Controlling device for the mechanical actuating of a component

Abstract

A controlling device may include an actuator for mechanically actuating a component. The actuator may be driven by an electric motor. The controlling device provides a return spring. In the case of a failure of the electric motor, the return spring brings about a shifting of the actuator into a starting position. The return spring may be mounted in the controlling device so that it prestresses the actuator into the starting position with a predetermined minimum restoring force.

Claims

1. A controlling device for mechanically actuating a component, comprising: a housing, an electric motor, arranged in the housing, which has a drive shaft, an actuator arranged externally on the housing and for coupling with the component to be actuated, a gear, arranged in the housing, which drivingly connects the drive shaft to an output shaft, connected to the actuator in a torque-proof manner and penetrating the housing, and a return spring arranged in the housing, which in a case of a failure of the electric motor brings about a shifting of the actuator into a starting position, wherein the return spring is mounted in the housing so that the return spring prestresses the actuator with a predetermined minimum restoring force into the starting position, and wherein the gear has at least one gearwheel, the return spring has a gearwheel holder that is supported on a gearwheel stop formed on the gearwheel, and a housing holder that is supported onto a housing stop formed on the housing.

2. The controlling device according to claim 1, wherein the return spring is configured as a spiral spring that is arranged concentrically to the rotation axis of the gearwheel, and wherein the gearwheel holder is arranged at the inner end of the spiral spring, whereas the housing holder is arranged at the outer end of the spiral spring.

3. The controlling device according to claim 1, wherein on the housing several housing stops are formed, which are arranged adjacent to one another in a circumferential direction with respect to the gearwheel.

4. The controlling device according to claim 1, wherein on the gearwheel several gearwheel strops are formed, which are arranged adjacent to one another in a circumferential direction with respect to the gearwheel.

5. The controlling device according to claim 1, wherein the gearwheel is configured as an output wheel the is connected to the output shaft in a torque-proof manner.

6. The controlling device according to claim 1, wherein the gearwheel is configured as an intermediate wheel, which is arranged in the gear between the drive shaft and the output shaft.

7. The controlling device according to claim 1, wherein the gear has a worm drive, which has a worm connected to the drive shaft in a torque-proof manner, and a worm wheel in engagement with the worm, which worm wheel is connected to a coupling wheel in a torque-proof manner, which is in engagement with an output wheel, which is connected to the output shaft in a torque-proof manner.

8. The controlling device according to claim 6, wherein the intermediate wheel is formed by a worm wheel.

9. The controlling device according to claim 6, wherein the output wheel is configured as an intermediate wheel segment including teeth that extend in a circumferential direction over less than 180°.

10. A method for mounting a controlling device, comprising: providing a housing, an electric motor including a drive shaft, an actuator arranged externally on the housing, a gear drivingly connecting the drive shaft to an output shaft that is connected to the actuator in a torque-proof manner and penetrates the housing, and a return spring arranged in the housing that in a case of a failure in the electric motor brings about a shifting of the actuator into a starting position; rotating, before connecting the actuator to the output shaft with a stationary drive shaft in the torque-proof manner, the output shaft for prestressing the return spring until it assumes a mounting rotation position relative to the housing in which a desired minimum restoring force on the output shaft is reached; connecting, in which subsequently with the output shaft held in the mounting rotation position, the actuator to the output shaft in the torque-proof manner; and wherein the providing includes the gear having at least one gearwheel, the return spring having a gearwheel holder that is supported on a gearwheel stop formed on the gearwheel, and a housing holder that is supported onto a housing stop formed on the housing.

