DIRECT CURRENT ELECTRIC ACTUATOR, IN PARTICULAR FOR ELECTRICAL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES

Abstract

The actuator (10) comprises a body (12) formed by a single strip of ferromagnetic material, U-shaped and including a first and a second lateral branch (14, 16) facing each other and interconnected by an intermediate branch or portion (8). A first lateral branch (14) of the body (12) has a frustoconical formation (30) which extends in the region outside the body (12). A coil (22) is fixed in the body (12), and its axis (A-A) extends in a direction essentially orthogonal to the lateral branches (14, 16) of this body (12). A ferromagnetic core (28) is mounted so as to be translatable inside the coil (22), from a rest position to a working position, as an effect of the energising of the coil (22). One end (32) of the core (28), facing towards the first branch (14) of said body (12), has a frustoconical shape essentially complementary to the internal shape (30b) of the formation (30). The frustoconical formation (30) of the first branch (14) of said body (12) is blind and has a planar distal bottom wall (30a).

Claims

1. A direct current electric actuator (10), in particular for devices for dispensing washing agents in washing machines, dishwashers and the like, comprising a body (12) formed by a single strip of ferromagnetic material, substantially U-shaped and including a first and a second lateral branch (14, 16), facing each other and interconnected by an intermediate branch or portion (8), a first lateral branch (14) having an essentially frustoconical formation (30) which extends in the region outside said body (12) and converges towards said outside region; a coil (22) of insulated electrically conducting wire, fixed in said body (12) such that the axis (A-A) thereof extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the lateral branches (14, 16) of said body (12); and a ferromagnetic core (28) mounted so as to be movable with respect to said body (12) in an axially translatable manner inside the coil (22), from a rest position to a working position, as an effect of the energising of the coil (22); one end (32) of the core (28), facing towards the first branch (14) of said body (12), having a frustoconical shape essentially complementary to the internal shape (30b) of said formation (30); the electric actuator (10) being characterised in that said frustoconical formation (30) of the first branch (14) of said body (12) is blind and has a planar distal bottom wall (30a).

2. The direct current electric actuator according to claim 1, characterised in that the frustoconical formation (30) of the first branch (14) of said body (12) defines an internal cavity (30b) having an essentially isosceles trapezium shaped profile in axial cross section, with a longer base (B) about twice as long as the shorter base (b) and a height or distance (h) between said bases (B, b) equal to about one third of the longer base (B).

3. The direct current electric actuator according to claim 1, characterised in that in the intermediate branch (18) of said body (12) there is provided a through opening (36) substantially equidistant from said branches (14, 16), adapted to allow the engagement of a gripping device of an assembling apparatus.

4. The direct current electric actuator according to claim 1, characterised in that the other end (38) of the core (28) has an outwardly protruding formation (38a), at least partially facing the second branch (16) of said body (12).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a direct current electric actuator according to the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a partial view of a section cut along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a view of a section cut along the line of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operating characteristics of an actuator according to the invention and of an actuator according to the prior art; and

[0021] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3 and shows a variant embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the number 10 indicates the whole of an electrically operated direct current actuator according to the present invention.

[0023] This actuator 10 can be used, for example, in devices for dispensing washing and/or rinsing agents for electrical household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and the like, but can also be used in other applications without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 10 comprises a body or shell 12 made in one piece with a substantially U-shaped strip of ferromagnetic material.

[0025] The body 12 includes a first and a second lateral branch 14 and 16, opposed to one another and interconnected by an intermediate branch 18.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the body or shell 12 houses a spool 20 on which a coil 22 of insulated electrical wire is wound. The coil 22 has a pair of connecting members 24, such as flat connectors.

[0027] Preferably, the spool 20 and the coil 22 are enclosed in an insulating housing 26 of substantially cylindrical shape, from which the connecting members 24 protrude to the outside.

[0028] The coil 22 has a longitudinal axis A-A extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first and second lateral branches 14, 16 of the body or shell 12.

