Filling an Armature Space of an Actuator

Abstract

An electromagnetic actuator (1) for an assembly, which has a fluid space configured to be fluidically connected to the actuator when the actuator is installed in the assembly, includes a movable armature in an armature space (6). The armature includes a movable armature rod (8). The actuator is configured to fill the armature space (6) with fluid, such as oil, via axial movements of the armature rod that draw fluid from the fluid space into the armature space (6) through a fluid path when the armature rod is fluidically connected to the fluid space.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. An electromagnetic actuator (1) for a motor vehicle with a fluid space (16) configured to be fluidically connected to the actuator (1) when the actuator (1) is installed in the motor vehicle, the actuator (1) comprising: a movable armature in an armature space (6), the armature comprising a movable armature rod (8), wherein the actuator (1) is configured to fill the armature space (6) with fluid via movement of the armature rod (8) drawing fluid from the fluid space (16) into the armature space (6) through a fluid path (9) when the armature rod (8) is fluidically connected to the fluid space (16).

14. The electromagnetic actuator (1) of claim 13, wherein the fluid path (9) is defined at least partially by an axial bore (10) or depression of the armature rod (8), a fluid-space-side radial bore (11) of the armature rod (8), and at least one armature-space-side bore (12; 13) of the armature rod (8).

15. The electromagnetic actuator (1) of claim 13, wherein the armature rod (8) is radially surrounded at a fluid-space-side end of the armature rod (8) by a core (4), and a gap (18) that forms a portion of the fluid path (9) is disposed between the core (4) and the armature rod (8).

16. The electromagnetic actuator (1) of claim 13, wherein the armature space (6) is configured to provide damping via the armature space (6) having a first fluid reservoir (19) and a second fluid reservoir (20), and the first and the second fluid reservoirs (19, 20) are fluidically connected via a portion of the fluid path (9).

17. The electromagnetic actuator (1) of claim 16, wherein the damping is adjustable by way of the flow resistance of the fluid path (9) between the fluid reservoirs (19, 20).

18. The electromagnetic actuator (1) of claim 16, wherein the armature rod (8) comprises a first armature-space-side radial bore (12), a second armature-space-side radial bore (13), and an axial bore (10) or depression that collectively form the fluid path (9) between the first and second fluid reservoirs (19, 20), and the damping is adjustable by way of a diameter of the first and the second armature-space-side radial bores (12, 13).

19. The electromagnetic actuator (1) of claim 13, wherein the actuator (1) is configured such that an evacuation of the armature chamber (6) of fluid during operation of the actuator (1) is prevented by a fluid-space-side bore (11) of the armature rod (8) being covered during a stroke of the actuator.

20. The electromagnetic actuator (1) of claim 13, wherein the actuator (1) is configured to fill the armature space (6) via a filling sequence that comprises a predetermined number of axial movements of the armature.

21. The electromagnetic actuator (1) of claim 13, wherein the armature space (6) comprises a ventilation gap (15) at an end of the armature space (6) disposed opposite the fluid space (16), and the ventilation gap (15) is configured to provide ventilation of the armature space (6).

22. The electromagnetic actuator (1) of claim 13, further comprising: a housing (14); a magnetic coil (2) radially surrounding an interior space; a pole tube (3) projecting into the interior space surrounded by the coil (2); a core (4) projecting into the interior space surrounded by the coil (2), the core (4) disposed axially opposite the pole tube (3); and a bearing (5), wherein at least the core (4) and the pole tube (3) define the armature space (6), wherein an armature restrictor of the armature forms a throttle (7) between a first fluid reservoir (19) and a second fluid reservoir (20) of the armature space (6), wherein the armature rod (8) is mounted by the bearing (5), and wherein the pole tube (3) and the bearing (5) form a ventilation gap (15) at an end of the armature space (6) disposed opposite the fluid space (16).

23. An assembly for a motor vehicle with a fluid space (16), the assembly comprising at least one electromagnetic actuator (1) of claim 13 arranged within the assembly at a fluid space (16).

24. A method for filling the electromagnetic actuator (1) of claim 13 with fluid, the method comprising: filling (S1) the fluid space with fluid or providing a fluid-filled fluid space; installing (S2) the actuator at a fluid space; starting (S3) a filling sequence with one or more axial movements of the actuator in order to fill the armature space (6) with the fluid.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Example aspects of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments given in the schematic figures of the drawings. In the figures:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of an electromagnetic actuator according to an example embodiment of the invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a method according to an example embodiment of the invention.

