Sensor protection structure

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of sensors, and discloses a sensor protection structure which is assembled on an electric actuator. The electric actuator comprises a shell which is divided into an upper shell and a lower shell; the execution unit comprises a motor and a transmission mechanism in transmission connection with the motor, and the transmission mechanism is connected with one or more output shafts; the PCBA is assembled in the shell; a through hole is formed in the PCBA; the sensor is provided with a plurality of pins, and the pins on the sensor are welded on the PCBA; an inner hole is formed in the center of the sensor; the protection structure comprises a first protection piece; the first protection piece is assembled on the PCBA, and the output shaft is arranged in the first protection piece in a penetrating mode. According to the utility model, the output shaft penetrating through the sensor is limited, so that the output shaft is prevented from transmitting power to the sensor, and the sensor is prevented from cracking due to stress.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of sensors, and in particular relates to a sensor protection structure. Background Art

[0002] Currently, the output elements used in automobiles to complete actions such as opening, closing, rotation, translation, rising, and falling all need to be equipped with an electric actuator as the action mechanism. These electric actuators need one or more sensors to feedback the current position or angle.

[0003] like Figure 1 As shown, the structure of a conventional electric actuator is that a motor drives a transmission mechanism 5, which has one or more output shafts 4. These shafts drive an external load and pass through the inner hole of a sensor 3. The sensor 3 is mounted on a PCBA 2 (printed circuit board) to provide feedback on position and angle signals. As the output shaft 4 rotates, it contacts the slider of the sensor 3's sensing unit.

[0004] The sensor structure consists of a base (containing a carbon film), a slider, and a cover. The slider is mounted on top of the base, and the cover is mounted on top of the slider, forming a complete unit. The base is made of a brittle resin, and the carbon film is coated on the base surface. Both the base and the carbon film are brittle materials and can only withstand very small external forces.

[0005] The multiple pins on the sensor can be in the form of a surface mount package or a through-hole package.

[0006] During actual use, the power of the motor or the force from the actuator load will be transmitted to the output shaft. During the rotation of the output shaft, there will be swinging or flexible deformation, and the output shaft will touch the sensor.

[0007] The sensors on the PCBA are unprotected and unable to release external forces when subjected to them, leading to failure. The sensor failure logic is that the output shaft swings or flexes, transferring some of the force to the slider and base of the sensor, causing damage and failure. When the sensor base and carbon film are subjected to force, they can crack, manifesting as improper switch position, incorrect angle, or incorrect displacement. Testing with test equipment will reveal poor output signals and waveforms.

[0008] Furthermore, the base and carbon film of existing sensors will develop hidden cracks when subjected to force. They may function normally initially, but will fail after a period of use, increasing the maintenance cost and return rate of the entire vehicle and resulting in a poor user experience. Utility Model Content

[0009] In order to solve the problems in the related art, the present application provides a sensor protection structure that solves the defects mentioned in the background art.

[0010] The technical solution is as follows:

[0011] A sensor protection structure is assembled on an electric actuator; the electric actuator includes: a housing, the housing is divided into an upper housing and a lower housing; an actuator unit is assembled in the housing; the actuator unit includes a motor and a transmission mechanism connected to the motor, the transmission mechanism is connected to one or more output shafts; a PCBA is assembled inside the housing; the PCBA is provided with a through hole; a sensor is provided with a plurality of pins, and the pins on the sensor are soldered to the PCBA; an inner hole is formed in the center of the sensor; the sensor is inserted into the PCBA; the output shaft is inserted into the sensor, PCBA and housing; the protection structure includes a first protective member assembled at the position where the sensor and the PCBA are inserted; the first protective member is assembled on the PCBA, and the output shaft is inserted into the interior of the first protective member.

[0012] As a further improvement, the first protective member is a first protective cover body, a through hole is opened in the center of the first protective cover body; a skirt is provided at one end of the first protective cover body; the first protective cover body can be assembled into the through hole of the PCBA from any side of the PCBA.

[0013] As a further improvement, the first protective cover is assembled on the PCBA.

