Actuator

Abstract

This actuator provides a mechanism that prevents solenoid damage due to crimping loads when assembling the frame to the solenoid, and improves ease of assembly by allowing adjustment of the gap between the solenoid and the frame without the need for spacers. [Solution] In the actuator 100, the hook portion 122 has a stepped tab 126 on the sides 130a and 130b of the narrow portion 130 which narrows in width and slopes toward the solenoid 102 from the wide portion 132, and a stepped hole 128 on the sides 138a and 138b of the narrow portion 138 which narrows in width and slopes toward the wide portion 136. The crimping portion 124 has bent claws 142a and 142b which are inserted into the fitting holes 140a and 140b of the cover plate 106 and crimped in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the solenoid, and non-bent claws 144a and 144b adjacent to the bent claws which widen in width toward the base and slope, and the sides 148a and 148b of the fitting hole which abut the non-bent claws widen in width toward the solenoid and slope toward the solenoid.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an actuator including a frame that houses a solenoid.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicles are equipped with various actuators, such as a clutch actuator that operates a clutch. An actuator includes a solenoid serving as a drive source and a frame having a cross-sectional channel shape that houses the solenoid, and the frame is assembled to the solenoid by caulking a cover plate to an opening of the frame.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method of assembling a frame of a solenoid that constitutes a frame for forming a magnetic circuit by caulking a flat end plate to a frame body. The frame body has an end plate portion corresponding to one end face of a coil of the solenoid and a side plate portion corresponding to an outer peripheral surface of the coil. The flat end plate is a cover plate corresponding to the other end face of the coil of the solenoid.

[0004] A convex portion is formed at an edge of the side plate portion of the frame body. A concave portion into which the convex portion of the side plate portion is fitted is formed at a side edge of the flat end plate. Further, an engaging surface that is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the coil is formed on an inner surface of the convex portion of the side plate portion corresponding to the inner surface of the concave portion of the flat end plate.

[0005] Accordingly, in the frame assembling method of Patent Document 1, with the flat end plate positioned on the frame body and the convex portion fitted into the concave portion, the convex portion is bent obliquely so as to be in close contact with the engaging surface of the concave portion by pressing from the outer surface side thereof, and caulked. The flat end plate is fixed to the frame body by the convex portion engaging with the engaging surface.

[0006] Patent Document 2 describes a solenoid having a frame-shaped yoke. The yoke has a first yoke member with an opening and a second yoke member with a locking portion. In this solenoid, the second yoke member is locked to the first yoke member by pushing the second yoke member between the bottom plate portion and the top plate portion of the first yoke member. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-17309 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-186237 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] In the solenoid frame assembly method described in Patent Document 1, the direction in which the protrusions of the side plates of the frame body are crimped to the engagement surface of the recesses of the flat end plates is the same as the direction in which the protrusions are pressed. Therefore, when the protrusions are crimped, a load is applied to the solenoid coil, which may cause the coil to break.

[0009] In the solenoid described in Patent Document 2, the length dimensions of the coil, which is a component enclosed in the yoke, and the length dimensions of the yoke cannot be adjusted. Therefore, due to dimensional tolerances of the sheet metal, gaps may occur between the coil and the yoke, or assembly may become impossible. As a result, spacers or other components are required during assembly, making the assembly process time-consuming.

[0010] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide an actuator that prevents solenoid damage due to crimping load when assembling the frame to the solenoid, and further improves ease of assembly by adjusting the gap between the solenoid and the frame without the need for spacers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the actuator according to the present invention is an actuator comprising a solenoid, a frame with a channel-shaped cross-section enclosing the solenoid, and a cover plate crimped to an opening in the frame, wherein the actuator has a hook portion connecting one side plate of the frame to the cover plate and a crimping portion connecting the other side plate of the frame to the cover plate, the hook portion is a stepped tab formed on one side plate of the frame and includes a narrow portion continuous with the one side plate and a wide portion formed at the tip of the narrow portion, the side of the narrow portion being inclined such that the width narrows from the wide portion toward the solenoid, and a stepped hole formed in the cover plate, the width of the stepped tab The crimping portion includes a wide portion through which the part passes and a narrow portion through which the narrow portion of the stepped tab passes, with the wide portion positioned on the solenoid side, and the side edge of the narrow portion having a stepped hole that is inclined so as to become narrower as it moves away from the wide portion, and the crimping portion has a fitting hole formed in the other side plate of the frame, a bent claw formed in the cover plate that is inserted into the fitting hole and crimped in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the solenoid, and a non-bent claw formed in the cover plate adjacent to the bent claw and inserted into the fitting hole, which is inclined so as to become wider towards the base, and the side of the fitting hole that abuts the non-bent claw is inclined so as to become wider as it moves towards the solenoid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an actuator that prevents the solenoid from being damaged by the load from crimping when assembling the frame to the solenoid, and further improves ease of assembly by adjusting the gap between the solenoid and the frame without the need for a spacer. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This figure illustrates an actuator in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This diagram illustrates the frame of the actuator shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3]This diagram illustrates the cover plate of the actuator shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the procedure for assembling the frame to the solenoid and then temporarily attaching the cover plate. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the assembly procedure for the actuator, following Figure 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values ​​shown in these embodiments are merely examples to facilitate understanding of the invention and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the illustrations.

