Actuator arrangement and assembly method for same

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator arrangement comprising a carrier unit (20) having at least one locking element (50, 51, 60) which can be brought into a locking position and into a release position, having at least one SMA wire (26, 27) as an actuating element for the locking element (50, 51, 60), and having a carrier, and comprising a housing which at least partially surrounds the carrier unit (20), wherein the carrier and the locking element (50, 51, 60) provide a first guide for the locking element (50, 51, 60) in an actuation direction (1), wherein the carrier is formed by a circuit board (21), wherein the circuit board (21) is designed to fix and energise the at least one SMA wire (26, 27) and / or carries a position sensor (32, 33) which is designed to detect the locking position and / or the release position of the locking element (50, 51, 60). The invention further relates to an assembly method for the actuator arrangement (4).

Description

[0001] Actuator arrangement and assembly method therefor

[0002] The invention relates to an actuator arrangement with an FGL wire as an actuating element. The invention further relates to an assembly method for the actuator arrangement.

[0003] In practice, it is increasingly observed that shape memory alloys (hereinafter: SMA) are used for an actuating element of an actuator arrangement. For example, DE 102018 104529 A1 discloses the use of an SMA wire as an actuating element of a locking device.

[0004] From DE 102015105542 A1, an actuator with a cylindrically wound actuating element made of a shape-memory alloy is known. The actuating element is provided in a housing and actuates a release element also arranged in the housing.

[0005] DE 102010054118 B4 describes an FGL sensor used for detecting mechanical or thermal measurements. The object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-install actuator arrangement with an FGL wire and a mounting method for this arrangement.

[0006] To solve this problem, the invention has the features of claim 1. Accordingly, the actuator arrangement comprises a carrier unit with at least one locking element that can be moved into a locking position and a release position, with at least one FGL wire as an actuating element for the locking element, and with a carrier. Furthermore, the actuator arrangement comprises a housing that at least partially surrounds the carrier unit, wherein the carrier and the locking element provide a first guide for the locking element in a common actuating direction. The carrier is formed by a circuit board that is configured to fix and energize the at least one FGL wire and / or carries a position sensor that is configured to detect the locking position and / or the release position of the locking element.

[0007] The particular advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the actuator assembly is designed to be particularly easy to assemble, since in a first assembly step the carrier unit can be pre-assembled. During this pre-assembly, the locking element is assigned to the carrier by means of the first guide. After the first guide for the carrier and locking element has been created, the FGL wire of the carrier unit can be installed. This installation includes the spatial arrangement of the FGL wire, including its connection to the locking element, as well as the electrical contacting of the FGL wire. In this first pre-assembly step, the carrier unit does not need to be located in the housing or positioned relative to it.

[0008] The FGL wire used as the actuating element for the locking mechanism exhibits a different microstructure depending on its temperature, and its length varies accordingly. Applying an electric current to the FGL wire can influence its temperature and alter its crystallographic phase. The resulting change in length from this phase transformation is used to move the locking mechanism from the locked position to the released position and / or back again.

[0009] The position sensor can, for example, be used to limit the working stroke of the FGL wire. This limits the mechanical stress on the FGL wire and increases its service life. Alternatively, position detection can be achieved by measuring the resistance of the FGL wire. Specifically, the circuit board can be equipped with electronics for operating or controlling the FGL actuator and with contacts for connecting electrical leads. Overvoltage protection can also be provided to improve the EMI properties of the actuator assembly. Advantageously, designing the carrier as a circuit board reduces the number of components in the carrier assembly and further simplifies its assembly. The circuit board itself then carries the locking element, which is movable relative to it.At the same time, it can serve for the mechanical connection of the FGL wire and its electrical contacting.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing and the locking element provide a second guide for the locking element in the direction of actuation. The first guide formed by the circuit board and the locking element is designed as a coarse guide, and the second guide as a fine guide. The first guide has a greater clearance than the second guide. The direction of actuation is realized as a common actuation direction of the first and second guides.

