Actuating device for a vehicle

Abstract

The approach presented here provides an adjusting device (100) for a vehicle. The adjusting device (100) has an internally toothed ring gear (105) and an externally toothed spur gear (110). The internally toothed ring gear (105) is rotatably mounted, and the ring gear (105) is formed as at least part of a rotatable knob of the adjusting device (100). The externally toothed spur gear (110) forms an internal gear drive with the internally toothed ring gear (105). The spur gear (110) has a radially outer outer part (120), a radially inner inner part (125), and an elastic component (130) between the outer part (120) and the inner part (125). The outer part (120) has an external toothing for meshing with an internal toothing of the ring gear (105), wherein the spur gear (110) is rotatably mounted over the inner part (125) and can be variably braked using a magnetorheological medium.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjusting device for a vehicle.

[0002] Actuators can be installed in vehicles, for example, to adjust or set vehicle functions. Some of these actuators may incorporate a magnetorheological medium. For instance, a rotating knob can be attached to the outer gear and a magnetorheological damper to the inner gear of an inner gear pair. The resulting fixed cavity between the inner gear pair can be used for the rigid mechanical and electrical connection of the inner knob element. revelation

[0003] Against this background, the present invention provides an improved positioning device for a vehicle according to the main claim. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0004] The advantages achievable with the presented approach consist in particular of the fact that an actuating device with an internal gear drive can be created, which enables reliable operation of the actuating device, while haptic quality, especially when reversing the direction of rotation, can be improved by reducing backlash.

[0005] An adjusting device for a vehicle comprises an internally toothed ring gear and an externally toothed spur gear. The internally toothed ring gear is rotatably mounted, and is formed as at least part of a rotatable knob of the adjusting device. The externally toothed spur gear forms an internal gear drive with the internally toothed ring gear, the spur gear having a radially outer outer part, a radially inner inner part, and an elastic component between the outer and inner parts. The outer part has external teeth for meshing with internal teeth of the ring gear. The spur gear is rotatably mounted via the inner part and is variably braked using a magnetorheological medium.

[0006] The actuating device can be a device for operating any vehicle function. The actuating device can be designed as a control device, an actuating device, or an actuator. For example, such a control device can be operated by a vehicle occupant. The magnetorheological medium can be a heterogeneous mixture of magnetically polarizable particles, which can also be referred to as a magnetorheological fluid. Alternatively, the magnetorheological medium can also be a powder. The magnetorheological medium can solidify, for example, by applying a magnetic field, i.e., by energizing a coil. A resting state of the magnetorheological medium can be understood as a state in which no magnetic field acts on the magnetorheological medium, i.e., the coil is not energized.An activation state of the magnetorheological medium can be understood as a state in which a magnetic field acts upon the magnetorheological medium, i.e., the coil is energized. Applying the magnetic field allows for rapid and reversible changes to the viscoelastic or dynamic-mechanical properties of the magnetorheological medium, whereby deformation of the magnetorheological medium can occur between the rest state and the activation state. The internal gear drive can also be a spur gear drive. The ring gear can be described as an external gear and the spur gear as an internal gear.

[0007] In other words, the approach presented here features a two-part internal gear with an elastic component, also known as a soft component, acting as an elastic spring element between a fixed inner part for connection to an MR damper and an outer part for connection to the continuously rotating knob. This approach allows for a nominally larger center distance of the internal gear pair, although, for example, the center distance can be less than three millimeters to create a slight preload on the gear flanks. The approach enables a continuously rotating knob with variable haptics using MR technology and an integrated fixed inner part for additional electrical functions, such as a display. This approach can improve haptic quality, especially when reversing the direction of rotation.For this purpose, the outer part of the spur gear can be designed to be radially displaceable by means of an elastic component and spring against the ring gear. This can be implemented cost-effectively and without additional or further external components. The approach presented here can therefore also be understood as a backlash-optimized spur gear drive for haptic rotary control elements.

[0008] The inner part can be coupled to a damping device, which may contain the magnetorheological medium. This allows the haptic feedback of the actuator to be reliably and precisely adjusted in a variable manner.

