Actuator device and vehicle assembly comprising such an actuator device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an actuator device (10) for fixing to a unit (22), the actuator device (10) comprising an electromagnetic actuator (12) having at least one electric coil (14) and an armature (16) slidably supported between a first position and a second position within the coil (14), the armature (16) being movable from the first position to the second position by energization of the electric coil (14), a control device (18) for controlling the electromagnetic actuator (12), and a fixing mechanism (20) for fixing the electromagnetic actuator (12) to the unit (22), the control device (18) being arranged in the fixing mechanism (20). Additionally, the present invention relates to a vehicle assembly including at least such an actuator device (10) and a unit (22).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an actuator device for fixing to a unit having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle assembly having the features of claim 10.

Background Art

[0002] Electromagnetic actuators can be used for controlling various functions. Such actuators are known, for example, from EP1844378B1. Electromagnetic actuators generally have an electromagnet connected to a control device. The control device can be a voltage supply for the coil of the electromagnet. The control device is generally mounted in the immediate vicinity of the electromagnet, because thereby a short connection from the electromagnet to the control device can be ensured and a compact structural form can be achieved.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] To achieve the greatest possible adjustment force of the actuator, the highest possible adjustment current or a correspondingly high voltage must be provided. This causes heating of the control device and the electromagnet.

[0004] In this regard, it is a disadvantage that the control device and the electromagnet heat each other and can exceed the maximum allowable temperature. To avoid exceeding the maximum temperature, the electromagnet is operated with a lower adjustment current or a lower voltage, which results in a smaller adjustment force of the actuator and thus a performance degradation.

[0005] According to the present invention, an actuator device for fixing to a unit is proposed. The actuator device includes an electromagnetic actuator having at least one electric coil (electromagnet) and an armature slidably supported in the coil between a first position and a second position (axially). The armature can be formed at least partially magnetically or ferromagnetic. The armature is movable between the first position and the second position, in particular from the first position to the second position, by energization of the electric coil, in particular based on the magnetic interaction between the energized coil and the armature.

[0006] The actuator device includes control means for controlling the electromagnetic actuator, in particular for energizing the electric coil (or electromagnet). The control means can be formed as an "Electronic Control Unit" (ECU) or as an "Electronic Control Modul" (ECM).

[0007] The actuator device has a fixing mechanism for fixing the electromagnetic actuator to the unit, and the control means is arranged (directly or indirectly) in the fixing mechanism. The unit can be formed as a motor or a transmission. The unit is, in particular, a heat sink for the actuator. In other words, the heat of the actuator device can be released to the unit or discharged through the unit. Thereby, the heat generated by the control means can flow towards the unit through the fixing mechanism. In particular in this regard, it is prevented that the heat generated by the control means flows in the direction of the coil of the actuator and heats the coil, or vice versa. In other words, the heat transport between the coil and the control means is prevented or at least minimized.

[0008] The actuator can be formed as a (pure) electromagnet, as an electromagnetically actuated slide gate valve, or as an electromagnetically actuated poppet valve. The control device, the coil, and / or the actuator can each be encapsulated, in particular resin encapsulated. The control device can have at least three terminals for connection to the vehicle assembly and at least two terminals for connection to the actuator.

[0009] According to one variant, the fixing mechanism can be formed in particular as a metal spring clip. The spring clip can have regions of different (sheet metal) thicknesses and / or regions of different materials. Thereby, a fixing mechanism with simple means can be realized.

[0010] According to one variant, the spring clip can have at least one spring arm, in particular two spring arms, for contacting the actuator. The spring clip can contact the actuator exclusively by one or more spring arms. In particular, the spring clip does not contact the actuator other than by the spring arms. One or more spring arms can be formed as independent parts and welded or riveted to the spring clip. Instead, the spring clip can be formed integrally as a whole. The spring clip can be punched from a single sheet of sheet metal or cut using, for example, a laser, and / or shaped into the shape of the spring clip by deformation. One or more spring arms can have a (sheet metal) thickness different from that of the rest of the spring clip and / or be formed from a different material. That is, for example, a thin and high-strength sheet metal can be used for one or more spring arms (better spring characteristics), and a thicker sheet metal can be used for the rest of the spring clip, which ensures better heat conduction.

[0011] According to one deformation form, the fixing mechanism can have a contact surface, and the actuator can contact the actuator exclusively at the contact surface. The contact surface can be formed continuously or can be formed from individual, multiple, especially two partial surfaces. The contact surface can be less than 10 mm 2 The contact surface can be present on one or more spring arms respectively. The fixing mechanism can contact the actuator at an end that does not face the unit (axial end), especially in a point-like manner. In particular, the fixing mechanism contacts the actuator exclusively at the contact surface. In particular, the fixing mechanism does not contact the actuator except at the contact surface. With a relatively small contact surface, it can be ensured that the heat transfer between the fixing mechanism and the actuator is sufficiently minimized.

