ACTUATOR

Abstract

An actuator (1) is provided in which the actuator housing (2) has at least one actuator housing part (3) or (4). At least one component support (5) or (6) which serves as a support structure for at least one functional element of the actuator is disposed within the actuator housing (2). Furthermore, the at least one actuator housing part (3) or (4) is fastened to the component support (5) or (6).

Claims

1. An actuator (1) comprising: an actuator housing (2) which comprises at least one actuator housing part (3, 4); and at least one component support (5, 6) disposed within the actuator housing (2) and which supports at least one functional element of the actuator (1), and to which the at least one actuator housing part (3, 4) is fastened.

2. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator housing part comprises first and second pot-shaped actuator housing parts, and the at least one functional element of the actuator comprises at least one of a drive motor (26) or a gear unit (27).

3. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator housing part (3, 4) is at least one of formed of a thin-walled material having a material thickness of at most four millimeters, sheet metal, or plastics material.

4. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component support (5, 6) includes a fastening flange (7) to which the at least one actuator housing part (3, 4) of the actuator housing (2) is fastened, and a seal is disposed between the fastening flange (7) and the at least one actuator housing part (3, 4).

5. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component support (5, 6) is disposed on a pot base (8) of the at least one actuator housing part (3, 4) of the actuator housing (2).

6. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component support (5, 6) at least one of forms or has a bearing (9) for an output shaft of the actuator (1).

7. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a drive motor of the actuator (1) is at least one of supported or disposed on the component support (5, 6), and the at least one actuator housing part (3, 4) is configured to be unstressed by a drive torque generated by the drive motor.

8. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component support (5, 6) penetrates and protrudes from the actuator housing (2) and includes an assembly interface (11) for at least one of a fitting or a slave gear unit.

9. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one component support (5, 6) is configured to receive at least one of an electronics support or motor support, and the actuator (1) further comprises at least one of an electronics support or motor support disposed within the actuator housing (2), and the at least one of the electronics support or the motor support is at least one of disposed on, connected to or fastened to the component support (5, 6).

10. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one axial compensation element (13).

11. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator housing part comprises first and second pot-shaped actuator housing parts, and the component support (5, 6) is disposed beyond a separation plane of first and second actuator housing parts (3, 4) such that the component support (6) is accessible when one of the first or second actuator housing parts (3, 4) is removed from the other of the first or second actuator housing parts (3, 4), and wherein the at least one component support (5, 6) axially penetrates the actuator housing part (3, 4) and configures a flange face for a fitting flange.

12. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator housing part comprises first and second pot-shaped actuator housing parts, and the actuator housing (2) is sealed by a seal along an encircling line formed by a bent feature of at least one of the first or second pot-shaped actuator housing part (3, 4).

13. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of the first or second pot-shaped actuator housing part (3, 4) is formed of thin-walled material.

14. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first and second actuator housing parts (3, 4) are connected to at least one of one another or to the component support (5, 6) by at least one tensioning element (14).

15. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator housing part (3, 4) has a flange (18) that includes at least one slot (19) for receiving a tensioning screw (17) of a tensioning element (14) and is open on a periphery thereof.

16. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tensioning element (14) comprises a holding bracket (15), a round nut (16) which is held by the holding bracket (15), and the tensioning screw (17), wherein the round nut (16) is rotatable in the holding bracket (15) so as to move the tensioning screw (17) to a tensioning position.

17. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one actuator housing part (3, 4) includes at least one of a holding bead or a flared holding rim (20) for the holding bracket (15).

18. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the holding bracket (15) has a centric recess (21) such that the round nut (16) having the tensioning screw (17) within the holding bracket (15) is movable between an open position and the tensioning position.

19. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator housing (2) includes an assembly window (22) for routing a connector cable from an interior of the actuator housing (2).

20. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a closure aperture (23) in which at least one cable conduit (24) for a connector cable is configured and by which an assembly window (22) is adapted to be closed upon assembling the actuator (1), and the closure aperture (23) is configured to be at least one of released or completely removed from the outside.

21. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 20, wherein the closure aperture (23) has at least one of a ventilating or venting bore (25) which has a pressure compensation element which is permeable to at least one of air or vapor but impermeable to water.

22. The actuator (1) as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least one cable conduit (24) of the closure aperture (23) is configured as at least one of a cable screw-fitting or a plug connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail hereunder by the figures. It is to be noted that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Further exemplary embodiments of the invention are derived by combining the features of the claims directed toward the actuators and/or by combining the features included in the specification and/or in the description of the figures hereunder. In the figures, to some extent in a highly schematic illustration:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of an actuator, wherein an assembly window for routing a connector cable can be seen in a lower of two actuator housing parts;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a sectional lateral view of the actuator illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0045] FIGS. 3 and 4 show different perspective views of the lower actuator housing part;

[0046] FIGS. 5 and 6 show different views of a component support which according to the sectional view from FIG. 2 is disposed in the lower actuator housing part;

