EP1007815B1 - Door drive system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a door drive system for a wing of a door, a window or similar, comprising a housing with a drive and/or return device, e.g. a closing spring (7), and a preferably hydraulic damping device. In practice, drive housings of this type are cast in aluminium. The production costs are relatively high since housing openings and boreholes such as hydraulic channels have to be cut into the housing (31) later on. According to the invention, the housing (31) is produced wholly or partly from plastic. This enables the cavities which are necessary for the housing to function, such as housing boreholes and/or openings to be made in the drive housing when it is produced, without removing material by cutting. According to another design, the drive housing has several housing parts which are produced separately. The adjacent sections of the housing parts are then stuck or welded together. Housing boreholes such as hydraulic channels can be made in the adjacent surfaces of the housing parts which are shaped accordingly, without removing material by cutting.

Description

The invention relates to a door drive with the features of the preamble of Claim 1 and a method for producing a door drive.

Door drives with closer springs are known as energy stores and hydraulically damped closing movement, in which the closer spring with a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit interacts. The piston-cylinder unit and the closer spring are arranged in a metallic housing and act on a rack and pinion or on Cam gear with a rotatably mounted in the housing Closer shaft together, which is direct or via a power transmission Linkage is connected to the door. When opening the sash manually, the Energy storage is charged and subsequently when the Unload the door again. With every opening and closing movement of the door the actuation of the piston arranged inside the housing Hydraulic channels Hydraulic medium between the two piston work rooms exchanged. A door closer constructed in this way is, for example, from the EP 328 912 B1 or DE 36 38 353 A1.

Such door closers are known in practice in various designs. There are versions that are mounted on the door leaf or frame are installed as well as versions integrated in the door leaf or in the frame become. Scissor rods or Slide arm linkage used. The housing of the door closer is used in practice cast from aluminum or made from extruded aluminum profiles. The Manufacturing effort is due to the required machining Post processing relatively high. The hydraulic channels must be retrofitted into the Housing must be drilled and the cylinder chamber must also be reworked to ensure an exact fit of the piston.

DE 195 29 168 A1 describes a hydraulic door closer which consists of a one-piece elongated housing. The housing can be made of metal or also consist of polymer materials and has a cylindrical Longitudinal bore for receiving the piston and a transverse bore for receiving the closer shaft. The hydraulic medium is exchanged via a Valve, which is arranged in the housing cover and axially in the piston chamber protrudes and immerses in an axial bore of the piston. The housing itself has no hydraulic channels.

The object of the invention is to develop a housing for a door closer, which is easy to manufacture and process, and a method to develop for its manufacture.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of the claim 1.

With the use of fiber reinforced, preferably glass fiber or carbon fiber reinforced There are special advantages in terms of strength and plastic Processing. The machining post-processing can be reduced or entirely omitted. Furthermore, advantageous friction properties can be obtained by using suitable material combinations. Can advantageously also plastic covers and coatings on the inside of the housing, e.g. B. on the cylinder inner wall or on the outer wall of the Pistons are provided, also plastic coating on metal walls or on composite material walls are possible.

By using suitable material combinations, e.g. B. valves and valve seat in the housing, the desired temperature independence of the valve setting obtained by appropriate temperature compensation of the materials become. There can be pairings of different plastics, too Pairings of metal and plastic can be used.

Special advantages arise when the plastic material in the delivery color the door closer is colored so that subsequent painting with the delivery color or other separate external coloring can be omitted or simplified.

In the drive housing, perforated spaces, for example a housing channel, a mounting hole and / or a receiving space of an output element, a damping piston, a closer spring, a drive motor or a valve, are formed without cutting, or at least preformed, at least in sections during the non-cutting shaping of the drive housing.
As an alternative or in addition, at least one perforated space is formed when a number of separately manufactured housing parts are subsequently joined, the perforated space in the adjoining surfaces of the housing parts being formed without cutting or at least preformed without cutting.

