-removing operations that may be entailed in the production of a metal gear.

The invention contemplates the provision of an alternative actuator unit, in particular an alternative exterior mirror actuator unit for an exterior mirror unit for a motor vehicle. In particular, the invention contemplates the provision of an improved actuator unit which on the one hand can facilitate that a relatively high rotational speed of a driven drive shaft of an electric motor can be converted in a relatively simple and/or fast manner, preferably in a single step, to a relatively low rotational speed of a further element of a drive train, more particularly, on top of that, in a relatively low-noise manner, and which actuator unit on the other hand can be free of a relatively expensive and/or relatively laborious metal spiral gear.

To that end, the invention provides an actuator unit, in particular an exterior mirror actuator unit for an exterior mirror unit for a motor vehicle, which comprises an electric motor having a driven drive shaft on which a spiral gear, in particular a worm or a gear with evoloid-evolvent toothing, is fixedly clamped, wherein the gear comprises a gear body and at least one insert piece at least partly situated in the gear body, the gear being fixedly clamped on the drive shaft of the electric motor with the aid of the insert piece.

By fixedly clamping the spiral gear on the drive shaft of the electric motor with the aid of the insert piece, the gear body itself does not need to be fixedly clamped or pressed on the shaft, at least not directly, but axial displacement or rotation of the gear body can be prevented in that the gear body substantially cannot shift and rotate relative to the insert piece fixedly clamped on the drive shaft, which insert piece itself substantially cannot shift and rotate relative to the shaft.

As the gear body and the insert piece can be separate parts which can be separately manufactured, the parts mentioned can each be made of a substantially different material. The insert piece can then be made, for instance, of a material that, in comparison with the material of the gear body, is relatively wear-resistant and/or relaxes relatively little and/or upon a temperature rise deforms relatively httle, in particular expands relatively little, while the gear body can then be made of a relatively inexpensive and/or relatively simply workable material. Thus, the insert piece may for instance be made substantially of a metal or metal alloy, in particular of brass or steel, such as stainless steel, while the gear body is made substantially of a plastic, for instance using injecting molding.

In embodiments, the gear body may be provided with a receiving cavity for at least partly receiving the insert piece to be inserted therein, which may for instance be implemented as a metal plate and/or ring having therein an opening which can be slid and/or clamped onto and/or around the drive shaft of the electric motor.

For instance, the insert piece may first, for instance in a

substantially radial direction, be inserted into the receiving cavity, and the gear body can thereupon be slid on the shaft in axial direction, while the insert piece, preferably, may then be fixedly pressed on the shaft.

In an alternative manner, the gear body may first be slid onto the shaft, preferably substantially without firmly clamping the gear body, and the insert piece can then, preferably in an at least partly radial direction, that is, a direction with a radial component, be placed on the shaft, and preferably be fixedly clamped at once. It is noted that in that case it may hence be so that the insert piece is inserted into the receiving cavity only after the gear body has been placed at the desired position on the drive shaft. Also, however, the insert piece could already be placed at least partly in the cavity before the gear body is slid onto the shaft, after which the insert piece, only after the gear body has been slid onto the shaft, is then moved further, in an at least partly radial direction, into the cavity in order to then push the insert piece around the shaft, and preferably clamp it fixedly on the shaft at the same time.

Further, the invention relates to an exterior mirror unit, in particular an exterior mirror unit for a motor vehicle, that comprises at least one actuator unit according to the invention.

The exterior mirror actuator unit may for instance be provided in an exterior mirror unit to allow a mirror support, in particular together with a mirror cap, if present, placed around it, to be pivotally adjusted relative to a mirror base which is configured for mounting to the motor vehicle. Thus, with the aid of the actuator unit, the mirror support can for instance be pivotable substantially about an upward axis, preferably be pivotable relative to the mirror base between an operational position or so-called use position, a park position or so-called fold-in position, in which a reflecting element, if present, supported by the mirror support may face more towards the body of the vehicle, and a fold-out position, towards which the mirror support, in particular together with a mirror cap, if present, may be folded when an object, from behind, impacts the mirror support, or the mirror cap, if present. With the aid of the exterior mirror actuator unit, the exterior mirror unit can then be brought, for instance, from the park position to the use position, or vice versa, and/or be moved back from a fold-out position into the use position and/or into the park position. The actuator unit can comprise a drive train with an electric motor which has a driven drive shaft on which a spiral gear, in particular a worm, may be fixedly clamped. It will be clear that the drive train may also comprise other parts.

