ACTUATOR AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE BRAKE OF AN ACTUATOR

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator with a modular system for creating a plug-in gearbox, wherein the modular system comprises at least one output gear wheel and at least one plug-in element, and wherein a plug-in gearbox with one to five stages can be created by the modular system

Claims

1. An actuator with a motor, in particular a synchronous motor, and a plug-in gearbox.

2. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the plug-in gearbox comprises: a motor shaft and an output gear wheel which are axially adjustable relative to one another, such that they may be set to at least two different positions.

3. The actuator of claim 2, wherein at least one position space is provided between the motor shaft and the output gear wheel for at least one plug-in element.

4. The actuator of claim 3, wherein the at least one plug-in element can be fastened on at least one pin, preferably a permanently pre-assembled pin.

5. The actuator of claim 4, wherein the at least one plug-in element is fastenable by at least one spacer sleeve in an axial position along a pin, wherein preferably at least two plug-in elements are arranged axially offset from one another.

6. The actuator of claim 3, wherein five or more plug-in elements are arranged between the motor shaft and the output gear wheel.

7. The actuator of claim 3, wherein at least one plug-in element has two gear wheels with different diameters, and the at least one plug-in element can be fastened in two different orientations.

8. The actuator of claim 3, wherein a mesh area of the motor shaft, which rotates in the circumferential direction and/or has teeth, is longer in the axial direction than a mesh area of a gear wheel of the at least one plug-in element.

9. The actuator of claim 7, wherein an insertion area of the pins has at least two pin insertion points, wherein a distance between the pin insertion points is smaller than the diameter of a smallest gear wheel, and in particular, smaller than a radius of a smallest gear wheel.

10. The actuator of claim 4, characterized in that at least two plug-in elements are arranged on at least one pin.

11. An actuator comprising: a synchronous motor; and a holding brake arranged on an A-bearing side of the motor.

12. The actuator of claim 1, further comprising, an output shaft that can be placed in operative connection with a functional unit, in particular a valve, such that power and/or torque may be transmitted from the output shaft to the functional unit.

13. The actuator of claim 11, wherein the holding brake brakes in a de-energized state and releases in an energized state.

14. The actuator of claim 11, wherein the actuator has a detection device for determining a rotational speed of an output shaft, wherein the holding brake of the actuator can be activated by a brake control, when the detection device signals that the rotational speed has reached a target or falls below a target.

15. A method for controlling a brake of an actuator, wherein an output shaft, which can be locked by the brake, is only locked after regenerative braking of the output shaft, until it has been determined that a rotational speed of the output shaft reached a target or falls below a target.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In the drawings:

[0030] FIG. 1 represents a first embodiment of an actuator according to the invention depicting substantially the plug-in gearbox, which is designed with a single stage in the embodiment shown;

[0031] FIG. 2 represents a second embodiment of an actuator according to the invention depicting substantially the plug-in gearbox, which is designed with two stages in the embodiment shown;

[0032] FIG. 3 represents a third embodiment of an actuator according to the invention depicting substantially the plug-in gearbox, which is designed with three stages in the embodiment shown;

[0033] FIG. 4 represents s a fourth embodiment of an actuator according to the invention depicting substantially the plug-in gearbox, which is designed with four stages in the embodiment shown;

[0034] FIG. 5 represents a fifth embodiment of an actuator according to the invention depicting substantially the plug-in gearbox, which is designed with five stages in the embodiment shown;

[0035] FIG. 6 represents a perspective view of a detailed view of an actuator with a three-stage transmission;

[0036] FIG. 7 represents a top view of a plug-in gear of an embodiment of an actuator here depicting at least a four-stage gear ratio;

[0037] FIG. 8 represents a top view of a plug-in gear of an embodiment of an actuator here depicting at least a three-stage gear ratio;

[0038] FIG. 9 represents an embodiment of an actuator according to the invention comprising a motor and a holding brake in a longitudinal sectional view;

[0039] FIG. 10 represents a perspective view of the longitudinal section of the actuator in FIG. 9;

[0040] FIG. 11 represents another view of the aforementioned actuator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Below follows a description of several embodiments of an actuator according to the invention, which is designated as 1 throughout.

[0042] Actuator 1 may be placed in an operative connection with a functional unit, especially a valve, or it may be placed in an operative connection in the operating position.

[0043] Actuator 1 has a motor 2 (electric motor), which may be a synchronous or asynchronous motor.

