GEAR WHEEL WITH LIMITED OPERATING ANGULAR RANGE

Abstract

The invention relates to a gear wheel (206), having teeth on only a portion (206a) of its periphery, and a plurality of bores (236) or holes arranged at a distance from the center of rotation of the wheel, defining positions of one end of a return means. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1B

Description

Title of the invention: GEAR WHEEL WITH LIMITED OPERATING ANGULAR RANGE TECHNICAL FIELD AND PREVIOUS ART

[0001] The invention relates to the field of components for transmission and / or reduction elements of electric motors, for the purpose of controlling devices such as, for example, fluid distribution agents in a cooling system, for example of medium temperature and / or high temperature type.

[0002] Such an electric motor comprises a plurality of coils, some of which are connected to each other by connections.

[0003] In certain applications, it is desirable to have a component, for example a distributor or actuator, rotate within a well-defined, limited angular range (<360°). However, in known systems, only a 360° angular range is available, which is difficult to control to obtain rotation within a more limited angle. The problem, therefore, arises of finding new components for a system, for example a distributor or valve, that can only be actuated within a limited angular range, while also offering adaptability to various environments.

[0004] The problem therefore arises of finding a new component, for a transmission element and / or a reducer, which allows a limited angular range, <360°.

[0005] Preferably, such a component also includes means, for example adjustable, which allow it to be returned to an initial position from which it has been moved away, for example under the action of a device such as an electric motor.

[0006] This type of component is generally part of an actuator, which may be contained in a housing, but this type of device is often bulky, and therefore the problem also arises of finding a more compact actuator structure. Description of the invention

[0007] The invention relates first to a wheel or gear pinion, having teeth on only a part of its periphery, and a plurality of bores or holes arranged at a distance, for example at equal distances, from the center of rotation of the wheel, defining positions of one end of a return means.

[0008] Preferably, the bores or holes are equidistant from each other.

[0009] A wheel or gear according to the invention may further comprise a return means, for example a spring, one end of which is fixed in one of the holes of said plurality of holes. This spring may be a torsion spring.

[0010] A wheel or gear pinion according to the invention may have teeth only on an angular sector of its periphery between 50° and 200°, for example between 90° and 150°, the other part of the periphery being smooth.

[0011] The other part, which does not have gear teeth, of the periphery of the wheel may have a radius smaller than that of the part which has gear teeth.

[0012] Preferably, the plurality of bores or holes is distributed over 360°.

[0013] For example, the plurality of bores or holes is distributed at a distance from the center of rotation of the wheel which is less than the radius of the other part which does not have gear teeth, from the periphery of the wheel.

[0014] A wheel or gear pinion according to the invention may comprise, be mounted on, a shaft having a 1st bearing or bearing disposed on a 1st side of the wheel and a 2nd bearing or bearing disposed on a 2nd side of the wheel.

[0015] For example, the 1st bearing or bearing is disposed within a volume delimited by said return means.

[0016] The invention also relates to an actuator comprising, in a housing, an electric motor comprising:

[0017] - a stator, comprising a plurality of coils,

[0018] - a rotor comprising an output shaft;

[0019] - an actuator output shaft, this output shaft being equipped with a wheel or a gear pinion according to the invention.

[0020] Such an actuator may further comprise at least one motor control circuit,

[0021] Such an actuator may further include transmission means and / or a reducer, to transmit the movement of the motor output shaft, these transmission means and / or this reducer comprising the actuator output shaft.

[0022] The output shaft of the actuator can advantageously be guided by a 1st bearing and a 2nd bearing, which is disposed in a housing made in a part of the casing.

[0023] An actuator according to the invention may include an element, for example a plate, intermediate, disposed between the output shaft and the electric motor.

[0024] For example, the 1st bearing or bearing of the output shaft can be disposed in the intermediate element, located between the output shaft and the electric motor.

[0025] If the actuator includes transmission means and / or a reducer, the latter and / or the latter may include an intermediate stage between the output shaft of the motor and the output shaft of the actuator, this intermediate stage including a shaft guided by a 1st bearing and by a 2nd bearing, which is disposed in said intermediate element.

[0026] An actuator according to the invention may further comprise at least one stop for to limit the travel of the output shaft gear wheel. In addition, a damping element may be provided between the wheel or gear according to the invention and said stop.

[0027] An actuator according to the invention may further include a return means, one end of which is fixed to the wheel or gear pinion according to the invention and the other end of which is fixed to the housing.