[0012] According to one deformation form, the fixing mechanism and the control device can be formed as an assembly. The control device can be pre-attached on the fixing mechanism. The fixing mechanism can be joined to the control device by adhesive bonding, screw bonding, and / or rivet bonding, especially in a form-locking and / or force-locking manner. Thereby, the handling of the control device and the fixing mechanism (as an assembly or integrally formed) can be simplified.

[0013] According to one deformation form, the control device (or the assembly consisting of the control device and the fixing mechanism) can be connected to the actuator by a removable connection part, especially by an engagement connection part, a clip connection part, and / or a plug connection part (mechanically and / or electrically). In particular, the control device contacts the actuator exclusively via a removable connection part. In other words, the control device preferably does not contact the actuator except via the removable connection part. Thereby, the heat transfer between the control device and the actuator can be minimized.

[0014] According to one deformation form, a gap and / or a heat insulating medium can be arranged between the control device and the coil. Thereby, the heat transfer from the control device to the coil or from the coil to the control device is blocked or at least further reduced.

[0015] According to one deformation form, the fixing mechanism may have at least one screw-fastening piece (or screw-fastening ear part), especially two screw-fastening pieces (or screw-fastening ear parts), for fixing the unit by at least one screw, especially two screws. Thereby, the fixing mechanism (and thus the control device) and the actuator can be easily and surely fixed to the unit. In particular, the (axial) end of the actuator facing the unit and / or one screw-fastening piece (or a plurality of screw-fastening pieces) is in contact with the unit without a gap. Thereby, the heat transfer from the actuator to the unit and / or the heat transfer from the fixing mechanism (and thus from the control device) to the unit can be maximized.

[0016] According to one deformation form, the control device may have a side facing the coil and having a contact surface. The control device can be in contact with the fixing mechanism, especially without a gap, by the contact surface. The contact surface can be a majority, especially the whole, of the side of the control device facing the coil. Thereby, the heat transfer from the control device to the fixing mechanism can be maximized. In other words, the heat generated by the control device can be discharged (in the unit direction) through the fixing mechanism.

[0017] According to the present invention, a vehicle assembly including at least one unit and at least one actuator device based on the above description is proposed. The actuator device can be fixed to the unit, especially by screw fixation.

[0018] Regarding the advantages achievable thereby, reference may be made to the description thereof with respect to the actuator device. In a further form of the vehicle assembly, the measures described in connection with the actuator device and / or the measures further described below may be useful.

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the end face and side view of the actuator device 10, and both of these figures are oriented orthogonally to each other. The actuator device 10 has an electromagnetic actuator 12. The actuator 12 includes an electric coil 14 and an armature 16 slidably supported between a first position and a second position within the coil 14, and this armature 16 can move from the first position to the second position by energization of the electric coil 14 (see FIG. 4).

[0022] The actuator device 10 has a control device 18 for controlling the actuator 12 and energizing the electric coil 14. The actuator device 10 further has a fixing mechanism 20 for fixing the actuator 12 to the unit 22 (see FIG. 3).

[0023] Here, the fixing mechanism 20 is formed in the form of a metal spring clip 24. The spring clip 24 has two spring arms 26 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The spring clip 24 has a contact surface 28, and at this contact surface 28, the spring clip 24 contacts the actuator 12. Here, the contact surface 28 is formed in the form of two partial regions (one partial region for each spring arm 26) spatially separated from each other in both spring arms 26.

[0024] The control device 18 is connected to the actuator 12 by a removable connection part 30. The control device 18 has a side 38 facing the coil 14 and having a contact surface 40. The control device 18 is disposed on the spring clip 24 and is in contact with the spring clip 24 without a gap at the contact surface 40.

[0025] A gap 32 is disposed between the spring clip 24 (and thus the control device 18) and the actuator 12 (and thus the coil 14). The spring clip 24 has two screwing pieces 34 here, and the screwing pieces 34 are each used to be fixed to the unit 22 with screws 36 (see FIGS. 1 and 3).

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the actuator device 10 and the unit 22 based on FIG. 2. The actuator device 10 is screwed to the unit 22 with two screws 36. In this regard, the spring arms 26 of the spring clip 24 press the actuator 12 against the unit 22, so that the actuator 12 abuts against (or contacts without a gap) the unit 22 at the end facing the unit 22 or the end face facing the unit 22. The unit 22 is only schematically suggested in FIG. 3. The unit 22 is a heat sink for the actuator device 10. In FIG. 3, a plurality of heat transfer paths are indicated by arrows.

[0027] The heat generated by the control device 18 is released to the spring clip 24 through the contact surface 40. The heat then flows into the unit 22 through the spring clip 24 and the screwing pieces 34 of the spring clip 24. This heat transfer path is suggested by an arrow in FIG. 3.

[0028] The heat generated by the coil 14 of the actuator 12 is directly released to the unit 22 (through the contact surface between the actuator 12 and the unit 22). This heat transfer path is suggested by an arrow in FIG. 3.