[0009] The damping device can be designed as a rolling bearing. Rolling bearings can exhibit low wear and therefore have a long service life. Furthermore, rolling bearings can be very load-bearing.

[0010] The elastic component can be designed to provide a spring-like mounting for the outer part relative to the inner part. Thus, the outer part of the spur gear can spring against the ring gear or, in other words, be preloaded towards the ring gear.

[0011] The elastic component can be made of plastic. This plastic can be a thermoplastic elastomer and, additionally or alternatively, a thermoplastic polyurethane. Thermoplastic elastomers can be very flexible and extremely durable and resistant. Thermoplastic polyurethane can be highly resistant to chemicals, oils, and solvents, making it safe and long-lasting.

[0012] The elastic component can be ring-shaped. This allows the elastic component to be reliably and securely positioned between the inner and outer parts.

[0013] The elastic component can form a plurality of radially inward-extending and additionally or alternatively outward-extending projections. In this way, the elastic component can act as an anti-rotation device for the inner and outer parts.

[0014] The axis of rotation of the ring gear and the axis of rotation of the spur gear can have a predefined center distance from each other. This predefined center distance can, for example, be less than three millimeters to create a slight preload on the gear flanks.

[0015] The adjusting device can have a housing element that may be arranged, at least partially, between the ring gear and the spur gear. A fixed cavity resulting from the internal gear drive can be used to accommodate a section of the housing element.

[0016] The housing element can have an axial through-opening for the passage of components. For example, cables can be routed through the through-opening, thus saving installation space.

[0017] An embodiment of the proposed adjusting device is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. These show: Fig. 1. A representation of an exemplary embodiment of an actuating device for a vehicle; Fig. 2. A representation of an embodiment of a spur gear of an actuating device for a vehicle; and Fig. 3 an exploded view of an embodiment of an actuating device for a vehicle.

[0018] Identical or similar elements are designated by identical or similar reference symbols in the following figures, with repeated descriptions being omitted for the sake of clarity.

[0019] Fig. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an actuating device 100 for a vehicle. Here, in Fig. Figure 1 shows only a part of the complete actuating device 100. The vehicle is, for example, a motor vehicle such as a passenger car, a motorcycle, a commercial vehicle, or the like. The actuating device 100 is designed, for example, to enable a user to operate a vehicle function. For example, the actuating device 100 can be manually operated by an occupant of the vehicle and may, for example, be designed as part of a rotatable knob. The knob is shown only as an example. Fig. 3 shown and described.

[0020] The adjusting device 100 comprises an internally toothed ring gear 105, an externally toothed spur gear 110, and optionally a housing element 115. The ring gear 105 can also be referred to as an external gear, which is rigidly connected to a rotatable outer part of the knob, see [reference]. Fig. 3. The spur gear 110 can also be referred to as an internal gear, which is rigidly connected to a rotatable MRF damper to transmit braking torques for variable haptics, see Fig. 3.

[0021] The internally toothed ring gear 105 is rotatably mounted and is formed as at least part of the rotatable knob of the adjusting device 100. The externally toothed spur gear 110 forms an internal gear transmission with the internally toothed ring gear 105. In other words, the adjusting device 100 has an internal gear transmission comprising the externally toothed spur gear 110 and the internally toothed ring gear 105. According to one embodiment, the axis of rotation of the ring gear 105 and the axis of rotation of the spur gear 110 have a predefined center distance 135 from each other. The predefined center distance 135 is, for illustrative purposes, less than three millimeters and is indicated by an arrow.

[0022] The spur gear 110 has a radially outer outer part 120, a radially inner inner part 125, and an elastic component 130. The elastic component 130 is arranged between the outer part 120 and the inner part 125. The elastic component 130 can also be referred to as a soft component and additionally or alternatively as an elastic spring element. The outer part 120 has external teeth, which can also be referred to as the tooth contour. The spur gear 110 is rotatably mounted about its axis of rotation via the inner part 125. The spur gear 110 is variably braked via the inner part 125 using a magnetorheological medium. Here, the inner part 125 is only designed as an example for connection to a magnetorheological fluid, abbreviated MRF.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the elastic component 130 is designed to provide resilient support for the outer part 120 relative to the inner part 125. For this purpose, the elastic component 130 is made of plastic, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer, and additionally or alternatively, a thermoplastic polyurethane. According to one embodiment, the elastic component 130 is ring-shaped.