Characterized in that such hole spaces already in the manufacture of the drive housing are formed in this by suitable injection mold the processing effort considerably. As a rule, there is no subsequent machining more needed. The housing is at least partially, advantageously but is made entirely of plastic. The production takes place for example by injection molding. This procedure also allows certain Housing parts made of plastic such as an axle bearing for the output link to be introduced in a two-component process in a manufacturing process.

Furthermore, it is possible to use the plastic door closer housing form from several separate housing parts and these in simpler Way to glue or weld together. The cylinder chamber can after the assembly of the piston and the closer spring by an end plug be closed, which is welded onto the cylinder chamber. It a thread in the cylinder chamber or in the plug is not necessary to train.

Alternatively, the cylinder chamber is closed by an end cap, which with the cylinder chamber pot-shaped with the formation of hydraulic channels encompasses its edge sections.

Recesses for separately designed insert pieces can be made in the drive housing be provided, which are welded into the recesses or be glued in. Here are in the abutting surfaces of the drive housing and the insert piece channel sections of the damping device formed without cutting or preformed. This method is particularly suitable for the formation of longitudinal channels on the front of the housing for the use of the hydraulic valves to the outside. The radial channels which connect the longitudinal channels to the cylinder chamber are preferred already formed without cutting in the manufacture of the housing.

In a further embodiment, the drive housing is made up of two housing halves manufactured, in each of which formed a longitudinal half of the cylinder chamber is. At the same time can in the adjacent surfaces of the housing halves Channels or channel sections of the damping device can be formed.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is possible for the piston and, if necessary to manufacture the output member entirely or partially from plastic, but preferably made of plastic-metal composite material. This will start with the piston body is made of plastic, with recesses for sealing rings and channels for check valves can already be formed. Subsequently, a rack made of metal is inserted into a corresponding one Recess inserted or glued in the piston.

The invention is explained in more detail in the figures. It shows:

Figure 1

is a schematic front view of a swing door with a surface-mounted slide arm door closer;

Figure 2

a longitudinal section through the door closer housing in Figure 1;

Figure 3

a) a cross section through the door closer housing along the line III - III in Figure 2 cut in the hydraulic channels; b) a cross section through a hydraulic channel along line IIIb in Figure 3a;

Figure 4

a cross section through the door closer housing along line IV - IV in Figure 2 in the area of the closer axis;

Figure 5

a representation corresponding to Figure 4 with mounted closer axis;

Figure 6

a cross section through the door closer housing along line VI - VI in Figure 2 in the area of the mounting holes;

Figure 7

a side view of the door closer housing in Figure 1;

Figure 8

a longitudinal section through the door closer housing in Figure 1;

Figure 9

a cross section through a door closer housing of an alternative Embodiment;

Figure 10

a) a cross section through a door closer housing another Embodiment; b) a cross section through a hydraulic channel along line Xb in Figure 10a;

Figure 11

a longitudinal section through a door closer housing of a next embodiment;

Figure 12

a longitudinal section through a door closer housing composed of two halves.

Figure 13

5 shows a representation of a modified exemplary embodiment, in which the needle bearing is attached with a ring.

Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a swing door. The door has a door leaf 1 which is pivotally mounted on hinges 11 on the frame 2 on a vertical edge. The door leaf 1 is equipped with a sliding arm door closer 3 mounted on top.

The sliding arm door closer 3 consists of a door closer housing 31 in which a closer shaft 4 is rotatably mounted. With the closer shaft 4 is a non-rotatable Sliding arm 5 connected, which has at its free end a slider 51 which in a slide rail 52 is slidably and rotatably guided. In the door closer housing 31 is a closer spring 7 shown in FIG. 8 and a damping device arranged, which cooperate with the closer shaft 4. At the sliding arm door closer 3 can be a conventionally constructed one Door closer 3 act, for. B. a hydraulic door closer, as in DE 36 38 353 A1 is described. Such a door closer 3 works in such a way that when opening the door leaf 1 by the resulting Forced movement of the linkage 5 and the closer shaft 4, the closer spring 7 is excited. The closing process then takes place automatically with effect the closer spring 7. Via hydraulic channels and valves 8, hydraulic medium exchanged between the two piston work rooms.