[0014] As a further improvement, the first protective cover is integrally formed and is made entirely of a material that is wear-resistant and has a low thermal deformation coefficient.

[0015] A sensor protection structure is assembled on an electric actuator; the electric actuator includes: a housing, the housing is divided into an upper housing and a lower housing; an actuator unit is assembled in the housing; the actuator unit includes a motor and a transmission mechanism connected to the motor, the transmission mechanism is connected to one or more output shafts; a PCBA is assembled inside the housing; the PCBA is provided with a through hole; a sensor is provided with a plurality of pins, and the pins on the sensor are soldered to the PCBA; an inner hole is provided at the center of the sensor; the sensor is inserted into the PCBA; the output shaft is inserted through the sensor, the PCBA and the housing; the protection structure includes a second protective member, and the output shaft is inserted inside the second protective member.

[0016] As a further improvement, the second protective member is a second protective cover body, a through hole is provided at the center of the second protective cover body; and the second protective cover body is assembled on the outer shell.

[0017] As a further improvement, the second protective cover is assembled on the inner surface of the outer shell, or the second protective cover is designed and manufactured integrally with the outer shell.

[0018] As a further improvement, a positioning step surface is provided at the lower portion of the second protective cover body; on the second protective cover body, the outer diameter of the portion located above the positioning step surface is larger than the portion located below the positioning step surface; and the distance between the positioning step surface and the lower end of the second protective cover body is not greater than the thickness of the PCBA.

[0019] As a further improvement, the second protective cover is formed in one piece, and the second protective cover is entirely made of a material that is wear-resistant and has a small thermal deformation coefficient.

[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, compared with the existing technology, the beneficial effects of the technology of this patent are:

[0021] 1. The protective structure of this utility model is located on the PCBA or housing where the sensor is located. The protective structure can be installed in two locations: a protective sleeve. The protective sleeve can be mounted on the same side of the PCBA as the sensor, on both sides of the PCBA, or mounted on the housing. Both types of protective sleeves restrict the output shaft passing through the sensor, preventing the output shaft from transmitting power to the sensor, thereby preventing the sensor from cracking due to stress.

[0022] 2. When the output shaft is subjected to force, the protective structure of the utility model directly transmits the force to the PCBA or the housing instead of the sensor, thereby preventing the sensor from cracking after being subjected to force.

[0023] 3. The protective cover of the present invention is made of a material that is wear-resistant and has a small thermal deformation coefficient, which can be but not limited to various materials such as plastic or rubber, to reduce the friction between the protective structure and the output shaft, and at the same time ensure that an ideal gap is maintained between the protective structure and the output shaft under different high and low temperature working conditions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The accompanying drawings herein are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 1 This is an exploded structural diagram of the original electric actuator;

[0026] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of the electric actuator equipped with the first protective cover in the utility model.

[0027] Figure 3 is a structure schematic view of the electric actuator equipped with the second protective sleeve body in the utility model.

[0028] Figure 4 is a structure schematic view of the first protective sleeve body in the utility model.

[0029] Figure 5 is a structure schematic view of the upper shell with the second protective sleeve body in the utility model.

[0030] Figure 6 is a structure schematic view of the second protective sleeve body in the utility model.

[0031] In the drawing:

[0032] 1, upper shell;2, PCBA;3, sensor;4, output shaft;5, transmission mechanism;6, lower shell;7, first protective sleeve body;8, second protective sleeve body;9, positioning step surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Preferred embodiments of the present application will be described herein below with reference to the drawings. Although the preferred embodiments of the present application are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present application can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited by the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided so that the present application is more thorough and complete, and the scope of the present application is fully conveyed to those skilled in the art.

