ANGLE-MEASURING DEVICE FOR A ROTATIONALLY DRIVEN LINEAR ACTUATOR

Abstract

An angle-measuring device is provided for a rotationally-driven linear actuator, which can be implemented into a clutch actuator. A rotor element has an axis of rotation and rotates concentrically with a rotor of a rotary drive for an axially movable linear actuator element. A measurement magnet arrangement is fixed relative to the rotor element and has a polarization. The polarization is oriented in such a way that the magnetic field lines can change with a rotation of the rotor element so as to enable the angle to be precisely determined from at least one measurement position. At one location, a 360-degree sensor is provided for measuring angular positions based on the measurement magnet arrangement. At another location, a revolution-counting sensor is provided for counting a number of revolutions carried out based on the measurement magnet arrangement.

Claims

1. An angular position measuring device for a rotationally driven linear clutch actuator, the angular position measuring device comprising: a rotor element having a rotational axis which rotates concentrically with a rotor of a rotary drive for an axially movable linear actuator element; a first measuring magnet arrangement which is fixed relative to the rotor element and has a polarization, wherein the polarization is oriented in such a way that magnetic field lines can change with a rotation of the rotor element so as to enable an angle to be precisely determined from at least one measurement position; at one of the at least one measurement position a 360-degree sensor for measuring angular positions based on the first measuring magnet arrangement; and at one of the at least one measurement position, a revolution-counting sensor for counting an absolute number of revolutions carried out based on the measuring magnet arrangement.

2. The angular position measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuring magnet arrangement includes an annular magnet which is situated concentric to the rotational axis of the rotor element.

3. The angular position measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuring magnet arrangement comprises a measuring magnet pair including two magnet pairs and is provided for the revolution-counting sensor, wherein the magnet pairs are situated opposite each other and on a ring which is concentric to the rotational axis, a polarization of the two magnet pairs is oriented in the same direction.

4. The angular position measuring device as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one pair of guide plates is provided, which is magnetizable and is fixed relative to the revolution-counting sensor, wherein the at least one pair of guide plates are situated relative to the at least one measuring magnet of the measuring magnet arrangement in such a way that the guide plates can be oppositely polarized via one of the magnet pairs.

5. (canceled)

6. The linear actuator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one pair of guide plates are integrated via injection into a stator.

7. A hydrostatic clutch actuator for a friction clutch, comprising: a linear actuator as claimed in claim 6; a master piston which can be fixedly connected to the linear actuator element for translational motion; and a master cylinder for accommodating the master piston and a hydraulic fluid, wherein the master cylinder is fluidly connected to a slave cylinder in a communicating manner via the hydraulic fluid.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. A linear clutch actuator comprising: a threaded linear actuator element configured to rotate about an axis such that rotation of the threaded linear actuator element causes a linear translation; a rotor element disposed about the threaded linear actuator element and configured to rotate concentrically with the threaded linear actuator element; a measuring magnet arrangement fixed relative to the rotor element and having a polarization and magnetic field lines that change orientation with a rotation of the rotor element; an angular position measuring device fixed so as to not rotate relative to the rotor element, the angular position measuring device configured to determine an angular position of the rotor element by detecting changes in the magnetic field lines during rotation of the rotor element; and a revolution-counting sensor fixed so as to not rotate relative to the rotor element, the revolution-counting sensor configured to determine a number of revolutions carried out by the rotor element during rotation based on the measuring magnet arrangement.

12. The linear clutch actuator of claim 11, wherein the measuring magnet arrangement includes an annular magnet disposed concentric to the axis.

13. The linear clutch actuator of claim 11, wherein the measuring magnet arrangement includes two magnet pairs provided for the revolution-counting sensor, wherein the magnet pairs are situated opposite each other and on a ring which is concentric to the axis, and wherein a polarization of the two magnet pairs is oriented in the same direction.

