Unitary spool actuator

Abstract

The application discloses an integrated shift fork type actuator, the size of each variable diameter plate is adaptively adjusted according to the corresponding cylinder diameter and is used for cooperating and installing the cylinder with different cylinder diameters, thereby improving the torque application range, integrating the piston body into the cylinder, reducing the volume of the actuator formed by the box body and the cylinder; the setting of the gasket body can fill the gap between the shift fork body and the push rod, and under the action of the outer push spring sleeve rod, the gasket body and the shift fork body are tightly attached through the top ring block, when the pin shaft and the shift fork body cooperate and slide, the low-angle overturning of the pin shaft can drive the elastic open cylinder to rotate through the protruding part, the setting of the elastic open cylinder avoids the deviation of the pin shaft in the pin hole, the deformation of the elastic open cylinder can discharge the air in the air bag body, and finally pushes the pushed piston to move outward in the step groove, further indirectly tightly attaching the shift fork body and the gasket body, and preventing the shift fork body from moving up and down on the pin shaft.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of valve actuators, specifically relating to an integrated fork actuator. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the shift fork actuators used in the industry mainly consist of a housing and a cylinder. The housing has bushings on both the top and bottom sides. The drive shaft passes through the two bushings, passes through the crank arm in the middle, and is limited at both ends by semi-circular rings. The pin is mounted on the push rod and slides with the shift fork. One end of the push rod is inserted into the housing and is limited by the limiting screw sleeve. The front cylinder head is mounted on the cylinder and locked by double-ended studs. The limiting bolts mounted on the front cylinder head are used to limit the movement. This mechanism has a large size and incomplete torque range coverage. A shift fork actuator with a smaller size and higher load capacity is needed.

[0003] For example, Chinese patent CN218031701U discloses a rotary double-cylinder shift fork actuator, including a shift fork chamber, a power chamber, a reset chamber, and a connecting rod. One side of the shift fork chamber is connected to the power chamber by bolts, and the other side of the shift fork chamber is connected to the reset chamber by bolts. A guide chamber is provided on one side of the power chamber, and a pressure sensor is provided on one side of the guide chamber, with the detection end of the pressure sensor located inside the guide chamber. A connecting rod is provided inside the shift fork chamber, and the connecting rod passes through the power chamber and the reset chamber.

[0004] In the aforementioned Chinese patent with announcement number CN218031701U, the piston is placed inside the power chamber, resulting in a larger overall size of the shift fork actuator and a limited range of applicable torque. In actual operation, due to the clearance between the push rod and the shift fork, the shift fork is prone to vertical movement at the sliding connection of the pin shaft. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an integrated shift fork actuator. The technical problem that needs to be solved is how to reduce the size of the actuator composed of the housing and cylinder while improving the applicable torque range and preventing the shift fork from moving up and down at the sliding connection of the pin.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0007] An integrated shift fork actuator includes a housing with a pre-installed air source port and a cylinder. A drive shaft runs longitudinally through the front wall of the housing. A shift fork is fitted inside the housing via the drive shaft. A push rod slides through the housing via the cylinder, extending laterally. A pin extends through the housing via the push rod. A pre-installed crank arm groove on the shift fork slides with the pin.

[0008] A variable diameter adapter plate is slidably sleeved on the push rod and detachably installed at the port of the housing. The cylinder and the housing are connected and communicated through the variable diameter adapter plate.

[0009] The torque assembly is located inside the cylinder and connected to the tail end of the push rod. Gas is discharged from the air source port on the housing, passes through the variable diameter adapter plate, and under the transmission of the torque assembly, the pin on the push rod and the shift fork body slide together.

[0010] The gap filling assembly is provided at both the front and rear protruding ends of the pin and is used to fill the gap between the shift fork body and the push rod.

[0011] Preferably, the variable diameter adapter plate is composed of several parallel variable diameter plates and is used to fit and install cylinders of different diameters. The variable diameter adapter plate is detachable. The two side walls of the variable diameter adapter plate are sealed to the housing and the cylinder respectively through sealing rings. The side walls of the variable diameter adapter plate are provided with balance holes for air circulation between the housing and the cylinder.

[0012] Preferably, the torque assembly includes a piston body disposed at the tail end of the push rod, the outer annular wall of the piston body being in sliding sealing contact with the inner wall of the cylinder via a sealing ring, and a spring being sleeved on the push rod, with both ends of the spring being connected to a variable diameter adapter plate and the piston body, respectively.