[0024] The housing element 115 is, for example, at least partially arranged between the ring gear 105 and the spur gear 110, in particular in a stationary cavity between them. The housing element 115 has an axial through-opening 140 for the passage of components. The through-opening 140 can also be described, for example, as a stationary hole for the passage of cables and mechanical attachments. The axial through-opening 140 is located in the area of ​​the stationary cavity between the ring gear 105 and the spur gear 110.

[0025] In other words, it shows Fig. 1 an optimized MRF concept for rotary controls with knob and integrated electrical functions, for example display.

[0026] Fig. Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a spur gear 110 of an adjusting device for a vehicle. The spur gear 110 is similar to or corresponds to the spur gear from Fig. 1, except that the elastic component 130 has a different shape. Thus, the spur gear 110 can be combined with the adjusting device from one of the figures described herein.

[0027] According to the embodiment shown here, the elastic component 130 forms a plurality of radially outwardly extending projections 200. Additionally or alternatively, the projections can extend radially inward. The projections 200, which can also be referred to as contours, serve, for example, as an additional anti-rotation device. In this way, the outer part 120 and the inner part 125 are connected to each other in a rotationally secure manner via the elastic component 130.

[0028] Fig.Figure 3 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of an actuating device 100 for a vehicle. The actuating device 100 is similar to or corresponds to the actuating device shown in one of the figures described above, with the exception that additional components of the actuating device 100 are shown here.

[0029] The actuator 100, for example, has a static cover 300 with an inner and an outer surface, the inner surface of which contains electrical components 305. Adjacent to, or more precisely axially adjacent to, the inner surface of the cover 300, is a static light ring 310. The light ring 310 has, for example, two through-openings 315 for the components 305. Additionally, the light ring 310 has two receiving openings for receiving fastening elements 320. Adjacent to, or more precisely axially adjacent to, the light ring 310, is a static printed circuit board 325. According to one embodiment, in an assembled state of the actuator 100, the components 305 on the cover 300 contact the printed circuit board 325.

[0030] A rotatable upper part 330 of the knob is designed to accommodate the cover 300, the light ring 310, and the circuit board 325. For this purpose, the upper part 330 forms a through-opening 335. The upper part 330 narrows radially inwards, for illustrative purposes only, with the through-opening 335 having a smaller diameter at least partially in the center.

[0031] Adjacent to, or more precisely axially adjacent to, the upper part 330, is the housing element 115. The housing element 115 has the through-opening 140, with fastening elements 340, for example, shown between the upper part 330 and the housing element 115. The housing element 115 is, for illustrative purposes only, at least partially crescent-shaped or with a crescent-shaped plan, with the through-opening 140 being formed in the crescent-shaped area of ​​the housing element 115.

[0032] Adjacent to, or more precisely axially adjacent to, the housing element 115 is the spur gear 110, wherein, in an assembled state of the adjusting device 100, the housing element 115 at least partially accommodates the spur gear 110. Adjacent to, or more precisely axially adjacent to, the spur gear 110 is a sealing ring 345, which is shown only as an example to function, in an assembled state of the adjusting device 100, as a seal between the adjacent, or more precisely axially adjacent, ring gear 105 and the upper part 330.

[0033] The ring gear 105 can also be described as the rotatable lower part of the knob. In an assembled state of the adjusting device 100, the upper part 330 and the ring gear 105 are attached to one another, with the sealing ring 345 arranged between the upper part 330 and the ring gear 105. Additionally, the housing element 115 and the spur gear 110 are arranged between the upper part 330 and the ring gear 105.