[0047] FIG. 7 shows an individual-part illustration of a tensioning element in the form of a tension lock of the actuator, wherein the tension lock comprises a holding bracket, a round nut and a tensioning screw that is connected to the round nut;

[0048] FIG. 8 shows the tension lock shown in FIG. 7 in the use position on the actuator illustrated in the previous figures;

[0049] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the lower actuator housing part having a closure aperture which closes the assembly window and on which two cable conduits are configured;

[0050] FIG. 10 shows a perspective front view of the closure aperture shown in FIG. 9, having the two cable conduits of said closure aperture;

[0051] FIG. 11 shows a perspective rear view of the closure aperture shown in FIG. 10;

[0052] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of an axial compensation element, the deformation thereof being able to be detected by a sensor so as to measure forces or moments, in particular a torque, bearing thereon; and

[0053] FIG. 13 shows a diagram of an actuator having an actuator housing, two component supports situated in the latter, wherein a drive motor is disposed on the upper component support, and a gear unit and an axial compensation element are disposed between the component supports.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] All figures show at least parts of an actuator which in its entirety is identified by the reference sign 1.

[0055] Each of the actuators 1 shown has an actuator housing 2 which comprises a lower pot-shaped actuator housing part 3 and an upper pot-shaped actuator housing part 4. In the exemplary embodiments of the actuators 1 shown in the figures, two component supports 5 and 6 are disposed within the actuator housing 2. The component supports 5 and 6 serve for supporting functional elements, specifically a drive motor 26 and a gear unit 27 of the actuator 1. The arrangement of the drive motor 26 on the upper component support 6 and the arrangement of the gear unit 27 between the component supports 5 and 6 can be seen in the diagram of FIG. 13.

[0056] Not only the drive motor 26 of the actuator 1, but also both actuator housing parts 3 and 4, are disposed on the upper component support 6 of the two component supports 5 and 6. The drive motor 26 of the actuator 1 as well as the two actuator housing parts 3 and 4 are fastened to the upper component support 6.

[0057] Both actuator housing parts 3 and 4 are composed of a thin-walled material having a material thickness of at most four millimeters, preferably of at most two millimeters. Depending on requirements, the two actuator housing parts 3 and 4 herein can be composed of sheet metal, for example of stainless steel sheet, or else of plastics material. The upper component support 6 of the two component supports 5 and 6 has a fastening flange 7. The two actuator housing parts 3 and 4 of the actuator housing 2 are fastened to the fastening flange 7. A seal, for example an O-ring, by way of which the closed actuator housing 2 is sealed, for example in relation to the ingress of moisture, is in each case provided between the fastening flange 7 and the two actuator housing parts 3 and 4.

[0058] The lower component support 5 is disposed on a pot base 8 of the lower actuator housing part 3.

[0059] At least the lower component support 5 of the two component supports 5 and 6 forms a bearing 9 for an output shaft (not shown in the figures) of the actuator 1. The drive motor 26 of the actuator 1 is supported on the upper component support 6 by way of the motor housing of said drive motor 26. The support of the drive motor 26 of the actuator 1 is designed such that both actuator housing parts 3 and 4 remain unstressed in terms of a drive torque generated by the drive motor 26.

[0060] The lower component support 5 of the two component supports 5 and 6 penetrates the actuator housing 2. To this end, the lower actuator housing part 3 has an opening 10 which can be particularly readily identified in FIG. 4. The lower component support 5 on the portion thereof that protrudes from the actuator housing 2 has an assembly interface 11 for a fitting and/or a slave gear unit. The upper component support 6 is configured not only as a motor support but also as an electronics support.

[0061] The sectional illustration according to FIG. 2 highlights that the upper component support 6 is connected to the lower component support 5 by way of an actuating element 12. The actuating element 12 serves in enabling the adjustment of a detent (not shown in the figures) of the actuator 1 without having to remove the lower component support 5 from the lower actuator housing part 3. For the adjustment it is sufficient for the upper actuator housing part 4 to be removed from the lower actuator housing part 3. The illustration from FIG. 2 highlights that, on account thereof, an activation end of the actuating element 12 is accessible to a user of the actuator.

[0062] The upper component support 6 has an axial compensation element 13. The axial compensation element 13 is illustrated as a separate part in FIG. 12 and can also be seen in the diagram of FIG. 13. The axial compensation element 13 comprises three sprung tongues 28 which permit an axial compensation or an axial displacement of the components, here the gear unit 27, that are disposed on the axial compensation element 13, within the actuator housing 2. According to FIG. 12, one of the tongues 28 is provided with a sensor 29. The sensor 29 can detect a deformation and/or a movement of the axial compensation element 13, or of the tongue 28, respectively. Applied forces and/or moments and/or torques can be derived from the deformation or movement, respectively.

[0063] The upper component support 6 is at least in part disposed beyond a separation plane of the two actuator housing parts 3 and 4. The component support 6 and functional elements disposed thereon are thus accessible when the upper actuator housing part 4 is removed from the lower actuator housing part 3, thus the actuator housing 2 is opened.

