ACTUATOR

Abstract

An actuator (1) having two detent devices (2) which include in each case at least one terminal detent element (3) for a part (27) of a drive train, and at least one adjustment element (4, 19) which is operatively connected to the terminal detent element (3) and is specified for setting a position of the terminal detent element (3). The at least one gear unit (5, 18) is disposed between the at least one terminal detent element (3) and the at least one adjustment element (4, 19).

Claims

1. An actuator (1), comprising: at least one detent device (2) including at least one terminal detent element (3) for a part (27) of a drive train, and at least one adjustment element (4, 19) which is operatively connected to the terminal detent element (3) and is configured to set a position of the terminal detent element (3), and at least one gear unit (5, 18) disposed between the at least one terminal detent element (3) and the at least one adjustment element (4, 19).

2. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal detent element (3) is operatively connected to a converter element (6) of the at least one gear unit (5, 18), or the terminal detent element (3) is disposed so as to be movable relative to the converter element (6) of the at least one gear unit (5, 18), or both.

3. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing part (8), and the at least one adjustment element (4, 19) is connected to the housing part (8), a contact point (9) of the housing part (8) having the at least one adjustment element (4, 19) is under a tensile load when the terminal detent element (3) is impinged with pressure by a part of the drive train.

4. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the adjustment element (4, 19) has an adjustment head (11) which is rotatably mounted on the housing part (8), and a spacing between the adjustment element (4, 19) and the housing part (8) remains constant when the adjustment element (4, 19) is activated.

5. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear unit includes a converter element (6), the at least one adjustment element (4, 19) has a thread (13) which engages in a corresponding mating thread (14) on the converter element (6), and a rotation of the adjustment element (4, 19) leads to a variation of a position of at least one of the converter element (6) or of the terminal detent element (3).

6. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing part (8) that is connected to the at least one adjustment element (4, 19), the housing part has an at least partially arcuate cross section (16), and a load profile on the housing part (8) is directed inward.

7. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear unit includes a converter element (6), and at least one of the converter element (6) or the terminal detent element (3) is adjustably guideable in a guide device (17), and the guide device (17) has a non-rectilinear profile.

8. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one angular gear unit (18) disposed between the at least one terminal detent element (3) and the at least one adjustment element (4, 19).

9. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one adjustment element includes a first adjustment element (4) and a second adjustment element (19), and the at least one angular gear unit (18) is operatively connected by the first adjustment element (4) to the second adjustment element (19) which is disposed so as to be offset at an angle in relation to the first adjustment element (4).

10. The actuator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the angular gear unit (18) comprises at least one of a bevel gear unit, a crown gear unit, or a worm gear unit.

11. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustment element includes a first adjustment element (4) and a second adjustment element (19), the at least one gear unit comprises a first gear unit (5), which is disposed between the first adjustment element (4) and the terminal detent element (3), and a second gear unit (18), which is disposed between the first adjustment element (4) and the second adjustment element (19).

12. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first adjustment element (4, 19) runs along or parallel to a longitudinal axis (20) of a housing part (8) and is adjustable about said longitudinal axis (20).

13. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second adjustment element (19) has an adjustment head (11) that includes a tool engagement point (21) disposed on an upper side (22) of the actuator (1), and the adjustment head is configured to set a position of the at least one terminal detent element (3).

14. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a detent face (23) of the at least one terminal detent element (3) is aligned or alignable such that a perpendicular impingement takes place by a part of a drive train.

15. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing part (8), the at least one adjustment element comprises first and second adjustment elements, and the first adjustment element (4) is routed out of an interior of the housing part (8) on a lateral wall (24) of the housing part (8), and the second adjustment element (19) is routed out on an end side (25) of the actuator (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a plurality of exemplary embodiments but is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Further exemplary embodiments are derived by combining the features of individual or a plurality of claims and/or combining said features of individual or a plurality of claims with individual or a plurality of features of the exemplary embodiments.

[0028] In the figures:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a potential variant of embodiment of an actuator according to the invention, having two detent devices; and

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of a further potential variant of embodiment of an actuator according to the invention, having two detent devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIGS. 1 and 2 show in each case an actuator which in its entirety is provided with the reference sign 1 and can be used for adjusting a valve element of a valve, for example.

[0032] The variant of embodiment of the actuator 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has two detent devices 2 which serve in each case to enable a position of a terminal detent for a part of a drive train of the actuator 1 to be set. The part can be, for example, and an eccentric element 27 which is connected to a drive shaft 26 (cf. FIG. 2).

[0033] The terminal detents herein are in each case set by a terminal detent element 3 by way of the positions of both terminal detent elements 3 being variable.

[0034] Each terminal detent element 3 is in each case operatively connected to a first adjustment element 4 such that a variation of the position of the assigned terminal detent element 3 takes place when the respective adjustment element 4 is activated and/or the adjustment element 4 is moved.

[0035] A first gear unit 5 is disposed between each terminal detent element 3 and the first adjustment element 4 assigned to said terminal detent element 3, this simplifying the setting of the position of the terminal detent element 3. Each detent device 2 thus has in each case one first gear unit 5.

[0036] Each terminal detent element 3 is in each case coupled to one converter element 6 of in each case one first gear unit 5, wherein the terminal detent elements 3 herein are configured so as to be movable, in particular pivotable about a pivot axis 7, relative to the converter element 6 assigned to said terminal detent element 3.

[0037] The first adjustment element 4 is connected to a housing part 8 of the actuator 1. The housing part 8 can be an inner housing part, for example.

[0038] A contact point 9 of the housing part 8 having the first adjustment element 4 is under a tensile load when the terminal detent element 3 is impinged with pressure by the already-mentioned part 27 of the drive train. On account thereof, an improved dissipation of force by way of the housing part 8 can arise than when compressive loading of the housing part 8 takes place at the contact point 9.