[0011] The ease of assembly of the actuator assembly is further improved by the inclusion of the double guide. This ensures that the pre-assembled carrier unit can be inserted into the housing in a second assembly step, forming the second guide for the locking element, without requiring simultaneous assembly or contacting of the FGL wire. Since the second guide has less play than the first, and therefore tighter tolerances, the necessary precision for positioning and adjusting the locking element is achieved through the interaction of the housing and the locking element. The insertion of the pre-assembled FGL unit into the housing is performed independently and completely separate from the installation of the FGL wire.Because the first and second guides for the locking element have different tolerances, the first guide only handles the coarse positioning of the locking element relative to the carrier during the installation of the FGL wire. The play in the first guide can be comparatively large and, in particular, insufficient to guide the locking element with adequate precision during operation. Precise guidance of the locking element during operation is provided by the second guide, which is designed as a fine guide and has less play than the first guide.

[0012] According to a further development of the invention, the carrier for forming the first guide provides a guide recess into which the locking element engages or is inserted. For example, the guide recess can be formed on the edge of the carrier. In particular, the locking element can be realized as a single piece when an edge guide recess is provided. Advantageously, by providing the guide recess on the carrier, the first guide can be designed to be particularly easy to assemble by eliminating the need for additional components. The carrier itself allows the relative positioning of the locking element by providing the guide recess. The edge-side arrangement of the guide recess further simplifies assembly. In particular, this makes it possible to design the guide element as a single piece, since it can be inserted laterally into the edge-side guide recess.

[0013] According to a further development of the invention, at least one guide edge extending in the direction of actuation is provided on the guide recess. The locking element provides a guide groove formed corresponding to the guide edge and also extending in the direction of actuation, which receives the guide edge to form the first guide. Advantageously, a simple and robust design of the first guide is achieved by providing the guide groove on the locking element and by using a boundary surface of the guide recess as the guide edge. At the same time, the clearance of the first guide can be determined by dimensioning the guide groove relative to the dimensions of the guide edge, with the result that the first guide for the locking element has a precisely adjustable clearance transverse to the direction of actuation.In a further development of the invention, the locking element forms the second guide by aligning its cylindrical surface with a correspondingly shaped guide surface of the housing. Advantageously, by utilizing the cylindrical surface of the locking element as the guide surface of the second guide, the number of actuator components can be kept low and assembly simplified. At the same time, the clearance of the second guide can be precisely determined by utilizing the cylindrical surface of the locking element on the one hand and the correspondingly shaped guide surface of the housing on the other, and in particular, selected to be smaller than the clearance of the first guide.In the fully assembled state of the actuator assembly, where the carrier unit is positioned or fixed in the housing and the second guide is formed, it is ensured that the locking element is guided by the second guide without the first guide being engaged. The coarse guide between the locking element and the carrier then no longer influences the direction of movement of the locking element and / or the accuracy with which the movement is executed.

[0014] According to a further development of the invention, the housing completely encloses the support and the FGL wire of the support assembly, while the locking element is only partially enclosed, at least in the locked position. Advantageously, the housing thus protects the support and the FGL wire regardless of whether the locking element is in the locked or the released position. However, in the locked position, the locking element protrudes from the housing. In the released position, the locking element can be completely or also partially enclosed within the housing of the support.

[0015] In a further development of the invention, the actuator arrangement includes a return spring as an additional actuating element for the locking element. The return spring serves, in particular, to hold the locking element in the locked position or to move it from the release position into the locked position. Conversely, the FGL wire serves to move the locking element, in its energized or heated state, into the release position against a restoring force applied by the return spring. Advantageously, by providing the return spring, the locking element can be held in the locked position, which is designed as a preferred position, even when the FGL wire is de-energized. The FGL wire, on the other hand, only needs to be energized or heated briefly to move the locking element into the release position.The actuator arrangement can be operated with low energy consumption and is also in a defined operating state when it is energy-free.

[0016] According to a further development of the invention, the circuit board provides at least two adjacent mounting recesses for crimping, splicing, or mechanical clamping of the FGL wire. The at least two adjacent mounting recesses are separated from each other by a bridge. The bridge provides, at least in sections, an electrically conductive contact surface against which the FGL wire is placed. A clamping clip encompasses the bridge, the FGL wire, and the contact surfaces such that the FGL wire is pressed against the contact surface by the clamping clip and is held securely between the clamping clip and the contact surface. Advantageously, splicing provides a reliable, cost-effective, robust, and single-step contacting method for the FGL wire.The FGL wire is both positioned and electrically contacted through splicing. Therefore, during the pre-assembly of the support structure, no separate steps are required for mechanically fixing the FGL wire and its electrical contacting. At the same time, the (tensile) forces occurring during the microstructure transformation into FGL wire can be absorbed.

