Shift fork actuator

Abstract

A shift fork actuator is proposed, comprising an actuator housing (3) having a drive motor (4) located inside and a linear drive (7) driven by means of the drive motor (4), wherein the linear drive (7) comprises a rotatably driven drive spindle (9) the drive spindle (9) is integrated with the drive shaft (5) of the drive motor (4), and the linear drive (7) comprises a linearly movable and linearly guided actuation element (8) the actuation element (8) is coupled to the drive spindle (9) and rotatably fixed to the actuator housing (3) and has coupling means (20) for releasably coupling to a shift fork (2).

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present invention relates to a shift fork actuator comprising an actuator housing in which a drive motor is provided, and a linear drive comprising a drive spindle which is driven by the drive motor and is rotatably driven. 【Background Art】 【0002】 Such a shift fork actuator is used to move a pivot shift fork of a transmission, and this shift fork is, for example, part of a disconnect unit (DCU). Such a transmission or DCU is used, for example, in a motor vehicle. Known shift fork actuators comprise a drive motor and a linear drive which can be driven by the drive motor and is coupled to the shift fork, and this shift fork can be a linear shift fork or a pivot shift fork. The drive motor and the linear drive are separate assemblies which are coupled to each other. For example, a linear drive implemented as a ball screw drive has a drive spindle which is separately mounted in the transmission housing, while the drive shaft of the drive motor is mounted in the motor housing. The two assemblies or sub-assemblies are connected to each other via a spline so that torque transmission is possible. The structure of such a shift fork actuator and its integration into the transmission are therefore complex. 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0003】 The present invention addresses the problem of providing an improved shift fork actuator. 【Means for Solving the Problems】 [[ID=2,7]] 【0004】 To solve this problem, in the shift fork actuator of the type described above according to the present invention, the drive spindle is integrated with the drive shaft of the drive motor, and the linear drive comprises a linearly movable and linearly guided actuation element, which is coupled to the drive spindle and rotatably fixed to the actuator housing and has coupling means for releasably coupling to the shift fork. 【0005】 The shift fork actuator according to the present invention is characterized in that the drive spindle and drive shaft are a single common component, that is, the motor-side drive shaft is integrated with the drive spindle or has a corresponding spindle portion. This common component is machined from the first part of the corresponding shaft type, so that the corresponding portion is provided thereon. That is, one side has a portion that forms the drive shaft, and the other side has a portion that forms the drive spindle. Therefore, there is no need to connect individual elements separately as in the prior art, and a complex separate bearing system for the drive spindle is also unnecessary. 【0006】 Furthermore, the linear drive has a linearly movable and linearly guided actuation element, which is coupled to a drive spindle, rotatably fixed to the actuator housing, and has coupling means for releasably coupling to a shift fork. The actuation element coupled to the drive spindle moves linearly during the rotation of the drive spindle and is linearly guided on the drive spindle, so that the linear actuation motion of a portion of the actuation element arises from the rotational shaft motion. The actuation element is then positioned in such a manner that it is rotatably fixed to the actuator housing of the actuator, meaning that it cannot rotate around the longitudinal axis of the spindle, but maintains a rotational position that is assumed to be installed once installed. The actuation element is then provided with corresponding coupling means that can be releasably coupled to a shift fork, that is, mechanically connected via the coupling means, the linear motion of the actuation element, and by extension the coupling means, can be transmitted to the shift fork to bring about the shift process. 