Additionally or alternatively, the exterior mirror unit may be provided with an exterior mirror actuator unit, according to an aspect of the invention, that is part of a mirror adjuster. In embodiments, then, a first part of the mirror adjuster may be fixedly connected with the mirror support and/or a second part of the mirror adjuster may be fixedly connected with a mirror support plate. Preferably, the mirror adjuster may be configured for adjusting at least one angular position of the mirror support plate relative to the mirror support. For instance, the mirror support plate, and possibly also a reflecting element, if present, supported thereon, may be pivotable about a first axis, for instance an axis during use extending substantially in vertical direction, with the aid of the exterior mirror actuator and/or about a second axis, for instance an axis during use extending substantially in horizontal direction, with the aid of the exterior mirror actuator or with the aid of an additional exterior mirror actuator which may preferably be also

implemented according to an aspect of the invention.

The invention also relates to a method for mounting a gear, in particular a spiral gear, more particularly a worm or a gear with evoloid- evolvent toothing or a gear having a different, preferably spiral, toothing, on a shaft, in particular a driven drive shaft of an electric motor.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a kit of parts, for instance for forming an actuator unit, such as an exterior mirror actuator unit for an exterior mirror unit for a motor vehicle, and/or for instance for forming a spiral gear for an actuator unit.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the subclaims.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of exemplary embodiments represented in the drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective exploded view of a first exemplary embodiment of an actuator unit according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the actuator unit of Fig. 1 in an assembled condition;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective exploded view of a second exemplary embodiment of an actuator unit according to the invention; and

Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the actuator unit of Fig. 3 in an assembled condition.

The drawing shows only schematic representations of preferred embodiments of the invention. In the figures, like or corresponding parts are indicated with the same or corresponding reference numerals.

Figs. 1 and 2 show schematic perspective views of a first exemplary embodiment of an actuator unit 1 according to the invention, at least, of a part thereof. In Fig. 2 the actuator unit 1 of Fig. 1 can be seen in an assembled condition, whereas the parts of the actuator unit 1 are

represented in Fig. 1 in an as yet unassembled condition and there, accordingly, in effect form a kit of parts according to an aspect of the invention. Figs. 3 and 4 show schematic perspective views of a second exemplary embodiment of an actuator unit 1 according to the invention, at least, of a part thereof. In Fig. 4 the actuator unit 1 of Fig. 3 can be seen in an assembled condition, whereas the parts of the actuator unit 1 are represented in Fig. 3 in an as yet unassembled condition and there, accordingly, in effect form a kit of parts according to an aspect of the invention.

The actuator unit 1, which in particular can be an exterior mirror actuator unit for an exterior mirror unit for a motor vehicle, comprises an electric motor 2 having a driven drive shaft 20 on which a spiral gear 3 is fixedly clamped. While the actuator unit 1 can more preferably be an exterior mirror actuator unit for an exterior mirror unit for a motor vehicle, the actuator unit can also be a different actuator unit, such as, for instance, an actuator unit for a grille adjuster for adjusting a grille in a motor vehicle, or such as, for instance, a different actuator unit for adjusting one or more parts in a motor vehicle.