[0017] In a further development of the invention, the locking element provides a deflection channel for the FGL wire. The FGL wire is guided through the deflection channel and electrically contacted and mechanically secured at both ends outside the channel. Advantageously, the force provided by the FGL wire can be doubled while maintaining essentially the same installation space by providing the deflection channel. At the same time, it is possible to position the ends of the FGL wire to be contacted side by side for ease of assembly and to avoid electrical contact with a moving end of the FGL wire. In a further development of the invention, means for limiting the actuation stroke of the locking element are provided. These means are located on the locking element on one side and on the carrier or housing on the other.For example, the locking element may be designed with a shoulder and the housing with a corresponding stop. The stop and the shoulder are then positioned such that the movement of the locking element is limited by the shoulder's contact with the stop.

[0018] According to an alternative design, the guide recess formed on the support is designed as an internal guide recess. The locking element is then preferably implemented as a multi-part locking element. During the pre-assembly of the support assembly, the multi-part locking element is mounted to form the first guide such that it engages in the internal guide recess and is slidably held relative to the support in the direction of actuation. Advantageously, the locking element can be mounted securely to the internal guide recess to prevent loss. Furthermore, the internal guide recess allows for a stroke limiter for the locking element without the need for a separate stop.

[0019] According to a further development of the invention, the locking element is designed in multiple parts. It provides a sleeve-shaped receptacle and a pin that is displaceable relative to the receptacle in the actuation direction. The pin is inserted into the receptacle, supported against the receptacle by a further return spring, and can be pressed into the receptacle. Preferably, the receptacle of the multi-part locking element provides the cylindrical surface used for the second guide. Advantageously, the provision of the pressed-in pin allows for a free-running function for the locking element. If the locking element has the pressed-in pin, it can be moved into the release position without the need to energize the FGL wire.If, for example, the locking element is used to hold a flap in a closed position, the flap can be slammed shut when open without energizing the FGL wire or actively moving the locking element into the release position. It is sufficient for the pin to be pressed into its receptacle against the return spring when the flap closes. This can be achieved, for example, by an inclined surface provided by the pin. Once the flap reaches the closed position, the return spring pushes the pin back out of the receptacle, and the locking element holds the flap in the locked position. To open the flap, however, it is then necessary to energize and heat the FGL wire so that the locking element is actively moved into the release position.

[0020] According to a further development of the invention, the actuator arrangement provides two locking elements, wherein the carrier and the second locking element provide a further first guide designed as a further coarse guide, and the housing and the second locking element provide a further second guide for the second locking element. As before, the second guide for the locking element has a finer tolerance than the first guide. In particular, it can be provided that the locking elements are arranged opposite each other and can be actuated in opposite directions. Preferably, two FGL wires are provided, wherein a first FGL wire serves to actuate the first locking element and a second FGL wire serves to actuate the second locking element. In particular, the two FGL wires are arranged on opposite (flat) sides of the carrier.Advantageously, positioning the FGL wires on opposite sides of the carrier allows for a compact design of the carrier assembly. The common carrier serves as the coarse guide for both locking elements. It supports both FGL wires and, as before, is installed in the housing, incorporating the fine guide for the two locking elements. The compact design of the carrier assembly ensures simple and reliable assembly. The two FGL wires, in turn, allow the locking elements and the FGL wires to be mounted separately during the pre-assembly of the carrier assembly. Each individual mounting of a locking element and an FGL wire is carried out in the known, simple manner. In particular, it can be provided that splicing the FGL wires simultaneously positions and electrically contacts each FGL wire.

[0021] To solve this problem, the invention has the features of claim 19. Accordingly, it is provided that in a first assembly step, the support structure of the actuator assembly is pre-assembled, wherein the at least one locking element is first attached to the support, forming the first guide, and then the FGL wire is installed; and that in a second assembly step, the housing is mounted around the assembled support structure. The FGL wire can preferably be both electrically contacted and mechanically secured by splicing in a single assembly step.