[0028] The invention also relates to a fluid or cooling distribution system, for example of a vehicle, comprising a plurality of valves, each valve being actuated by an actuator according to the invention, at least 2 valves having different maximum flow rates, one end of the return means of one of these 2 valves being positioned in a different hole from the other of these 2 valves.

[0029] The invention also relates to a land vehicle (truck or utility vehicle or construction vehicle or agricultural vehicle) or air vehicle (airplane or aircraft) or nautical or naval vehicle (boat for example), comprising a thermal or electric, or hybrid, and / or fuel cell engine(s), further comprising a cooling system according to the invention, as described above or in the present application. Brief description of the drawings

[0030] [Fig.1A], [Fig.1B], [Fig.1C] and [Fig.1D] represent an embodiment of a wheel or pinion according to an embodiment of the present invention and various aspects of an embodiment of an output stage of a reducer that can be implemented within the framework of the present invention;

[0031] [Fig.2A], [Fig.2B] and [Fig.2C] represent an example of an embodiment of a rotor which can be used in the context of the invention;

[0032] [Fig.3A], [Fig.3B], [Fig.3C] and [Fig.3D] represent aspects of the realization of a stator which can be used within the framework of the invention;

[0033] [Fig.4] represents an example of a connector that can be used within the framework of the invention;

[0034] [Fig.5A] and [Fig.5B] represent an example of an embodiment of a connection card which can be used within the framework of the invention;

[0035] [Fig.6A] represents the assembly of a stator and a connection card within the framework of the present invention;

[0036] [Fig.6B] represents an embodiment of a connection hole of a connection card within the framework of the present invention;

[0037] [Fig.7A] and [Fig.7B] represent an embodiment of a main card that can be implemented within the framework of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] [Fig.8] represents an implementation of a CAN network;

[0039] [Fig.9] represents an embodiment of an actuator implementing aspects of the present invention;

[0040] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0041] An example of an embodiment of a pinion or gear wheel 206 according to the invention is shown in figures 1A and IB.

[0042] As can be seen in these figures, this pinion has gear teeth only on one section, or angular sector, 206a of its circumference. The remainder 206b of the circumference is smooth and preferably has a radius smaller than that of the section 206a which carries the gear teeth. It can be mounted on a shaft 208, which may be an output shaft of a gearbox.

[0043] Furthermore, it is provided with holes or bores 236 which allow adjustment of one end of a return means, for example a return spring 230, or even a torsion spring. This adjustment will be made, for example, according to the desired performance of an element, for example a valve, which will be coupled to the output shaft 208: one may want a faster or slower return and / or with more or less torque (the greater the return force, the greater the return torque) of this element and adjust accordingly the position of the end of the return spring using the different positions in the different holes 236.

[0044] Furthermore, one or more stops 225, 227 of a housing 220 in which this pinion is located may be provided to limit its travel. One or more damping elements 207, for example made of plastic, may be provided on a side wall 209 of the pinion to prevent excessively abrupt contact between it and the stop(s) 225, 227 and to ensure that this contact is dampened.

[0045] This pinion can be used in the output stage of a gearbox, an example of which will be described later. This gearbox can be used as a transmission element for the rotational motion of an electric motor.

[0046] Figures 2A - 3D represent an example of such a motor. It comprises a rotor 102, one embodiment of which is shown in figures 2A - 2C and a wound stator 104, one embodiment of which is shown in figures 3A - 3D.

[0047] This is for example a brushless motor (BLDC, or Brushless Direct Current) of the "IPMSM" type ("Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor").

[0048] The rotor 102 comprises, for example, stacked ferromagnetic steel plates with recesses 103 for housing embedded NdFeB magnets 106. The thickness of iron between the magnets and the air gap (which separates the rotor from the stator) is constant. This thickness is the thickness of iron between a magnet and the outer diameter of the rotor (as seen in [Fig. 1B]); therefore, the distance between the inner diameter of the stator and the rotor magnets is equal to the air gap plus this thickness of iron.

[0049] The rotor may also include a bore with a keying feature 110 for mounting a rotor shaft 112 to transmit force. This keying feature is in the form of two flats 110 ([Fig. 1B]). The keying feature prevents the rotor from slipping relative to the associated shaft or axle and ensures proper force transmission, not just through a tight fit. In other words, the center of the rotor may have a bore and one or two flats 110. The rotor shaft may have the corresponding male shape, the cylindrical portion ensuring coaxiality of the components, and the flat(s) preventing rotation between the assembled components. These features (combination of a cylindrical portion and flat(s)) may be implemented in other shaft or axle assemblies, as shown below.