14. The linear clutch actuator of claim 13, further comprising at least one pair of magnetizable guide plates fixed relative to the revolution-counting sensor, wherein the at least one pair of guide plates are situated relative to at least one of the two magnet pairs in such a way that the guide plates can be oppositely polarized via one of the magnet pairs.

15. The linear clutch actuator of claim 14, further comprising a stator located about the rotor element, wherein the guide plates are disposed in the stator.

16. The linear clutch actuator of claim 11, wherein the threaded linear actuator element is a threaded shaft.

17. The linear clutch actuator of claim 11, wherein the threaded linear actuator element is a threaded nut.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] This disclosure is explained in detail in light of the relevant technical background with reference to the associated drawings which show some embodiments. This disclosure is in no way limited by the purely schematic drawings, wherein it is to be noted that the drawings are not true to scale and are not suitable for defining size ratios. In the drawings:

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a section view of a linear actuator comprising an angular position measuring device;

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a spatial view of a rotor element on a rotor;

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a spatial view of a stator;

[0064] FIG. 4 shows a section view of a dry double clutch; and

[0065] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a drive train in a motor vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] FIG. 1 shows an angular position measuring device 1 in a linear actuator 2 which is shown here in a section view. In this case, a drive spindle, which forms a linear actuator element 6, can be moved along the rotational axis 4 of the drive 5 translationally, i.e., from left to right and back again in this representation. The drive 5 comprises a stator 19 in this case, which is rotationally fixed and a rotor 20 which can rotate about the rotational axis 4 in a controlled manner. A rotor element 3 is rotationally fixed with the rotor 20, i.e., fixed thereto for conjoint rotation. This rotation of the rotor 20 can be converted, for example, by a planetary screw drive, into the translational motion of the linear actuator element 6 (the drive spindle in this case). The angular position measuring device 1 comprises, in this case, an annular magnet 12, a first magnet pair 13, and a second magnet pair 14 which together form the measuring magnet arrangement 7. The annular magnet 12 may have a polarization in this case, i.e., a magnetic north-south orientation, which lies in a plane, with respect to which the rotational axis 4 is normal. The magnet pairs 13 and 14 are oriented in the same direction, as represented in the following in FIG. 2. A first guide plate 16 and a second guide plate 17 are located so as to axially overlap and are radially outer and radially inner, respectively, and together form a guide plate pair 15. By way of a polarization of the first magnet pair 13 as represented in FIG. 2, the first guide plate 16 is in saturation (for example, north pole) and the second guide plate 17 is in saturation (for example, south pole or reversed polarization). Therefore, the magnetic flux density at the second measurement position 9, at which the revolution-counting sensor 11 is located, is always the same in this position of the rotor element 3 and the evaluation can be reliably read out by the revolution-counting sensor 11. At the first measurement position 8, the present angular position within a number of revolutions counted by the revolution-counting sensor 11 can be detected, by the 360 sensor 10 via the magnetic field of the annular magnet 12, in a manner which has a sufficiently fine graduation for motor commutation.