[0022] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention can be found in the dependent claims and the following description. Features mentioned therein can be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. Thus, the disclosure relating to the individual aspects of the invention can always be referenced reciprocally. The drawings serve only as examples to clarify the invention and are not intended to be limiting.

[0023] They show:

[0024] Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of an actuator arrangement in a first embodiment with a support unit and a multi-part housing,

[0025] Fig. 2 shows the support structure of the actuator arrangement according to Fig. 1 in a top view.

[0026] Fig. 3 shows the support structure of the actuator arrangement according to Fig. 1 in a side view,

[0027] Fig. 4 shows a detail X of the support structure according to Fig. 3.

[0028] Fig. 5 shows an assembly situation during the assembly of the support structure unit,

[0029] Fig. 6 shows a detail of the assembled support structure in a top view.

[0030] Fig. 7 shows a detail of the assembled support unit according to Fig. 6 in a partial section, Fig. 8 shows a top view of a support unit of an actuator arrangement in a second embodiment,

[0031] Fig. 9 shows a top view of a support structure of an actuator arrangement in a third embodiment,

[0032] Fig. 10 shows the support structure according to Fig. 9 in a side view,

[0033] Fig. 11 shows a section AA through the support structure according to Fig. 10,

[0034] Fig. 12 shows a partial exploded view of a support unit of an actuator arrangement in a fourth embodiment,

[0035] Fig. 13 shows a partial exploded view of a support unit of an actuator arrangement in a fifth embodiment and

[0036] Fig. 14 shows a partial perspective view of a support unit of an actuator arrangement in a sixth embodiment.

[0037] An actuator arrangement in a first embodiment according to Figures 1 to 7 comprises as essential components a housing and a support unit 20. The housing, which serves to receive the support unit 20, is designed in multiple parts. It comprises a first housing half-shell 10 and a second housing half-shell 11. The support unit 20 comprises a circuit board 21, which serves as a support for the support unit 20. Furthermore, the support unit 20 provides two locking elements 50, 51 and two FGL wires 26, 27 as actuating elements for the locking elements 50, 51.

[0038] The locking elements 50, 51 are held on the circuit board 21 and are displaceable in an actuation direction 1 of the actuator assembly. This displaceability is achieved by the circuit board 21 forming a first guide with a first locking element 50 and a second locking element 51 of the support unit 20. To implement this first guide, the circuit board 21 provides a first guide recess 24 associated with the first locking element 50 and a second guide recess 25 associated with the second locking element 51. The guide recesses 24, 25 are formed at the edge of the circuit board 21. The locking elements 50, 51 can each be inserted laterally into the guide recesses 24, 25 in opposite directions in an assembly direction 2 that extends parallel to the actuation direction 1.

[0039] The edges of the guide recesses 24, 25 form guide edges 31, which engage in guide grooves 55 of the locking elements 50, 51 corresponding to the guide edges 31, thus forming the first guide for the locking elements 50, 51. Each locking element 50, 51 has two opposing guide grooves 55, each of which receives two opposing guide edges 31 of each guide recess 24, 25. The guide edges 31 and the guide grooves 55 extend in the direction of actuation 1.

[0040] The locking elements 50, 51 are arranged opposite each other and can be actuated in opposite directions. They can each be moved from a locked position to a release position and back. Two actuating elements per locking element 50, 51 serve to move the locking elements 50, 51 into the locked position and the release position, respectively. Firstly, each locking element 50, 51 has an FGL wire 26, 27 as an actuating element. Secondly, each locking element 50, 51 has a return spring 28, 29 as a further actuating element.

[0041] The FGL wires 26, 27 serve to move the locking elements 50, 51 from the locked position to the released position. Conversely, the return springs 28, 29 are provided to move the locking elements 50, 51 from the released position to the locked position.

[0042] Each FGL wire 26, 27 is assigned to one of two opposite flat surfaces 22, 23 of the circuit board 21. The FGL wires 26, 27 are mechanically fixed and electrically contacted at their two free ends on the circuit board 21.