11. A method for mounting a controlling device, comprising: providing a housing, an electric motor including a drive shaft, an actuator arranged externally on the housing, a gear drivingly connecting the drive shaft to an output shaft that is connected to the actuator in a torque-proof manner and penetrates the housing, and a return spring arranged in the housing that in a case of a failure in the electric motor brings about a shifting of the actuator into a starting position, wherein the providing includes the gear having at least one gearwheel, the return spring having a gearwheel holder that is supported on a gearwheel stop formed on the gearwheel, and a housing holder that is supported onto a housing stop formed on the housing; measuring the return spring, before inserting into the housing, to determine its deflection from its unstressed neutral state for generating a predetermined minimum restoring force; selecting, based on the determined deflection, at least one of the housing stop and the gearwheel stop; and inserting the return spring into the housing so that at least one of: the housing holder is in engagement with the selected housing stop, and the gearwheel holder is in engagement with the selected gearwheel stop; wherein the return spring is mounted in the housing so that the return spring prestresses the actuator with the predetermined minimum restoring force into the starting position.

12. The controlling device according to claim 3, wherein the return spring and the gearwheel are inserted into a mounting retainer, separate with respect to the housing, which has a retainer stop, on which the housing holder rests, the gearwheel is turned until the desired minimum restoring force is present in a mounting relative position of return spring and gearwheel, and the gearwheel and the return spring are transferred in the fixed mounting relative position from the mounting retainer into the housing, wherein the housing holder is brought into engagement with the best suited housing stop for maintaining the mounting relative position.

13. The controlling device according to claim 1, wherein a bending direction of the gearwheel holder corresponds to a bending direction of windings of at least one of the return spring and the spiral spring, whereas a bending direction of the housing holder is opposed to the bending direction of the windings of the at least one of the return spring and the spiral spring.

14. The controlling device according to one of claim 1, wherein at least one of: the gearwheel stop is integrally formed by the gearwheel, and the housing stop is integrally formed by the housing.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising: inserting the return spring and a gearwheel into a mounting retainer, separate with respect to the housing, which has a retainer stop, on which the housing holder rests; turning the gearwheel until the desired minimum restoring force is present in a mounting relative position of return spring and gearwheel; and transferring the gearwheel and the return spring in the fixed mounting relative position from the mounting retainer into the housing, wherein the housing holder is brought into engagement with the best suited housing stop for maintaining the mounting relative position.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising: measuring the return spring, before inserting into the housing, to determine its deflection from its unstressed neutral state for generating a minimum restoring force; selecting, based on the determined deflection, at least one of a housing stop and a gearwheel stop; and inserting the return spring into the housing so that at least one of: the housing holder is in engagement with the selected housing stop, and the gearwheel holder is in engagement with the selected gearwheel stop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) There are shown here, respectively diagrammatically,

(2) FIG. 1 a side view of a first embodiment of a controlling device according to the invention for the mechanical actuating of a component,

(3) FIG. 2 a top view of the controlling device shown in FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 a top view of a second embodiment of a controlling device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a controlling device 1 according to the invention comprises a housing 2 in which a drive shaft 4 and an output shaft 7 are arranged spaced apart from one another. In this embodiment, the drive shaft 4 and the output shaft 7 are aligned so as to be substantially parallel with respect to their rotation axes 14 or respectively axial axes. The respective axial axis runs through the respective symmetry axis of the cylindrical drive shaft 4 and output shaft 7. The housing 2 has bearings, which are not illustrated, for the drive shaft 4 and the output shaft 7, wherein the bearings are configured so that the drive shaft 4 and the output shaft 7 are mounted rotatably about their rotation axes 14, but are not displaceable along their respective axial axis.

(6) The drive shaft 4 in fact penetrates the housing 2 in FIG. 1 at two locations, however provision can also be made that the drive shaft 4 is mounted entirely within the housing 2, in order to achieve as compact a structure of the controlling device 1 as possible. In contrast thereto, the output shaft 7 must penetrate the housing 2 at at least one location, so that an actuator 5 can be arranged on it in a torque-proof manner outside the housing 2, in order to mechanically actuate a component which is not illustrated. On a rotational movement of the output shaft 7, the actuator 5 carries out a pivoting movement about the rotation axis 14 of the output shaft 7 and transfers the component, which is not illustrated, into a desired position. The component which is to be actuated by means of the controlling device 1 can be a flap device or valve device in an intake system of an internal combustion engine, e.g. with at least one throttle valve, swirl flap or tumble flap, or in a turbocharger of the internal combustion engine, such as e.g. a wastegate valve. The component can also be a VTG, therefore a variable turbine geometry of an exhaust gas turbocharger.