[0050] As explained later (in connection with [Fig. 9]), and as illustrated in [Fig. 2C], a magnetic element 114 for angular positioning, for example a magnet, for example again a ring magnet, can also be implemented, being applied to or against the rotor 102 in order to capture the position of the latter; between the power magnets 106 and the position magnet 114, an intermediate element 119, or a plastic spacer, made of a material, as well as optionally one or more shielding plates 118, can be present so that the position signal of the ring magnet 114, detected by a sensor 135 (shown in [Fig. 9]), is not disturbed. The intermediate element 119 has several functions:

[0051] - one function is to move the rotor power magnets away from the element magnetic position 114 (so that their fields do not interfere with each other);

[0052] - another function is to bring the magnetic element 114 closer to a sensor magnetic which will allow the position of this magnetic element 114 to be detected;

[0053] - yet another function is to serve as a support for possible means 118 of shielding, for example one or more shielding plates, by positioning these means not only between the power magnets and the positioning magnetic element 114 but also by ensuring that these shielding means are not too close to, or even stuck to, the magnets and that the cross-cutting of the fields is optimal; this function is illustrated in [Fig.2C] on which we see that the means 118 are taken between 2 parts of the intermediate element 119.

[0054] The stator 104 (Figures 3A - 3D) comprises, for example, a stack of star-shaped stator laminations with a star portion 104i including so-called "solid" laminations 1051 for holding the plates together, and "non-solid" laminations 1052 for limiting losses. Such a star structure allows wound plastic frames to be inserted directly onto a winding machine. called "spindle" (rotating coil), which allows winding with simpler machines (which is less expensive and faster).

[0055] The star 104i accommodates N (N>1; in this example: N = 12) plastic frames 116, each equipped with a coil 117. A ring 1042 made of stator sheets (these sheets are visible in [Fig. 0A]) can be assembled on the stator to allow the wound frames to be held and to loop back the magnetic fields.

[0056] Preferably, the stator 104 is electrically connected in a star configuration, with a neutral point.

[0057] An interconnection board or card 120 (“PCB”, or printed circuit board) is provided extending from the electric motor to connect the coils that are to be connected to each other. This board, which extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis (XX') of rotation of the rotor, has a plurality of connection tracks 124, for example as illustrated in Figures 5A-5B, these tracks being provided for connecting the stator coils to each other.

[0058] These tracks are connected to the output or input wires of the various coils by means 122 of conductive material connections, for example by soldering the ends of the coil wires, or by connection lugs 122, for example of the "press fit" type (connector or insertion pin and / or

[0059] break-open terminals (BOTs). An example of such a connection 122 is shown in [Fig. 4]: it comprises an end 122b (for example, of the "press-fit" type), preferably having a portion 122' forming a spring in a lateral direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the connection, configured to be inserted into a contact hole 126 of the card 120, and an end 1222 (for example, of the break-open terminal type) configured to make contact with a wire of a coil, for example, by pinching this wire. Preferably, the connection means 122 are designed to be pressed into the corresponding holes or receptacles of a component, creating a solid and secure connection without the need for soldering or additional fasteners; this is the case, in particular, for "press-fit" type connection terminals 122.

[0060] These connection means ensure both an electrical connection and mechanical retention of the card 120.

[0061] More specifically, the card 120 may include a plurality of contact means 126, for example holes or pads, preferably equidistant, each being, for example, in the form of a plated hole into which a connection means 122, for example the end (which may be soldered to the plated hole) of a wire from a coil, or an end of a connecting lug, may fit and thus establish electrical contact between a wire from one of the coils, the plated hole with which this means 22 is in contact, and one or more of the tracks 124. Among the The 126 contact holes or pads, some of which (126n, 126n2, 126n3) are neutral points, allow easier access to these neutral points without the need for additional components. The three phases of the power supply (from, for example, the board 130 described below) are connected to a series of three connection pads or holes (1263), for example, by soldering or, particularly in the case of connection holes, by "press-fit" means as explained above. These three connection pads or holes (1263) are connected to the various coils by traces (124).

[0062] The card 120 preferably has a crown shape, as seen in the example of figures 3D and 5A - 5B, which reproduces the shape of the stator 104. It can have any other shape, which has a maximum dimension less than that of the stator 104 and a central hole to allow the shaft 112 of the rotor to pass through.

[0063] Fig. 5A shows how the connections were designed for the 120 card and Fig. 5B is the final output of the card according to another representation, in 3D.