[0044] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 8, the main focus is on a plug-in gearbox 3, which is described in detail below.

[0045] In order to produce an appropriate plug-in gear 3, according to the invention, a user has available a modular system with several gear parts, with which a plug-in gear adapted to the respective application may be produced quickly and easily. The invention therefore also relates to an application for producing a modular system, as described and claimed herein. The modular system will likewise be discussed in more detail below.

[0046] Motor 2 of actuator 1 has a motor shaft 4, via which a torque generated by motor 2 can be transmitted to a functional unit and/or an output shaft 33, which is or may be connected to motor shaft 4. Due to the active connection described above, power transmission and/or torque transmission from the output shaft 33 to the functional unit then becomes possible.

[0047] Motor 2 has an A-bearing side 24, and a B-bearing side. A-bearing side 24 is generally defined as an output side of motor 2, at which the motor shaft 4 is led out of the motor housing and/or on which a functional unit and/or output shaft 33 is connected. The B-bearing side is thus defined as the side of the motor housing facing away from the A-bearing side. Normally the B-bearing side is designed as the fan side.

[0048] The plug-in gearbox 3 of the actuator has at least one output gear wheel 5, which is directly or indirectly connected to the motor shaft 4, i.e., it can be driven directly or indirectly by the motor shaft 4, in particular by intermediate plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10.

[0049] The motor shaft 4 and the output gear wheel 5 can be adjusted relative from one another in the axial direction 19 (in particular in relation to a rotational axis of motor shaft 4 and/or output gear wheel 5. Here, the adjustment can be made by changing the position of the motor shaft 4 and/or the output gear wheel 5. Output gear wheel 5 can also be designed as an output shaft 33 or coupled with an output shaft 33.

[0050] With the axial relative adjustment described above, (installation) space 6 can be created between the motor shaft 4 and the output gear wheel 5, in which space, at least one plug-in element 7, 8, 9, 10 can be arranged or is arranged in the operating position. This means that a multi-stage plug-in gearbox 3 can be or is created with at least one plug-in element 7, 8, 9, 10. The axial relative adjustment can be performed just enough for sufficient space 6 to be created in order to arrange the number of plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10 in the required alignment/orientation, depending on the application, as required for setting up a desired output torque at output gear wheel 5. This allows for a particularly high degree of variability, when setting a preferred output torque, as this setting is not or not necessarily done via the motor speed, but rather via the selected gear ratios of plug-in gearbox 3. Such flexibly adjustable actuators 1 and/or systems for forming a plug-in gearbox 3 for actuators 1 are not yet available. It is likewise possible to keep the required space to a minimum, whereby particularly compact actuators 1 can be provided.

[0051] Due to the large number of different gear ratios that can be created by the plug-in gearbox 3, it is possible to set the motor speed to almost constant and/or at an optimum operating range, which provides optimum efficiency of motor 2. This allows for reducing the heat development.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 1, plug-in gearbox 3 can only be of a single-stage design, whereby when operating actuator 1, output gear wheel 5 is directly driven by motor shaft 4, in particular directly meshed.

[0053] FIGS. 2-5 depict multi-stage versions of the plug-in gearbox 3. Here, the number of stages is determined by the number of plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10 connected between the motor shaft 4 and the output gear wheel 5.

[0054] Each plug-in element 7, 8, 9, 10 has at least one gearwheel 13, 14. However, it may also be provided that individual or all plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10 have several gear wheels 13, 14 each for transmitting a torque to other gear wheels and/or output gear wheel 5. These plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10 may be or are arranged in two different orientations.

[0055] The plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10 can or are mounted on pin 11, especially plugged in, as shown in FIGS. 1-6. Axial fixation can be achieved, e.g., by positive and/or frictional locking and/or by a spacer sleeve 12, also mounted on the same pin 11. The length of the spacer sleeve 12 can thus define the axial position of a plug-in element 7, 8, 9, 10 along pin 11.

[0056] Actuator 1 may have several pins 11, with one or more plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10 arranged and/or fastened thereon. The pins 11 may be permanently pre-assembled, e.g., on an assembly unit including an insertion area. However, an embodiment, in which the user freely can select the pin insertion points 21 for the individual pins 11, is also possible.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the plug-in gearbox 3 may have several plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10 offset from one another in the axial direction 19 and/or arranged at the same height. The plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10 can be arranged laterally offset from one another. Alternatively or in addition, at least two plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10 can be arranged axially offset on a pin 11, such that their axes of rotation are identical.