In the type of assembly shown in Figure 1, the so-called blade assembly, that is Door closer housing 31 mounted on door leaf 1. Here, the slide rail 52 mounted on the frame 2. With another type of assembly, not shown, the so-called head assembly, the door closer housing 31 is on the frame 2 mounted, and the slide rail 52 on the door leaf 1. The assembly can both on the hinge side and on the opposite hinge side.

In alternative embodiments, instead of a slide arm linkage 5, too a scissor arm linkage can be used. Use of the invention is also on double-leaf doors possible, which additionally with a closing sequence control can be equipped. In addition, the invention is used on electrohydraulic Door drives possible, which also have a hydraulic pump for motorized Open or motor-assisted opening of the door leaf 1. The Hydraulic pump is preferably also arranged in the housing 31 or associated with this. The following figures explain the different embodiments of the invention in each case on the already described hydraulic door closer 3.

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through an exemplary embodiment of a door closer housing 31 according to the invention. The cylinder chamber 32 is formed inside this housing 31 and receives the piston 6 shown in FIG. 8 and the closer spring 7. The cylinder chamber 32 is open at one end to the outside and is closed after the assembly of the piston 6 and the closer spring 7 by the disk-shaped end plug 33 shown separately in FIG. 2, for example by welding. Both the door closer housing 31 and the end plug 33 are made of plastic, preferably by injection molding.

The use of plastic offers various advantages that ultimately result in one lead to a significant reduction in manufacturing costs. Leave plastic parts inject themselves with much smaller tolerances compared to metal parts or pour. Thus, a higher one can already be made during the manufacture of the raw housing Fit can be achieved, which ultimately reduces the required rework. Another advantage is that most housing openings and housing bores already in the manufacture of the housing 31 through the use suitable injection molds can be inserted without cutting. An afterthought Machining holes e.g. for fastening or hydraulics can therefore be omitted. If postprocessing is nevertheless necessary or Should be desirable, this is much easier in the plastic housing accomplish than in the metal housing. It is also a two-component spray process possible two different plastics in one manufacturing process to process, e.g. around plastics with particularly good friction properties as required or use plastics with particularly high strength. Suitable plastics for producing the door closer housing 31 are, for example flavored polyamides with a high glass fiber content to increase of firmness. This material is also characterized by a low Thermal expansion from, which in turn for the setting accuracy of the hydraulic valves is an advantage.

The end plug 33 does not have to be the same as in conventional metal housings Housing 31 are screwed, but can be fixed by ultrasonic welding be connected to it. First, the end plug 33 is in a disc-shaped recess 32b, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter the concentric cylinder chamber, on the front side of the housing 31 introduced because of its 32 compared to the cylinder chamber larger Diameter covers the opening of the cylinder chamber 32. With one in the radial The end plug lies on the outside of the bead surface 33a 33 on the housing area surrounding the cylinder chamber 32. The Bead 33a serves as an energy direction indicator in ultrasonic welding. By the bead 33a and the the adjacent housing area melted briefly and thus firmly together welded.

Alternative fastening methods that can also be used including solvent welding, whereby both plastic parts by temporary Exposure to a solvent are welded together, or pinning using several small mounting pins which radially into the Housing 31 are inserted, wherein they engage in the plug 33.

In alternative embodiments, the end plug 33 need not necessarily be open be arranged on the piston side of the cylinder space 32. It can also be the opposite Closer spring side of the cylinder chamber 32 is closed in this way become. Likewise, both end faces of the cylinder space 32 can pass through End plug 33 are closed.

In modified embodiments, instead of the end plug 33, too a cup-shaped housing part can be provided, which with the other housing part is connected in a corresponding manner.

The housing 31 in FIG. 2 has a cylinder chamber 32 in the middle cylindrical transverse opening 34 for receiving the closer shaft shown in Figure 5 4 on. The transverse opening 34 is already in the manufacture of the housing 31 trained in this, does not have to be subsequently drilled. In the same There are four fastening bores 35 penetrating through the housing 31 Installation of the door closer 3 on a door leaf 1 or door frame 2 already at the manufacture of the housing 31 formed in this. The transverse opening 34 and the mounting holes 35 are shown in detail in Figures 4 to 6 and explained.