[0035] The accompanying drawings are intended to provide further understanding of the example embodiments of the invention. The drawings illustrate example embodiments and serve, in connection with the description, to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other example embodiments and many of the advantages that are mentioned become apparent from the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale with respect to one another.

[0036] In the figures of the drawings, elements, features and components that are identical, functionally identical and act in the same way are each provided with the same reference signs, unless indicated otherwise.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Example aspects of the invention will be described below with reference to oil as a fluid. It is self-evident that the selection of oil as a fluid is merely exemplary and does not limit the scope of protection of this patent application.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of an electromagnetic actuator 1 having a magnetic coil 2, a pole tube 3, a core 4, a bearing 5, and an armature with a throttle 7 and an armature rod 8, which are surrounded by a housing 14.

[0039] The magnetic coil 2, together with the housing 14, forms an interior space of the actuator, in which the pole tube 3 and the core 4 are arranged. The pole tube 3 and the core 4 are situated axially opposite each other and delimit an armature space 6 in which the armature with the throttle 7 and the armature rod 8 is received. In FIG. 1, the throttle 7 is configured as an armature restrictor that is formed radially to the inside of the pole tube 3 and the core 4. Guided within the armature restrictor is the armature rod 8, which is mounted by a bearing 5.

[0040] The bearing 5 forms a receptacle for the armature rod 8 and, by way of a stop of the bearing 5, lies on the pole tube 3 such that a ventilation gap 15 that serves for ventilating the armature space is formed between the bearing 5 and the pole tube 3.

[0041] If the actuator 1 is fluidically connected to the fluid space 16, the actuator fills itself by way of axial strokes of the actuator 1, if the actuator is not already filled with fluid. The filling is performed by virtue of fluid, in this case oil, creeping from the fluid space 16 into the gap 18 between the armature rod 8 and the core 4. There, the fluid flows via the radial bore 11 into the axial bore 10 and onwards into the armature space 6. In the armature space 6, the armature rod 8 has two bores 12 and 13, which form a portion of the fluid path 9 between the fluid reservoir 19 and the fluid reservoir 20.

[0042] When the armature restrictor moves axially, oil flows between a first fluid reservoir 19 and a second fluid reservoir 20. Here, oil passes from one fluid reservoir 19, 20 into the respective other fluid reservoir 20, 19 by virtue of oil being forced through portions of the fluid path 9, specifically the region between the bores 12 and 13, by strokes of the armature restrictor.

[0043] If the armature rod 8 lifts, the armature rod 8 is closed by the projection 17 of the core 4. This prevents the actuator 1 from being evacuated during operation.

[0044] The armature rod 8 is formed along a longitudinal axis of the actuator 1 and thus also defines the axial movement direction of the armature.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a method for filling an electromagnetic actuator with oil. The method includes the steps S1 to S3. In the step S1, the oil space is filled with oil. In the step S2, the actuator is installed at an oil space, in particular of a gearbox. In the step S3, a filling sequence with one or more axial movements of the armature is started in order to fill the armature space with oil. It is self-evident that, in particular, the sequence of the steps S1 and S2 is exchangeable. Instead of filling the oil space with oil, an oil space containing oil may also be provided. This also applies to fluid spaces that contain fluids other than oil.

[0046] Modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments illustrated or described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. In the claims, reference characters corresponding to elements recited in the detailed description and the drawings may be recited. Such reference characters are enclosed within parentheses and are provided as an aid for reference to example embodiments described in the detailed description and the drawings. Such reference characters are provided for convenience only and have no effect on the scope of the claims. In particular, such reference characters are not intended to limit the claims to the particular example embodiments described in the detailed description and the drawings.

Reference Signs

[0047] 1 Actuator [0048] 2 Coil [0049] 3 Pole tube [0050] 4 Core [0051] 5 Bearing [0052] 6 Armature space [0053] 7 Throttle [0054] 8 Armature rod [0055] 9 Fluid path [0056] 10 Bore [0057] 11 Bore [0058] 12 Bore [0059] 13 Bore [0060] 14 Housing [0061] 15 Ventilation gap [0062] 16 Fluid space [0063] 17 Projection [0064] 18 Gap [0065] 19 First fluid reservoir [0066] 20 Second fluid reservoir [0067] S1-S3 Method steps