It is noted that a spiral gear is here understood to be at least a gear having one or more spiral teeth, the spiral tooth or teeth describing at least a part of a spiral shape. The gear, at least a portion thereof that is provided with one or more teeth, may be substantially helical. The spiral gear may for instance be a worm, which worm, for instance, can have a single spiral tooth as is the case, for instance, in the two exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. However, the spiral gear may also be formed by a worm having several teeth, such as, for instance, a worm having two or three teeth. Alternatively, the spiral gear can be, for instance, a gear with evoloid- evolvent toothing, which can most preferably have a plurality of teeth, each tooth of which describes at least a part of a spiral shape. It is noted that a gear having evoloid-evolvent toothing may be understood to be a gear having an evolvent tooth shape which is formed such that it is suitable for a gear having fewer than five teeth. For instance, the gear with evoloid- evolvent toothing can have two, three or four teeth. The spiral gear can alternatively also have a different toothing than an evoloid-evolvent toothing.

The spiral gear 3 fixedly clamped on the drive shaft 20 comprises a gear body 30 and further comprises at least one insert piece 31 situated at least partly in the gear body 30. In the actuator unit 1, at least in the assembled condition thereof, the gear 3 is fixedly clamped on the drive shaft 20 of the electric motor 2 with the aid of the insert piece 31. The insert piece, or so-called grip or clench, can most preferably be configured to be fixedly clamped on the shaft 20.

The gear body 30 can be made, at any rate substantially, of a relatively inexpensive, relatively inexpensively workable, and/or relatively simply workable material, such as a plastic, in particular an injection- moldable plastic.

The insert piece 31 can be made substantially of a different material than the material of the gear body, for instance of a material that can facilitate the insert piece 31 being fixedly clamped onto the shaft 20 relatively well, relatively firmly, and/or relatively durably. The insert piece 31 may, for instance to that end, be made substantially of a material that, in comparison with the material of the gear body 30, is relatively wear- resistant and/or relaxes relatively little and/or expands relatively little upon a temperature rise. For example, the insert piece 31 may be made substantially from a metal or metal alloy, such as for example steel, in particular stainless steel, or such as for example brass, which, compared to steel, may, for instance, be relatively easy to work and/or may suffer relatively little from oxidation.

As the insert piece 31 can be relatively small in proportion to the gear body 30 and, moreover, in embodiments, can have a relatively simple design, for instance in that, in embodiments, the insert piece itself does not need to comprise any teeth and/or parts of teeth, a relatively large saving of costs can be realized by not implementing the entire spiral gear 3 in a material that can be fixedly clamped relatively well and/or can kept clamped relatively well, in particular a metal or metal alloy, such as, for example, the customary brass, but by manufacturing only the relatively small insert piece 31 of such a material that can be fixedly clamped relatively well and/or can be kept fixedly clamped relatively well.

It is noted that the insert piece 31, or in the case of several insert pieces, for instance, all insert pieces jointly, can take up, for instance, less than 20%, for instance at most 15% or at most 12%, of the total volume of the gear. In embodiments, the gear body 31 can comprise, for instance, more than 90% or more than 92% or even more than 95% of the volume of the gear body 30, while the insert piece 31, or the insert pieces, account(s) for less than 10%, 8% or 5% of the volume of the gear body 31.

As can be clearly seen in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, the gear body 30 may be provided with a receiving cavity 32 for at least partly receiving the insert piece 31 to be inserted therein.

It is noted here that in a first embodiment of a method according to an aspect of the invention, for instance during assembly of the actuator unit 1, the insert piece 31 can be inserted at least partly, preferably wholly, into the cavity 32. More preferably, the insert piece 31 can be slid or pushed into the receiving cavity 32 to such an extent that a clamping opening 33, such as a passage 33a or indentation 33b, therein, at any rate at least in one direction, comes to lie substantially in alignment with a shaft housing cavity 37 which can extend substantially in axial direction 10 of the gear body 30 and/or of the spiral gear 3 and which can house the shaft 20 at least partly, as can be seen, for instance, in Fig. 2 or Fig. 4. It is noted that the shaft housing cavity 37 can preferably extend throughout the gear body 30 and/or throughout the spiral gear 3, so that a distal end 20a of the shaft 20 can project from the gear 3 at the front, so that the distal end 20a may, for instance, be suspended in a bearing-mounted manner. Alternatively, however, the shaft housing cavity 37 may also be configured, for instance, as a blind hole.

