Electromagnetic adjusting device and use of such an adjusting device

Abstract

An electromagnetic actuator device with a plurality of actuator units (10, 12) having in each case an armature tappet which is movable relative to a stationary coil along an axial tappet direction when said coil is energised, said actuator units being received in respectively assigned actuator housings (11, 13) such that in an installed and/or assembled state of the electromagnetic actuator device one respective end portion (16) of the armature tappets may come into engagement in a controlled manner with an actuator partner which is able to be assigned thereto, wherein the plurality of actuator units is mechanically connected to a bracket-like and/or bridge-like connecting unit (14) made of polymer material such that the actuator housings are movable relative to one another by the action and in accordance with a predetermined bending property and/or elasticity of the connecting unit, in particular in a plane perpendicular to a tappet direction of the armature tappets which are further preferably guided in an axially parallel manner to one another.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic actuator device with a plurality of actuator units (10, 12) each comprising an armature tappet which is movable relative to stationary coil means along an axial tappet direction when said coil means are energised, said actuator units being received in respectively assigned actuator housings (11, 13) such that in an installed and/or assembled state of the electromagnetic actuator device one respective end portion (16) of the armature tappets is engageable in a controlled manner with an actuator partner assigned thereto, wherein the plurality of actuator units is mechanically connected to a bracket-like and/or bridge-like connecting unit (14) made of polymer material, such that the actuator housings are movable relative to one another in accordance with a predetermined bending property and/or elasticity of the connecting unit, wherein the actuator housings are movable relative to one another in a plane perpendicular to a tappet direction of the armature tappets.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting unit is connected to the actuator housings by welding, bonding, encapsulating by injection-moulding or as a subassembly produced integrally with at least one of the actuator housings.

3. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a connection and/or plug unit (24) which is provided for energising the coil means of the plurality of actuator units together.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the connection and/or plug unit (24) is integrally positioned on the connecting unit (14).

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the connection and/or plug unit (24) is produced from a polymer material.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting unit is configured such that electrical lines for energising the coil means run at least partially in or through the connecting unit (14).

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting unit acts unreleasably on a lateral portion and/or on an outer portion of the actuator housings and/or has an extent parallel to an axial actuator direction which has less than 50% of a minimum extent of one of the actuator housings parallel to the axial actuator direction.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the connecting unit has an extent parallel to the axial actuator direction which has less than 30% of a minimum extent of one of the actuator housings parallel to the axial actuator direction.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the connecting unit has an extent parallel to the axial actuator direction which has less than 20% of a minimum extent of one of the actuator housings parallel to the axial actuator direction.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein grip, handling and/or flange portions (30, 32) are assigned to a pair of adjacent actuator units on a front region of the respective actuator housing opposing a tappet outlet end, such that said portions define a minimum spacing of the actuator units as a spacing gap extending at least partially parallel, and permit a manual handling of the actuator device by access using one hand.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the grip, handling and/or flange portions (30, 32) are designed as a flange portion which is integrally formed on one respective actuator housing, which is flat and which projects radially from the actuator housing.

12. The device according to claim 10 wherein the grip, handling and/or flange portions (30, 32) with one respective planar side on an end side determine a common end surface of the electromagnetic actuator device.

13. A use of the electromagnetic actuator device according to claim 1, for assembly on an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle for camshaft adjustment thereof.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator housings are guided in an axially parallel manner to one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantageous and features and details of the invention are disclosed from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the electromagnetic actuator device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention with two actuator units;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device according to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view rotated axially by 90 relative to the view of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the device of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 from the direction of the common connection and plug unit and a common end surface, and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a view from below relative to the view of FIG. 4 tilted by 180 of the device from the outlet side of the respective armature tappets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIGS. 1 to 5 show different views of the electromagnetic actuator device of the first and preferred exemplary embodiment. A pair of actuator units 10, 12 in this case is connected by a bridge 14 as tolerance compensating means (in this case produced from glass fibre-reinforced polyamide, as is selected for the material of the actuator housings 11, 13 of the individual actuators 10, 12) so that in accordance with the installation and engagement dimensions, which are subject to tolerances, for the end portions 16 (of armature tappets, not shown, guided in the respective housings 11, 13) a fit and/or accurate access is possible relative to the opposing actuator partner. In the described installation context this actuator partner is assigned in each case actuating grooves in order to permit an adjustment of an internal combustion engine camshaft.

(8) The individual actuators 10, 12 are, for example, constructed as electromagnetic actuator devices of the type described in DE 201 14 466 U1, wherein this embodiment with permanent magnets on the armature side, which then cooperate with stationary coil means in the housings 11 and/or 13, is merely by way of example and other embodiments of electromagnetic actuator devices may also be provided, which in the manner shown drive an engagement end 16 of an armature tappet in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, for example, on the end side in a controlled manner out of stationary guides 18 of the respective actuators 10, 12.

(9) Additionally visible in the respective views are lateral assembly flanges 20, 22 for a corresponding assembly on both sides, wherein, in principle, the provision of the bridge 14 according to the invention (connecting unit and/or connecting portion) permits the fastening of the entire arrangement shown on merely one of these flanges.

(10) As, in particular, the views of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 illustrate, a plug portion and/or bush portion 24 which is integrally injection-moulded with the bracket 14 is located adjacent to the actuator housing 13. Connection contacts 26 shown by way of example (FIG. 4) indicate how, via this connection, the stationary coils which are respectively contained in the housings 11, 13 are also energised separately from one another and thus may be activated for driving the respective armature tappets.

(11) The views of FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate further how, axially opposing an outlet end of the armature tappet engagement regions 16, the arrangement on the front face of one respective housing 11, 13 has planar end portions 26, 28 which when aligned permit an end surface or, in the side view of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a defined end edge of the device.

(12) In the plan view (FIG. 4) it is also clear how these end portions provide grip-like and/or flange-like projections 30, 32 relative to the primarily cylindrical housings 11, 13 so that, for example from the direction of FIG. 4, assembly personnel may grip the arrangement with a secure grip using one hand and, for example, insert the arrangement at the point of assembly using one hand. The straight edge which respectively extends between the portions 30, 32so that in the view of FIG. 4 a gap is formed between the pair of actuator unitsalso indicates visually a spacing in the installed state (in this case subject to tolerances).

(13) The side view, in particular of FIG. 3, illustrates a size ratio of the bridge (connecting unit 14) relative to an extent of the polymer part of the housing (in this case 13): in accordance with the desired stiffness and elasticity properties of the bridge 14 (describing according to FIG. 5 an inflection angle of approximately 20), this bridge extends in a direction parallel to the axial direction (i.e. in FIG. 3 vertically in the direction of the plane of the figure) only over approximately 30% of the total length, so that the constructional space is also optimised here.