[0013] Preferably, the push rod extends to the middle section of the housing and is provided with a limiting section. The front wall of the limiting section is provided with a pin hole, and the pin passes through the pin hole. The gap filling assembly includes a gasket body sleeved on the front and rear protruding ends of the pin shaft. The gasket body is located between the shift fork body and the limiting section and is used for gap filling. A rubber ring is provided on the outer wall of the gasket body and contacts the inner wall of the shift fork body.

[0014] Preferably, the top wall of the limiting section is provided with an anti-detachment groove and is connected to the edge of the pin hole. The gap filling assembly also includes an elastic open cylinder disposed in the anti-detachment groove and the elastic open cylinder extends to a portion of the anti-detachment groove. The middle section of the pin shaft is provided with an anti-detachment ring groove, and a protrusion is arranged circumferentially on the anti-detachment ring groove. The extended end of the elastic open cylinder is inserted into the anti-detachment ring groove and used to fix the pin shaft to prevent detachment.

[0015] Preferably, an inflatable bladder is provided inside the elastic open cylinder, and an air distribution tube group is provided on the upper end face of the inflatable bladder. Receiving ring grooves are provided on the front and rear walls of the limiting section. A top ring block is movably inserted in the receiving ring groove. A ball bearing is arranged circumferentially on the outer wall of the top ring block, and the top ring block pushes the fork body and the gasket body tightly together through the ball bearing.

[0016] Preferably, the bottom end of the inner wall of the receiving ring groove is symmetrically provided with a stepped groove, and an outward push spring rod is inserted in the stepped groove. The outward push end of the outward push spring rod is connected to the side wall of the top ring block, and a pushed piston is provided at the inner end of the outward push spring rod. The exhaust end of the air distribution pipe group is connected to the bottom end of the stepped groove. When the shift fork body and the pin shaft slide together, the pin shaft squeezes the elastic opening cylinder and squeezes part of the air in the inflation bag into the air distribution pipe group and the stepped groove in sequence. Under the air thrust, the pushed piston indirectly makes the shift fork body and the gasket body fit tightly together through the outward push spring rod.

[0017] Preferably, a wear-resistant ring groove is provided on the other side wall of the gasket body, the ball bearing is rotatably connected in the wear-resistant ring groove, and a corrugated telescopic cover is fitted on the annular part of the stepped groove, the other end of the corrugated telescopic cover is sealed and fixedly connected to the inner side wall of the top ring block.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0019] 1. The variable diameter adapter plate is composed of several parallel variable diameter plates. The size of each variable diameter plate is adaptively adjusted according to the corresponding cylinder diameter and is used to fit and install cylinders of different diameters, thereby improving the torque application range, integrating the piston body into the cylinder, and reducing the size of the actuator composed of the housing and cylinder.

[0020] 2. The shim body fills the gap between the shift fork and the push rod. Under the action of the external push spring sleeve, the shim body and the shift fork body are tightly fitted together through the top ring block. The ball bearings on the top ring block reduce the relative friction between the shift fork body and the shim body, extending their service life. At the same time, when the pin and the shift fork body slide together, the low-angle rotation of the pin will drive the elastic open cylinder to rotate through the protrusion. The elastic open cylinder prevents the pin from shifting within the pin hole. The deformation of the elastic open cylinder will expel the air inside the inflatable bladder and finally push the pushed piston outward in the stepped groove, thereby indirectly ensuring a tight fit between the shift fork body and the shim body. This prevents the shift fork body from moving up and down on the pin and also eliminates the possibility of the push rod deflecting when the shift fork body moves to 45°. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view;

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the limiting section;

[0024] Figure 4 for Figure 1A partial sectional view of the box-shaped area;

[0025] Figure 5 for Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the housing and cylinder is omitted in the middle;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a partial cross-sectional view of the limiting segment area of ​​the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A magnified schematic diagram of a portion of the top ring block region;

[0028] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the engagement state of the pin and the elastic open cylinder of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the assembly of the inflatable bladder and the air distribution tube assembly in the elastic open tube of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the top ring block of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram showing the separation of the top ring block and the gasket body in a half-section view according to the present invention.