[0043] Furthermore, the FGL wires 26, 27 extend in a straight line from their free ends to their respective locking elements 50, 51. Each locking element 50, 51 has opposing pins 52. The pins 52 each provide a deflection channel 54 for the FGL wires 26, 27. The FGL wire 26, 27 is thus guided through the respective deflection channel 54.

[0044] The end-end mechanical fixing and electrical contacting of the FGL wires 26, 27 is achieved by a so-called splice connection. For details of this connection, reference is made to the following descriptions of the third embodiment of the actuator arrangement and to Figures 10 and 11.

[0045] During splicing, the FGL wires 26, 27 are electrically contacted via fastening clips 38 and connection contact surfaces 39. These are connected via conductors (not shown) of the circuit board 21 to electronics 36 fixed to the circuit board and a contact 35, which serves to connect connection conductors 34 to the circuit board 21. Current is supplied to the FGL wires 26, 27 via the connecting conductors 34, the contact 35, the electronics 36, the conductors not shown, and the connection contact surfaces 39. This current and heating of the FGL wires 26, 27 leads to a change in their structure and consequently to their shortening, enabling the FGL wires 26, 27 to transmit tensile forces and move the locking elements 50, 51 from the locked position to the released position.

[0046] The return movement of the locking elements 50, 51 is provided by the return springs 28, 29. The return springs 28, 29 are arranged in the area of ​​the pins 52 between the locking elements 50, 51 on one side and the plate 21 on the other. For positioning the return springs 28, 29, the plate 21 provides two lugs 30 that engage the return springs 28, 29, and the locking elements 50, 51 have wire receptacles 53 projecting from the pins 52, facing the lugs 30. The return springs 28, 29 are then held between the lugs 30 and the wire receptacles 53.

[0047] When the locking elements 50, 51 are moved into the release position, the return springs 28, 29 are pre-tensioned. As soon as the FGL wires 26, 27 are no longer energized and cool down, the structure of the FGL wires 26, 27 changes again, and finally a restoring force provided by the return springs 28, 29 prevails over the tensile forces acting in the FGL wires 26, 27 and pushes the locking elements 50, 51 from the release position into the locking position.

[0048] The actuation stroke of the locking elements 50, 51 is mechanically limited. To limit the actuation stroke in the direction of the locking position, annular shoulders 57 are formed on the locking elements 50, 51 in the present embodiment. Corresponding to the annular shoulders 57, the housing of the actuator assembly provides stops 13 formed on the housing halves 10, 11. By pressing the locking elements 50, 51 with the shoulders 57 against the stops 13 of the housing, the actuation stroke of the locking elements 50, 51 in the actuation direction 1 is limited when the housing is moved into the locking position. In the release position, the actuation stroke of the locking elements 50, 51 is limited by the position sensors 32, 33, which are fixed to the circuit board 21 and arranged so that they detect the release position.The provision of position sensors 32, 33 particularly prevents the return spring 28, 29 from reaching its limit and / or the FGL wires 26, 27 from being subjected to an unacceptably high mechanical load, which could damage the FGL wires 26, 27 or impair their service life.

[0049] The locking elements 50, 51 are guided by a first guide on the circuit board 21 of the carrier assembly 20, which serves as a support, and by a second guide in the housing of the actuator assembly. The first guide is implemented as a coarse guide in the actuation direction 1. For the second guide, which has less play than the first guide, the locking elements 50, 51 provide a circumferential surface 56 that bears against a correspondingly shaped guide surface 12 of the housing.

[0050] Since the second guide has tighter tolerances than the first, the housing takes over the guidance of the locking elements 50, 51 after the carrier assembly 20 is mounted in the housing. Therefore, the second guide is crucial for guiding the locking elements 50, 51 when the actuator assembly is used as intended. In contrast, the first guide serves for the temporary guidance or support of the locking elements 50, 51. It is specifically designed to fix the locking elements 50, 51 to the circuit board 21 during pre-assembly of the carrier assembly 20. The first guide ensures, in particular, that the positional alignment of the circuit board 21 and the locking elements 50, 51 is sufficiently precise to allow the FGL wires 26, 27 to be installed, i.e., inserted into the deflection channels 54, mechanically secured at their ends, and electrically connected.Once the FGL wires 26, 27 have been installed, the carrier assembly 20 can be installed in the housing. During these further assembly steps, the locking elements 50, 51 are secured in the guide recesses 24, 25 of the circuit board 21. The defined length of the FGL wires 26, 27 prevents the locking elements 50, 51 from being removed from the guide recesses 24, 25.