It is noted furthermore that a width and/or diameter of a shaft housing cavity 37 may substantially correspond to, in particular be substantially equal to, a thickness, width and/or diameter of the shaft 20.

In embodiments, after the insert piece 31 has been placed at least partly in the receiving cavity 32, the gear body 30 may be slid in axial direction 10 onto the drive shaft 20, for instance by temporarily fixing the gear body 30 and sliding the shaft 20 into the shaft housing cavity 37. The insert piece 31 may here be clamped on the drive shaft 20 to thus allow the gear 3 to be fixedly clamped on the drive shaft 20 with the aid of the insert piece 31. Alternatively, prior to the gear body 30 being slid onto the drive shaft 20, the drive shaft 20 may have been made relatively cold with respect to the insert piece 31, so that the gear body 30, as it is slid on, is not directly clamped on the shaft 20 yet, but is relatively fixedly clamped only by having the shaft 20 heat up and/or by having the insert piece 31 cool off, so that the diameter of the shaft 20 can expand and/or an internal dimension 33a', 33b', such as a diameter 33a' and/or width 33b', of the clamping opening 33 can shrink in order to bring about a relatively good clamped fit.

The drive shaft 20 of the motor 2, which shaft 20 may be made, for instance, substantially of metal, for example steel, can have substantially a round cross section and can have, for instance, a diameter of substantially 2.0 mm or substantially 2.3 mm. However, other diameters of the shaft 20 are also possible, preferably shaft diameters that correspond to the shaft diameters of electric motors commonly used in exterior mirror units.

It is noted that the shaft 20 of the motor 2, at least a part thereof, may be provided with so-called knurls 22 or so-called serrations 22 or other roughening, which can for instance offer room to slightly deform the material of the shaft locally, for instance when the insert piece 31 is being clamped on it. The knurls 22 may preferably be formed as upstanding ribs and/or grooves which extend in the axial direction 10. Additionally or alternatively, grooves and/or ribs may be formed which extend substantially in the circumferential direction of the shaft 20. Also, it is possible that the so-called knurls 22 are substantially diamond-shaped and/or, for instance, may be formed with the aid of two mutually crossing patterns of spiral ribs and/or grooves.

Alternatively or additionally, the insert piece 31 may be provided with knurls or serrations or roughening, in particular on at least a portion of an inner surface of the insert piece 31.

By providing the shaft 20 and/or the insert piece 31 with knurls or roughening, a relatively good clamping of the insert piece 31 on the shaft 20 can be accomplished.

Furthermore, it is noted that, as can be seen in the drawing, the receiving cavity 32 in the gear body 30 may be provided in a position near a rear side of the gear body 30, that is, near a side of the gear body 30 that is located relatively close to the motor housing 21. For instance, the receiving cavity, viewed in axial direction 10, may be placed behind a proximal end 34b of the tooth 34 (or behind proximal ends of the teeth).

While the receiving cavity 32 may thus be provided near a rear side of the gear body 30, the receiving cavity 32, and/or any additional receiving cavity for an additional insert, may, in other embodiments, also be located somewhere else.

For instance, the receiving cavity 32 may be provided near a front or so-called distal end of the gear body 30, preferably in front of the distal end 34a of the tooth 34 (or in front of distal ends of the teeth). By sliding the insert piece 31 into a cavity 32 that is located in front of the tooth 34 or teeth, it can be provided that the insert piece needs to be moved over the shaft 20 only over a relatively short distance during assembly of the actuator unit 1. This can prevent, for instance, the shaft 20 being unintentionally bent slightly during assembly and/or other parts deforming and/or sustaining damage, for instance as a result of the shaft being unintentionally pushed into the motor housing 21 to some extent as the gear 3 is being pushed in axial direction onto the shaft 20, which usually involves the needed force.