The non-cutting design of the hydraulic channels is shown in FIG . 3a . A is shown
Cross-section along line III-III in FIG. 2. On the underside of the housing 31 (on the right in the figure) there are two elongated rectangular recesses 36 in the area of its outer edges. The half of each recess 36 is in the bottom surface of each recess 36 a longitudinal channel 82 is formed. The two recesses 36 can have different lengths, depending on where the radial channels 81 branching from them shown in FIG. 3b open into the cylinder interior.

Separately manufactured insert pieces 37 are inserted into the two recesses 36 made of plastic, in which the other half of e.g. circular Longitudinal channel 82 is formed. By inserting the inserts 37 arise thus the longitudinal channels 82. The inserts 37 are as already at described the end plug 33 welded or glued to the housing 31.

As can be seen in FIG. 3 b, branches off from each end of each longitudinal channel 82 Radial channel 81 into the cylinder chamber 32. From the front of the longitudinal channel 82 ago the hydraulic valve, not shown in the figure, for adjusting the Damping, or the end stop used. The first radial channel 81 opens directly on the piston side of the cylinder chamber 32 in the area the end plug 33. The second radial channel 81 opens depending on whether the The closing damping or the end stop should be set in the middle of the Cylinder chamber 32 or in the end region of the cylinder chamber 32. The radial channels 81 are already in the manufacture of the housing 31 by suitable injection molds trained and do not need to be subsequently drilled. Each however, if required, it is also possible to continue using the hydraulic channels in a conventional manner Drill way into the housing 31.

FIG. 4 shows a section through the housing 31 in the region of the transverse opening 34 for receiving the closer shaft 4. On the inner wall of the transverse opening 34, annular sealing lips 34a are formed on both sides of the cylinder chamber 32. These sealing lips 34a are also made of plastic and are introduced into the transverse opening 34 in the two-component injection molding process in the manufacture of the housing 31. The sealing lips 34a prevent hydraulic oil from escaping from the cylinder chamber 32 due to their sealing action. In special designs, the sealing lips 34a can be designed as a sliding bearing for the closer shaft 4, not shown.

An alternative possibility for mounting the closer shaft 4 is shown in FIG. 5. The sealing effect is achieved by gluing in a needle bearing, e.g. B. achieved by needle sleeves 41 made of plastic or metal or ceramic in the transverse opening 34. Inside the cylinder chamber 32, the piston 6 and the pinion 43 meshing with the rack 61 are shown.

In an exemplary embodiment modified from FIG. 4, FIG the needle bearing 41 is sealed by a separate ring 410 with a sealing ring 411. The transverse opening is for receiving the needle bearing 41 and the ring 410 34 formed in the manner of a stepped bore, being at the outer axial end the transverse opening 34 in each case the larger diameter and at the in the cylinder chamber 32 opening section each formed the smaller diameter is. The needle bearing 41 is with the needle sleeve in the smaller section Inserted diameter and glued and protrudes with about a third of its axial Length into the larger diameter area. The ring 410 is in the Transverse opening 34 in the region of the larger diameter on the stop with the radial stage of the transverse opening 34 inserted. The ring 410 has a first one axial section with a radially inward collar and one second axial section, which is sleeve-shaped and at its front end has a step-shaped recess 412 on its inner wall. The ring 410 is so in the transverse opening 34 in the region of the larger diameter inserted that he with his end face of the sleeve-shaped end on the radial Stage of the receptacle 34 is in abutment and the sleeve-shaped section of the Rings 410 between the inner wall of the transverse opening 34 and the outer wall of the portion of the needle sleeve 41 projecting into this area. In the radial recess formed in the sleeve-shaped section of the ring 410 In this installation position 412 essentially forms an undercut groove U-shaped cross section. The sealing ring 411 is received in this groove.