(7) The drive shaft 4 and the output shaft 7 are drivingly connected via a gear 6, wherein the gear 6 is configured as a spur gear and has a first gearwheel 9, which is connected to the drive shaft 4 in a torque-proof manner, and a further gearwheel, which is configured as output wheel 15 and is connected to the output shaft 7 in a torque-proof manner. In contrast to the diagrammatic illustration in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, provision can be made that the gearwheel 9 and the output wheel 15 have different diameters, wherein it is expedient that a high transmission is achieved from the drive shaft 4 to the output shaft 7, in order to generate, with a low torque on the drive shaft 4, a higher torque on the output shaft 7, which is at least suitable to transfer the component, which is not illustrated, with the actuator 5 into a desired position. Therefore, provision can be made that the gearwheel 9 has a smaller diameter than the output wheel 15. Provision can also be made that at least one further gearwheel, which is configured as intermediate wheel, is arranged in the gear 6 between the drive shaft 4 and the output shaft 7, in order to provide a suitable transmission.

(8) The controlling device 1 has an electric motor 3, which is arranged within the housing 2. The drive shaft 4 penetrates a rotor, not illustrated, of the electric motor 3 and is connected to the latter in a torque-proof manner. The electric motor 3 can be embodied as a stepping motor which comprises a motor housing which is able to be fixed to the housing 2. Within the motor housing, a stator, which is not illustrated, can be provided, in which the rotor is rotatably mounted. Through a suitable activation of the electric motor 3, which can take place via a control unit, which is not illustrated, the rotor, and thereby the drive shaft 4, is set into a rotational movement. Here, at least one communicating connection exists between the electric motor 3 and the control unit.

(9) Provision can be made that the electric motor 3 brings about this rotational movement for a predetermined time, or that the electric motor 3 carries out this rotational movement so that a predetermined angle is swept over by the drive shaft 4. The rotational movement or respectively the torque of the drive shaft 4 is transferred via the gear 6 to the output shaft 7 and, in so doing, is transmitted, wherein the output shaft 7 in turn sets the actuator 5 into a pivoting movement. Here, the actuator 5 is transferred from the predetermined starting position into a predetermined final position or vice versa.

(10) So that the actuator 5 of the controlling device 1 is moved into the predetermined starting position in the case of a failure of the electric motor 3, so that a well-defined state or respectively a failsafe position of the component which is to be actuated occurs, a return spring 8 is provided within the housing 2. Here, the return spring 8 prestresses the actuator 5 with a predetermined minimum restoring force into the starting position.

(11) The return spring 8 is configured as a spiral spring with several windings, which describes at least partially an Archimedeal spiral and is arranged concentrically to the rotation axis 14 of the output wheel 15. At the inner end of the return spring 8, a gearwheel holder 10 is formed and at the outer end of the return spring 8 a housing holder 12 is formed. Between the return spring 8 and the gearwheel holder 10 or respectively the housing holder 12, a bending site is respectively provided, in which the material of the return spring 8 has a smaller bending radius compared to the bending radius of the windings of the spiral spring. The bending direction of the gearwheel holder 10 corresponds here to the bending direction of the windings of the spiral spring, whereas the bending direction of the housing holder 12 is opposed to the bending direction of the windings of the spiral spring.

(12) On the output wheel 15 several gearwheel stops 11 are formed, which are arranged adjacent to one another in circumferential direction with respect to the output wheel 15. The gearwheel holder 10 of the return spring 8 is in engagement with one of the gearwheel stops 11. The gearwheel stops 11 can be formed as recesses and/or as projections, wherein the gearwheel stops 11 can be spaced apart equidistantly from one another in circumferential direction with respect to the output wheel 15. However, provision can also be made that the gearwheel stops 11 are not spaced apart equidistantly from one another.