[0064] Thus, when this card is mounted, it does not add any bulk in width (i.e. in a direction located in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor); preferably, if the card 120 has a crown shape, then its internal diameter is greater than or equal to the internal diameter of the stator and its external diameter is less than or equal to the external diameter of the stator: in this way, it strictly respects the size of the motor.

[0065] Furthermore, since this card 120 is located close to the motor along the axis (XX'), it does not add any bulk in the axial direction, i.e., along the axis of rotation of the rotor. Preferably, the center of the ring is aligned with the axis of rotation (XX') of the rotor.

[0066] On the card 120, one or more of the connecting tracks 124 preferably have a circular arc shape 124b with one or more radial connecting track(s) 1242, 1243 extending from the circular arc, for example from one or more of its ends to a connection point 126 or to another circular arc-shaped track.

[0067] The 124 tracks can preferably be designed while maintaining:

[0068] -the shortest distance between two points, respecting the geometry of the stator;

[0069] - and / or having sufficient width for current conduction;

[0070] - and / or by having a sufficient inter-path distance.

[0071] In addition, to avoid congestion in the design of the paths followed by the tracks and to comply with the points above, one can have a straight part, following a radial direction (this is one or more of the radial tracks already mentioned above), and a part in the shape of a portion of an arc.

[0072] Figure 6A shows the assembly comprising the stator 104, the connection board 120, and one end of the connection means 122; this assembly is compact (the distance between the rotor-stator assembly and the board 120 can be between 1 mm and 5 mm). Furthermore, the connection board 120 eliminates the need for connection traces (between the coils) on a second circuit board (described below), which is also equipped with components that can be sensitive to the current flowing in the coils and that can generate interference. Thus, the functions of connecting the coils (connection provided by the board 120) and controlling the motor (provided by the second circuit board) are separated.

[0073] As can be understood from this [Fig.6A], when, on the one hand, the assembly consisting of the stator and the rotor is ready, and, on the other hand, the card 120 equipped with its tracks 124, it is sufficient to align the holes 126 of the card with the corresponding means 122 and to press the plate towards the stator.

[0074] The holes 126 can be circular, but this circular shape can pose a problem of alignment accuracy and / or guidance of the means 122 in these same holes. To solve this problem, it is possible to give each hole 126 a particular shape, as illustrated in [Fig. 6B]: this has a wide part 126a, into which it is possible to insert the end of a means 122 (for example the end of a wire or a connector 122, for example such as that illustrated in [Fig. 4]), and a narrower part 126b, into which the end in question can then be pinched and held to ensure electrical contact.

[0075] Thus, when the end of each means 122 is inserted into the wider part 126a, it is then possible to rotate the card 120, as indicated by the arrow in [Fig. 6B], to bring this end into the narrower part 126b, where it is then held. This also ensures that the entire card 120 is locked in place.

[0076] An example of another, or 2nd, electronic board or card 130 (or "PCB A"), called the control and / or command board or main board, is shown schematically in figures 7A and 7B. This control or main board is different from the connection board 120.

[0077] This main electronic board 130 includes, on a face 132i ([Fig. 7B]), referred to as the "lower" face, one or more components 132, for example one or more Hall effect sensors 133, for example to detect the position of a motor output shaft, as explained below; it may optionally include on the opposite face 1322 ([Fig. 7A]), referred to as the "upper" face, one or more sensors, for example Hall effect sensors 135, opposite, for example, a rotor position magnet 114, in order to detect the position of the latter. This main electronic board 130 includes Connectors or connection points for a three-phase power supply to the motor; these connectors can be connected to the three-phase supply of the connection board 120. This board 130 can also include a point for the neutral (not shown in Figures 6A and 6B). Thus, there can be a total of 4 connections between the main board 130 and the interconnection board 120 (3 connections for the 3 phases and one connection for the neutral).

[0078] Furthermore, this electronic card 130 includes means or a control element 134, for example a microprocessor or microcontroller 134.

[0079] This element 134 can be programmed, or include instructions for, controlling the electrical supply of the motor.

[0080] In particular, this element 134 can measure or estimate the current consumption supplied to the electric motor. This current consumption reflects the effort exerted by the motor. If, for example, a valve, which is controlled by the motor or by an actuator that includes this motor, is blocked or slowed down due to impurities in a fluid whose flow is controlled by the valve, or if the actuator is defective, the element 134 sees an increase in the applied effort due to the increase in the current supplied; it can therefore send an instruction to stop the actuator and the component it controls.