[0034] The terms used in the present application are merely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application. The singular forms "a", "an" and "the" used in the present application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and / or" used herein means and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0035] It should be understood that although the terms "first", "second", "third" and the like can be used in the present application to describe various information, these information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish the same type of information from each other. For example, the first information can also be referred to as the second information, and similarly, the second information can also be referred to as the first information without departing from the scope of the present application. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more, unless otherwise specifically limited. EMBODIMENTS

[0036] As Figure 2 , Figure 4Figure 2 shows a sensor protection structure mounted on an electric actuator. The electric actuator includes a housing, which is divided into an upper housing 1 and a lower housing 6. An actuator unit is mounted within the housing and includes a motor and a transmission mechanism 5 in transmission connection with the motor. The transmission mechanism 5 is in transmission connection with one or more output shafts 4. A PCBA 2 is mounted within the housing. A sensor 3 is provided with multiple pins, which are soldered to a PCBA 2. The sensor 3 is mounted on the PCBA 2. The output shaft 4 extends through the sensor 3, the PCBA 2, and the housing.

[0037] The above structure is an existing technology. A drawback of this technology is that the output shaft 4 may swing or flex when rotating, which can cause the output shaft 4 to contact the sensor 3. This forces the sensor 3's base and carbon film to crack, causing failures such as improper switch positioning, incorrect angles, and incorrect displacement.

[0038] The protection structure includes a first protection member mounted at a position where the sensor 3 and the PCBA 2 pass through. The first protection member is mounted on the PCBA 2, and the output shaft 4 passes through the interior of the first protection member.

[0039] The first protective member is a first protective cover 7. A through-hole is defined in the center of the first protective cover 7, through which the output shaft 4 is inserted. A skirt is provided at one end of the first protective cover 7. The first protective cover 7 can be assembled into the through-hole of the PCBA 2 from any side, making assembly easy and simple.

[0040] The first protective cover 7 is assembled on the PCBA 2. The first protective cover 7 is integrally formed and is made entirely of a wear-resistant material with a low thermal deformation coefficient. Example

[0041] like Figure 3 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 6 Figure 2 shows a sensor protection structure mounted on an electric actuator. The electric actuator includes a housing, which is divided into an upper housing 1 and a lower housing 6. An actuator unit is mounted within the housing and includes a motor and a transmission mechanism 5 in transmission connection with the motor. The transmission mechanism 5 is in transmission connection with one or more output shafts 4. A PCBA 2 is mounted within the housing. A sensor 3 is provided with multiple pins, which are soldered to a PCBA 2. The sensor 3 is mounted on the PCBA 2. The output shaft 4 extends through the sensor 3, the PCBA 2, and the housing.

[0042] The above structure is the prior art. The defect of the prior art is that the output shaft 4 will produce a swinging action or a flexible deformation when rotating, and then the output shaft 4 will touch the sensor 3, and the base and the carbon film of the sensor 3 will be cracked after being subjected to force, resulting in a fault that the switch is not in place, the angle is not correct, the displacement is not correct, etc.

[0043] The protection structure comprises a second protection member, and the output shaft 4 is arranged in the interior of the second protection member. Specifically, the second protection member is a second protection sleeve 8, a through hole is formed in the center of the second protection sleeve 8, and the second protection sleeve 8 is assembled on the housing. Generally, the second protection sleeve 8 is mounted on the upper housing and corresponds to the output position of the output shaft 4.

[0044] The second protection sleeve 8 is assembled on the inner surface of the housing, or the second protection sleeve 8 is integrally designed and manufactured with the housing. This is two different design concepts, and engineers can determine which one is most suitable according to actual needs.

[0045] The lower part of the second protection sleeve 8 is provided with a positioning step surface 9. On the second protection sleeve 8, the outer diameter of the part located on the upper part of the positioning step surface 9 is greater than the part located on the lower part of the positioning step surface 9, and the part located on the lower part of the positioning step surface 9 is assembled into the through hole of the PCBA 2. In addition, in order to protect the safety of the sensor, the distance between the positioning step surface 9 and the lower end of the second protection sleeve 8 is not greater than the thickness of the PCBA. Such a design avoids the second protection sleeve 8 from touching the sensor 3 and causing damage to the sensor 3.

[0046] The second protection sleeve is integrally formed, and the second protection sleeve as a whole is made of a material with small wear resistance and thermal deformation coefficient.