(13) On the housing 2 several housing stops 13 are provided, which are arranged adjacent to one another in circumferential direction with respect to the output wheel 15. The housing holder 12 of the return spring 8 is in engagement with one of the housing stops 13. The housing stops 13 can be formed as recesses and/or as projections, wherein the housing stops 13 can be spaced apart equidistantly from one another in circumferential direction with respect to the output wheel 15. However, provision can also be made that the housing stops 13 are not spaced apart equidistantly from one another. The housing stops 13 can be formed by the housing 2 itself or also for example by a component which is able to be inserted into the housing 2 and which has the corresponding housing stops 13.

(14) Provision can be made that the spacing of the gearwheel stops 11 and/or of the housing stops 13 is a multiple, in particular a whole multiple, of the gearwheel pitch of one of the gearwheels of the gear 6.

(15) The return spring 8 is inserted during mounting of the controlling device 1 so that the gearwheel holder 10 and the housing holder 12 engage into a suitable gearwheel stop 11 or respectively housing stop 13, in order to generate a deflection of the return spring 8 from its unstressed neutral position, so that with the electric motor 3 disconnected, the actuator 5 is prestressed with a predetermined minimum restoring force in the starting position. For this, the return spring 8 can be measured before inserting into the housing 2, in order to determine the deflection required for a predetermined restoring force. Through the selection of the suitable gearwheel stop 11 or respectively housing stop 13, an installation position of the return spring 8 can be selected, in which the manufacturing deviations of the return spring 8 are compensated, so that a predetermined minimum restoring force is always present.

(16) A fine adjustment of the deflection of the return spring 8 in the installation position in the controlling device 1 can be achieved in that before the torque-proof connecting of the actuator 5 to the output shaft 7, the output shaft 7 is first turned, for further prestressing of the return spring 8, so far until the return spring 8 assumes in its installation position a mounting rotation position relative to the housing 2 in which the desired minimum restoring force is generated on the output shaft 7. The output shaft 7 is held in this mounting rotation position of the return spring 8, wherein subsequently the actuator 5 is connected to the output shaft 7 in a torque-proof manner.

(17) The electric motor 3 of the controlling device 1 must be designed so that in addition to the actuation of the component, it also can overcome the restoring elastic force of the return spring 8 in its installed position and, if applicable, additional mounting rotation position from the starting position up to the final position of the actuator 5. The deflection of the return spring 8 must always be selected so that in the case of a failure of the electric motor 3 the actuator can apply a sufficiently great force or respectively a sufficiently great torque, in order to transfer the component, which is to be actuated, into a well-defined state or respectively a failsafe position.

(18) In FIG. 3 a second example embodiment of a controlling device 1 according to the invention is shown, which is equipped with a worm drive 17, which is arranged within the housing 2. The worm drive 17 comprises an electric motor 3 with a drive shaft 4, which at least partially penetrates the electric motor 3. The drive shaft 4 is connected to a worm 18 in a torque-proof manner, wherein the worm 18 is in engagement with a worm wheel 19. In this example embodiment, the worm wheel 19 is provided as an intermediate wheel, which is arranged between the worm 18 and the output wheel 15. In contrast to the example embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in this example embodiment the return spring 8 is not arranged on the output wheel 15, but rather on the worm wheel 19 or respectively on the intermediate wheel.

(19) In this example embodiment, the drive shaft 4 and the output shaft 7 are not aligned in a parallel manner to one another, but rather are aligned transversely to one another through the use of the worm drive 17. Therefore, a particularly compact controlling device 1 can be produced, because the available spatial volume is utilized optimally. Through the use of the worm drive 17, a comparatively high transmission from the drive shaft 4 to the output shaft 7 is able to be achieved, so that the electric motor 3 which is required for the worm drive 17 can be compact and constructed with a low net weight.