Actuator device for an adjustable roll stabilizer of a motor vehicle

Abstract

An actuator device (1) for an adjustable roll stabilizer (2) of a motor vehicle, with a housing (4) that extends in the direction of a rotational axis (3) and an actuator (5) arranged in the housing. The actuator device (1) can be operated to twist two stabilizer sections (7a, 7b) relative to one another about the rotational axis (3) and the two stabilizer sections (7a, 7b) are attached to opposite ends (6a, 6b) of the actuator device (1). An engagement contour (8) is formed on the housing (4), which is suitable for immobilizing the housing during the application of torque (M1) to the housing (4) in a direction around the rotational axis (3).

Claims

1. An actuator device for an adjustable roll stabilizer of a motor vehicle, the actuator device comprising: a housing extending in a direction of a rotational axis and being mounted to rotate relative to the motor vehicle about the rotational axis, an actuator being arranged within the housing such that the actuator device is operable to twist first and second stabilizer sections relative to one another about the rotational axis, the first stabilizer section is connected to a first end of the actuator device which is rotationally fixed to a first end of the housing, and the second stabilizer section is fixed to a second end of the actuator device which is rotatable relative to the housing, and the first end of the housing has an outer engagement contour with a discontinuous radius, and the engagement contour being suitable for immobilizing the housing when a torque about the rotational axis is applied thereto.

2. The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator and a gear system are arranged inside the housing and are coaxial relative to the rotational axis, the gear system having an output that is rotatably supported by a bearing that is axially fixed by a threaded ring that abuts the bearing and engages an inner thread of the housing.

3. The actuator device according to claim 2, wherein the gear system is a multi-step planetary gear system and the output thereof is welded to the second stabilizer section.

4. The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially of rotationally symmetrical shape.

5. The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of segments welded one to another.

6. The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electric motor that is operable to rotate the housing and the second stabilizer section relative to each other.

7. The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the actuator device is an output-side end and the first end of the actuator device is an axially opposite-side end, an output-side bearing rotatably supports a gear system component relative to the housing and is arranged on the output-side end of the actuator device, and the output-side bearing is axially secured relative to the housing by a bearing screw connection in a form of a threaded ring.

8. The actuator device according to claim 7, wherein the engagement contour is formed circumferentially on an exterior surface of a housing cover section of the housing, which is arranged on the opposite-side end of the actuator device opposite the output-side end and the bearing screw connection.

9. The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement contour is configured to facilitate engagement of the housing and prevent rotation of the housing when the housing is subjected to torque during fitting of an output-side bearing screw connection.

10. The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement contour is one of a: two-faceted, a multi-faceted, a six-lobed, a hexagonal, and a multi-toothed feature.

11. The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement contour is formed by machining the housing such that a radially outer surface of the first end of the housing comprises a plurality of planar surfaces.

12. The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is made, at least in part, as a forged component with the engagement contour formed at the first end of the housing by a plurality of planar surfaces about a circumference of the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Below, the invention will be explained with reference to an example embodiment and to the drawings. From this, further effects and advantages of the invention will emerge. The drawings show:

(2) FIG. 1: A schematic view of an adjustable roll stabilizer of a motor vehicle,

(3) FIG. 2: A side view of an actuator device according to the single example embodiment,

(4) FIG. 3: The actuator device according to the single example embodiment, viewed obliquely from the side,

(5) FIG. 4: The actuator device of the single example embodiment, represented partially in cross-section with the stabilizer section fitted on it.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) To illustrate the field of application of the invention, FIG. 1 shows first a schematic view of an adjustable roll stabilizer 2. The adjustable roll stabilizer 2 is part of a not completely shown chassis of a motor vehicle (not shown). A first wheel 12a and a second wheel 12b, arranged on the opposite sides of the vehicle, are in each case connected to the body of the motor vehicle by way of transverse control arms 13a and 13b respectively and by further chassis components, not shown for the sake of simplicity. Thus—in a simplified manner—the wheel 12a and the control arm 13a, and the wheel 12b and the control arm 13b, form respective wheel suspensions. Each of these wheel suspensions is coupled to an end of an associated stabilizer section 7a and 7b of the adjustable roll stabilizer 2. In the middle of the vehicle the two stabilizer sections 7a and 7b are connected to one another via an actuator device 1.

(7) In a manner known as such, the adjustable roll stabilizer 2 is mounted rotatably about a rotational axis 3 relative to the vehicle body (which is not shown further). The actuator device 1, in this case represented as a cylindrical body, comprises a housing 4 which is essentially rotationally symmetrical relative to the rotational axis 3, in which housing an electric motor and a multi-step planetary gear system are arranged (not shown in this representation). By way of the electric motor and the gear system the stabilizer sections 7a and 7b are in driving connection with one another. When the electric motor is static the two stabilizer sections 7a, 7b are connected solidly with one another via the actuator. By operating the electric motor, the stabilizer sections 7a, 7b can be twisted about the rotational axis 3 relative to one another, depending on the rotational direction of the electric motor. In that way the adjustable roll stabilizer 2 can be adjusted in a manner known as such.