[0067] A rotor element 3 is represented in FIG. 2, which is formed in this case so as to be integral with the rotor 20, as it is represented in FIG. 1 by way of example. In this case, the measuring magnet arrangement 7 is likewise formed with an annular magnet 12, a first magnet pair 13, and a second magnet pair 14. The first magnet pair 13 has, in this case, a polarization which is oriented in such a way that the north pole 52 is radially outer and the south pole 53 is radially inner. The second magnet pair 14 has, in this case, a polarization which is oriented in such a way that the north pole 52 is radially inner and the south pole 53 is radially outer. Therefore, the first magnet pair 13 and the second magnet pair 14 are oriented in the same direction, and, in this case, are also diametrically situated, i.e., offset by 180.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a stator 19, wherein it is apparent here that the guide plate pair 15, comprising a first (encased) guide plate 16 and a second (encased) guide plate 17, is integrated into the stator, for example being injected therein.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows, by way of example, a friction clutch 21 as a (dry) double clutch comprising a first friction pack 28 and a second friction pack 29 which can be actuated via a slave cylinder 24 including a first actuating piston 40 and including a second actuating piston 41, respectively. Via the driven shaft 26, a torque can be input via the coupling axle 25, which can be detachably transmitted via the first friction pack 28 to a first output shaft 50 and via the second friction pack 29 to a second output shaft 51. The first friction pack 28 is formed, in this case, from multiple friction plates, namely a first pressure plate 30, a first intermediate plate 31, and a first counter plate 32, and, in this case, from multiple friction disks, namely a first pressure friction disk 33 and a first counter friction disk 34, for which clutch disks can also be utilized. The second friction pack 29 is likewise formed, in this case, from multiple friction plates, namely a second pressure plate 35, a second intermediate plate 36, and a second counter plate 37, and, in this case, from multiple friction disks, namely a second pressure friction disk 38 and a second counter friction disk 39, for which clutch disks can also be utilized. The friction packs 28 and 29 can be actuated by a hydrostatic clutch actuator 18 (master unit), which is represented here purely schematically, via a hydraulic line 42, for example in an automated manner. To this end, the master piston 22 in the master cylinder 23 can be moved back and forth via a linear actuator element 6 driven by a rotary drive 5, and therefore a hydraulic fluid in the master cylinder 23 is displaced and is pressed into a corresponding chamber of the slave cylinder 24. As a result, the first friction pack 28 and the second friction pack 29 are compressed and a torque from the driven shaft 26 can be frictionally transmitted to the particular output shaft 50 and 51, respectively.

[0070] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a drive train 27, comprising a drive unit 44, which is represented here as an internal combustion engine, and comprising a driven shaft 26, a friction clutch 21, and a left drive wheel 45 and a right drive wheel 46, each of which is connected in a torque-transmitting manner. The drive train 27 is situated in a motor vehicle 43 in this case, wherein the drive unit 44 is situated with its engine axis 49 transversely to the longitudinal axis 48, ahead of the driver's cabin 47.

[0071] The angular position measuring device proposed herein ensures a fail-safe read-out of the absolute displacement position of, for example, a master piston of a hydrostatic clutch actuator, and requires little installation space.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0072] 1 angular position measuring device [0073] 2 linear actuator [0074] 3 rotor element [0075] 4 rotational axis [0076] 5 drive [0077] 6 linear actuator element [0078] 7 measuring magnet arrangement [0079] 8 first measurement position [0080] 9 second measurement position [0081] 10 360 sensor [0082] 11 revolution-counting sensor [0083] 12 annular magnet [0084] 13 first magnet pair [0085] 14 second magnet pair [0086] 15 guide-plate pair [0087] 16 first guide plate [0088] 17 second guide plate [0089] 18 clutch actuator [0090] 19 stator [0091] 20 rotor [0092] 21 friction clutch [0093] 22 master piston [0094] 23 master cylinder [0095] 24 slave cylinder [0096] 25 coupling axle [0097] 26 driven shaft [0098] 27 drive train [0099] 28 first friction pack [0100] 29 second friction pack [0101] 30 first pressure plate [0102] 31 first intermediate plate [0103] 32 first counter plate [0104] 33 first pressure friction disk [0105] 34 first counter friction disk [0106] 35 second pressure plate [0107] 36 second intermediate plate [0108] 37 second counter plate [0109] 38 second pressure friction disk [0110] 39 second counter friction disk [0111] 40 first actuating device [0112] 41 second actuating device [0113] 42 hydraulic line [0114] 43 motor vehicle [0115] 44 drive unit [0116] 45 left drive wheel [0117] 46 right drive wheel [0118] 47 driver's cabin [0119] 48 longitudinal axis [0120] 49 engine axis [0121] 50 first output shaft [0122] 51 second output shaft [0123] 52 north pole [0124] 53 south pole