[0029] As can be seen from the heat transport path suggested by the arrow, heat transport between the control device 18 and the actuator 12 (for example, the coil 14 of the actuator 12) is blocked or at least reduced.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the actuator device 10 based on FIG. 2. The actuator 12 has a hydraulic region 42 and an electromagnetic region 44. The hydraulic region 42 of the actuator 12 includes a valve housing 46, in which a piston valve 48 is slidably supported. The piston valve 48 is preloaded in the direction of the electromagnetic region 44 of the actuator 12 (to the right in FIG. 4) by a return spring 50 supported in a spring seat 52 of the valve housing 46.

[0031] The hydraulic region 42 and the electromagnetic region 44 of the actuator 12 are sealed by two O-rings 54. The electromagnetic region 44 of the actuator 12 includes a coil 14, which is embedded in a bobbin 56 and arranged in a magnet housing 58. The magnet housing 58 is here formed in a cylindrical shape and has a magnetic flux disk 60 together with a magnetic core 62 at its first axial end (facing the hydraulic region 42). The magnet housing 58 has a magnetic disk 64 at its second axial end, which is opposite to the first axial end.

[0032] A magnetic pole tube 66 is arranged in the electromagnetic region 44 of the actuator 12, and the magnetic pole tube 66 is arranged in the coil 14, the magnetic disk 64, and the magnetic flux disk 60. A magnetic core 62 is arranged in the magnetic pole tube 66. An armature 16 is further slidably supported in the magnetic pole tube 66. A support film 68 is arranged between the armature 16 and the magnetic pole tube 66. The armature 16 is connected to the (preloaded) piston valve 48 in the hydraulic region 42 of the actuator 12 by an operating pin 70.

[0033] The return spring 50 pushes the piston valve 48 to the right in FIG. 4. As a result, the armature 16 is similarly pushed to the right in FIG. 4 via the actuating pin 70 (the first position of the armature 16). When the coil 14 is energized here, the armature 16 moves to the left in FIG. 4 (against the spring force of the return spring 50) based on magnetic interaction (the second position of the armature 16). When the energization of the coil 14 is interrupted (deactivated), the force that moves the armature to the second position based on magnetic interaction does not occur, and thus the armature 16 moves back to the first position by the return spring 50.

[0034] The actuator 12 has a plurality of first contact pins 72, and the control device 18 has a plurality of second contact pins 74. The first contact pins 72 and the second contact pins 74 are electrically connected to each other at the removable connection part 30 of the actuator device 10. The control device 18 has a printed circuit board 76, and a plurality of electronic components 78 and second contact pins 74 are arranged on the printed circuit board 76. The control device 18 has a plurality of third contact pins 80, and the third contact pins 80 are arranged on the printed circuit board 76 and protrude into the plug connection part 82.

[0035] Via the plug connection part 82 and the third contact pins 80, a battery voltage and a control signal (BUS signal) can be sent to the control device 18. Via the second contact pins 74 and the first contact pins 72, a voltage (or regulated current) for energizing the coil 14 can be discharged to the actuator 12.

Claims

1. An actuator device (10) for fixing to a unit (22), comprising: - An electromagnetic actuator (12) having at least one electric coil (14) and an armature (16) slidably supported between a first position and a second position within the coil (14), the armature (16) being movable from the first position to the second position by energization of the electric coil (14), - Control means (18) for controlling the electromagnetic actuator (12), in particular for energizing the electric coil (14), and - Fixing means (20) for fixing the electromagnetic actuator (12) to the unit (22), wherein the control means (18) is arranged in the fixing means (20). Actuator device (10).

2. The actuator device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing means (20) is formed, in particular, as a metal spring clip (24).

3. The actuator device according to claim 2, characterized in that the spring clip (24) has at least one spring arm (26), in particular two spring arms (26), for contacting the actuator (12).

4. The fixing mechanism (20) has a contact surface (28), and the actuator (12) contacts especially exclusively at the contact surface (28), and the contact surface (28) is 10 mm ２ The actuator device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is less than that.

5. The actuator device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fixing means (20) and the control means (18) are formed as an assembly.

6. The actuator device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control means (18) is connected to the actuator (12) by a removable connection (30), in particular an engagement connection, a clip connection, and / or a plug connection.

7. The actuator device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a gap (32) and / or a heat insulating medium is arranged between the control means (18) and the coil (14).

8. The actuator device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fixing mechanism (20) has at least one screw-fastening piece (34), in particular two screw-fastening pieces (34), for fixing the unit (22) by means of at least one screw (36), in particular two screws (36).

9. The actuator device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control device (18) has a side (38) facing the coil (14) and having a contact surface (40), and the control device (18) preferably contacts the fixing mechanism (20) without a gap by means of the contact surface (40), in particular the contact surface (40) forming the majority, in particular the whole, of the side (38) of the control device (18) facing the coil (14).

10. A vehicle assembly comprising at least one unit (22) and at least one actuator device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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