Electromagnetic Positioning Device with Position Detection

Abstract

The invention relates to an electromagnetic positioning device (10) having energizable stationary coil means (1), a magnetic guide element (2) associated thereto and having a core section (2a) and an anchor unit (3) moveable in relation to the guide element (2) and along an axial movement direction (L) as a reaction to an energization of the coil means (1), wherein the guide element (2) is a hollow cylinder that partially surrounds the anchor unit (3). The positioning device (10) has an ultra-wide-band sensor unit (4) which is preferably integrated in the guide element (3) and is designed for measuring the position and/or the displacement of the anchor unit (3) in the guide element (2).

Claims

1. An electromagnetic positioning device having energizable coil means, a magnetic guide element associated thereto and having a core section and an anchor unit moveable in relation to the guide element and along an axial movement direction as a reaction to an energization of the coil means, wherein the guide element is configured to be hollow cylindrical and to at least partially surround the anchor unit, characterized in that the positioning device has an ultra-wide-band sensor unit integrated in the guide element and designed for measuring a position and/or a displacement of the anchor unit in the guide element.

2. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the ultra-wide-band sensor unit comprises a short-range radar sensor cell that functions as an unmodulated continuous wave radar.

3. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the ultra-wide-band sensor unit is disposed axially in the guide element such that its signal emission direction is essentially parallel to the axial movement direction of the anchor unit.

4. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 3, wherein the ultra-wide-band sensor unit is oriented such that its signal emission direction is toward a front of the anchor unit disposed orthogonally to the axial movement direction of the anchor unit.

5. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 3, wherein the ultra-wide-band sensor unit is disposed in an abutment element on one end for the anchor unity of the guide element.

6. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the ultra-wide-band sensor unit is disposed radially in the guide element, such that its signal emission direction is oriented essentially orthogonally to the axial movement direction of the anchor unit.

7. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 6, wherein the ultra-wide-band sensor unit is oriented such that its signal emission direction is towards a structured circumferential or lateral surface of the anchor unit.

8. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the ultra-wide-band sensor unit has a fluid-tight cover disposed thereon.

9. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 8, wherein the ultra-wide-band sensor unit is disposed in a radial or axial recess of the guide element, and the cover disposed on the sensor unit preferably extends flat with an inner surface of the guide element oriented towards the anchor unit.

10. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the ultra-wide-band sensor unit is configured for detecting an acceleration and/or a speed of the anchor unit in the axial movement direction.

11. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the ultra-wide-band sensor unit is configured for analyzing a fluid guided in the guide element via impedance spectroscopy.

12. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the ultra-wide-band sensor unit is configured for detecting and/or analyzing currents within a fluid guided within the guide element.

13. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the anchor unit is configured for being connected to a valve coil component group and/or a positioning element.

14. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the guide element has a fluid channel disposed on one end for connecting to a hydraulics component group, through which the anchor unit passes at least partially.

15. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device has a control unit configured for controlling and evaluating signals of the ultra-wide-band sensor unit.

16. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 15, wherein the control unit is configured for proportionately controlling the anchor unit via the coil means based on the signals of the ultra-wide-band sensor unit.

17. (canceled)

18. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the guide element has a brace section and an intermediary intermediate section made of non-magnetic material in addition to the core section.

19. A method for positioning a hydraulic or pneumatic valve, the method comprising using the electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1.

20. A method for displacement-controlled engagement in a guide groove of a cam shaft, the shaft method comprising using the electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1.

21. A method for measuring the position and/or the displacement of a hydraulic cylinder, the method comprising using the electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the electromagnetic positioning device.

Description

[0037] Further advantages, features and details of the invention are derived from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment and by means of the figures.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cut through a preferred embodiment of an electromagnetic positioning device according to the invention at hand;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a perspective partial view of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1; and

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a perspective partial view of a positioning element from the state of the art having LVDT sensor technology.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows positioning device 10 having energizable stationary coil means 1 and a hollow-cylindrical magnetic guide element 2 associated thereto. Coil means 1 are disposed so as to at least partially surround guide element 2. Coil means 1 and guide element 2 extend preferably coaxially within a preferably two-piece casing 10a, 10b of the device. Guide element 2 has a core section 2a, a brace section 2b spaced apart therefrom and an intermediate intermediary section 2c. In guide element 2, anchor unit 3 of device 10 is disposed in such a manner that it can be moved selectively along an axial movement direction L as a reaction to an energization of coil means 1.

[0042] Guide element 2 has a hollow-cylindrical tube section 12 and a fluid channel 9 which is connected thereto, is preferably formed coaxially thereto and is connected to a connection area 13 of the device on one end for being connected to, for example, a hydraulic component group. In this instance, fluid channel 9 can have channel sections 9a, 9b, 9c extending gradually towards connection area 13.

