Actuator for exciting vibrations comprising a driver with improved damping

Abstract

An actuator for exciting vibrations of at least one component (7) of a motor vehicle, wherein the actuator has: - a housing (4) which is configured to be connected directly or indirectly to the component (7), - an electric coil (8) which is connected to the housing (4) and is configured to generate an electromagnetic field when an electric current flows through the coil (8), and - a magnet (1) which is arranged wholly or partially in the housing (4), and - the magnet (1) is arranged to be movable to a limited extent relative to the housing (4), wherein the housing (4) has at least one electrically conductive ring (9) around it which surrounds the magnet (1) in the unshifted state of the magnet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an actuator for the preamble of claim 1. Summary of the Invention

[0002] The object of this invention is to provide an actuator that has a relatively precise design and / or is relatively cost-effective and / or exhibits improved damping.

[0003] According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by the actuator as described in claim 1.

[0004] Alternatively, the present invention preferably relates to an actuator for exciting the vibration of at least one component of a motor vehicle, wherein the actuator has the following features:

[0005] - A housing, configured to be directly or indirectly connected to the component.

[0006] - At least one electric coil, connected to the housing, and configured to generate an electromagnetic field when current flows through the coil, and

[0007] - At least one magnet, which is wholly or partially arranged in the housing, and

[0008] The magnet is arranged to be movable to a limited extent relative to the housing, wherein the housing has at least one ring around its perimeter, the ring being formed of or containing a substantially non-permanently magnetized ferromagnetic material, wherein the ring surrounds the magnet in its undisplaced state. In particular, this ring is formed of a conductive material, or has a surrounding closed conductive ring or band.

[0009] The component is suitably configured as a flat component or flat structure or one of the following structures of a motor vehicle: floor plate, door structure panel, trunk lid, spare tire recess, roof structure, crossbeam, mudguard, longitudinal member, door bracket, end wall, or frame part. Here, this structure is particularly configured as carbon and / or glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) and / or carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) or steel or aluminum.

[0010] The magnet is suitably configured as a permanent magnet, particularly a permanent magnet made of ferromagnetic material (e.g., neodymium iron boron).

[0011] The direction of movement of the magnet is preferably understood to refer to its vibration direction, in particular the vibration direction of its vibration due to being driven by the coil.

[0012] The ring or band preferably has a cut / hole at its center through which a magnet can move.

[0013] The actuator preferably has a housing configured to be directly or indirectly connected to the component, particularly indirectly via at least one intermediate layer or at least one additional intermediate element between the housing and the component.

[0014] The coil is preferably rigidly connected to the housing.

[0015] The magnet is preferably arranged to be movable to a limited extent, essentially in one degree of freedom, and particularly essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction passing through the coil.

[0016] The ring is suitably arranged in a ring-like manner, particularly in a circular ring or as an elliptical band. Alternatively, the ring preferably has a polygonal shape with respect to its closed circumference or its boundary line, wherein its corners may be rounded or circularized.

[0017] The unoffset state of a magnet is suitably understood to mean, particularly in the absence of force and / or zero current applied to the coil, the non-operating state or non-operating position or unexcited state of the magnet in terms of its movement within the housing.

[0018] The actuator is preferably configured such that the ring and / or housing surrounds or encircles or wraps around the magnet, or is configured to be around the magnet in the unoffset state of the magnet.

[0019] The ring is preferably centered around the magnet in its un-offset state, with respect to its height in the direction of movement. In particular, if the height of the ring is less than the height of the magnet, then the ring surrounds the magnet such that, in the un-offset state, the magnet protrudes beyond the area surrounded by the ring on either side in the direction of movement, particularly preferably substantially equal on either side.

[0020] The conductive ring is preferably formed of a ferromagnetic material, or the actuator has at least one additional ring made of a ferromagnetic material, wherein this additional ring surrounds the magnet in its unoffset state. Specifically, the conductive ring surrounds the additional ring, or vice versa, and the conductive ring and the additional ring are arranged together in or on the housing, or as part of the housing. Due to the preferred use of the ferromagnetic material in the ring or additional ring, a defined reset or a defined reset force is achieved with respect to the deflection of the magnet along its direction of movement.

[0021] Preferably, the conductive ring is partially or completely incorporated into the housing, and / or arranged on the housing and / or as part of the housing.

[0022] Ideally, the conductive ring and the additional ferromagnetic ring are not permanently magnetized.

[0023] In terms of the direction of movement of the magnet, the height of the ring is preferably substantially equal to the height of the magnet.

