Description of an actuating device for moving an actuator

Abstract

An actuating device for moving an actuator that features an actuating drive for generating an actuating movement for the actuator. The actuating device also includes a transmission device for transmitting the actuating movement from the actuating drive to the actuator. It also features a sensor device for detecting the actuating position of the actuator. The sensor device features a signal receiver and transducer. The signal receiver will be in the actuating drive and the transducer configured as part of the transmission device.

Claims

1. An actuating device for moving an actuator comprising: an actuating drive for generating an actuating movement for the actuator; a transmission device for transmitting the actuating movement from the actuating drive to the actuator; a sensor device for detecting the actuating position of the actuator, said sensor device including a signal receiver and a transducer; wherein the signal receiver is positioned in the actuator and the transducer forms part of the transmission device.

2. The actuating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuating drive features a printed circuit board on which the signal receiver is arranged.

3. The actuating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transducer is arranged on a component of the transmission device that moves during the actuating movement.

4. The actuating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor device is configured for at least one of the following signal communication types between the transducer and signal receiver: Magnetic interaction, Induction, Optical interaction, Resistive interaction, and Mechanical interaction.

5. The actuating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor device is configured to evaluate the actuating position of the actuator quantitatively.

6. The actuating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least some sections of the transmission device are configured as a lever mechanism with transmission levers for transmitting the actuating movement.

7. The actuating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transducer is configured as a limit stop for detecting at least one end position of the actuating device at the end of the actuating movement.

8. The actuating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transmission device features a movement interface for securing the actuator used for transmitting the actuating movement, and that the transmission device and actuating drive are configured as an assembly.

9. The actuating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor device features a control unit for receiving, processing and/or forwarding the signal detected by the signal receiver.

10. An actuating system (100), specifically for vehicles comprising: an actuator that is installed such that it can be moved between at least two actuating positions; the actuating device of claim 1; and a transmission device that has an operative connection to the actuator for transmitting the actuating movement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

[0031] FIG. 1 is an initial design of an inventive actuator system.

[0032] FIG. 2 is an additional design of an inventive actuator system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic of an inventive actuator system (100) with an initial design of an inventive actuating device (10). This actuating device (10) is equipped with a transmission device (40) in the form of a lever mechanism (44). This lever mechanism (44) is equipped with several joints and two transmission levers (46).

[0034] An actuating drive (30) is equipped with a servomotor that is not described in detail here. This servomotor carries out a movement of the actuator (20) in the actuator system (100). Then, the actuating movement can be converted into an actuating movement of the actuator (20) via the transmission device (40) and a corresponding movement interface (48). During this actuating movement, the entire lever mechanism (44) and transmission device (40) also move.

[0035] As seen in FIG. 1, a transducer (54) in the form of an inductive sensor is arranged on a component (42) of the transmission device (40) in the top right. A signal receiver (52) and corresponding control unit (56) are arranged on a printed circuit board (32) of the actuator (30).

[0036] If the transmission device (40), driven by the actuator (30) moves along the path of the actuating movement, this primarily causes the actuator (20) to carry out a corresponding actuating movement. However, the transducer (54) also moves along the path of the actuating movement simultaneously. This actuating movement can be detected by the signal receiver (52) from the changed relative position. As a result, the signal can be processed accordingly by the sensor device (50) in the control unit (56) and then forwarded.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows an alternative configuration to FIG. 1. The configuration issue of the sensor device (50) is solved using a limit stop, and the transducer (54) forms the limit stop (54a). The signal receiver (52), which protrudes from the printed circuit board (32), is configured as a mechanical pushbutton, allowing the corresponding limit stop to automatically generate the signal to the control unit (56) mechanically. In all other respects, the design in FIG. 2 functions in the same manner that has already been described for FIG. 1.

[0038] The previous explanation of the designs only describes this invention using examples. Of course, individual features of these designs can be combined with one another in any way without going beyond the scope of this invention, provided that these features are technologically useful.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0039] 10 Actuating device

[0040] 20 Actuator

[0041] 30 Actuating drive

[0042] 32 Printed circuit board

[0043] 40 Transmission device

[0044] 42 Component

[0045] 44 Lever mechanism

[0046] 46 Transmission lever

[0047] 48 Movement interface

[0048] 50 Sensor device

[0049] 52 Signal receiver

[0050] 54 Transducer

[0051] 54a Limit stop

[0052] 56 Control unit

[0053] 100 Actuator system