[0039] The contact point 9 on the housing part 8 is configured without a thread. When the terminal detent element 3 is impinged by a part 27 of the drive train there is thus a load on the contact point 9 largely on account of the tensile force 10, thus in particular largely not on account of a compressive force.

[0040] The first adjustment element 4 has an adjustment head 11 which is mounted so as to be rotatable in a radial bearing on the housing part 8, for example. The adjustment head 11 here is configured as a gear wheel 12. The radial bearing can preferably be configured by the contact point 9. On account thereof, a spacing between a wall, in particular a lateral wall 24, of the housing part 8 remains the same or almost the same even after an activation, in particular after rotation, of the first adjustment element 4. It is essential herein that the at least one adjustment element 4 is not driven out of or into the housing part 8 when said adjustment element 4 is activated. It can thus be prevented that the first adjustment element 4 in any position does not protrude far from the housing part 8.

[0041] Each first adjustment element 4 has a thread 13 which is screwed into a corresponding mating thread 14 on the associated converter element 6. In the rotation of the first adjustment element 4 and adjustment of the converter element 6 takes place in that the adjustment element 4 is driven into or out of the mating thread 14, on account of which a relative adjustment of the converter element 6 in relation to the adjustment element 4 takes place.

[0042] The terminal detent element 3, by virtue of the converter element 6 being coupled to a terminal detent element 3, is entrained in an adjustment of the converter element 6 and is therefore adjusted in terms of the position of said terminal detent element 3. The terminal detent element 3 is preferably adjusted on an orbit 15.

[0043] In other words, it can be said that the first gear unit 5 of a detent device 2 is configured by a converter element 6 having a mating thread 14, and a corresponding thread 13 (preferably of the first adjustment element 4) which interacts with the mating thread 14.

[0044] The first adjustment element 4 at the contact point 9 is coupled to a housing part 8 which in the cross section 16 is configured so as to be arcuate. A particularly positive dissipation of force is possible on account of the arcuate profile of the housing part 8 when the housing part 8 is under a tensile load, thus when the load profile on the housing part 8 is directed inward.

[0045] The actuator 1 has a guide device 17 in which at least the converter element 6 and/or the terminal detent element 3 are/is guided so as to be reversibly adjustable. The guide device 17 in the variant of embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a guide rail having an at least partially non-rectilinear profile.

[0046] Each detent device 2 of the actuator 1 moreover has a second gear unit 18 which in the variants of embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is in each case designed as an angular gear unit.

[0047] The second gear unit 18 is disposed between the at least one terminal detent element 3 and a second adjustment element 19.

[0048] The second gear unit 18 connects the first adjustment element 4 to the second adjustment element 19, wherein the first adjustment element 4 is disposed so as to be offset at an angle in relation to the second adjustment element 19. The two adjustment elements 4, 19 are moreover operatively connected by way of the second gear unit 18, in particular by way of the two gear wheels 12. An adjustment of the first adjustment element 4 and finally also a variation of the position of the terminal detent element 3 thus takes place when the second adjustment element 19 is activated.

[0049] The design embodiment of the actuator 1 described above has the advantage that the two adjustment elements 4, 19 are mutually disposed at an angle such that the location of the disposal of an activation element and/or of a tool engagement point 21 for setting the position of the terminal detent are/is freely selectable. It can thus be prevented that an access to the activation element and/or to the tool engagement point 21 is impeded because said activation element and/or said tool engagement point 21 lie/lies at a location of the actuator 1 that is difficult to access.

[0050] The second adjustment element 9 in the design embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is aligned along a longitudinal axis 20, in particular so as to be parallel to a longitudinal axis 20, of the housing part 8. This arrangement is particularly space-saving.

[0051] The second adjustment element 19 on both ends thereof has in each case one adjustment head 11, wherein the two adjustment heads 11 can be configured as gear wheels 12 and/or as a tool engagement point 21.

[0052] The detent faces 23 of the two terminal detent elements 3 are aligned, or able to be aligned, such that a perpendicular impingement takes place by the one part 27 of the drive train. An optimal dissipation of force is provided on account thereof.

[0053] The first adjustment element 4 is routed out of the interior of the housing part 8 on a lateral wall 24 of the housing part 8. The second adjustment element 19 is routed out on an end side 25 of the actuator 1.

[0054] The invention thus relates in particular to an actuator 1 having two detent devices 2 which comprise in each case at least one terminal detent element 3 for a part 27 of a drive train, and at least one adjustment element 4, 19 which is operatively connected to the terminal detent element 3 and is specified for setting a position of the terminal detent element 3, wherein at least one gear unit 5, 18 is disposed between the at least one terminal detent element 3 and the at least one adjustment element 4, 19.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0055] 1 Actuator

[0056] 2 Detent device

[0057] 3 Terminal detent element

[0058] 4 First adjustment element

[0059] 5 First gear unit

[0060] 6 Converter element

[0061] 7 Pivot axis

[0062] 8 Housing part; inner housing part

[0063] 9 Contact point

[0064] 10 Tensile force

[0065] 11 Adjustment head

[0066] 12 Gear wheel

[0067] 13 Thread

[0068] 14 Mating thread

[0069] 15 Orbit

[0070] 16 Arcuate cross section

[0071] 17 Guide device

[0072] 18 Second gear unit (angular gear unit, for example)

[0073] 19 Second adjustment element

[0074] 20 Longitudinal axis of the housing part

[0075] 21 Tool engagement point

[0076] 22 Upper side

[0077] 23 Detent face

[0078] 24 Lateral wall of the housing part

[0079] 25 End side of the housing part

[0080] 26 Drive shaft

[0081] 27 Eccentric element