With the sealing ring 411 in the undercut groove, a good seal of the Needle bearing 41 received. The undercut groove 412 in which the sealing ring 411 is formed, is formed using the separate ring 410 without in the receiving opening 34 formed an undercut groove during the injection molding process must become. Such an undercut in injection molding would be a complicated one Require mold. The ring 410 can be made of plastic or metal his. It can be glued in, but also ultrasonically welded in.

Instead of a needle bearing 41, a ball bearing or another separate one can also be used Bearings are used and in the same or a corresponding way with a separate ring can be sealed. Such a seal with a separate Ring or the like can also be used in other components stored in the housing take place, e.g. B. for sealing valves or for sealing the housing cover.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section in the region of the fastening bores 35. The fastening bores 35 are already formed on both sides of the cylinder chamber 32 when the drive housing is sprayed. No subsequent machining of the housing 31 is therefore necessary. The fastening bores 35 run from the slightly curved front side to the rear side of the housing 31, the bores in a front section 35a having a counterbore for receiving the screw heads.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the door closer 3, which is closed by an end plug 33 and provided with valves 8. One valve serves to regulate the closing damping and another to adjust the end stop.

Figure 8 shows a longitudinal section through a door closer housing 31 in the region of a piston 6 made of plastic-metal composite material. The base body of the piston 6 is made of plastic. This results in directly improved friction properties in the cylinder chamber 32. In addition, the cutouts for the sealing ring 62 or the channels for the check valve 85 can be formed in the piston 6 during the manufacture thereof. The manufacturing effort is significantly reduced by the elimination of machining. In the interior of the piston 6 molded from plastic, the toothed rack 61 made of metal is loosely inserted, glued in or fastened by another suitable method. In a corresponding manner, the output shaft 4 can also be made of plastic-metal composite material. Alternatively, it is possible to manufacture the toothed pinion 43 and / or the piston 6 from metal. Furthermore, it is possible to manufacture these components as well as the output shaft 4 completely from plastic, preferably plastics with high compressive strength.

FIG. 9 shows the schematic cross section of an alternative exemplary embodiment. The housing is composed of two separately produced plastic halves 31a, 31b. The longitudinal channels 82 lie in the sectional plane and are formed in half on each side of the cylinder chamber 32 in each housing half 31a, 31b. The housing halves 31a, 31b can be joined together along the longitudinal axis of the housing, ie the joining or cutting plane lies in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

FIG. 10 shows a further exemplary embodiment, in which the longitudinal channels 82 are formed in the housing 31 during the manufacture thereof. In this embodiment, separate insert pieces 37 are dispensed with. In order to also be able to form the radial channels 81 without cutting in the housing 31 during the manufacture thereof, these are carried out, as shown in FIG. 10b, beyond the opening into the longitudinal channel 82 to the bottom side 31c of the housing. This is necessary because the injection molds engage from the outside. The radial channels 81 are sealed off towards the bottom 31c of the housing.

Figure 11 shows a further embodiment in longitudinal section. In this embodiment, the cylinder chamber 32 is not enclosed by an end plug 33, but rather by an end cap 38 with a U-shaped cross section, the end cap 38 encompassing the housing 31 in a pot-shaped manner, forming the longitudinal channels 82. The end cap 38 has a first short edge portion 38b and a second longer edge portion 38b. It can therefore be cup-shaped with edge sections 38a, 38b of different lengths over its circumference. In the area of these edge sections 38a, 38b, the end cap 38 overlaps the housing 31 and the cylinder chamber 32. A gap remains between the inner sides of the edge sections 38a, 38b and the outside of the housing 31, which serves as the longitudinal channel 82. The radial channels 81 opening into this gap are already formed during the manufacture of the housing 31. As already described for the end plug 33, the end cap 38 is also welded to the housing 31. In this embodiment, separate insert pieces 37 are no longer required to form the longitudinal channels 82.

FIG . 12 shows another modified embodiment with a cylinder chamber 32 consisting of two halves 31a, 31b. The housing halves 31a, 31b can be joined together in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing, ie the joining or cutting plane lies in the transverse direction of the housing.