[0032] In the diagram: 1. Housing; 2. Cylinder; 3. Drive shaft; 4. Shift fork; 5. Push rod; 6. Pin; 7. Variable diameter adapter plate; 8. Balance hole; 9. Piston body; 10. Spring; 11. Limiting section; 12. Pin hole; 13. Gasket body; 14. Rubber ring; 15. Anti-detachment groove hole; 16. Elastic open cylinder; 17. Anti-detachment ring groove; 18. Inflatable bladder body; 19. Air distribution pipe assembly; 20. Receiving ring groove; 21. Top ring block; 22. Ball bearing; 23. Step groove; 24. Outward push spring sleeve rod; 25. Push piston; 26. Wear-resistant ring groove; 27. Corrugated telescopic cover; 101. Protrusion. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0034] Please see Figure 1-11 The present invention provides a technical solution:

[0035] Example 1:

[0036] An integrated shift fork actuator includes a housing 1 with a pre-installed air source port and a cylinder 2. A drive shaft 3 runs through the front wall of the housing 1 along a horizontal longitudinal direction. A shift fork body 4 is fitted inside the housing 1, extending into the housing 1. A push rod 5 is horizontally arranged inside the cylinder 2 and slides through the housing 1. A pin 6 runs through the side of the push rod 5, extending into the housing 1. A pre-installed crank arm groove on the shift fork body 4 is slidably connected to the pin 6.

[0037] The variable diameter adapter plate 7 is slidably sleeved on the push rod 5 and detachably installed at the port of the housing 1. The cylinder 2 and the housing 1 are connected and connected through the variable diameter adapter plate 7.

[0038] The torque assembly is located inside the cylinder 2 and connected to the tail end of the push rod 5. Gas is discharged from the air source port on the housing 1, passes through the variable diameter adapter plate 7, and under the transmission of the torque assembly, the pin 6 on the push rod 5 and the shift fork body 4 slide together.

[0039] The gap filling assembly is provided at both the front and rear protruding ends of the pin 6 and is used to fill the gap between the shift fork body 4 and the push rod 5.

[0040] Example 2:

[0041] Based on Example 1, the variable diameter adapter plate 7 is composed of several variable diameter plates arranged in parallel. The size of each variable diameter plate is adaptively adjusted according to the diameter of the corresponding cylinder 2, and is used to fit and install cylinders 2 with different cylinder diameters, thereby improving the torque application range.

[0042] Furthermore, the variable diameter adapter plate 7 is detachable and is disassembled by screw connection, which is a conventional disassembly method in the prior art and will not be described in detail. The two side walls of the variable diameter adapter plate 7 are sealed to the housing 1 and cylinder 2 respectively by sealing rings. The side walls of the variable diameter adapter plate 7 are provided with balance holes 8 for air circulation between the housing 1 and cylinder 2. Air that flows into the housing 1 from the pre-set air source port is discharged into the cylinder 2 through the balance holes 8 and used to generate air thrust for the torque component.

[0043] The torque assembly includes a piston body 9 located at the tail end of the push rod 5. The outer ring wall of the piston body 9 is in sliding and sealed contact with the inner wall of the cylinder 2 through a sealing ring. The air vent of the cylinder 2 is shielded by a front end cover, and the side wall of the front end cover is pre-set with air holes to ensure that the piston body 9 can slide in the cylinder 2 in a state of isolation between the gases on both sides. A spring 10 is sleeved on the push rod 5. The two ends of the spring 10 are connected to the variable diameter adapter plate 7 and the piston body 9, respectively. The spring 10 has the function of automatically resetting the push rod 5. The piston body 9 is integrated into the cylinder 2, which reduces the size of the actuator composed of the housing 1 and the cylinder 2.

[0044] Example 3:

[0045] Further explanation based on Embodiment 2: The push rod 5 extends to the middle section of the housing 1 and is provided with a limiting section 11. The cross-sectional diameter of the limiting section 11 is larger than the through hole of the push rod 5 on the variable diameter adapter plate 7, so that the displacement range of the push rod 5 is limited to the inside of the housing 1 and will not overtravel. The front wall of the limiting section 11 is provided with a pin hole 12, and the pin 6 passes through the pin hole 12. The gap filling assembly includes a pad body 13 sleeved on the front and rear protruding ends of the pin 6. The pad body 13 can be horizontally slidable on the pin 6. The pad body 13 is located between the shift fork body 4 and the limiting section 11 and is used for gap filling. A rubber ring 14 is provided on the outer wall of the pad body 13 and contacts the inner wall of the shift fork body 4 to reduce frictional damage between the shift fork body 4 and the pad body 13.