[0064] As has already been explained above, the lower component support 5 axially penetrates the lower actuator housing part 3. The lower component support 5 on an end side that protrudes from the lower actuator housing part 3 has a flange face as an assembly interface 11 for a fitting flange.

[0065] The actuator housing 2 is sealed by a seal, as has already been explained above. The seal here comprises at least two O-rings which are not illustrated in the figures but are disposed between the two actuator housing parts 3 and 4 and the fastening flange 7 of the upper component support 6. The seal herein can be disposed along an encircling line. The encircling line herein can be formed by a bent feature of the in each case pot-shaped actuator housing parts 3 and 4.

[0066] The two actuator housing parts 3 and 4 are connected to one another and to the upper component support 6 by the total of three tensioning element 14 which are in each case configured as tension locks. One of the tensioning element 14 is separately illustrated in FIG. 7. According to FIG. 7, the tensioning element 14 has a holding bracket 15, a round nut 16 which is held by the holding bracket 15, as well as a tensioning screw 17. The round nut 16 is held so as to be rotatable in the holding bracket 15 such that the tensioning screw 17 can be moved from a releasing position to the tensioning position of said tensioning screw 17 that is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0067] Both actuator housing parts 3 and 4 have in each case one flange 18. The flanges 18 are provided with in each case a total of three slots 19 which for receiving the tensioning screws 17 of the tensioning element 14 are open on the periphery. The lower actuator housing part 3 is provided with a holding bead 20 for the holding brackets 15 of the tensioning element 14. The holding bead 20 herein is configured on the flange 18 of the lower actuator housing part 3. The holding brackets 15 of the tensioning element 14 are clip-fitted in the holding bead 20. The holding bead 20 thus serves for captively fastening the holding brackets 15 on the lower actuator housing part 3. The holding bead 20 can be formed by a flared holding rim 20, for example. The holding bead 20 can be readily seen in FIG. 8, for example.

[0068] Each of the holding brackets 15 has a centric recess 21. The recess 21 serves for moving the round nut 16 having the tensioning screw 17 between a releasing position or open position and the tensioning position within the respective holding bracket 15.

[0069] The actuator housing 2 of the actuators 1 shown in the figures, here more specifically the lower actuator housing part 3 of the two actuator housing parts 3 and 4, is equipped with an assembly window 22. The assembly window 22 serves for routing a connector cable (not shown in the figures) from the interior of the actuator housing 2 and thus for simplified assembly of the actuator 1 and for simplified electrical wiring of the functional elements which are disposed within the actuator housing 2, in particular the drive motor 26 of the actuator 1.

[0070] The actuators 1 are equipped with a closure aperture 23 by way of which the respective assembly window 22 can be closed once the electrical connection of the actuator 1 has been established. The closure aperture 23 shown in the figures has two cable conduits 24 for connector cables of the actuator 1. FIGS. 10 and 11 show the closure aperture 23 having the two cable conduits 24 thereof. The closure aperture 23, in the case of an otherwise closed actuator housing 2, can be released and completely removed from the outside.

[0071] According to FIG. 10 the closure aperture 23 is equipped with a plurality of ventilating and/or venting bores 25. An exchange between the interior of the actuator housing 2 and the environment is possible by way of the ventilating and/or venting bores 25. A pressure compensation element is disposed on the internal side of the venting bores 25 such that only air, in particularly only humid air, but no liquid water can enter or exit.

[0072] The two cable conduits 24 that are present on the closure aperture 23 are configured as cable screw-fittings.

[0073] The invention relates to improvements in the technical field of actuators. Proposed, inter alia, to this end is an actuator 1, the actuator housing 2 thereof having at least one actuator housing part 3 or 4. At least one component support 5 or 6 which serves as a support structure for at least one functional element of the actuator is disposed within the actuator housing 2. Furthermore, the at least one actuator housing part 3 or 4 is fastened to the component support 5 or 6.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0074] 1 Actuator [0075] 2 Actuator housing [0076] 3 Lower actuator housing part [0077] 4 Upper actuator housing part [0078] 5 Lower component support [0079] 6 Upper component support [0080] 7 Fastening flange [0081] 8 Pot base [0082] 9 Bearing [0083] 10 Opening in 3 [0084] 11 Assembly interface on 5 [0085] 12 Actuating element [0086] 13 Compensation element [0087] 14 Tensioning element [0088] 15 Holding bracket [0089] 16 Round nut [0090] 17 Tensioning screw [0091] 18 Flange on 3 and 4 [0092] 19 Slot [0093] 20 Flared holding rim [0094] 21 Recess [0095] 22 Assembly window [0096] 23 Closure aperture [0097] 24 Cable conduits [0098] 25 Ventilating and/or venting bore [0099] 26 Drive motor [0100] 27 Gear unit [0101] 28 Tongue on 13 [0102] 29 Sensor on 13