[0081] This element 134 can start a work sequence, after an interruption of the operation of the organ, for example the valve, which it controls, by sending the latter jolts: for example, short pulses can be generated by this same element 134, with a predetermined torque, in order to unstick the organ or the valve after an interruption of its operation.

[0082] A component can also be magnetically isolated, for example a magnetic sensor 135, for example a Hall sensor, by positioning on the upper face 1322, or opposite the latter, one or more shielding plates 118 (which can be seen in [Fig.9]).

[0083] A connector 136 can also be provided on this card 130 to allow an electrical interface, for example with a specific connector that will allow an interface with a network, for example a CAN network of a vehicle, of which the card 130 (or the motor or actuator it controls) is a part. The card 130 allows calibration of the actuator each time the device is started.

[0084] According to one aspect, the card 130 is equipped, on one of its faces, with a connector 136, which has a plurality of connection pins, each combination of pins allowing the card to be assigned an address within a network, for example a CAN network, such as that of a vehicle. Plugs or pins connect to several pins of this connector 136, according to a configuration determined by the desired address for the card 130. For example, 2 plugs or pins allow to determine the address: each can have one of the 2 values ​​0 and 1; thus, with 2 plugs or pins, we can have 4 different addresses.

[0085] Furthermore, the different addresses can be stored by element 134 (for example in a memory, for example an EEPROM, of the same) or in a separate memory, for example an EEPROM.

[0086] Thus, programming the address of each card is easy and can be modified readily, since it is sufficient to change the position of the various pins in connector 136, without interfering with element 134 or any software aspects implemented by the latter. Information exchange between the network and element 134 can then take place via this connector.

[0087] Thus, if a vehicle is equipped with a plurality of cards 130, each actuating, for example, a valve via an electric motor (for example, as explained above), an address can easily be assigned to each card 130 and implemented using connector 136, all these addresses being different from each other. Therefore, there is no need to resort to complex programming to determine the addresses of the different cards.

[0088] For example, for a 136 connector with 6 inputs (usually, most of these connectors simply have 4 inputs):

[0089] - an input is used for CAN High, one of the wires of a CAN bus;

[0090] - one input is used for CAN Low, the other wire of the same CAN bus;

[0091] - an input is used for the V+ voltage supply;

[0092] - another input is used for the V- voltage supply (or ground);

[0093] - the other 2 entries can be used to select an address, each input can be in the state "0" (Earth) or "1" ("open"); in total, therefore, 4 different addresses can be generated for the same actuator or motor.

[0094] This ability to allocate different addresses to the same motor or actuator offers several advantages. Indeed, a fixed CAN address imposes numerous restrictions on the use of that motor or actuator within a network. In particular, when a user wants to connect several devices (for example, motors or actuators) to the same network and wishes to identify them, they need different identifiers. The invention allows:

[0095] -to avoid conflicts of addresses or CAN identifiers;

[0096] - possibly to expand the network by including new devices and their allocating additional CAN addresses or identifiers;

[0097] - avoid having to intervene in the memory that stores the addresses or the CAN identifiers and intervening on the software that implements them, which can often be difficult for an end user and can compromise system security: However, the user can more easily interact with connector 136, without needing to modify said memory and / or said software.

[0098] An example of a CAN network in a vehicle is shown in [Fig. 8]: this vehicle has several actuators 142-148, each of which is assigned a CAN address (CAN address 1 for actuator 142, CAN address 2 for actuator 144, CAN address 3 for actuator 146, CAN address 4 for actuator 146). Control instructions are generated and sent to the various actuators, according to their addresses, by a central unit 140. Each of these actuators is equipped with a card 130, as described above, and the address of each card 130 can be programmed using the connector 136 of this card, in the manner explained above. Each of the means 134, for example a microprocessor or microcontroller, stores the possible addresses for the actuator to which it is associated.

[0099] Figure 9, which will be discussed in more detail below, shows a particularly interesting arrangement of various means already presented above:

[0100] - the spacer 119 can be arranged at the end of the rotor 102;

[0101] - an armor plate 118 can be arranged in the spacer 119;

[0102] - and / or the magnetic means 114 can be arranged on the spacer 119, which can be advantageously arranged between these magnetic means 114 and the rotor 102;

[0103] - the first card 120 can be positioned opposite the rotor, and can surround the means magnetic 114;

[0104] - the first card 120 can be placed opposite the second card 130, which bears the A detector 135 is arranged opposite the magnetic means 114. A reducer 200 is now described in which a wheel implemented according to the invention can be used. This reducer can, in turn, be used in combination with an electric motor as described above, the whole assembly being contained in a housing 220. Thus, in [Fig. 9], we recognize the rotor 102 and the stator 104 as described above, the connection board 120 between the coils, and the control board 130 of the electric motor.

