Actuator, device for engaging a parking lock of a motor-vehicle automatic transmission having such an actuator and motor vehicle equipped therewith

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator, comprising a drive (2) that drives a drive shaft (1), a first actuating element (3) operatively connected to the drive shaft (1) for actuating a switching apparatus, a spring element (5), which can be supported at one end on a housing component (16) of the actuator and is supported on the other end on a second actuating element (17) designed to load the spring element (5). The actuator according to the invention is characterized in that a rotatably mounted rotational element/gearwheel (13) that can be driven by means of the drive shaft (1) is provided, which rotational element has, on one side, a first control gate (7), which is operatively connected to the first actuating element (3) for actuation of the switching apparatus, and on the other side, a second control gate (8) for loading the spring element (5).

Claims

1. An actuator, comprising: a drive (2) configured for driving a drive shaft (1), a first actuating element (3) operatively connected to the drive shaft (1) configured for actuating a shifting device, a spring element (5) supported at one end on a housing component (16) of the actuator and at its opposite end on a second actuating element (17) configured to load the spring element (5), a rotary element (4) defining an axis of rotation and adapted to be rotatably driven using the drive shaft (1), a first control cam (7) rotatable about the axis of rotation and operatively connected to the first actuating element (3) and configured to actuate the shifting device, and a second control cam (8) rotatable about the axis of rotation and configured to load the spring element (5).

2. The actuator according to claim 1, further comprising a first engagement element (20) of the first actuating element (3) configured to strike or engage in the first control cam (7), and a second engagement element (21) of the second actuating element (17) configured to strike or engage in the second control cam (8).

3. The actuator according to claim 2, wherein the rotary element (4) with the two control cams (7, 8) is configured to be rotated via the drive shaft (1) or the drive (2) between a maximum negative angular position up to −180° and a maximum positive angular position up to +180°, and wherein the spring element (5) is configured to be loaded through a rotation of the rotary element (4) from its neutral angular position at 0° up to the maximum negative angular position up to −180° via the second control cam (8) and the second engagement element (21) of the second actuating element (17).

4. The actuator according to claim 2, wherein with a rotation of the rotary element (4) from its neutral rotational position of 0° in the direction of its maximum positive rotational position up to 180°, using the first control cam (7) and the first engagement element (20), various shifting stages of the shifting device can be set.

5. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the first control cam (7) is configured so that with a rotation of the rotary element (4) from its neutral rotational position of 0° in the direction of its maximum negative rotational position up to −180°, the position of the first actuating element (3) remains unchanged upon actuation of the shifting device.

6. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the rotary element (4) is a disk (6) defining opposing surfaces (18, 19) and the two control cams (7, 8) are arranged on the opposing surfaces (18, 19), respectively.

7. The actuator according to claim 1 wherein the first control cam (7) is configured so that upon rotating the rotary element (4) between its neutral angular position 0° and its maximum positive angular position up to +180°, the spring element (5) is loaded under buildup of a resetting force.

8. The actuator according to claim 1, further comprising a projection (22) on the surface (19) of the rotary element (4) adapted to receive the second engagement element (21).

9. The actuator according to claim 1, further comprising a screw (11) on the drive shaft (1), through which the rotary element (4) is driven via at least one gearwheel (13).

10. The actuator according to claim 1, further comprising an electric retention magnet device (32) configured to hold the spring element (5) loaded under buildup of a resetting force in its position.

11. The actuator according to claim 1, further comprising a damping element (23) configured to damp movement of the rotary element (4) and/or the first actuating element (3) if the rotary element (4) is rotated under the influence of the resetting force of the spring element (5).

12. A device for setting of a parking lock of a motor vehicle automatic gearbox with an actuator according to claim 1.

13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising a mechanical, electromechanical, electric, electronic, hydraulic, or pneumatic emergency adjustment device (24) to drive the actuating element (3) or load the spring element (5).

14. A motor vehicle with an automatic gearbox and the device of claim 13 interacting therewith.

15. A motor vehicle with an automatic gearbox and the device of claim 12 interacting therewith.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further goals, advantages, features and applications of the present invention are derived from the subsequent description of embodiments by way of the drawings. All described and/or depicted features per se or in any combination constitute the subject matter of the present invention, regardless of their summary in the patent claims or their back-reference.