(8) FIGS. 2 to 4 show various views of an actuator device 1 according to the single example embodiment of the invention, wherein the same components are given the same indexes. The description of the structure and mode of operation given below therefore relates to all of the FIGS. 2 to 4.

(9) FIG. 2 shows the actuator device 1 for a roll stabilizer 2 of a motor vehicle as represented schematically in FIG. 1. The actuator device 1 has an essentially cylindrical external basic shape, with a housing 4 that extends in the direction of the rotational axis 3. Thus, relative to the rotational axis 3 the housing 4 is essentially rotationally symmetrical. As indicted by the curly brackets, the housing 4 is divided into three segments 4a, 4b and 4c. These three segments, a housing cover section 4a, an intermediate housing section 4b and a housing bearing section 4c, are respectively welded to one another in a circumferential area to make a hollow body that forms the housing 4.

(10) In a manner known as such, inside the housing 4 are arranged an actuator 5 in the form of an electric motor and a multi-step planetary gear system 9. As represented in FIG. 2, the locations of the actuator 5 and the multi-step gear system 9 are indicated. As shown, the actuator 5 is closer to an end 6a of the actuator device 1 fixed on the housing, whereas the multi-step planetary gear system 9 is closer to an output-side end 6b of the actuator device 1. In the installed condition (see FIG. 1), the end 6a fixed to the housing is connected to the stabilizer section 7a, while the output-side end 7b is connected to the stabilizer section 7b.

(11) As can be seen in FIG. 4, which shows a cross-section through the housing bearing section 4c of the actuator device 1, the multi-step planetary gear system 9 has on its output side a planetary carrier 14 which in the example shown is welded to the stabilizer section 7b. The planetary carrier 14 is fitted by means of a drive bearing 10 in the form of a double-row bearing so that it can rotate about the rotational axis 3 relative to the housing bearing section 4c (part of the housing 4). To assemble the actuator device 1, the drive bearing 10 is pushed into the housing bearing section 4c in the axial direction (rotational axis 3). To axially secure the drive bearing 10, an internal thread 15 is formed on the housing bearing section 4c, into which thread a threaded ring 11 is screwed. To screw in the threaded ring 11, a relatively large torque M1 is required (see FIG. 3) in order to produce the necessary securing force as well as self-locking. To prevent co-rotation of the housing 4 while screwing in the threaded ring 11 and at the same time to avoid damaging the housing 4 due to inappropriately tight immobilization, the housing 4 has an engagement contour 8 as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The engagement contour 8 is formed circumferentially on the housing cover section 4a of the housing 3, which is located on the end 6a of the actuator device 1 opposite the bearing screw connection 11. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the engagement contour 8 is on the end of the housing cover section 4a facing toward the end 6a fixed to the housing, so that a holding tool can easily be fitted over it in the axial direction. In the example embodiment shown, the engagement contour 8 is in the multi-faceted form. Otherwise than this, the engagement contour could be two-faceted, six-lobed, hexagonal, multi-toothed or the like.

(12) In the example embodiment shown, the engagement contour 8 is produced by machining the housing 4 in the area of the housing cover section 4a. Alternatively or in addition, the housing 4 can be made in part as a forged component in which the engagement contour 8 is produced integrally.

(13) With the help of the engagement contour according to the invention, the threaded ring 11 can be screwed into the housing bearing section 4c in a simple and reliable manner in order to secure the output bearing 10 axially. During this the engagement contour 8 enables simple immobilization in order to counteract a torque M1 produced as the threaded ring 11 is screwed in. Advantageously, in that way large axial securing forces can be applied and in addition the force can be adjusted by means of the screwing-in. Damage to the housing 4 of the actuator device 1 can be avoided, since the engagement contour enables interlocked holding or immobilization. Clamping of the actuator device 1 that might cause damage is thus avoided.

INDEXES

(14) 1 Actuator device

(15) 2 Roll stabilizer

(16) 3 Rotational axis

(17) 4 Housing

(18) 4a Housing cover section

(19) 4b Intermediate housing section

(20) 4c Housing bearing section

(21) 5 Actuator

(22) 6a End of the actuator device fixed to the housing

(23) 6b Output-side end of the actuator device

(24) 7a Stabilizer section (fixed to the housing)

(25) 7b Stabilizer section (output side)

(26) 8 Engagement contour

(27) 9 Multi-step planetary gear system

(28) 10 Output-side bearing

(29) 11 Threaded ring

(30) 12a Left-hand wheel

(31) 12b Right-hand wheel

(32) 13a Left-hand wheel suspension

(33) 13b Right-hand wheel suspension

(34) 14 Planetary carrier

(35) 15 Internal thread

(36) M1 Torque