[0105] As illustrated in [Fig.9], an example of a 200 reducer comprises a plurality of pinions and / or gears, for example:

[0106] - a pinion 202 which extends the shaft 112 of the rotor (see [Fig.2A], these 2 elements forming a single piece) and which is driven in rotation by the latter;

[0107] - at least one intermediate wheel 204, which mechanically engages the pinion 202;

[0108] - an output shaft 206 on which a wheel or pinion 230, for example according The invention, for example as described above (particularly in relation to Figures IA and IB and below with Figures IC and 1D), is mounted to be rotationally fixed, this wheel or pinion 230 mechanically engaging the wheel 204 or a pinion 204p attached to the latter or to a shaft 205 on which both are mounted.

[0109] The shafts or axles on which these various elements are mounted are parallel to each other. Each of these elements can be mounted on bearings or bushings (202a, 202b, 204a, 204b, 206a, 206b), for example ball bearings, to ensure the most precise positioning possible (to ensure better center distance and / or better parallelism of the axles). To provide the bearing function, one or more ball bearings as mentioned above can be used, but bronze or plastic bushings could be suitable in certain cases, for example for shafts with low rotational speeds. In the following, we will mainly refer to "bearings," but all the bearing variants mentioned above can be used.

[0110] These various components are made, for example, of non-magnetic material (e.g., stainless steel or another material, such as plastic) to avoid problems with magnetic field feedback. In the case of bearings, stainless steel is generally used; guide rings can be made of plastic.

[0111] The rotor pinion shaft is, for example, fitted into the stack of rotor laminations, for example by press fitting, and one or more anti-rotation elements prevent any slippage due to cylinder-to-cylinder contact; for example, one or more anti-rotation elements incorporate one or more flats on each side of the shaft, as already described above in connection with [Fig. 2B]. This shaft 112 can be mounted in bearings 202a, 202b which can be located in parts of the housing, for example, on the one hand in a wall 220i (here referred to as the upper wall) of the housing 220, and on the other hand in a component of the latter, for example, an intermediate plate 222. These bearings are press-fitted into these different parts.This same intermediate plate 222 can serve as a housing for a bearing 204a of the intermediate wheel 204, another bearing 204b of the latter being housed in a wall 2202 of the casing, referred to here as the lower wall, for example opposite the wall 220i. This intermediate wheel can comprise two parts, on the one hand the wheel 204 itself and, on the other hand, a pinion 204p, both mounted rigidly on the same shaft 205. A fit between the two can be obtained by an adjusted diameter and one or more anti-rotation elements. for example, one or more anti-rotation element(s) implement one or more flats on each side of the shaft, as already described above in connection with [Fig.2B]. An output stage of the reducer includes a wheel or pinion 206, for example according to the present invention, which engages the wheel 204 or the pinion 204p and which drives the output shaft 208, mounted in bearings 208a, 208b which can be located, in a . one part in the wall 2202 of the housing of the housing 220, the other in the intermediate plate 222.

[0112] A rotating element or mechanism can be mounted on the end (outside the housing) 208i of the shaft 208, for example, a valve or a valve core. This rotating element or mechanism, for example, this valve, can then be actuated by the electric motor, whose motion is transmitted to the gearbox, the output of which actuates this rotating element or mechanism, for example, this valve. In the case of a valve, this could, for example, belong to a cooling system, for example, in a motor vehicle or in any motorized transport device. Alternatively, an actuator such as the one described above or in this application can be implemented not only in the automotive field, but in many other fields, for example, in robotics or medicine.

[0113] A magnetic element 214 can be disposed at the other end (inside the housing) 2082 of the shaft 208 (for example in a hollow made at the end thereof), to allow detection of the angular position of the latter by a sensor 133, for example a Hall effect sensor, which is preferably mounted on the card 130.

[0114] As already explained above (see also [Fig.9]), an annular position magnet 114 can also be implemented to capture the position of the rotor; between the power magnets (whose various functions have already been explained above) and the position magnet 114, a spacer 119 made of plastic material and possibly one or more shielding plates 118 can be present so that the position signal of the annular magnet 114, detected by a sensor 135, is not disturbed.