(2) The following are shown:

(3) FIG. 1: an embodiment of an inventive actuator arranged in a housing,

(4) FIG. 2: an embodiment of an inventive actuator in a sectional view,

(5) FIG. 3: the actuator according to FIG. 2 in a perspective view from above,

(6) FIG. 4: the actuator according to FIG. 3 in a further perspective view from above,

(7) FIG. 5: the actuator according to FIGS. 3 and 4 in a perspective view from below,

(8) FIG. 6: the actuator according to FIG. 5 in a further perspective view from below,

(9) FIG. 7: the actuator according to FIG. 6 in a further perspective view from below,

(10) FIG. 8: the actuator according to FIG. 7 in a further perspective view from below,

(11) FIG. 9: the actuator from the previous figures in a lateral view,

(12) FIG. 10: the actuator from the previous figures in a view from below and

(13) FIG. 11: the actuator from the previous figures in a view from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an inventive actuator arranged in a housing comprising a housing lid 15 and a housing plate 25, wherein details of the inventive actuator are not visible in this illustration due to the housing. The actuator is arranged on the housing plate 25 and covered with the housing lid 15. This illustration also shows a cable 14, with which various shifting stages of an automatic gearbox of motor vehicle can be set. The cable 14 is operatively connected to a first actuating element 3, not shown here, for the actuation of the shifting device of the motor vehicle automatic gearbox of the motor vehicle.

(15) FIG. 2 now shows the exemplary embodiment of the inventive actuator in a sectional view along its middle longitudinal axis. The rotary element designed as a gearwheel 13 is clearly seen and is also designed as a disk. The rotary element is rotatably mounted in its center and has two different control cams 7 and 8 on its opposing surfaces 18 and 19. In the present case, the gearwheel 13, which can also be part of a gearwheel arrangement, meshes with a screw 11 of a drive shaft 1 of a drive 2 hidden in FIG. 2.

(16) Further, FIG. 2 shows the first actuating element 3, which is equipped on the one hand with a first engagement element 20, which engages for the purposes of engagement in the control cam 7, and is connected on the other hand to the cable 14 of a shifting device of the automatic gearbox of the motor vehicle.

(17) The first actuating element 3 is mounted in a slidable fashion in a second actuating element 17, which is equipped on the one hand with a second engagement element 21 for the purposes of engagement in the second control cam 8, and supports itself on a spring element 5 on the other hand. Further, a boring 26 is arranged within this second actuating element 17 for the loading of the spring element 5, and a pin 27 of the first actuating element 3 is slidably mounted in this boring 26. The pin 27 is inserted into the boring 26 on the side of the second actuating element 17 facing the rotary element or gearwheel 13 and is slidable within it. The actuating element slides simultaneously in a parallel boring 41 of the second actuating element 17, via which the first actuating element 3 is connected to the cable 14. The pin 27 and the boring 26 interact such that the pin can sit upright on the base of the boring 26 with its end that faces away from the rotary element/gearwheel 13. In this case, forces can be transferred from the first actuating element 3 to the second actuating element 17 or from the second actuating element 17 to the first actuating element 3. As long as the spring element 5 lingers in the clamping position shown in FIG. 2 via the second actuating element 17, the first actuating element 3 can be adjusted with respect to the second actuating element 17 in the direction of the boring 26 or in the direction of the parallel boring and in the direction of the cable 14, in order to set various shifting stages of the automatic gearbox. As soon as the pin 27 sits upright on the base of the boring 26 with its end that faces away from the rotary element/gearwheel 13, the first actuating element 3 and the second actuating element 17 act as carriers for one another, depending upon the direction of the force action that is transferred via the base of the boring 26 and the pin 27 sitting thereupon.

(18) The boring 26 in the second actuating element 17 is filled with gas or air, such that when sliding the pin 27 within the boring 26, a damping element 23 is formed by the boring 26, which dampens the movement of the pin 27 in the boring 26 in the sense of a noise minimization. For this purpose, the boring 26 is equipped with a membrane element or an opening, not shown here, through which the air or gas can escape.

(19) This illustration further shows the housing plate 25 upon which the actuator is arranged. FIG. 2 further shows that the spring element 5 supports itself on a housing component 16 of the actuator, on the one hand, and on the actuating element 17, on the other hand.

(20) FIG. 3 shows the actuator now in a perspective view from above. What is especially clear here is the rotary element/gearwheel 13 that is designed as a disk and gearwheel 13 and is mounted rotatably. In this view, the drive 2 with its drive shaft 1 can now be seen, wherein a screw 11 is arranged on the drive shaft 1 and meshes with the gearwheel 13. Further, an additional housing component 28 can be seen here, which is arranged on the housing plate 25 and has a free end 29 in which the drive shaft 1 of the drive 2 is rotatably mounted and held in place.