【0007】 This configuration according to the present invention provides a simple and compact structure because, firstly, the shift fork actuator itself can be pre-assembled as a complete assembly of all its elements. Therefore, in installation, only this pre-assembled actuator needs to be installed on the transmission side. Installation is also very simple, as it only requires positioning the shift fork actuator and, in the meantime, operably connecting the coupling means to the shift fork. This can be achieved, for example, by moving the shift fork actuator to a first position on the shift fork and then rotating it to a second position. During the rotation, the coupling means automatically and operably connects to the shift fork, a mechanical coupling is applied, and the shift fork actuator is assumed to be in the final installation position at the second position. Because the operating element is rotatably fixed to the actuator housing, and therefore the coupling means is also rotatably fixed to the actuator housing, the coupling means is maintained in the assumed final coupling position, so that in the installation position, the shift fork actuator is permanently connected to the shift fork. 【0008】 In a further development of the present invention, the actuating element can be configured as a sleeve, to which a drive spindle engages, and which is connected via a shape-fitting connection in a manner that rotatably fixes to an actuator housing or a component located on the actuator housing. The spindle mechanism thus comprises a simple sleeve as the actuating element, to which a drive spindle engages and is coupled, and as the axially fixed drive spindle rotates, a linear displacement of the sleeve required for the shift process occurs. The sleeve itself is connected via a suitable shape-fitting connection in a manner that rotatably fixes to either the actuator housing of the actuator itself or a connecting component located on the actuator housing and complementing the actuator housing, so as to a manner that rotatably fixes to the actuator housing, thus ensuring rotatably fixed sleeve guidance. 【0009】 To connect the sleeve to the drive spindle, the sleeve may have a female thread, and the drive spindle may have a male thread. The sleeve is connected to the drive spindle via balls rolling within the female and male threads, or the female thread meshes with the male thread. As a result, the linear drive is a ball screw drive, and the connection between the drive spindle and the sleeve is achieved via balls disposed between them, which roll across the threaded portion. Alternatively, a direct screw drive can be implemented, in which the two threaded portions of the drive spindle and the sleeve engage directly with each other. 【0010】 In a further development of the present invention, the sleeve or coupling component connected in a manner rotatably fixed to the sleeve is rotatably fixed and guided in a linear manner via a serrated engagement, provided that the sleeve or coupling component has a serrated engagement that engages with a serrated engagement provided on the actuator housing or component. Various configurations are possible to achieve a rotatably fixed configuration of the sleeve to the actuator housing. Advantageously, the corresponding serrated engagement is implemented between two involved components, and this serrated engagement constitutes a serrated engagement according to this variation of the present invention. For this purpose, the sleeve or coupling component connected in a manner rotatably fixed to the sleeve may have a serrated engagement, advantageously an internal serrated engagement, which is configured to engage with a serrated engagement provided on the actuator housing or on a housing-side component, for example, an external serrated engagement. This serrated engagement creates a rotatably fixed linear guide. 【0011】 Instead of forming such a toothed connection, it is also conceivable that at least one laterally projecting guide portion be provided on a sleeve, or a coupling component connected in a manner rotatably fixed to the sleeve, to engage with a guide groove or guide opening formed on the actuator housing or component. This configuration can, of course, be reversed. According to this variation of the present invention, a simple tongue-and-groove connection is realized, thereby forming a rotatably fixed linear guide. Thus, different configurations for realizing a linear guide are conceivable. 【0012】 When tongue and grooved connections are implemented using guide portions and guide grooves, it is advantageous to provide two guide portions protruding on the opposite side, each guide portion engaging with a guide groove or guide opening. Such a bilateral connection achieves a symmetrical bilateral guide. 【0013】 Various coupling options are possible to achieve coupling to the shift fork. According to the present invention, the coupling means can be configured in the form of at least one laterally projecting coupling projection, which engages between the two coupling arms of the shift fork in the equipment position. Alternatively, the coupling means can be configured as a coupling receiver provided on the coupling arms of the shift fork into which one or each coupling projection engages. According to the first variation, the coupling means is configured as a laterally projecting projection that engages between the two coupling arms of the shift fork. This projection is inserted between the two coupling arms in the equipment, thereby creating a mechanical connection. Alternatively, the coupling means may have a corresponding coupling receiver, i.e., a corresponding recess, into which one or each coupling projection provided on the coupling arms of the shift fork engages. Thus, in this second variation, the coupling mechanism is reversed compared to the first variation. However, both configurations allow for a simple mechanical connection, which can be formed simply by rotating the shift fork actuator around the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft or drive spindle, during which the coupling projection is inserted into the corresponding receiving portion. 