[0015] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an actuator 100 in an embodiment of the present invention. The actuator 100 comprises a solenoid 102 which serves as a drive source, a frame 104, and a cover plate 106.

[0016] The frame 104 is a channel-shaped member in cross-section, comprising one side plate 108 and the other side plate 110 spaced apart from each other, and a connecting plate 112 (front plate) that connects these side plates 108 and 110. The connecting plate 112 has a through hole 116 through which the shaft 114 of the solenoid 102 shown in Figure 1(b) passes. As shown in Figure 1(a), a connector 118 for connecting to a cable or the like is located on the side of the solenoid 102.

[0017] Furthermore, the channel-shaped frame 104 has an open side facing the connecting plate 112, forming an opening 120. The frame 104 encloses the solenoid 102 with side plates 108, 110 and the connecting plate 112, and a cover plate 106 (back plate) is crimped to the opening 120 (described later).

[0018] Furthermore, the actuator 100 includes a hooking portion 122 and a caulking portion 124. The hooking portion 122 connects one side plate 108 of the frame 104 and the cover plate 106. The caulking portion 124 connects the other side plate 110 of the frame 104 and the cover plate 106. Hereinafter, the configurations of the hooking portion 122 and the caulking portion 124 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the frame 104 of the actuator 100 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2(a) is a view corresponding to the frame 104 in FIG. 1(a). FIGS. 2(b) and 2(c) are top views and bottom views of the frame 104 in FIG. 2(a). FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the cover plate 106 of the actuator 100 in FIG. 1.

[0020] The hooking portion 122 is composed of a stepped tab 126 shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(c) and a stepped hole 128 shown in FIG. 3. The stepped tab 126 is formed on one side plate 108 of the frame 104 (the side plate 108 on the hooking portion 122 side of the frame 104).

[0021] The stepped tab 126 of the hooking portion 122 includes a narrow portion 130 and a wide portion 132 shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(c). The narrow portion 130 is a portion continuous with one side plate 108 on the hooking portion 122 side of the frame 104. The wide portion 132 is a portion formed at the tip 134 of the narrow portion 130 shown in FIG. 2(c), and has a width larger than that of the narrow portion 130.

[0022] Also, the side edges 130a and 130b of the narrow portion 130 are inclined so that the width becomes narrower as they go from the wide portion 132 toward the solenoid 102 (see FIG. 1(a)) (here, as they approach the connecting plate 112) as shown in FIG. 2(c).

[0023] The stepped hole 128 of the hooking portion 122 is formed in the cover plate 106 as shown in FIG. 3. The stepped hole 128 includes a wide portion 136 and a narrow portion 138. The wide portion 136 is a portion through which the wide portion 132 of the stepped tab 126 passes, and is arranged on the solenoid 102 (see FIG. 1(a)) side (here, the upper side) of the narrow portion 138.

[0024] The narrow portion 138 of the stepped hole 128 is the part through which the narrow portion 130 of the stepped tab 126 passes, and is narrower than the wide portion 136. Furthermore, the sides 138a and 138b of the narrow portion 138 are inclined so that they become narrower the further they are from the wide portion 136 (in this case, towards the bottom), as shown in Figure 3(b).

[0025] The crimped portion 124 consists of a pair of fitting holes 140a and 140b shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b), and a pair of bent claws 142a and 142b and non-bent claws 144a and 144b shown in Figure 3. The fitting holes 140a and 140b are formed in the other side plate 110 of the frame 104 (the side plate 110 of the frame 104 on the side of the crimped portion 124).