(21) On the surface 19 of the rotary element/gearwheel 13, the second control cam 8 is arranged, which, upon twisting of the rotary element/gearwheel 13 in the direction of its maximum negative rotational position, i.e. counter-clockwise—in this illustration—can be engaged with the second engagement element 21 of the second actuating element 17 for the loading of the spring element 5. There is also the convexly designed section of the control cam in place with the engagement element 21, which, in the case of an unloaded spring element 5, would also be slid in the direction of the hub 39 of the rotary element/gearwheel 13, by contrast to the illustration in FIG. 3.

(22) Further, a projection 22 is arranged on the surface 19, upon which the second engagement element 21 lies in the case of a loaded spring element. In the operation of a motor vehicle, the spring element 5 is held in the preloaded position with the assistance of an electric retention magnet device 32 after having been preloaded. In the illustration in FIG. 3, the actuation element 3, which is hidden here, is held in the P-stage of the automatic gearbox, which corresponds to a neutral angular position of 0° of the rotary element. Provided that the actuator is now load-free, the preloading of the spring element 5 is nevertheless maintained due to the placement of the engagement element 21 upon the projection 22, although the retention magnet device 32 no longer exercises any retention force. In the illustration in FIG. 3, an emergency adjustment device 24 is also visible, which will be explained in further detail below.

(23) In FIG. 4, the illustration of FIG. 3 is now shown again, wherein the housing component 28 is not shown here and the drive 2 with its drive shaft 1 is thus clearly visible.

(24) FIG. 5 now shows the actuator according to FIGS. 3 and 4 in a perspective view from below. Here, the first control cam 7 can be seen, in particular, which is arranged on the surface 18 of the rotary element/gearwheel 13 opposite to the surface 19. Further, the screw 11 of the drive shaft 1 can also be seen, which meshes with the gearwheel 13. The drive shaft 1 is again held in a rotatable fashion in the end 29 of the housing component 28, wherein this housing component 28 is arranged on the housing plate 25.

(25) FIG. 6 shows an view of FIG. 5 without the housing plate 25.

(26) FIG. 7 shows the actuator according to FIG. 6 without the housing component 30 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The first actuating element 3 is now also visible, which is connected to the cable 14 on the one hand for the actuation of a shifting device of an automatic gearbox and is equipped on the other hand with an engagement element 20 for operatively connected engagement in the control cam 7. It can also be clearly seen in this view that the first actuation element 3 is mounted slidably in the second actuation element 17, with which the spring element 5 is loaded. This arrangement is even more clearly visible in the view according to FIG. 8, in which a further housing component 31 has been foregone, in which the retention magnet device 32 is held.

(27) In FIG. 9, a further lateral view of the actuator is shown, in which the emergency adjustment device 24, in particular, is seen in greater detail. The emergency adjustment device 24 consists of a pin 33, upon which a gearwheel 37 is arranged, which can be rotated via an opening 38 with a tool, in particular an Allen wrench. The gearwheel 37 can be loaded with spring pressure against a resetting force of a spring 34, such that the gearwheel 37 can be brought into operative connection with a wedge wheel 36 of a drive shaft 35 of the drive 2. Using this emergency adjustment device 24, it is possible to actuate the rotary element/gearwheel 13 with the assistance of a tool, in particular an Allen wrench, via the drive shaft 35 directly connected to the drive shaft 1 of the drive 2, such that the spring element 5 can be preloaded and the first actuation element 3 can be actuated. It is hereby possible, if the motor vehicle equipped with this actuator was turned with its automatic gearbox in the P-stage, to operate first actuation element 3, such that the P-stage of the automatic gearbox can be exited and the vehicle can be moved, even if there is no power available for the actuation of the drive 2. This will be necessary in cases of damage, in particular, in which the vehicle can no longer be operated, in particular if no power or no power source are available and the vehicle must be moved for towing.