[0034] Adjacent to, or more precisely axially adjacent to, the ring gear 105, a damping device 350 is arranged, which can be described, for example, as a rolling bearing for an MRF module. The damping device 350 is designed, for example, to couple with the inner part of the spur gear 110. In an assembled state of the actuating device 100, the damping device 350 is coupled with the inner part of the spur gear 110.

[0035] Adjacent to, or more precisely axially adjacent to, the damping device 350, a static rolling bearing shell 355 is arranged, which is coupled to the inner part of the spur gear 110 above the damping device 350 by means of a fastening element 360, which comprises, for example, a screw and a washer.

[0036] Adjacent, or more precisely axially adjacent, to the fastening element 360 is a rolling bearing 365 which, in a combined state of the adjusting device 100, rests against a region of the ring gear 105.

[0037] A base plate 370 is shown adjacent, more precisely axially adjacent, to the rolling bearing 365 and is designed to be connected to the rolling bearing 365 by means of a plurality of fastening elements 375, 380. The base plate 370 merely forms an example of a base of the adjusting device 100, and the cover 300 merely forms an example of a lid of the adjusting device 100.

[0038] The assembled state of the actuator 100 will be explained in more detail below.

[0039] In an assembled state of the actuating device 100, the static cover 300 covers the static light ring 310. The components 305 contact the static circuit board 325 through the through-holes 315 of the light ring 310. The circuit board 325 rests against the upper part 330, which can also be referred to as the rotatable upper part of the knob, and the circuit board 325 is fastened to the upper part 330 by means of the fastening elements 320.

[0040] The housing element 115, which can also be referred to as the static housing, at least partially accommodates the spur gear 110, which can also be referred to as the MRF module. The sealing ring 345 then seals, for example, between the upper part 330 and the ring gear 105 in the assembled state of the adjusting device 100. The ring gear 105 can also be referred to as a rotatable lower part of the knob. The damping device 350, which, for example, contains the magnetorheological medium, can also be referred to as the rolling bearing MRF module and couples with the spur gear 110 in the assembled state. The rolling bearing shell 355, which can also be referred to as the static MRF module, is designed, for example, to be attached to the damping device 350 by means of the fastening elements 360.

[0041] The rolling bearing 365, which is designed, for example, as a rolling bearing for the knob, is at least partially received by the ring gear 105. The base plate 370 is attached to the other components by means of the fastening elements 375 and 380, with the fastening elements 380 engaging, by way of example, in openings of the housing element 115. The fastening elements 340 engaging, by way of example, in openings of the base plate 370.

Claims

[1] Actuating device (100) for a vehicle, wherein the actuating device (100) has the following features: an internally toothed ring gear (105) which is rotatably mounted, wherein the ring gear (105) is formed as at least part of a rotatable knob of the adjusting device (100); and an externally toothed spur gear (110) which forms an internal gear transmission with the internally toothed ring gear (105), wherein the spur gear (110) has a radially external outer part (120), a radially internal inner part (125) and an elastic component (130) between the outer part (120) and the inner part (125), wherein the outer part (120) has an external toothing for meshing with an internal toothing of the ring gear (105), wherein the spur gear (110) is rotatably mounted over the inner part (125) and is variably braked using a magnetorheological medium. [2] Actuating device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the inner part (125) is coupled to a damping device (350), wherein the damping device (350) comprises the magnetorheological medium. [3] Actuating device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the damping device (350) is designed as a rolling bearing. [4] Actuating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic component (130) is designed to resiliently mount the outer part (120) relative to the inner part (125). [5] Adjusting device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic component (130) is made of plastic material, the plastic being a thermoplastic elastomer and / or a thermoplastic polyurethane. [6] Actuating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic component (130) is ring-shaped. [7] Actuating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic component (130) forms a plurality of radially inward and / or radially outward extending extensions (200). [8] Actuating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a rotation axis of the ring gear (105) and a rotation axis of the spur gear (110) have a predefined center distance (135) to each other. [9] Actuating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a housing element (115) which is arranged at least partially between the ring gear (105) and the spur gear (110). [10] Actuating device (100) according to claim 9, wherein the housing element (115) has an axial through-opening (140) for passing components.

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