[0026] The bent claws 142a and 142b are claws formed on the cover plate 106 and are inserted into the fitting holes 140a and 140b and crimped in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the solenoid 102 (the direction in which the shaft axis 114 of the solenoid 102 shown in Figure 1(b) extends). Figure 3(a) shows the cover plate 106 before the bent claws 142a and 142b are crimped. Figure 3(b) is a front view of the cover plate 106 shown in Figure 3(a).

[0027] The non-bent claws 144a and 144b are claws formed on the cover plate 106 and are inserted into the fitting holes 140a and 140b adjacent to the bent claws 142a and 142b. The opposing sides 146a and 146b of the non-bent claws 144a and 144b are inclined such that the width of the non-bent claws 144a and 144b widens towards the base.

[0028] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2(b), of the fitting holes 140a and 140b, the sides 148a and 148b that abut against the sides 146a and 146b of the non-bent claws 144a and 144b are inclined such that the width of the fitting holes 140a and 140b increases as it approaches the solenoid 102 (see Figure 1(a)) (in this case, as it approaches the connecting plate 112).

[0029] The assembly procedure for the actuator 100 shown in Figure 1 will be described below with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the procedure for attaching the frame 104 to the solenoid 102 and temporarily assembling the cover plate 106. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the assembly procedure for the actuator 100 following Figure 4.

[0030] First, as shown in Figure 4(a), the solenoid 102 is passed through the opening 120 of the channel-shaped frame 104, and the solenoid 102 is enclosed between the side plates 108 and 110. At this time, the shaft 114 of the solenoid 102 is passed through the through hole 116 of the connecting plate 112 of the frame 104 shown in Figure 1(b). Furthermore, the solenoid 102 is brought into contact with the bent portions 150 and 152 of the side plates 108 and 110 of the frame 104, respectively, toward the solenoid 102, thereby stabilizing the vertical position of the solenoid 102.

[0031] Next, as shown by arrow A in Figure 4(b), at the hook portion 122, the wide portion 132 of the stepped tab 126 of the side plate 108 of the frame 104 is passed through the wide portion 136 of the stepped hole 128 of the cover plate 106.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4(c), the narrow portion 130 of the stepped tab 126 is passed through the narrow portion 138 of the stepped hole 128 to prevent the cover plate 106 from coming off, and the cover plate 106 is hooked onto the side plate 108 of the frame 104.

[0033] Then, as shown by arrow B in Figure 4(c), the bent claws 142a, 142b and non-bent claws 144a, 144b of the cover plate 106 are inserted into the fitting holes 140a, 140b of the side plate 110 of the frame 104, respectively, at the crimping portion 124. In this way, the cover plate 106 can be temporarily assembled to the frame 104 which contains the solenoid 102.

[0034] Next, as shown in Figure 5(a), the frame 104 with the cover plate 106 temporarily assembled is placed on a receiving surface 154 such as a workbench with the side plate 108 on the hook portion 122 side facing downwards. Then, as shown by arrow C, the side plate 110 on the crimping portion 124 side of the frame 104 is pressed downwards. As a result, the cover plate 106 receives an upward force from the receiving surface 154 (see arrow D), and the cover plate 106 moves upward as shown by arrow E.

[0035] Here, in the hook portion 124, as shown in Figure 3(b), the sides 138a and 138b of the narrow portion 138 of the stepped hole 128 of the cover plate 106 are inclined such that they become narrower as they move away from the wide portion 136. Also, as shown in Figure 2(c), the sides 130a and 130b of the narrow portion 130 of the stepped tab 126 are inclined such that they become narrower as they move from the wide portion 132 towards the solenoid 102.

[0036] Therefore, as shown by arrow E in Figure 5(a), when the cover plate 106 moves upward, the cover plate 106 slides and is pulled in toward the solenoid 102 (see arrow F) so that the inclined sides 138a and 138b of the narrow portion 138 of the stepped hole 128 in the cover plate 106 remain in contact with the inclined sides 130a and 130b of the narrow portion 130 of the stepped tab 126 in the frame 104.

[0037] Furthermore, in the crimped portion 124, as shown in Figure 2(b), the edges 148a and 148b of the fitting holes 140a and 140b that abut against the non-bent claws 144a and 144b of the cover plate 106 are inclined such that the width of the fitting holes 140a and 140b increases towards the solenoid 102. Also, as shown in Figure 3(b), the side edges 146a and 146b of the non-bent claws 144a and 144b are inclined such that the width of the non-bent claws 144a and 144b increases towards the base.