In another example, the receiving cavity 32 could be located in a portion of the gear body 30 that is provided with the one or more teeth 34. In such a case, the insert piece 31 may for instance be wholly received in the receiving cavity 32 and/or this cavity 32 may be placed, at least

substantially, in a groove 35 located between two teeth or between two tooth parts.

Optionally, an outwardly facing side of the insert piece 31 may be so configured as to adjoin the spiral tooth 34 or teeth of the gear body 30.

The insert piece 31 and the at least one receiving cavity 32 in the gear body 30 may, in embodiments, be so configured that the insert piece 31 fixedly clamped on the shaft 20 can substantially prevent axial

displacement of the gear body 30 in a direction 10 along the drive shaft, in both forward and rearward direction. For instance, the receiving cavity 32, which, viewed in axial direction 10, may be transverse or diagonal to the shaft 20, may define a front stop surface 32a and a rear stop surface 32b which can abut at least partly against a front abutment surface 31a and a rear abutment surface 31b, respectively, so that the gear body 30 can thus be prevented from shifting in axial direction 10 relative to the insert piece 31 clamped on the shaft 20.

In embodiments, the insert piece 31, which can then be, for instance, substantially plate-shaped and/or substantially ring-shaped, may at least partly be biased outwardly in the axial direction 10 so that it, by virtue of the bias substantially in the axial direction can be clamped in the receiving cavity 32, which can be, for instance, slotted. The insert piece 31 may to that end be configured, for instance, as a plate or ring not wholly flat, for instance as is the case with a spring ring, which when being placed in the receiving cavity 32 is pushed slightly flat and can tend to bend or spring back to its initial shape. Just as with a spring ring, the plate or ring not wholly flat may for instance be slightly conical (just as is the case, for instance, with a so-called Belleville spring washer), slightly singly-curved, slightly spiral (as can be the case with a so-called split washer), and/or be made of slightly waved or toothed configuration at its front and/or rear side 31a, 31b (as is the case, for instance, with a so-called toothed locking ring).

Additionally or alternatively, the at least one receiving cavity 32 and the insert piece 31 may be so configured that they 32, 31 can engage each other in such a manner that the gear body 30 substantially cannot rotate around the drive shaft 20 after the insert piece 31 is at least partly placed in the cavity 32 and is clamped on the shaft 20. This can be reahzed, for instance, by forming the cavity 32 and the insert piece 31 such that the insert piece 31 clamped on the shaft 20 is prevented from rotating in the cavity 32.

This can for instance be realized wholly or partly by not placing the cavity 32, which may be formed as a slot 32, perpendicularly to the axial direction 10, but by placing the cavity 32 or slot 32 slightly obliquely, that is, diagonally, to the axial direction 10.

However, such prevention of rotation may also, additionally or alternatively, be at least partly realized differently. For instance, to that end, the insert piece 31, which may for instance be substantially plate- shaped, may be designed not as a round ring shape with a coaxially placed clamping opening 33. For instance, at least one side 31c of the insert piece 31 and/or one sidewall 32c of the receiving cavity 32 may be formed such that they can prevent rotation, for instance by making them substantially flat or providing them with an angle.

As has already been noted hereinabove, the receiving cavity 32 may be substantially slotted, that is, the receiving cavity 32 can have a length, which extends substantially in axial direction 10, that is smaller than its width, which extends transversely and/or diagonally to the axial direction 10, and/or that is smaller than the depth, which extends

substantially in an axial direction 11. Additionally or alternatively, the insert piece 31 may be substantially plate-shaped or ring-shaped, as a result of which the insert piece 31 can for instance be relatively simple and/or relatively inexpensive to produce. Possibly, an insert piece 31 may be formed by a standard ring, locking ring or small nut.

In embodiments, as is the case, for instance, with the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the insert piece 31 can be substantially rotation-symmetrical, for instance relative to the axial direction 10.

Additionally, as is the case, for instance, in the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 1, or alternatively, as is the case, for instance, in the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 3, the insert piece 31 may be mirror-symmetrical, whereby the, at any rate a first, plane of symmetry can preferably be between a front surface 31a and a rear surface 31b of the insert piece 31. Shaping the insert piece 31 symmetrically can for instance prevent the insert piece 31 being unintentionally placed in the receiving cavity 32 in a wrong orientation and/or can make it possible for the insert piece to be relatively inexpensive.