[0029] The actuator 10 further comprises a ferromagnetic core 28 mounted movably with respect to the shell 12, so as to be axially translatable inside the coil 22.

[0030] The core 28 can pass, in a known way, from an axial rest position, shown in FIG. 1, to an axial working position, shown in FIG. 3, as an effect of the energising of the coil 22.

[0031] Optionally, the core 28 may be connected to elastic means (not shown) of a known type, for example a tension or compression spring, designed to retain it and/or return it to the rest position when the coil 22 is de-energised.

[0032] As can be seen, in particular, in FIG. 2, the first lateral branch 14 of the body or shell 12 has an essentially frustoconical formation 30 and the core 28 has a corresponding end 32, shaped in a substantially complementary way to the internal shape of the formation 30, which is therefore also substantially frustoconical.

[0033] The complementary frustoconical configuration between the external shape of the end 32 of the core 28 and the internal shape of the formation 30 of the body or shell 12 advantageously makes it possible to provide a gap (between the core 28 and the formation 30) whose amplitude is smaller than the travel of the core 28 with respect to said formation 30. Additionally, this configuration allows optimal centring of the core 28 with respect to the shell 12.

[0034] The frustoconical formation 30 of the branch 14 of the body or shell 12 extends in the region outside the body 12 and converges conically towards this outside region.

[0035] As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the frustoconical formation 30 of the body or shell 12 is blind and has a planar distal bottom wall 30a.

[0036] The blind frustoconical formation 30 is fairly easily made and simply requires a stamping/drawing operation.

[0037] In a currently preferred embodiment, illustrated qualitatively in FIG. 2 in particular, the internal cavity 30b of the formation 30 has an essentially isosceles trapezium shaped profile in axial cross section, with a longer base B about twice as long as the shorter base b and a height h (distance between the bases b and B) equal to about one third of the longer base B.

[0038] This configuration of the internal cavity of the formation 30 makes the stamping/drawing operation particularly easy, while also providing an effective core centring action.

[0039] The second lateral branch 16 of the body or shell 12 has an opening 34 through which the core 28 extends towards the outside.

[0040] With reference to FIG. 2, in the illustrated embodiment the intermediate branch 18 of the body or shell 12 has a through opening 36, substantially equidistant from the lateral branches 14 and 16, to allow engagement with a gripping device of an assembling apparatus of a type which is known and is not illustrated. This location of the opening 36 is advantageous since it enables the actuator 10 as a whole to be gripped in a central position which may or may not be close to its centre of gravity.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a diagram on which the force in newtons developed on the core of the actuator when the associated coil is energised is shown on the vertical axis, starting from the rest position towards the work position, which are shown on the horizontal axis in terms of distances travelled by the core in millimetres.

[0042] In FIG. 4, the curve shown as a chained line and indicated therein by C1 represents the variation of the force developed on the core with the variation of the distance travelled in an actuator device according to the prior art, in particular a device of the type illustrated in EP 1 722 380 A1, and the solid line indicated by C2 represents the variation of the force developed in an actuator device according to the present invention with corresponding characteristics.

[0043] As will be readily appreciated, in the actuator device according to the present invention the intensity of the force developed is, over much of the stroke or distance travelled, more than twice that developed in an actuator according to the prior art.

[0044] The actuator device according to the present invention can therefore be made in a simpler and more economical way and has improved functional characteristics.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a variant embodiment. In this drawing, parts and elements described previously have been given the same reference numerals as those used previously.

[0046] In this variant, the end 38 of the core 28 opposite the end 32 has a formation 38a protruding radially outwards, in the form of a collar, facing the lateral branch 16 of the ferromagnetic body or shell 12. This formation 38a can be used to increase the attractive force exerted on the core 28.

[0047] In the exemplary embodiments illustrated, the core 28 is hollow, but it could be made wholly or partially in solid form.

[0048] Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the forms of embodiment and the details of construction may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated, which have been given purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached claims.