In a first half 31a formed in the axial direction of the cylinder 32 the piston 6 is guided axially displaceably analogous to the embodiment in FIG. This first cylinder half 31a does not have a cylinder cover, but rather only one cylinder opening 32a, on which the second cylinder half 31b a corresponding cylinder opening 32a is placed. In the second half of the cylinder 31b, which is cup-shaped in a corresponding manner like a cylinder half 31a, is the spring, not shown, with its essential extension added. In contrast to FIG. 11, the cylinder halves 31a overlap 31b do not match each other, but form a cutting plane Joining point 31d, in which they are welded or glued. The position of the Joining point 31d is selected such that the piston 6 is not in any of the possible piston positions comes into contact with the joint 31d, but the joint 31d lies exclusively in the area of the spring chamber.

The use of the invention is not limited to the door closer 3 shown. In principle, use is advantageous where metal housings for drives for sashes on doors, windows, smoke extraction openings, skylights and the like are used, which were previously expensive for their purpose had to be machined.

List of reference numbers

1

Door leaf

11

Door hinge, door hinge

12th

Door handle

2nd

Door frame

3rd

Door closer. Door operator

31

Door closer housing, housing

31a, 31b

Housing halves

31c

Bottom of the housing

31d

Joint

32

Cylinder chamber

32a

Cylinder opening

32b

disc-shaped recess

33

End plug

33a

Bead, energy direction transmitter

34

Cross opening

34a

Sealing lips

35

Mounting hole

35a

Widening

36

cuboid recess

37

Insert

38

End cap

38a, 38b

shorter and longer edge section

4th

Output link, closer shaft

41

Needle sleeve

42

Needles

43

Pinion

5

Sliding arm

51

Sliding body, glider

52

Slide rail

6

piston

61

Rack

62

Sealing ring

7

Closer spring

8th

Valve

81, 82

Radial channel, longitudinal channel

83

Canal opening

84

Valve seat

85

check valve

Claims (29)

1. A drive (3) for a leaf (1) of a door, a window or the like having a drive housing (31),

   having a motorised drive device arranged in the drive housing (31) having external energy to open or close the leaf and/or

   having a return device, e.g. a closing spring (7), which is arranged in the drive housing (31) and which is loaded during the opening or closing of the leaf (1) and is formed as an energy storing device for the automatic closing or opening of the leaf (1),

   having a damping device arranged in the drive housing (31) to damp the closing and/or opening movement of the leaf (1), preferably a hydraulic damping device,

   preferably having an output drive member (4), preferably an output drive shaft, which is arranged in the drive housing (31) and which cooperates with the motorised drive device and/or the return device and/or the damping device, and having a force-transmitting linkage (5) which is supported at the one end in a pivot bearing or plain bearing (51) and is connected at the other end to the output drive member (4),

   characterised in that at least one section (31a, 31b, 33, 37, 38) of the drive housing (31) is formed of plastic,

   with provision being made that at least one hollow space is provided in the drive housing (31), indeed a housing passage (81, 82) and/or a receiving space (32, 34) for the output drive member, preferably for the output drive shaft (4) or for a damping piston (6) of the damping device or for the closing spring (7) or for the drive motor of a valve (8),

   which is formed at least section-wise as a hollow space fanned in a non-machined manner or at least pre-moulded in a non-machined manner between a plurality of separately manufactured housing parts (31, 31a, 31b, 37, 38) formed of plastic during the subsequent assembly of the assembled housing parts by adhesive bonding and/or welding,