[0038] Therefore, as shown by arrow E in Figure 5(a), when the cover plate 106 moves upward, the width of the inclined non-bent claws 144a and 144b of the cover plate 106 increases. As a result, the cover plate 106 slides and is pulled in toward the solenoid 102 (see arrow G) so that the non-bent claws 144a and 144b continue to contact the inclined edges 148a and 148b of the fitting holes 140a and 140b in the frame 104.

[0039] Therefore, in the actuator 100, when assembling the frame 104 to the solenoid 102, the position can be adjusted until there is no gap between the solenoid 102 enclosed in the frame 104 and the cover plate 106, as shown in Figure 5(a). As a result, a spacer is not required, and assembly can be improved.

[0040] Then, at a position where there is no gap between the solenoid 102 enclosed in the frame 104 and the cover plate 106, the crimping portion 124 crimps the bent claws 142a and 142b of the cover plate 106, which are inserted into the fitting holes 140a and 140b of the side plate 110 of the frame 104, as shown in Figure 5(b) (see arrows Ha and Hb).

[0041] In this way, the cover plate 106 is crimped to the opening 120 of the frame 104, allowing the solenoid 102 to be assembled to the frame 104. Therefore, in the actuator 100, the crimping process is completed in one step, improving ease of assembly.

[0042] Furthermore, the direction in which the bent claws 142a and 142b of the cover plate 106 are crimped is perpendicular to the axial direction of the solenoid 102. Therefore, the load from the crimping is not applied to the solenoid 102, and the solenoid 102 will not be damaged.

[0043] Furthermore, even if the crimping loosens, the side plates 108 and 110 of the frame 104 and the cover plate 106 are connected by the hook portion 122 and the crimped portion 124, respectively, so the solenoid 102 will not fall off the frame 104, thus ensuring safety.

[0044] Therefore, with the actuator 100, the solenoid 102 will not be damaged by the load from crimping when the frame 104 is assembled to the solenoid 102, and furthermore, the gap between the solenoid 102 and the frame 104 can be adjusted without spacers, improving ease of assembly.

[0045] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these examples. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these will naturally also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0046] The present invention can be used as an actuator comprising a frame that encloses a solenoid. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 100…Actuator, 102…Solenoid, 104…Frame, 106…Cover plate, 108, 110…Side plate of frame, 112…Connecting plate of frame, 114…Shaft, 116…Through hole in connecting plate, 118…Solenoid connector, 120…Opening of frame, 122…Hooking part, 124…Crimping part, 126…Stepped tab, 128…Stepped hole, 130…Narrow part of stepped tab, 130a, 130b… 132...Side edge of the narrow section, 134...Wide section of the stepped tab, 136...Tip of the narrow section, 138...Wide section of the stepped hole, 138...Narrow section of the stepped hole, 138a, 138b...Side edges of the narrow section, 140a, 140b...Fitting holes, 142a, 142b...Bent claws, 144a, 144b...Non-bent claws, 146a, 146b...Side edges of the non-bent claws, 148a, 148b...Edges of the fitting holes, 150, 152...One side of the frame's side plate, 154...Receiving surface

Claims

[Claim 1] Solenoid and, A frame with a cross-sectional channel shape enclosing the solenoid, An actuator comprising a cover plate that is crimped to the opening of the frame, A hook portion connecting one side plate of the frame and the cover plate, The frame has a crimping portion that connects the other side plate of the frame to the cover plate, The aforementioned hook portion is A stepped tab formed on one side plate of the frame, comprising a narrow portion continuous with the side plate and a wide portion formed at the tip of the narrow portion, wherein the side edge of the narrow portion is inclined such that it becomes narrower from the wide portion toward the solenoid, The stepped hole formed in the cover plate includes a wide portion through which the wide portion of the stepped tab passes and a narrow portion through which the narrow portion of the stepped tab passes, the wide portion being positioned on the solenoid side, and the side of the narrow portion being inclined such that its width decreases as it moves away from the wide portion. The crimped portion is, A fitting hole formed in the other side plate of the frame, A bent claw formed on the cover plate, which is inserted into the fitting hole and crimped in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the solenoid, The cover plate has a non-bent claw that is formed adjacent to the bent claw and inserted into the fitting hole, and the non-bent claw is inclined so as to widen towards the base, The actuator is characterized in that the side of the fitting hole that contacts the non-bent claw is inclined such that the width of the fitting hole increases as it approaches the solenoid.

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