While the insert piece 31, as can be seen in Fig. 1, may be provided with a clamping opening 33 which is formed as a passage 33a, in particular, for instance, as a circular or circular-cyhndrical passage 33, which can serve as clamping opening 33, the insert piece 31 may in alternative

embodiments, such as for instance the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, be provided with a clamping opening 33 which is substantially formed as an indentation 33b.

For instance, the insert piece 31 can have a substantially U-shaped indentation 33b and/or the insert piece 31 itself may be substantially U-shaped. Additionally or alternatively, the indentation 33b may be defined with the aid of two side pieces 36 or legs 36. In embodiments, these side pieces 36 or legs 36 may be biased towards each other, for instance in such a manner that a width 33b' of the clamping opening 33 of a loose insert piece 31 not yet placed on a shaft 20 is slightly smaller than a corresponding width or diameter of a corresponding shaft 20 on which the respective insert piece 31 is to be fixedly clamped.

While the insert piece 31 provided with an indentation 33b may for instance, in embodiments, be clamped on an end of the shaft 20, for instance in a receiving cavity which could then be placed at a distal end of the gear body 30, the insert piece 31, as can be seen in Fig. 3, may be formed such that it can be slid on the drive shaft 20 in an at least partly radial direction 11 in order to fixedly clamp it 31 on the drive shaft 20. While an actuator unit 1 with a thus configured insert 31 can be assembled in a method described above, an actuator unit 1 with a thus configured insert 31 can also be assembled by carrying out the step of fixedly clamping the insert piece 31 on the shaft 20 only after the gear body 30 has been slid in axial direction 10 onto the drive shaft 20. For instance, the insert piece 31 may at least partly be placed in the cavity 32 in an at least partly radial direction 11 only after the gear body 33 has been placed at the desired axial position on the drive shaft 20 of the motor 2, and the insert piece 31 may then, or after that, be clamped on the drive shaft 20. It will be clear that, also, the insert piece 31may already have been slid a bit into the receiving cavity 31 before the gear body 33 is placed on the shaft 20 and that the insert piece 31, after the gear body 33 has been placed at the right spot, can be pushed further into the cavity 31 in order to have the insert piece clamp on the shaft 20, which may or may not be done by having the shaft 20, after the insert piece has been slid on or around the shaft, expand and/or by having the insert piece 31 shrink, for instance by reducing the temperature thereof to substantially room temperature. A method in which the insert piece 31 is pressed onto the shaft 20 substantially in a radial direction 11 can be highly advantageous, because this can prevent the shaft 20 being loaded in axial direction, whereby, unintentionally, the shaft and/or other parts of the motor 2, such as, for instance, parts situated in the motor housing 21, such as any carbon brushes or a coil, may bend or deform otherwise, may move, and/or sustain damage. If the shaft 20 is hardly, if at all, loaded in axial direction 10 while the insert piece 31 is being pressed onto the shaft 20, it may substantially suffice, for instance, to support the shaft 20 in radial direction. This may for instance be done by supporting the shaft 20 itself, and/or by supporting the gear body 30 placed thereon, on a side that, viewed with respect to the shaft 20, is on the other side than the receiving cavity 32 is.

While the insert piece 31 in preferred embodiments is slid into a receiving cavity 32 that has been formed in the gear body 30, the insert piece 31 may also, in alternative embodiments, be a prefabricated element that has been included in the gear body 31 with the aid of insert molding.