[0051] Fig. 8 shows a second embodiment of the actuator arrangement. In contrast to the first embodiment, here the FGL wires 26, 27 are assigned to the same first flat side 22 of the circuit board 21. The locking elements 50, 51 are arranged opposite each other and can be actuated in opposite directions, as before. The FGL wires 26, 27 are arranged at an acute angle to the actuation direction 1, spaced apart from each other, and adjacent to one another.

[0052] Due to the shared arrangement of both FGL wires 26, 27 on the first flat side 22, the opposite second flat side 23 remains free. The circuit board 21 can be easily inserted into the housing of the actuator assembly with the second flat side 23 in place.

[0053] A third embodiment of the actuator arrangement according to Figures 9 to 11 provides a single locking element 50, which is held on the circuit board 21. This third embodiment of the actuator arrangement dispenses with a second locking element.

[0054] The end-end mechanical fixing and electrical contacting of the FGL wire 26 is achieved by a splice connection. The circuit board 21 provides three adjacent mounting recesses 37 for splicing the FGL wire 26, separated from each other by two webs 40. Each web 40 has two electrically conductive contact surfaces 39 in the area of ​​the opposing flat sides 22, 23, against which the FGL wire 26 is placed. A mounting clip 38 then engages each web 40 and, at its end, the FGL wire 26 and the contact surfaces 39, such that the FGL wire 26 is pressed against one of the two contact surfaces 39 and held between the mounting clip 38 and the contact surface 39. The fixing can be force-fit and / or form-fit.

[0055] Fig. 12 shows a fourth embodiment of the actuator arrangement. This fourth embodiment uses a two-part locking element 60 with a first part 60.1 and a second part 60.2. Additionally, the circuit board 21 provides an internal guide recess 24, which, unlike the edge guide recesses, is bounded at its end by a connecting web 41. The connecting web 41 is formed as part of the circuit board 21.

[0056] The internal guide recess 24 provides, as before, the guide edges 31 for the initial guidance of the locking element 60. Furthermore, in its assembled state, the locking element 60 has the guide groove 55, which is formed equally on the first part 60.1 and the second part 60.2 of the locking element 60 and is created by the assembly of the two parts 60.1 and 60.2. The assembly direction 2 of the locking element 60 is oriented perpendicular to the actuation direction 1 of the locking element 60.

[0057] The locking element 60 is fixed relative to the guide recess 24 by a plateau 62 formed jointly by the parts 60.1, 60.2 of the locking element 60, which engages in the guide recess 24 of the circuit board 21, and a guide recess 61 created after the assembly of the parts 60.1, 60.2 of the locking element 60, into which the connecting web 41 engages.

[0058] A stop for the actuation stroke of the locking element 60 is provided by the connecting web 41 in conjunction with the plate 62 and the guide recess 61 of the locking element 60. The connecting web 41 abuts the guide edges 31 of the guide recess 24 at its end on the side opposite the return spring 28. It thus defines a stop for the locking element 60 against which the plate 62 rests. The connecting web 41 is guided in the guide recess 61 provided when the locking element 60 is mounted.

[0059] A fifth embodiment of the actuator arrangement according to Fig. 13 also provides a two-part locking element 60 with a first part 60.1 and a second part 60.2. The locking element 60 is partially hollow and provides a substantially cylindrical longitudinal recess 63 extending in the actuation direction 1. In the assembled state of the locking element 60, the FGL wire 26, which serves as the actuating element of the actuator arrangement, is arranged in the longitudinal recess 63. In the present embodiment of the invention, the FGL wire 26 is wound in a helical spring shape. It is held in position by a pin 67 of the locking element 60 that engages in the helical FGL wire 26.