   with at least two housing parts (31a, 31b) being provided in the event that the hollow space is formed as a cylinder space receiving the damping piston or the closing shaft, said housing parts (31a., 31b) each having a cylindrical section and each being fanned as a part cut in the axial direction of the cylinder (32) or as a part cut in the transverse direction of the cylinder (32).
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the plastic is fanned as a fibre reinforced plastic, e.g. a fibreglass reinforced plastic or a carbon fibre reinforced plastic,
3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the hollow space formed in the drive housing (31) as the receiving space (32, 34) for the output drive member, preferably for the output drive shaft (4) or for the damping piston (6) or for the closing spring (7) or for a drive motor or for a valve (8) is formed at least section-wise as a hollow space formed in a non-machined manner or at least pre-moulded in a non-machined manner in the drive housing (31) during the non-machined moulding of the drive housing (31).
4. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that the contacting sections of separately manufactured housing parts (31, 33, 37, 38) are fixedly connected to one another by adhesive bonding or welding, for example by ultrasonic welding, solvent welding or the like.
5. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in that the contacting sections of separately manufactured housing parts (31, 33, 37, 38) are fixedly connected to one another by pin connecting by means of fastening pins, by screw connections or the like.
6. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that a hollow space (32, 34, 35, 81, 82) is formed or pre-moulded in a non-machined manner in sections of contacting surfaces of separately manufactured housing parts (31, 31a, 31b, 33, 37).
7. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that at least one housing part, preferably, however, a plurality of or all housings parts (31, 31a, 31b, 33, 37, 38) of the drive housing (31) are made of plastic.
8. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that the drive housing (31) is assembled from two housing parts (31a, 31b) formed from plastic, with a part of the cylinder chamber (32) to receive the piston (6) and/or the closing spring (7) being formed in a non-machined manner or pre-moulded in a non-machined manner in each housing part (31a, 31b) and a housing part (31a, 31b) being formed as a housing half cut in the axial direction of the cylinder (32) or as a housing half cut in the transverse direction of the cylinder (32).
9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, characterised in that the cylinder chamber (32) is closable at one end or at both ends by a separately formed, preferably disc-like, end plug (33).
10. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 8 or 9,
    characterised in that the cylinder chamber (32) is closable at one end or at both ends by a separately formed end cap (38), with the end cap (38) preferably having an edge engaging around the cylinder chamber (32).
11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10, characterised in that passages (81, 82) for the damping device are formed in a non-machined manner or pre-moulded in a non-machined manner in the end cap (38) and/or in its side (38a, 38b).
12. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that passage sections (81) of the damping device opening into the cylinder chamber (32) are already formed in a non-machined manner or pre-moulded in a non-machined manner in the drive housing (31) during the manufacture thereof.
13. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that recesses (36) for separately formed inserts (37) are provided in the drive housing, with passage sections (82) and/or a valve mount of the damping device being formed in a non-machined manner or pre-moulded in a non-machined manner in the contacting surfaces of the drive housing (31) and the insert (37) and with provision preferably being made for the inserts (37) to be welded or adhesively bonded into the recesses (36).
14. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that at least one passage section (82) is preferably open towards the end face, the front face, upper end or lower end of the drive housing (31) for the insertion of a valve (8).
15. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that an axle bearing for the output drive shaft (4) is adhesively bonded or welded or preferably injected as a plastic part in the corresponding receiving aperture (34) of the housing (31).
16. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that an axle bearing for the output drive shaft (4) is formed as a needle bearing or ball bearing and in that at least one needle sleeve or one ball bearing ring is formed of ceramic material.
17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 or claim 16,
    characterised in that a separate ring (410), e.g. a plastic ring, metal ring, ceramic ring or the like is arranged in the receiving aperture receiving the axle bearing (41) or a valve or a separate seal.
18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, characterised in that the ring (410) is formed as a seal or cooperates with a separate seal (411).
19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 18, characterised in that the separate seal is fanned as a sealing ring (411) arranged in a recess of the ring (410).
20. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 17 to 19,
    characterised in that the ring forms an undercut groove together with a radial step of the receiving aperture (34), with a separate seal (411) being formed in said groove.
21. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that the drive housing (31), or one or more housing parts, has or have moulded on, welded on or adhesively bonded on installation lugs for fastening to a door leaf (1), door frame (2) or the like, having at least one receiving aperture for a fastening element formed in a non-machined manner or pre-moulded in a non-machined manner.
22. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that the drive housing (31), or one or more housing parts, has or have receiving bores (35) extending through the housing (31) formed in a non-machined manner for fastening screws for fastening to a door leaf (1), a door frame (2) or the like.
23. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that a piston (6) guided in the drive housing (31) consists of plastic or of metal or of ceramic material or partly of metal or partly of ceramic material, preferably of a plastic-metal composition material or a plastic-ceramic composite material.
24. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, characterised in that the rack (61) and or the output drive pinion and/or the output drive member (4) is made of plastic or of metal or of ceramic material or of a plastic-metal composite material or a plastic-ceramic composite material.
25. An apparatus in accordance with claim 24 or claim 24,
    characterised in that the rack (61) is made of metal or of ceramic material or as a separate plastic part and is inserted, clipped, adhesively bonded, welded or injection moulded into the piston (6).
26. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that at least one section (31a, 31b, 33, 37, 38) of the drive housing (31) is formed of plastic,