【0014】 In a further development of the present invention, in this situation, two coupling protrusions projecting to the opposite side are provided, which either engage between the two coupling arms of the shift fork in the installation position, or the coupling receiver is configured as a circumferential groove into which the coupling protrusions engage. According to the first alternative, two laterally projecting, wing-shaped coupling protrusions are provided, one of which engages with a corresponding receiver between the two coupling arms of the shift fork. According to the second alternative, the coupling receiver forming the coupling means is configured as a simple circumferential annular groove into which two protrusions provided on the shift fork engage. 【0015】 In addition to the shift fork actuator itself, the present invention further relates to a transmission comprising at least one shift fork and at least one shift fork actuator of the type described above coupled to the shift fork. 【0016】 The present invention is described below based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, which are schematic diagrams. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0017】 [Figure 1] A schematic perspective view of the shift fork actuator connected to the shift fork is shown. [Figure 2] A cross-sectional view is shown, passing through the configuration shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows a front view of the configuration. [Figure 4] Figure 1 shows a top view of the configuration. [Figure 5] A schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a shift fork actuator separated from the shift fork is shown. [Figure 6] Figure 5 shows the configuration while the mechanical coupling is in effect. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0018】 Figures 1-4 show the shift fork actuator 1 according to the present invention in the first embodiment. Figure 1 is a perspective view, Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, and Figures 3 and 4 are a front view and a top view, respectively. The shift fork actuator 1 is positioned on the shift fork 2. This shift fork is configured as a pivot shift fork and is incorporated into the transmission together with the DCU. It is fixed by a pin that functions as the rotation axis of the shift fork 2. Next, the shift fork actuator 1 is installed. The installation will be described below, but first, the structure of the shift fork actuator 1 will be described. 【0019】 The shift fork actuator 1 includes an actuator housing 3, which can also be composed of multiple parts. The drive motor 4 is housed within the actuator housing 3 and is an electric motor. The motor includes a drive shaft 5, which can be driven to rotate. The drive shaft 5 is mounted to the actuator housing 3 by two bearing means 6, for example, in the form of rolling bearings. 【0020】 In addition, a linear drive 7 is provided, through which a linear guide type actuating element 8 coupled to the shift fork 2 in an appropriate manner can move linearly. The linear drive 7 has a drive spindle 9, which, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, is integrally formed with and thus extends the drive spindle 9. The drive spindle 9 has a male thread 10. Since this drive spindle is integrated with the drive shaft 5 and is already rotatably supported by two bearing means 6, the drive spindle 9 cannot be mounted separately. 【0021】 The actuating element 8 is arranged on the drive spindle 9 and includes a sleeve 11 having a female thread 12, and the drive spindle 9 engages with the sleeve 11. Balls 13 are arranged between the two and roll within the corresponding threads 10, 12. The linear drive 7 is thus a ball screw drive. The rotation of the drive shaft 5 with a fixed position necessarily causes the rotation of the drive spindle 9 with a fixed position, and depending on the direction of rotation, the sleeve 11 is linearly displaced along the drive spindle 9 by the coupling of the sleeve 11 via the balls 12. As a result of the coupling of the sleeve 11 to the shift fork 2 described below, a corresponding linear actuating movement is transmitted to the shift fork 2, causing the shift fork to pivot accordingly. 