[0115] As can be understood from the above description, an intermediate element, for example an intermediate plate 222, can separate the housing into 2 parts:

[0116] - a first part or a first compartment (located above the plate 222 on the [Fig.9]) which includes the motor, with its rotor 102 and its stator 104, as well as the cards 120, 130 (PCB);

[0117] - and a 2nd part or a 2nd compartment (located below plate 222 on the [Fig.9]) which includes most of the elements of the reducer, including the output stage and the wheel or pinion 206, and from which the output shaft protrudes to be coupled to a device to be actuated, for example a valve.

[0118] The intermediate plate 222 provides housing for the bearings of the various shafts or axes. This saves space, since the axes in question do not need to be extended to the opposite wall to be guided in rotation.

[0119] If one end of each axis were not retained in the intermediate plate, it would be impossible, except by significantly increasing the overall size of the device, to have any axis retention in the upper or lower wall of the housing. This is because various elements of the device are located above or below these axes, preventing such retention in the upper or lower wall.

[0120] As can be seen in [Fig. 9], the return means 230 (see [Fig. 1B] and the description already given above), for example a torsion spring, allow the element 206 to return to its initial position when it has been driven in rotation by the motor or the gearbox from that initial position; such a return function can be very useful, particularly in the event of a power failure. The means 230 can therefore act as a safety element. This element operates over the entire angular range permitted by the device. It can be attached on one side to the wheel or pinion 206, and on the other side to the housing 220.

[0121] The return means 230 can be calibrated to match the performance of each valve that can be associated with it (for example, to set a maximum angular range, and / or a resisting torque, and / or a return time, etc.). This calibration is achieved using the various holes or bores 236 present on the output shaft wheel, which, depending on the choice of bore 236, allow the return means to be pre-stressed to a greater or lesser degree.

[0122] Consequently, these return means can be adapted to the specific needs of the application. In particular, these return means are preferably adapted to provide sufficient torque to return the component (e.g., a valve) coupled to the actuator to its initial position, for example, in the event of a power failure or a switch to degraded mode, and this, for example, over the entire angular travel allowed by the actuator. For example, if a greater torque is required to return the actuated component, the position of the end of the return means 230 can be changed to increase their preload and thus provide a greater return torque. This allows for a single type of return means, for example, a single type of spring, to be used for a wide variety of components, for example, valves.For example, the actuator can be mechanically defined to cover a larger angle than the useful angle of the rotating part to be actuated; the return means are then functional over the larger angle.

[0123] According to one embodiment, 18 holes equidistant from each other at 20° were made to define as many possible positions for one end of the retrieval means.

[0124] According to a particular embodiment, the element (wheel or pinion, for example according to the invention) 206 can mesh with the pinion 204p over a limited angular sector, for example between 90° and 200°, for example still approximately 110°, allowing rotation of the output shaft 208 over this same limited angular range. This angular range can also be limited by the presence of one or more stops 225, 227, made in the housing. To this end, the element 206 preferably comprises:

[0125] - a first angular sector 206a which has a first radius (measured with respect to the center of wheel rotation) or diameter, and which has gear teeth,

[0126] - a 2nd angular sector 206b which has a 2nd radius or diameter smaller than the 1st radius (measured relative to the center of rotation of the wheel) or diameter, and which does not have gear teeth; this aspect allows for space saving.

[0127] Thus, the transition zones 209 (figures 9A and 9C) between the first angular sector 206a and the second angular sector form shoulders which will be able to rest against the stop(s) 225, 227.

[0128] It is understood that the arrangement of the positioning holes of one end of the return means at a distance from the center of rotation of the wheel which is less than that of the 2nd angular sector 206b allows to have such positioning holes over 360°.

[0129] The output shaft 208 can also use a fit with the wheel 206 having one or more flats, as already explained above, to prevent rotation of either of these two elements relative to the other. This output shaft 208 can be meshed between the intermediate plate 222 and the lower wall 2202 of the housing and also uses bearings.

[0130] At the inner end 2082 of the shaft 208, on the side of the plate 130, a magnetic element, for example a magnetized disk, 214 enables a magnetic sensor 133 (for example a Hall effect sensor) to detect the position of the output shaft 208 and thus, closed-loop operation of the device can be achieved. In this way, the desired position of the shaft or the actuator output can be controlled and maintained, the means 134 implementing a closed-loop system monitoring, preferably continuously, the actual position of the actuator and making adjustments to ensure that it remains as close as possible to the desired position.

[0131] Finally, a dynamic seal 230 can be disposed in the wall 2202 of the housing to ensure the sealing of the assembly.

[0132] Furthermore, connector 136 passes through a wall of the housing to allow access from outside of it.