[0046] The top wall of the limiting section 11 is provided with an anti-detachment groove hole 15 and is connected to the edge of the pin hole 12. The gap filling assembly also includes an elastic open cylinder 16 disposed in the anti-detachment groove hole 15. The elastic open cylinder 16 is made of elastic steel material and will deform after being squeezed. The elastic open cylinder 16 extends to a part of the anti-detachment groove hole 15. The middle section of the pin shaft 6 is provided with an anti-detachment ring groove 17. A protrusion 101 is arranged circumferentially on the outer ring wall of the anti-detachment ring groove 17. The height of the protrusion 101 is smaller than the end of the anti-detachment ring groove 17. The extended end of the elastic open cylinder 16 is inserted into the anti-detachment ring groove 17 and used to fix the pin shaft 6 to prevent detachment. When the pin shaft 6 is rotated at a small angle, the protrusion 101 will compress and deform the elastic open cylinder 16. The shape of the protrusion 101 is not limited, as long as it can compress and deform the elastic open cylinder 16 when the pin shaft 6 is deflected at a small angle.

[0047] An inflatable bladder 18 is provided inside the elastic open cylinder 16. An air distribution tube group 19 is provided on the upper end face of the inflatable bladder 18. The front and rear walls of the limiting section 11 are provided with receiving ring grooves 20. A top ring block 21 is movably inserted into the receiving ring groove 20. A ball bearing 22 is arranged circumferentially on the outer wall of the top ring block 21. The ball bearing 22 is a universal ball bearing. The top ring block 21 pushes the shift fork body 4 and the pad body 13 to fit tightly together through the ball bearing 22. When the pad body 13 and the shift fork body 4 are in contact, the rotation of the shift fork body 4 will cause the pin 6 to slide in the crank arm groove on it. At this time, the top ring block 21 and the pad body 13 are in rolling contact, which can reduce the relative rotational friction between the pad body 13 and the shift fork body 4 and extend the service life.

[0048] The inner wall of the receiving ring groove 20 is symmetrically provided with a stepped groove 23. An outward push spring rod 24 is inserted into the stepped groove 23. The outward push end of the outward push spring rod 24 is connected to the side wall of the top ring block 21, and a pushed piston 25 is provided at the inner end of the outward push spring rod 24. The exhaust end of the air distribution pipe assembly 19 is connected to the bottom end of the stepped groove 23. When the shift fork body 4 and the pin 6 slide together, due to the sliding friction between the shift fork body 4 and the pin 6, the pin 6 will deflect at a small angle, which will cause the protrusion 101 to compress and deform the elastic opening cylinder 16. The deformation of the elastic opening cylinder 16 will squeeze part of the air in the inflation bag 18 into the air distribution pipe assembly 19 and the stepped groove 23 in sequence. Under the air thrust, the pushed piston 25 indirectly makes the shift fork body 4 and the gasket body 13 fit tightly together through the outward push spring rod 24.

[0049] Example 4:

[0050] Further explanation based on Embodiment 3: A wear-resistant ring groove 26 is provided on the other side wall of the gasket body 13. The wear-resistant ring groove 26 is chrome-plated and has good wear resistance. The ball bearing 22 is rolled and connected in the wear-resistant ring groove 26. A corrugated telescopic cover 27 is fitted on the annular part of the stepped groove 23. The other end of the corrugated telescopic cover 27 is sealed and fixedly connected to the inner side wall of the top ring block 21. The corrugated telescopic cover 27 is provided to prevent gas from being discharged to the part outside the corrugated telescopic cover 27 on the stepped groove 23 when the air tightness of the pushed piston 25 against the inner wall of the stepped groove 23 is reduced, thus ensuring that an external thrust is generated on the top ring block 21.

[0051] The working principle is as follows: The variable diameter adapter plate 7 is composed of several parallel variable diameter plates. The size of each variable diameter plate is adaptively adjusted according to the diameter of the corresponding cylinder 2, and is used to fit and install cylinders 2 with different cylinder diameters, thereby improving the torque application range. The piston body 9 is integrated into the cylinder 2, and the size of the actuator composed of the housing 1 and the cylinder 2 is reduced.

[0052] The spacer 13 fills the gap between the shift fork 4 and the push rod 5. Under the action of the external push spring sleeve 24, the spacer 13 and the shift fork 4 are tightly fitted together through the top ring block 21. The ball bearings 22 on the top ring block 21 reduce the relative friction between the shift fork 4 and the spacer 13, extending their service life. When the pin 6 and the shift fork 4 slide together, the low-angle rotation of the pin 6 will drive the elastic open cylinder 16 to rotate through the protrusion 101. The elastic open cylinder 16 prevents the pin 6 from shifting within the pin hole 12. The deformation of the elastic open cylinder 16 will cause the air inside the inflatable bladder 18 to be discharged, and finally push the pushed piston 25 outward within the stepped groove 23. This further indirectly makes the shift fork 4 and the spacer 13 fit tightly together, preventing the shift fork 4 from moving up and down on the pin 6. It also eliminates the possibility that the push rod 5 will deflect when the shift fork 4 moves to 45°.