[0047] It can be known from the technologies of the embodiments 1 and 2 that:

[0048] The protection sleeve is made of a material with small wear resistance and thermal deformation coefficient, which can be but is not limited to various materials such as plastic or rubber. The function of the protection sleeve is to reduce the friction between the protection structure and the output shaft, and to ensure that an ideal gap is maintained between the protection structure and the output shaft under different working conditions of high and low temperatures. In order to adapt to different PCBAs, sensors, and output shafts, the style, mounting mode, and mounting position of the protection structure are not limited to the illustrated style, and need to be adjusted according to actual working conditions, but the general structure and the function are unchanged.

[0049] The protection sleeve of the utility model is located on the PCBA where the sensor is located or the upper housing of the housing. The first protection sleeve is selected to be assembled on the same side of the PCBA as the sensor, or is selected to be assembled on both sides of the PCBA as the sensor. The second protection sleeve is assembled on the upper housing, or is integrally designed and manufactured with the upper housing.

[0050] Those skilled in the art will readily conceive of other embodiments of the present invention after considering the specification and practicing the present invention. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present invention that adhere to the general principles of the present invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not covered by the present invention. The description and examples are to be considered merely as exemplary; the true scope and spirit of the present invention are indicated by the following claims.

[0051] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sensor protection structure assembled on an electric actuator; The electric actuator comprises: A housing, the housing being divided into an upper housing and a lower housing; an execution unit, assembled in the housing; The execution unit includes a motor and a transmission mechanism connected to the motor, wherein the transmission mechanism is connected to one or more output shafts; A PCBA is assembled inside the housing; the PCBA is provided with a through hole; A sensor having a plurality of pins, the pins of the sensor being welded to the PCBA; an inner hole being formed in the center of the sensor; and the sensor being inserted through the PCBA; The output shaft is inserted into the sensor, PCBA and housing; Characterized in that the protection structure includes a first protection member assembled at the position where the sensor and the PCBA are inserted; The first protective member is assembled on the PCBA, and the output shaft is passed through the interior of the first protective member.

2. A sensor protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first protective member is a first protective cover body, a through hole is opened in the center of the first protective cover body; a skirt is provided at one end of the first protective cover body; the first protective cover body can be assembled into the through hole of the PCBA from any side of the PCBA.

3. A sensor protection structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first protective cover is assembled on the PCBA.

4. The sensor protection structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first protective cover is integrally formed and is made entirely of a material that is wear-resistant and has a small thermal deformation coefficient.

5. A sensor protection structure assembled on an electric actuator; The electric actuator comprises: A housing, the housing being divided into an upper housing and a lower housing; an execution unit, assembled in the housing; The execution unit includes a motor and a transmission mechanism connected to the motor, wherein the transmission mechanism is connected to one or more output shafts; A PCBA is assembled inside the housing; the PCBA is provided with a through hole; A sensor having a plurality of pins, the pins of the sensor being welded to the PCBA; an inner hole being formed in the center of the sensor; and the sensor being inserted through the PCBA; The output shaft is inserted through the sensor, PCBA and housing; It is characterized in that the protection structure includes a second protection member, and the output shaft is arranged inside the second protection member.

6. The sensor protection structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The second protective member is a second protective cover body, a through hole is opened in the center of the second protective cover body; the second protective cover body is assembled on the shell.

7. The sensor protection structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second protective cover is assembled on the inner surface of the outer shell, or the second protective cover is designed and manufactured integrally with the outer shell.

8. The sensor protection structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: A positioning step surface is provided at the lower portion of the second protective cover body; on the second protective cover body, the outer diameter of the portion located above the positioning step surface is larger than the outer diameter of the portion located below the positioning step surface; the portion below the positioning step surface is assembled into the through hole of the PCBA; and the distance between the positioning step surface and the lower end of the second protective cover body is no greater than the thickness of the PCBA.

9. The sensor protection structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second protective cover is integrally formed and is made entirely of a material that is wear-resistant and has a low thermal deformation coefficient.

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