【0022】 The sleeve 11 has a coupling component 14, which is also configured in the form of a sleeve and into which the sleeve 11 is inserted and connected. The sleeve-type coupling component 14 has, on one side, a coupling portion 15, and this coupling portion 15 has two laterally protruding guide portions 16 that engage with corresponding guide grooves 17 on a component 18, which is a fixed part of the actuator housing 3. Finally, the coupling component 14 has two longitudinal grooves 28 on the coupling portion 15, and the protruding arms 19 of the component 18 engage in these grooves. Thereby, an anti-rotation device is obtained that also enables the coupling component 14 together with the sleeve 11 to be displaced linearly relative to the actuator housing 3. 【0023】 Furthermore, suitable coupling means 20 are provided on the coupling component 14 and function to mechanically connect to the shift fork 2. The coupling means 20 are configured herein as a coupling receptacle 21, which in this embodiment is configured as a circumferential groove. The groove-shaped coupling receptacle 21 is axially delimited by the coupling portion 15 towards the drive motor 4 and, on the other side, by an end flange 22. On the shift fork 2, two coupling protrusions 23 are arranged on corresponding coupling arms 24 of the shift fork 2, and these coupling protrusions engage in the groove-shaped coupling receptacle 21 as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and 4. Furthermore, two radial recesses 25 are formed on the end flange 22, and these recesses are dimensioned such that the two coupling protrusions 23 can be guided through the recesses 25 during installation. 【0024】 As a result, the overall structure is very compact. This is because the linear guide 7 is ultimately mounted directly on the drive motor 4, and in particular, the drive shaft 5 is integrally formed with the drive spindle 9. There is also a rotatably fixed and linearly guided coupling between the actuating element 8 and the actuator housing 3, and a corresponding coupling means 20 for a simple mechanical connection to the shift fork 2 is provided on the actuating element 8 via a coupling component 14. 【0025】 During installation, the shift fork actuator 1 is first positioned such that the two recesses 25 are substantially aligned with the axial extensions of the two coupling protrusions 23. Starting from Figure 1, the shift fork actuator 1 is rotated 90° to the left as indicated by arrow P. With the shift fork actuator thus positioned, it is displaced until the two coupling protrusions 23 are adjacent to the coupling receiver 21, and then the shift fork actuator 1 is rotated 90° to the installation position shown in Figure 1. In this installation position, the coupling protrusions 23 are housed in the grooved coupling receiver 21 in a manner that they are blocked in both axial directions. The grooved coupling receiver 21 is axially separated by the corresponding shoulders of two guide portions 16, i.e., the coupling portion 15 on one side and the end flange 22 on the other side. In this position, the shift fork actuator 1 is firmly fixed to the transmission side, usually by screws. As part of its operating function, the drive spindle 9 rotates by acting on the drive motor 4, thereby displacing the actuation element 8 longitudinally, but in a manner in which it is rotatably fixed and linearly guided. Depending on the direction of this rotation, the actuation element 8 moves along the drive spindle 9 in one or the other direction, thereby transporting and pivoting the shift fork 2 accordingly. 【0026】 Figures 5 and 6 show further embodiments of the shift fork actuator 1, where the same reference numerals are used for equivalent components. In this case as well, an actuator housing 3 is provided, housing a drive motor (not shown in detail) inside. The basic structure corresponds to that described with respect to Figures 1-4. 【0027】 In this case as well, a sleeve-type coupling component 14 is provided, which houses the sleeve 11, and this coupling component is connected to the sleeve 8. The rotatably fixed configuration of the coupling component 14 to the actuator housing 3 can be implemented in a manner similar to that described in Figures 1-4. Alternatively, the sleeve-type coupling component 14 may also have an external longitudinal tooth system, while the component 18 fixedly connected to the actuator housing 3 may have an internal longitudinal tooth system, thereby providing an anti-rotation device on the one hand and a linear guide on the other. 