[0053] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An integrated shift fork type actuator, comprising a housing with a pre-set air source port and a cylinder forming a shift fork type actuator, wherein a drive shaft is longitudinally threaded through the front wall of the housing, a shift fork body is sleeved on the inner side of the drive shaft extending into the housing, and a push rod is transversely arranged inside the cylinder and slides through the housing, a pin is threaded through the push rod extending into the housing, and a pre-set crank arm groove on the shift fork body is slidably connected to the pin, characterized in that: A variable diameter adapter plate is slidably sleeved on the push rod and detachably installed at the port of the housing. The cylinder and the housing are connected and communicated through the variable diameter adapter plate. The torque assembly is located inside the cylinder and connected to the tail end of the push rod. Gas is discharged from the air source port on the housing, passes through the variable diameter adapter plate, and under the transmission of the torque assembly, the pin on the push rod and the shift fork body slide together. A gap filling assembly is provided at both the front and rear protruding ends of the pin shaft and is used to fill the gap between the shift fork body and the push rod; The variable diameter adapter plate is composed of several variable diameter plates arranged in parallel and is used to fit and install cylinders of different diameters. The variable diameter adapter plate is detachable. The two side walls of the variable diameter adapter plate are sealed to the housing and the cylinder respectively through sealing rings. The side walls of the variable diameter adapter plate are provided with balance holes for air circulation between the housing and the cylinder. The torque assembly includes a piston body disposed at the tail end of the push rod. The outer annular wall of the piston body is in sliding sealing contact with the inner wall of the cylinder through a sealing ring. A spring is sleeved on the push rod, and the two ends of the spring are respectively connected to a variable diameter adapter plate and the piston body. The push rod extends to the middle section of the housing and is provided with a limiting section. The front wall of the limiting section is provided with a pin hole, and the pin passes through the pin hole. The gap filling assembly includes a gasket body sleeved on the front and rear protruding ends of the pin shaft. The gasket body is located between the shift fork body and the limiting section and is used for gap filling. A rubber ring is provided on the outer wall of the gasket body and contacts the inner wall of the shift fork body.

2. The integrated shift fork actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top wall of the limiting section is provided with an anti-detachment groove and is connected to the edge of the pin hole. The gap filling assembly also includes an elastic open cylinder disposed in the anti-detachment groove and the elastic open cylinder extends to a portion of the anti-detachment groove. The middle section of the pin shaft is provided with an anti-detachment ring groove, and a protrusion is arranged circumferentially on the anti-detachment ring groove. The extended end of the elastic open cylinder is inserted into the anti-detachment ring groove and used to fix the pin shaft to prevent detachment.

3. The integrated shift fork actuator according to claim 2, characterized in that: An inflatable bladder is provided inside the elastic open cylinder, and an air distribution tube group is provided on the upper end face of the inflatable bladder. A receiving ring groove is provided on the front and rear walls of the limiting section. A top ring block is movably inserted in the receiving ring groove. A ball bearing is arranged circumferentially on the outer wall of the top ring block, and the top ring block pushes the fork body and the gasket body to fit tightly together through the ball bearing.

4. The integrated shift fork actuator according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inner wall of the receiving ring groove is symmetrically provided with a stepped groove at its bottom end. An outward push spring rod is inserted into the stepped groove. The outward push end of the outward push spring rod is connected to the side wall of the top ring block, and a pushed piston is provided at the inner end of the outward push spring rod. The exhaust end of the air distribution pipe group is connected to the bottom end of the stepped groove. When the shift fork body and the pin shaft slide together, the pin shaft squeezes the elastic opening cylinder and squeezes part of the air in the inflation bag into the air distribution pipe group and the stepped groove in sequence. Under the air thrust, the pushed piston indirectly makes the shift fork body and the gasket body fit tightly together through the outward push spring rod.

5. The integrated shift fork actuator according to claim 4, characterized in that: The gasket body has a wear-resistant ring groove on the other side wall, the ball bearing is rolled and connected in the wear-resistant ring groove, and a corrugated telescopic cover is fitted on the stepped edge ring portion of the stepped groove, the other end of the corrugated telescopic cover is sealed and fixedly connected to the inner side wall of the top ring block.

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