    with a plurality of hollow spaces being provided in the drive housing (31),

    with one of the hollow spaces being formed as a cylinder chamber (32) to receive a piston (6) of the damping device and/or the closing spring (7) and a second one of the hollow spaces being formed as a passage (81, 82) for the damping device, said passage being formed as a separate housing passage (81, 82) and opening into the cylinder chamber, and

    with the housing passage (81, 82) being formed at least section-wise as a hollow space formed in a non-machined manner or at least pre-moulded in a non-machined manner in the drive housing (31) during the non-machined moulding of the drive housing (31).
27. A method for the manufacture of a drive for a leaf (1) of a door, a window or the like having a drive housing (31),

    having a motorised drive device arranged in the drive housing (31)

    having external energy to open or close the leaf (1) and/or

    having a return device, e.g. a closing spring (7), which is arranged in the drive housing (31) and which is loaded during the opening or closing of the leaf (1) and is formed as an energy storing device for the automatic closing or opening of the leaf (1),

    having a damping device arranged in the drive housing (31) to damp the closing and/or opening movement of the leaf (1), preferably a hydraulic damping device,

    preferably having an output drive member (4), preferably an output drive shaft, which is arranged in the drive housing (31) and which cooperates with the motorised drive device and/or the return device and/or the damping device, and having a force-transmitting linkage (52) which is supported at the one end in a pivot bearing or plain bearing (51) and is connected at the other end to the output drive member (4),

    characterised in that at least one section (31a, 31b, 33, 37, 38) of the drive housing (31) is formed of plastic,

    with provision being made that at least one hollow space is provided in the drive housing (31), indeed a housing passage (81, 82) and/or a receiving space (32, 34) for the output drive member, preferably for the output drive shaft (4) or for a damping piston (6) of the damping device or for the closing spring (7) or for the drive motor of a valve (8),

    which is formed at least section-wise as a hollow space formed in a non-machined manner or at least pre-moulded in a non-machined manner between a plurality of separately manufactured housing parts (31, 31a, 31b, 37, 38) formed of plastic during the subsequent assembly of the assembled housing parts by adhesive bonding and/or welding,

    with, in the event that this hollow space is to be formed as a cylinder space receiving the damping piston or the closing shaft, said cylinder space being formed by assembly from at least two housing parts (31a, 31b), which each have a cylindrical section and are each formed as a part cut in the axial direction of the cylinder (32) or as a part cut in the transverse direction of the cylinder (32).
28. A method in accordance with claim 27, characterised in that the housing is formed as a fibre reinforced plastic, e.g. a fibreglass reinforced plastic or a carbon fibre reinforced plastic.
29. A method in accordance with claim 27, characterised in that at least one section (31a, 31b, 33, 37, 38) of the drive housing (31) is made of plastic,

    with a plurality of hollow spaces being provided in the drive housing (31),

    with one of the hollow spaces being formed as a cylinder chamber (32) to receive a piston (6) of the damping device and/or the closing spring (7) and a second one of the hollow spaces being formed as a passage (81, 82) for the damping device, said passage being formed as a separate housing passage (81, 82) and opening into the cylinder chamber,

    with this housing passage (81, 82) being formed at least section-wise in a non-machined manner or at least pre-moulded in a non-machined manner during the injection moulding of the drive housing (31) while using a mould core.

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