[0060] As before, the FGL wire 26 serves as the first actuating element for moving the locking element 60 into the release position. When energized, the FGL wire 26 heats up and extends in the actuating direction 1, so that the locking element 60 is moved into the release position against the restoring force provided by the return spring 28. When the energization of the FGL wire 26 is discontinued and the FGL wire 26 cools down, the locking element 60 is moved into the locked position by the return spring 28.

[0061] As in the present embodiment of the invention, the actuation stroke of the locking element 60 is limited by the connecting web 41, which is provided by the circuit board 21 and, in conjunction with the pin 67, limits the actuation stroke of the locking element 60.

[0062] Fig. 14 shows a sixth embodiment of the actuator arrangement. This actuator arrangement also includes a multi-part locking element 60. The multi-part locking element 60 comprises a sleeve-shaped receptacle 68, which provides a longitudinal recess 63 extending in the actuation direction 1. A pin 65, which is longitudinally displaceable in the actuation direction 1, is arranged in the longitudinal recess 63. The pin 65 is moved by a return spring 66 into a preferred position, in which it protrudes from the receptacle 68 on an end face facing away from the circuit board 21. A cover 64 is provided to fix the position of the pin 65, at least partially covering the longitudinal recess 63 of the locking element 60. A guide groove 55 is provided on the outer surface of the locking element 60 in the previously known manner.The guide edges 31 of the guide recess 24 formed on the edge of the circuit board 21 engage in the guide groove 55 of the locking element 60 when the locking element 60 is mounted.

[0063] The locking element 60 can be moved into the locked position by means of the pressable pin 65, without energizing the FGL wire 24 and using the locking element 60 in the release position. It is sufficient for the pin 65 to be pressed into the receptacle 68 against the return spring 66. This can be achieved, for example, by an inclined surface provided by the pin 65.

[0064] Identical components and component functions are identified by the same reference symbols.

[0065] marked. Reference numeral list

[0066] 1. Direction of action

[0067] 2 Mounting direction

[0068] 10 Housing half shell

[0069] 11 Housing half shell

[0070] 12 guide surface

[0071] 13 attacks

[0072] 20 support structure units

[0073] 21 circuit boards

[0074] 22 flat page

[0075] 23 flat side

[0076] 24 Guide recess 25 Guide recess 26 FGL wire

[0077] 27 FGL wire

[0078] 28 Return spring

[0079] 29 Return spring

[0080] 30 Nose

[0081] 31 Guide edge

[0082] 32 Position sensor

[0083] 33 Position sensor

[0084] 34 connecting conductors

[0085] 35 Contacting

[0086] 36 Electronics

[0087] 37 Mounting recess 38 Mounting clip 39 Connection contact surface 40 Bridge

[0088] 41 Connecting bridge

[0089] 50 Locking element 51 Locking element pin

[0090] Wire holder deflection channel

[0091] Guide groove

[0092] Surface area

[0093] Paragraph locking element

[0094] Part of the locking element Part of the locking element Guide recess Plateau

[0095] Longitudinal recess cover

[0096] Pen

[0097] Return spring

[0098] mandrel

[0099] Recording

Claims

Patent claims 1. Actuator arrangement comprising a carrier unit (20) with at least one locking element (50, 51, 60) that can be moved into a locking position and a release position, with at least one FGL wire (26, 27) as an actuating element for the locking element (50, 51, 60), and with a carrier, and comprising a housing that at least partially encompasses the carrier unit (20), wherein the carrier and the locking element (50, 51, 60) provide a first guide for the locking element (50, 51, 60) in an actuating direction (1), characterized in that the carrier is formed by a circuit board (21), wherein the circuit board (21) is configured to fix and energize the at least one FGL wire (26, 27) and / or carries a position sensor (32, 33) which is configured to detect the locking position and / or the release position of the locking element (50, 51, 60).

2. Actuator arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing and the locking element (50, 51, 60) provide a second guide for the locking element (50, 51, 60) in the actuation direction (1) such that the first guide is designed as a coarse guide and has a greater clearance than the second guide.

3. Actuator arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier provides a guide recess (24, 25) to form the first guide, into which the locking element (50, 51, 60) engages.

4. Actuator arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guide recess (24, 25) is provided on the edge of the carrier and / or the locking element (50, 51) is formed in one piece.