The invention also relates to a kit 30, 31 of parts 30, 31, exemplary embodiments of which are shown by way of example in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. The kit comprises at least a gear body 31 for a spiral gear 3, in particular a worm 3 or a gear having evoloid-evolvent toothing. The gear body 31 is provided with a receiving cavity 32 for at least partly taking up an insert piece 31 to be at least partly inserted therein. The kit 30, 31 furthermore comprises an insert piece 31 which is configured to be at least partly inserted into the receiving cavity 32 of the gear body 30 and which is further configured to be fixedly clamped on a drive shaft 20 of an electric motor 2, in such a manner that with the aid of the insert piece 31 the gear body 30 can be fixedly clamped on the drive shaft 20 of the electric motor 2. Optionally, the kit of parts can furthermore comprise further parts, such as for example a drive shaft 20, which may or may not be already included in an electric motor 2, which can hence also be part of the kit. Additionally or alternatively, the kit can comprise other parts, such as for instance one or more further gears or other parts.

It is noted that for the purpose of clarity and a concise description, elements or features have been described herein as part of the same or different exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the invention can also encompass embodiments that comprise combinations of all or some of the elements or features described.

It will be clear that each of the shown and described actuator units, kits of parts, exterior mirror units and methods and each element of the shown and described actuator units, kits of parts, exterior mirror units and methods is also understood to have been described and shown separately and can also be applied individually and/or can be applied in combination with at least one other element and is understood to have been described herein as such.

Furthermore, it is noted that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described here. Many variants are possible.

Instead of one receiving cavity for an insert piece, several receiving cavities may be provided in a gear body, which can possibly each receive an insert piece. In this manner, a gear body may for instance be fixedly clamped on a shaft, such as a drive shaft of a motor, at several positions at the same time, for instance to secure the spiral gear relatively firmly and/or to counteract torsion of the gear body, which may be made of relatively inexpensive and/or relatively easily deformable material. Alternatively or additionally, providing several receiving cavities may be advantageous to enable such a gear body to be placed relatively simply (in a relatively firm manner) on different shafts, for example shafts having knurls provided at different places.

It is noted that the insert piece, in embodiments, can be pressed into the receiving cavity and there can sit substantially stuck, so that it, for instance during assembly, cannot accidentally can fall out of the receiving cavity. Additionally or alternatively, the insert piece could be secured in the cavity in a different manner, for instance by gluing it in the cavity.

However, the insert piece and the gear body do not need to be fixedly connected with each other directly, and/or not only directly. As has already been set out above, alternatively or additionally, for instance a form closure between gear body and insert can prevent the gear body, at least when the gear is clamped on the shaft, from rotating and/or sliding relative to the insert piece.

Furthermore, the insert piece may for instance be provided with means to facilitate pushing thereof, for instance pushing thereof into the receiving cavity and/or pushing thereof onto or around the shaft. Thus, the insert piece can for instance have a recess, such as a slot or a well, in which an end of a press-on tool, such as for example a screwdriver, can be placed, whereupon the recess can then for instance prevent the press-on tool from slipping off accidentally, which may not only be a nuisance but may also, for instance, unintentionally damage the teeth of the spiral gear.

Additionally or alternatively, the insert piece may for instance be optionally provided with means to facilitate the insert piece being taken out of the receiving cavity. Thus, the insert piece may be provided with an insert hole, which, for instance when the insert piece projects partly above the receiving cavity, may be provided in a projecting part of a sidewall, front wall or rear wall of the insert piece, to offer grip to a tool that can be partly inserted into the insert hole to enable the insert piece to be pulled out of the receiving cavity.

Furthermore, the actuator unit may also be provided with more parts than the parts shown in the exemplary embodiments. Thus, the actuator unit can for instance comprise a second gear which can cooperate with the spiral gear. The second gear can for instance be part of a drive train which may be formed by the actuator unit and/or which is part of the actuator unit. Additionally or alternatively, the second gear can for instance be a worm wheel which can engage a spiral gear then formed as worm, or the second gear can be a gear with an inner or outer toothing which can engage a spiral gear implemented as a gear with evoloid-evolvent toothing. Further, the actuator unit can also comprise further gears and/or other parts, such as one or more bearings, a carrying frame and/or one or more shafts or still other parts.

These and other variants will be clear to those skilled in the art and are understood to be within the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.