[0024] Ideally, the height of the ring should be up to 50% greater than the height of the magnet, and in particular up to 30% greater, in relation to the direction of the magnet’s movement.

[0025] As an alternative, the height of the ring is preferably at most 50% lower than the height of the magnet, and particularly at most 30% lower, in terms of the direction of movement of the magnet.

[0026] Ideally, the conductive rings essentially form a shell.

[0027] Preferably, the housing is formed from several layers of different materials in segments, wherein a ring is configured as one of the layers. Here, these layers are configured such that one is on top of another and / or one surrounds another or one is close to another in the housing.

[0028] The at least one conductive ring is preferably formed of a semiconductor material with adaptive variable resistance.

[0029] Preferably, in addition to the conductive ring, the actuator also has additional conductive rings, which, in their respective cases, are flush with and / or cross-sectionally aligned above and below the magnet in the direction of movement, or are substantially the same in cross-section. The two additional conductive rings, in particular, have a specific conductivity different from the first ring or the central ring, and, in the unoffset state of the magnet, these two additional rings particularly preferably protrude beyond the height of the magnet on either side. These two additional conductive rings are very particularly preferably formed of aluminum.

[0030] Preferably, the coil is arranged on the inner surface of the housing, and the conductive ring is arranged on the outer surface around the coil.

[0031] Suitablely, the magnet, in its respective case, has poles made of ferromagnetic material at its top and bottom, with respect to its height, and the poles in particular have a bottom surface that is substantially the same as that of the magnet.

[0032] Preferably, the magnet has a guide along its direction of movement, which provides centering with respect to the housing. In particular, the guide is formed here by a plurality of spring elements through which the magnet is suspended directly or indirectly from the housing.

[0033] The design parameter α is preferably described / limited as the ratio of the height of the magnet to the height of the ring in the direction of vibration. Here, the range of 0.5 ≤ α ≤ 2 is particularly relevant, where for α > 1, an approximately linear characteristic of the restoring force is produced, and for α < 1, an asymptotic characteristic of the restoring force is produced.

[0034] The shell and / or rings and / or additional rings are suitably made wholly or partially of the material iron or nickel or cobalt and / or contain one, two or all of these materials.

[0035] The ring is preferably configured such that the ring or the material has a resistivity between 0.22 μΩ·m and 920 Ω·m.

[0036] The shell and / or rings and / or additional rings are suitably formed wholly or partially of the material iron or aluminum or copper or nickel, cobalt or magnesium or carbon, in relation to their ferromagnetic material.

[0037] The ring and / or one or more additional rings are preferably configured in terms of their electrical conductivity or their conductive material, such that the housing is constructed in a layered manner from several different materials with different resistivities, particularly in the radial or tangential or axial directions. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 A schematic design of an exemplary embodiment of an actuator or electric exciter is shown.

[0039] Figure 2 The central magnetic restoring force is shown schematically through the ferromagnetic material passing through the rings in the arranged housing.

[0040] Figure 3 The actuator is shown schematically.

[0041] Figure 4 The example illustrates the situation for α(=h) 磁体 / h 铁磁 The characteristics of magnetic reset force at various values.

[0042] Figure label:

[0043] 1. Magnet

[0044] 2 plates

[0045] 3. Spring element

[0046] 4. Shell

[0047] 5. Direction of magnet movement

[0048] 6. No offset state

[0049] 7. Components that are excited and vibrate

[0050] 8 coils

[0051] 9 rings

[0052] 10. Magnetic or restoring force between the magnet and the ferromagnetic material of the ring or additional ring.

[0053] The height of the 11 rings

[0054] 12. Height of the magnet or the total height of a magnet with pole plates. Detailed Implementation

[0055] Figure 1 A schematic design of an exemplary embodiment of an actuator or electric vibrator is shown. Electrode 2 is mounted to the two poles of magnet 1. The entire vibration system, including magnet 1 and electrode 2, is elastically connected to housing 4 via spring element 3 in such a way that vibration may occur primarily in the illustrated vibration direction or the direction of movement 5 of magnet 1, with vibration occurring around a central non-operating position or unoffset state 6. Housing 4 is connected to component 7, which is excited to vibrate and is configured, for example, as a flat structure. Coil 8, coupled to housing 4, is electrically excited, causing current to flow in the coil. Due to the interaction between coil 8 (through which current flows) and magnet 1, and with electrode 2, an excitation force is generated between coil 8 and electrode 2, resulting in the excitation of mechanical vibration in the flat structure 7.