5. Actuator arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that at least one guide recess (24, 25) is provided in the direction of actuation. (1) extended guide edge (31) is formed and that the locking element (50, 51, 60) provides a guide groove (55) formed corresponding to the guide edge (31) and also extending in the direction of actuation (1), wherein the guide edge (31) engages in the guide groove (55) to form the first guide.

6. Actuator arrangement according to claim 3 or 5, characterized in that the locking element (60) is designed as a multi-part locking element (60) and the guide recess (24) formed on the carrier is designed as an internal guide recess (24), wherein, to form the first guide, the locking element (60) is mounted such that it engages in the internal guide recess (24) and is held displaceably in the actuation direction (1).

7. Actuator arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, to form the second guide, the locking element (50, 51, 60) is applied with a lateral surface (56) to a guide surface (12) provided by the housing.

8. Actuator arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing completely surrounds the carrier and the FGL wire (26, 27) of the carrier assembly (20) and partially surrounds the at least one locking element (50, 51, 60) in the locking position.

9. Actuator arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a return spring (28, 29) is provided as a further actuating element for the locking element (50, 51, 60), wherein the return spring (28, 29) brings the at least one locking element (50, 51, 60) into the locking position and / or holds it in the locking position, and that the at least one locking element (50, 51, 60) can be brought into the release position by the FGL wire (26, 27) against a return force imposed by the return spring (28, 29).

10. Actuator arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the FGL wire (26, 27) is attached to the circuit board (21) by means of splicing and is electrically contacted.

11. Actuator arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the circuit board (21) provides two adjacent mounting recesses (37) for splicing the FGL wire (26, 27), which are separated from each other by a web (40), wherein the web (40) provides at least in sections an electrically conductive connection contact surface (39) against which the FGL wire (26, 27) is applied, and that a mounting clip (38) engages the web (40), the FGL wire (26, 27) and the connection contact surface (39) in such a way that the FGL wire (26, 27) is pressed against the connection contact surface (39) and is held between the mounting clip (38) and the connection contact surface (39) by force and / or form locking.

12. Actuator arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the locking element (50, 51, 60) provides a deflection channel (54) for the FGL wire (26, 27), wherein the FGL wire (26, 27) is guided through the deflection channel (54) and is electrically contacted and mechanically fixed at its two ends.

13. Actuator arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the carrier is held by the housing and positioned in the housing and / or that the housing is designed in multiple parts and / or that the housing provides two housing half-shells (10, 11).

14. Actuator arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that means for limiting an actuating stroke of the locking element (50, 51, 60) are provided, wherein the means are formed on the at least one locking element (50, 51, 60) on the one hand and on the carrier or the housing on the other hand.

15. Actuator arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the locking element (60) has a sleeve-shaped receptacle (68) and a direction of actuation (1) relative to the receptacle (68) provides a movable pin (65), wherein the pin (65) is supported against the receptacle (68) by a further return spring (66) and can be pressed into the receptacle (68), and wherein preferably the receptacle (68) provides the cylindrical surface (56) of the locking element (60).

16. Actuator arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that two locking elements (50, 51) are provided, wherein the carrier and the second locking element (51) provide a further first guide designed as a further coarse guide and the housing and the second locking element (51) provide a further second guide for the second locking element (51).

17. Actuator arrangement according to claim 16, characterized in that the two locking elements (50, 51) are arranged opposite each other and can be actuated in opposite directions.

18. Actuator arrangement according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that two FGL wires (26, 27) are provided, wherein a first FGL wire (26) is provided for actuating the first locking element (50) and a second FGL wire (27) is provided for actuating the second locking element (51), and / or that the two FGL wires (26, 27) are arranged on opposite flat sides (22, 23) of the carrier.

19. Method for assembling the actuator arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that in a first assembly step the carrier assembly (20) with the circuit board (21) as a carrier is mounted, wherein first the at least one locking element (50, 51, 60) is attached to the carrier forming the first guide and then the FGL wire (26, 27) is mounted, and that in a second assembly step the housing is mounted around the mounted carrier assembly (20).

20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that the FGL wire (26, 27) is simultaneously electrically contacted and mechanically fixed by splicing.

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