[0043] Anchor unit 3 comprises a diameter, which is preferably constant having an essentially cylindrical body section 3a, is mounted so as to be moveable in the hollow-cylindrical tube section 12 of guide element 2 and has a fluid channel 3e extending axially through there. Anchor unit 3 further comprises a connective section 3b, which extends away from body section 3a, is preferably disposed coaxially with body section 3a and extends at least partially through fluid channel 9 of guide element 2. Guide channel 2 can have distally disposed connectors 3c, e.g., an inner or outer thread for being connected to an external positioning element.

[0044] Guide element 2 can have an abutment element 6 on an end of device 10 opposite connection area 13 on one end, abutment element 6 being designed so as to be connectable integrally or selectively to guide element 3. Abutment element 6 is preferably disposed in guide element 2 as a stroke limitation for anchor unit 3 and can be designed as an essentially cylindrical component, which is disposed in a cylindrical opening of guide element 2. An opposite limitation of the longitudinal movement of anchor unit 3 in guide element 2 can take place by means of an abutment surface 14 integrated in core section 2a of guide element 2.

[0045] Positioning device 10 has at least one ultra-wide-band sensor unit 4. This can be disposed axially (cf. reference numeral 4a) or radially (cf. reference numeral 4b) in guide element 2. Ultra-wide-band sensor unit 4 is disposed in an axial or radial recess 7a, 7b of guide element 2 in each instance. When disposed axially, sensor unit 4 is preferably disposed in abutment element 6. In particular, sensor unit 4 can be disposed in a centrally protruding section 8 of abutment element 6. Sensor unit 4 is oriented towards a front face 3d of the anchor unit with regards to its signal emission direction 5a, essentially parallel to axial movement direction L of anchor unit 3. A change in position and/or a displacement measurement along movement direction L can be detected and/or take place via ultra-wide-band sensor unit 4.

[0046] When ultra-wide-band sensor unit 4b is disposed radially, sensor unit 4b is preferably integrated in such a manner in fluid channel 9 that its signal emission direction 5b is oriented essentially orthogonal to axial movement direction L of anchor unit 2. The signal emission direction is oriented towards a structured circumferential or lateral surface of anchor unit 3, which can be detected and/or sampled by the sensor when moved along the movement direction. The structured circumferential or lateral surface can, for example, be formed by a circumferential edge 15, which is formed by a change in diameter of anchor unit 3.

[0047] Sensor unit 4 can have a cover 11 integrated therewith or associated therewith (shown in an exemplary manner only for axial position 4a). This is preferably disposed flat with an inner surface 8a, 9d of guide element 2 oriented towards anchor unit 3.

[0048] As previously described, ultra-wide-band sensor 4a, 4b can also be configured for detecting further parameters. Moreover, the device can also have at least two ultra-wide-band sensor units 4a, 4b, which have the same or different functional configurations for detecting the previously described parameters.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in a perspective cut view. In this instance, an integrated connection or a plug unit 16 is shown, which is provided as a connector for coil means 1. This is connected to a control unit (not shown) of device 10, which is also connected to the at least one ultra-wide-band sensor unit 4a, 4b of device 10 and is configured for controlling and evaluating signals of ultra-wide-band sensor 4. The control unit is preferably designed for the proportional control of anchor unit 3 via coil means 1 and based on the signals provided by the at least one ultra-wide-band sensor unit 4a, 4b.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a generic electromagnetic positioning device 10′ having an axially associated LVDT sensor 20 for position detection and/or displacement measurement from the state of the art. LVDT sensor 20 has an oblong encoder core 21, which extends through sensor coils 22 and is disposed in a pressure tube 23. Encoder core 21 is fixedly connected to anchor unit 3′ of the positioning device. A change in position of anchor unit 3′ is detected via a change in relative position of encoder core 21 in relation to associated sensor coils 22.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0051] 1 coil means [0052] 2 guide element [0053] 2a core section [0054] 2b brace section [0055] 2c intermediate section [0056] 3 anchor unit [0057] 3a body section [0058] 3b connection section [0059] 3c connector [0060] 3d front [0061] 3e fluid channel [0062] 4 ultra-wide-band sensor unit [0063] 4a axial position sensor unit [0064] 4b radial position sensor unit [0065] 5a,5b signal emission direction [0066] 6 abutment element [0067] 7a,7b recess [0068] 8 protrusion abutment element [0069] 8a surface/inner face [0070] 9 fluid channel [0071] 9a-c fluid channel sections [0072] 9d inner face [0073] 10 positioning device [0074] 10′ state-of-the-art positioning device [0075] 10a,b casing parts [0076] 11 cover [0077] 12 hollow-cylindrical tube section [0078] 13 connection area [0079] 14 abutment surface [0080] 15 structured circumferential or lateral face, edge [0081] 16 connection coil means [0082] 20 LVDT sensor [0083] 21 encoder core [0084] 22 sensor coils [0085] 23 pressure tube [0086] L movement direction