[0056] For example, Figure 2 The centrally located magnetic restoring force 10 is illustrated schematically through the ferromagnetic material in the ring 9 within the arranged housing 4. The magnetic field generated by the magnet 1 and concentrated by the pole plates 2 produces a magnetic force 10 in the direction of the ferromagnetic material of the ring 9. Therefore, the magnet 1 is centered in the offset direction 5, and its pole plates 2 always approximately surround the ferromagnetic material of the ring 9. According to this example, the ring 9 is also formed of a conductive material, which further dampens the vibration or offset movement of the magnet 1 along its direction of movement 5.

[0057] Based on this example, Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrates the actuator, in which a ring 9 made of a ferromagnetic and conductive material has a height of 11h. 铁磁 12h below the total height of magnet 1 and pole plate 2 磁体 As a result, magnetic self-alignment in the offset direction 5 has occurred by magnetic force or reset force 10, without offsetting away from the non-operating position or the unoffset state 6.

[0058] Furthermore, since ring 9 is made of conductive material, eddy currents are induced in ring 9 during the movement of magnet 1. These eddy currents move in the opposite direction to the movement of magnet according to Lenz's law, thus hindering the movement of magnet.

[0059] Figure 3 b schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the actuator, wherein the ring 9, made of a ferromagnetic and conductive material, has a height of 11h. 铁磁 The total height of magnet 1 and plate 2 is greater than 12h. 磁体As a result, according to this example, when the magnet 1 is deflected so much that one of the pole plates 2 protrudes beyond the edge of the ring 9, magnetic self-alignment occurs in the deflection direction 6 via magnetic force 10. Thus, a progressive spring characteristic curve can be produced.

[0060] Figure 4 a) and 4b) illustrate, by way of example, the application of α(=h) 磁体 / h 铁磁 The characteristics of the magnetic reset force for various values ​​of α are described. If the height of the ring 9 made of ferromagnetic material in the vibration direction 5 is equal to the sum of the total heights of the magnet 1 and the pole plates 2 on either side (α = 1), then a practically linear characteristic of the magnetic reset force is generated around the non-operating position or unoffset state 6. If the height of the ring 9 made of ferromagnetic material in the vibration direction 5 is greater than the total height of the magnet 1 and the pole plates 2 on either side (α < 1), then a gradual characteristic of the magnetic reset force is generated around the non-operating position 6. The curve of the magnetic reset force depending on the offset of the magnet is shown here. Figure 4 b) As shown.

Claims

1. An actuator for exciting the vibration of at least one component (7) of a motor vehicle, in, The actuator has the following features: Housing (4), which is configured to be directly or indirectly connected to the component (7). At least one electric coil (8) is connected to the housing (4) and is configured to generate an electromagnetic field when current flows through the coil (8). At least one magnet (1), which is wholly or partially arranged in the housing (4), and The magnet (1) is arranged to be movable to a limited extent relative to the housing (4). in, The housing (4) has at least one conductive ring (9) around the magnet (1) in the unoffset state of the magnet. The actuator has at least one additional ring made of ferromagnetic material, wherein the additional ring surrounds the magnet (1) in its unoffset state (6). The conductive ring (9) surrounds the additional ring, or the additional ring surrounds the conductive ring (9), and the conductive ring and the additional ring are arranged together in the housing (4) or on the housing, or as part of the housing.

2. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The conductive ring (9) is partially or completely incorporated into the housing (4).

3. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The conductive ring (9) and the additional ring are not permanently magnetized.

4. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein, In terms of the direction of movement of the magnet (5), the height (11) of the conductive ring (9) is equal to the height (12) of the magnet (1).

5. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein, Regarding the direction of movement (5) of the magnet, the height (11) of the conductive ring (9) is up to 50% greater than the height (12) of the magnet (1).

6. The actuator as claimed in claim 5, wherein, Regarding the direction of movement of the magnet (5), the height (11) of the conductive ring (9) is up to 30% greater than the height (12) of the magnet (1).

7. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein, Regarding the direction of movement of the magnet (5), the height (11) of the conductive ring (9) is up to 50% lower than the height (12) of the magnet (1).

8. The actuator as claimed in claim 7, wherein, Regarding the direction of movement (5) of the magnet, the height (11) of the conductive ring (9) is up to 30% lower than the height (12) of the magnet (1).

9. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The conductive ring (9) forms the housing (4).

10. The actuator of claim 1, wherein, The housing (4) is formed by multiple segments of different materials, wherein the conductive ring (9) is configured as one of these layers.

11. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The at least one conductive ring (9) is formed of a semiconductor material with adaptive variable resistance.

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