(28) FIGS. 10 and 11 serve in particular to describe the functionality of the inventive actuator. The actuator in these illustrations is in a position that corresponds to the position of the P-stage of an automatic gearbox of a motor vehicle and the neutral angular position 0° of the rotary element/gearwheel 13. The engagement element 20 of the first actuating element 3 is operatively engaged with the first control cam 7, which is arranged on the surface 18 of the rotary element/gearwheel 13. If the rotary element designed as a gearwheel 13—in this illustration—is rotated or twisted counter-clockwise, i.e. in the direction of the maximum positive rotational position via the drive 2, the drive shaft 1, and the screw 11, then the actuating element 3 is moved into the control cam 7 in the direction of the housing component 16 due to the engagement of the engagement element 20, such that it is moved out of its P-stage via the shifting device of the automatic gearbox actuated by the cable 14, not shown further here, and various shifting stages can be set, for example R, N, D. The rotary element/gearwheel 13 is limited in its rotational movement due to the control cam 7, such that a rotation by approximately +180° or another value is possible. During the rotation of the rotary element/gearwheel 13, the preloading of the spring element 5 is maintained in its clamping position with the assistance of the retention magnet device 32. During the movement of the first actuating element 3 in the direction of the housing component 16, its pin 27 slides within the boring 26 in the direction of the base 40 of the boring 26.

(29) If, during the operation of the motor vehicle, a damage occurs, as a result of which the actuator is load-free, then the retention magnet device 32 is no longer able to maintain the spring preloading of the spring element 5 due to the lack of power. Under the influence of the resetting force of the spring element 5, the second actuating element 17 moves in the direction of the rotary element/gearwheel 13, such that the pin 27 coming into contact with the base 40 of the boring 26 also transfers the resetting force of the spring element 5 to the first actuating element 3 and carries it along. Due to the resetting force of the spring element 5, the engagement element 20 of the first actuating element 3 is thus guided back along the control cam 7 and the rotary element moves from the maximum+180° angular position of the rotary element/gearwheel 13 to the original neutral angular position 0°—clockwise in this illustration—until the automatic gearbox has reclaimed its P-stage corresponding to the angular position of the rotary element/gearwheel 13. It is thus also ensured in the automatic gearbox that, in the case of damage, in particular if the motor vehicle or the actuator is load-free, the P-stage is automatically turned off under buildup of the resetting force of the spring element 5.

(30) In the previously described embodiment, it is possible to drive the drive 2 in the direction opposite to the resetting movement, such that the rotary element/gearwheel 13 in FIG. 10 rotates counter-clockwise in the direction of the maximum positive rotational position. In this way, it can be brought about that the control cam 7 pushes the actuating element 3 via the engagement element 20 in the direction of the clamping position of the spring element 5, i.e. in the direction of the housing component 16. Through the engagement of the pin 27 on the base 40 of the boring 26 within the second actuating element 17, the resetting movement of the first actuating element 3 is transferred to the second actuating element 17, such that the second actuating element 17, with which the spring element 5 is engaged, resets the spring element 5 into the clamping position under buildup of the resetting force.

(31) Based on the view in FIG. 10, it is naturally also possible to rotate or twist the rotary element/gearwheel 13 clockwise from its neutral 0° angular position into a maximum negative angular position up to −180°. However, there is no actuation of the first actuating element 3, because the control cam 7 is designed such that the engagement element 20 of the first actuating element 3 does not change its position. In the case of such a twisting, however, according to FIG. 11, the control cam 8 arranged on the other surface 19 of the rotary element/gearwheel 13 designed as a disk is engaged with the second engagement element 21 of the second actuating element 17 for the loading of the spring element 5.

(32) After the spring element 5 has been loaded accordingly, the rotary element/gearwheel 13 is now rotated back to the neutral rotational position in the opposite direction, until the engagement element 21 of the actuating element 17 comes to lie on the projection 22, whereby the rotary element/gearwheel 13 reclaims its 0° angular position. During this rotation/twisting, the preloading of the spring element 5 is maintained by the retention magnet device 32. In this state, according to FIG. 11, the vehicle can now be properly turned off, whereby the actuator also naturally becomes load-free. Due to the projection 22, however, the preloading of the spring element 5 is also maintained without power.

(33) The present invention is not restricted in terms of its configuration to the embodiments presented here. Rather, several variants are conceivable which make use of the solution presented here, even in the case of other types of configurations. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(34) 1 Drive shaft 2 Drive 3 Actuating element 5 Spring element 7 Control cam 8 Control cam 9 Sliding element 10 Securing element 11 Screw 13 Gearwheel 14 Cable 15 Housing lid 16 Housing component 17 Actuating element 18 Surface 19 Surface 20 Engagement element 21 Engagement element 22 Projection 23 Damping element 24 Emergency device 25 Housing plate 26 Boring 27 Pin 28 Housing component 29 End 30 Housing component 31 Housing component 32 Retention magnet device 33 Pin 34 Spring 35 Output shaft 36 Wedge wheel 37 Gearwheel 38 Opening 39 Hub 40 Base 41 Boring