[0133] As can be understood from the explanations above, a housing 220 that can be implemented according to the present invention may comprise an upper part (upper housing) and a lower part (lower housing). This housing may have a guiding function, since bearings and / or components can be housed there. For example, as illustrated in Figures IC and 1D, positioning and / or centering pins 306 can be housed there, as explained above, ensuring the correct positioning of the rotating elements and the intermediate plate 222, which can have one or more of the functions already explained above, in particular housing the end bearing(s) of the shafts or axles. These correct positionings also ensure the desired distance between the axles and the required clearances for them.

[0134] Threaded holes 308 (see, for example, [Fig. 1A]) may be provided in the various parts of the housing to allow the attachment of these positioning and / or centering elements, as well as the attachment of element 222 and / or one or more cards 120, 130 and / or the stator. Threaded holes 302, 304 (Figures IA, IC, 1D) allow the two parts of the housing to be joined and fixed to each other.

[0135] A dynamic seal is also inserted, providing internal / external sealing.

[0136] An electric motor described within the scope of the present invention can be used with a gearbox other than the one just described. And the output wheel or pinion 206 can be of the type described above, or have teeth all around its circumference.

Claims

Demands

1. An actuator comprising, in a housing (220), an electric motor comprising: - a stator (104), comprising a plurality of coils (117), - a rotor (102) comprising an output shaft (112); - an output shaft (208) of the actuator, this output shaft being provided with a gear wheel (206), having teeth on only a part (206a) of its periphery, and a plurality of bores (236) or holes arranged at equal distances from the center of rotation of the wheel, defining positions of one end of a means for returning the gear wheel (230), one end of this means for returning the gear wheel (230) being fixed to the gear wheel and the other end being fixed to the housing.

2. Actuator according to claim 1, the bores or holes of the gear wheel being arranged at equal distances from the center of rotation of the wheel.

3. Actuator according to either of claims 1 or 2, the bores or holes of the gear wheel being equidistant from each other.

4. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, said return means (230) comprising a spring having one end fixed in one of the holes (236) of said plurality of holes.

5. Actuator according to claim 4, said spring being a torsion spring.

6. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the gear wheel having teeth only on an angular sector of its periphery between 50° and 200°, for example between 90° and 150°, the rest of the periphery being smooth.

7. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the other part (206b) of the periphery of the gear wheel, which does not have teeth, having a radius smaller than that of the part (206a) which has the gear teeth.

8. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the plurality of bores (236) or holes of the gear wheel being distributed over 360°.

9. Actuator according to claims 7 and 8, the plurality of bores (236) or holes in the gear wheel being distributed at a distance of the center of rotation of the wheel which is less than the radius of the other part (206b) of the periphery of the wheel.

10. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a shaft (208) having a 1st bearing (208b) disposed on a 1st side of the gear wheel and a 2nd bearing (208a) disposed on a 2nd side of the gear wheel.

11. Actuator according to claim 10, the 1st bearing (208b) being disposed inside a volume delimited by said return means (230).

12. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising at least one motor control circuit (130).

13. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising transmission means or a reducer (200), for transmitting the motion of the output shaft (112) of the motor, these means or this reducer comprising the output shaft (208) of the actuator.

14. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 13, the output shaft (208) of the actuator being guided by a 1st bearing (208b) and a 2nd bearing (208a), which is disposed in a housing made in a part of the casing.

15. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising an element (222), for example a plate, intermediate, disposed between the output shaft (208) and the electric motor.

16. Actuator according to claims 14 and 15, the 1st bearing (208b) being disposed in the intermediate element (222), disposed between the output shaft (208) and the electric motor.

17. Actuator according to claims 15 or 16, said reducer comprising an intermediate stage (204, 204p) between the output shaft (112) of the motor and the output shaft of the actuator, this intermediate stage comprising a shaft guided by a 1st bearing and by a 2nd bearing, which is disposed in said intermediate element.

18. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 17, further comprising at least one stop (225, 227) for limiting the stroke of the gear wheel (206) of the output shaft (112).

19. Actuator according to claim 18, further comprising a damping element (207) between the wheel and said stop.

20. Fluid or cooling distribution system, for example of a vehicle, comprising a plurality of valves, each valve being actuated by an actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 19, at least 2 valves having different maximum flow rates, one end of the return means of one of these 2 valves being positioned in a different hole from the other of these 2 valves.

21. Vehicle, comprising a thermal or electric engine, further comprising a fluid distribution or cooling system according to claim 20.

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