【0028】 In this embodiment, the sleeve has two wing-shaped coupling protrusions 26 projecting laterally to both sides. The shift fork 2 has a pair of coupling arms 24 on each side, with a coupling receiving portion 27 formed between these coupling arms, into which the wing-shaped coupling protrusions 26 are inserted. Figure 5 shows the configuration in installation. The shift fork actuator 1 is rotated so that the two coupling protrusions 26 can move between the two pairs of coupling arms. At this position shown in Figure 5, a rotational movement partially shown in Figure 6 begins, during which the entire shift fork actuator 1 is rotated again by 90° to the final position, as indicated by arrow P (not shown in detail). In this process, the two wing-shaped coupling protrusions 26 are inserted into their respective coupling receiving portions 27, achieving an axially fixed coupling. In the installation position, the shift fork actuator 1 can also be rotated by 90° from the position shown in Figure 5 and installed fixed in the final position on the transmission side. 【0029】 The shift fork actuator 1 according to the present invention can also be disassembled in an equally simple manner if necessary. To do this, it is only necessary to disconnect it from the transmission or transmission housing, and then disconnect it from the shift fork 2, which can be removed by simply rotating it 90°. [Explanation of Symbols] 【0030】 1. Shift fork actuator 2 Shift forks 3. Actuator Housing 4. Drive motor 5. Drive shaft 6 Bearing means 7 Linear Drive 8 Operating elements 9. Drive spindle 10 Male screw 11 sleeves 12 Female thread 13 Balls 14 Connecting Components 15 Connecting part 16 Guide section 17 Guide groove 18 components 19 Arms 20 Coupling means 21 Connecting receiving part 22 End flange 23 Combination protrusion 24 connecting arms 25 recesses 26 Combination protrusion 27. Connecting receiving part 28 Longitudinal grooves P arrow

Claims

[Claim 1] A shift fork actuator comprising an actuator housing (3) having a drive motor (4) inside, and a linear drive (7) having a drive spindle (9) that is driven by the drive motor (4) and is rotatably driven, wherein the drive spindle (9) is integrated with the drive shaft (5) of the drive motor (4), and the linear drive (7) has an actuation element (8) that is linearly movable and linearly guided, coupled to the drive spindle (9), rotatably fixed with respect to the actuator housing (3), and has coupling means (20) for detachably coupling to a shift fork (2). [Claim 2] The shift fork actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuation element (8) is configured as a sleeve (11) or comprises the sleeve (11), the sleeve (11) is connected to the actuator housing (3) or a component (18) located on the actuator housing (3) in a manner that engages with the drive spindle (9) and is rotatably fixed via a shape-fit connection. [Claim 3] The shift fork actuator according to claim 2, wherein the sleeve (11) has a female thread (12), the drive spindle (9) has a male thread (10), and the sleeve (11) is coupled to the drive spindle (9) via a ball (13) that rolls within the female thread and the male thread (10, 12), or the female thread (12) engages with the male thread (11). [Claim 4] The shift fork actuator according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the sleeve (11) or a coupling component (14) connected in a manner rotatably fixed to the sleeve (11) has a longitudinal tooth system that engages with a longitudinal tooth system provided on the actuator housing (3) or the component (18), and the sleeve (11) or the coupling component (14) is guided in a manner rotatably fixed and direct via the tooth engagement. [Claim 5] The shift fork actuator according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one laterally projecting guide portion (16) is provided on the sleeve (11) or on a coupling component (14) connected in a manner rotatably fixed to the sleeve (11), and engages with a guide groove (17) or guide opening formed on the actuator housing (3) or the component (18). [Claim 6] The shift fork actuator according to claim 5, characterized in that it is provided with two guide portions (16) protruding on the opposite side, each engaging with a guide groove (17) or a guide opening. [Claim 7] The shift fork actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the coupling means (20) is configured in the form of at least one coupling projection (26), the coupling projection (26) protruding laterally from the operating element (8) and engaging in the position of the equipment with a coupling receiving portion (21) that engages with one or each coupling projection (23) provided on the coupling arm (24) of the shift fork (2). [Claim 8] The shift fork actuator according to claim 7, characterized in that it is provided with two connecting protrusions (26) that protrude to the opposite side, which engage with each of the two connecting arms (24) of the shift fork (2) in the installation position, or the connecting receiving portion (21) is configured as a circumferential groove into which the connecting protrusions (23) engage. [Claim 9] A transmission comprising at least one shift fork (2) and at least one shift fork actuator (1) coupled to the shift fork as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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