[0058] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 each have plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10 with two gear wheels 13, 14. Here, the two gear wheels 13, 14 of a plug-in element 7, 8, 9, 10 have different diameters. The advantage is that such plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10 can be used in two different orientations to create different ratios. Furthermore, this embodiment has the advantage of not needing several different gear parts in order to create different gear ratios. This translates into a reduction of the production costs.

[0059] The plug-in gearbox 3 may have identically designed plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. For example, the orientation and/or axial position of the plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10, which in particular are structurally identical, can vary.

[0060] The motor shaft 4 has a mesh area 18, which in the operating position is either directly engaged with the output gear wheel or the intermediate gears of plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10. This allows for torque transmission from the motor shaft 4 to the output gear wheel 5, and/or the gear wheels 13, 14 of the plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10.

[0061] In particular, the mesh area of the motor shaft in the axial direction is made longer than the mesh areas of the gear wheels 13, 14 of the plug-in elements 7, 8, 9, 10. This makes it possible to make motor shaft 4 always engage a gearwheel 13, 14 and/or the output gear wheel 5, despite axial adjustment of the plug-in gearbox 3 and/or the motor shaft 4.

[0062] A distance 22 between the pin insertion points 21 is always smaller than a diameter, in particular a radius, of the smallest gear 13, 14 of a plug-in element 7, 8, 9, 10. This allows for a particularly space-saving arrangement of the gear parts.

[0063] In the embodiments in FIGS. 9-11, the main focus is on an actuator 1 with a motor 2 and a holding brake 23. Holding brake 23 can be designed, e.g., as a safety brake, particularly a spring-actuated brake.

[0064] The holding brake 23 has at least two pressure springs 28, with which a braking force can be generated. The braking torque is generated in a de-energized state of the holding brake 23. In the embodiment shown, the brake 23 is released electromagnetically.

[0065] The holding brake 23 has a special feature in that it is arranged on the A-bearing side 24 of motor 2, and is in direct operative connection with an output shaft 33 to be braked.

[0066] The output shaft 33 is connected to the motor shaft 4 driven by the motor 2. If the connection between motor shaft 4 and output shaft 33 is damaged, the holding brake 23 can still be used to brake and/or hold the output shaft. However, this would not be possible, if the holding brake 23 were arranged on the B-bearing side, since then, braking/holding of the output shaft 33 can only be done indirectly by braking/holding the motor shaft 4.

[0067] In de-energized state, the compression springs 28 push the at least one armature 29 against the brake disc 27 and/or the brake disc 27 against a motor flange 34. This results in a frictional connection, which generates a braking torque, and brakes or holds the output shaft 33.

[0068] In the energized state, in particular when a DC voltage is applied to an excitation winding 31, a magnetic field is produced, whose magnetic force resets the armature 29 against the spring force of the compression springs 28, such that an air gap 35 is produced between the armature 29 and the brake disc 27, and/or between the brake disc 27 and the motor flange 34. This state is referred to as a ventilated brake 23.

[0069] The brake disc 27, which is arranged non-rotatably on the output shaft 33, is thus released in the energized state and can then rotate together with the output shaft 33.

[0070] In the event of a fault or power failure, the pre-tensioned compression springs 28 immediately generate a braking torque or transmit a holding force, when the output shaft 33 is at a standstill.

[0071] Actuator 1 also includes a detection device 25 for determining the rotational speed of output shaft 33. The holding brake 23 of actuator 1 may be set up such that a brake control 26 can be activated or is activated, when the detection device 25 signals that a target rotational speed has been reached or was not fully reached. This has the advantage that when the output shaft 33 is rotating, it is first braked by a braking torque generated by motor 2, before a braking torque generated by brake 23 acts on output shaft 33. This means that the holding brake 23 can be designed smaller than conventional brakes for complete braking of an output shaft 33. Furthermore, wear on brake 23 can thus be reduced, as less heat is generated by the frictional connection described above.

[0072] The invention thus relates in particular to an actuator 1 with a modular system for creating a plug-in gearbox 3, wherein the modular system has at least one output gear wheel 5 and at least one plug-in element 7, 8, 9, 10, and wherein the modular system can create a plug-in gearbox 3 with one to five stages, as described and claimed herein.