CN112701847A

CN112701847A - Actuator

Info

Publication number: CN112701847A
Application number: CN202011146416.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: G·比安库齐; H·施耐德; F·塞金格
Original assignee: MinebeaMitsumi Inc
Current assignee: MinebeaMitsumi Inc
Priority date: 2019-10-23
Filing date: 2020-10-23
Publication date: 2021-04-23
Also published as: DE102019128653B3

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator (28) having a motor unit (10), a transmission (12), a drive output (14) and an overload clutch (16), wherein the motor unit (10) is provided to drive the drive output (14) via the transmission (12), and the overload clutch (16) is arranged between a last gear shift stage (18) of the transmission (12) and the drive output (14). The motor unit (10) is designed to temporarily move the output (14) to an end stop by means of the transmission (12) with a torque greater than the triggering torque of the overload clutch (16) after a predetermined number of operating cycles (42) of the output (14).

Description

Actuator

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an actuator.

Background

Actuators having an electric motor unit, a transmission and a drive output are known from the prior art. The motor unit is provided to drive the output member by means of a transmission. An overload clutch is arranged between the last gear of the transmission and the output drive.

Only a small part of the adjustable range is usually used in known actuators. This is the case in particular when the actuator, depending on the application, is operated at least in the same angular range or the adjustment angle of the actuator is defined by an end stop. In particular in actuators with a gear change, it is the result that only a part of the teeth, in particular the same teeth, are always loaded on the output gear of the last gear change. In particular, even when moving toward the end stop, the maximum load always relates to the same teeth of the two gears of the last gear.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an actuator having excellent wear resistance. This object is achieved by the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

The invention relates to an actuator having a motor unit, which is provided to drive a driven member by means of a transmission, a driven member and an overload clutch, which is arranged between the last gear stage of the transmission and the driven member.

After a predetermined number of operating cycles (activating cycles) of the output, the motor unit moves the output via the transmission to the end stop with a torque greater than the activation torque of the overload clutch.

In particular, the actuator can be used, for example, for the motorized adjustment of a locking element of a motor vehicle. The locking element can be, for example, a door of a motor vehicle, a movable panel, in particular a tank flap or tailgate, a trunk lid or vehicle tailgate, a bonnet or the like. Alternatively, the actuator can be used for other elements of motorized adjustment, which the person skilled in the art considers suitable in the fields of automotive technology, automation technology, in particular building automation, etc.

An "electrical machine unit" is to be understood to mean, in particular, a unit for converting, in particular, electrical, chemical and/or thermal energy into kinetic energy, in particular rotational energy. "provided" is to be understood to mean, in particular, a special design and/or design. An object with respect to a specific function is to be understood in particular as meaning an object which, in at least one application and/or operating state, fulfills and/or carries out the specific function. In particular, the motor unit comprises at least one drive motor. The drive motor is preferably designed as an electric motor, in particular as a brushless direct current motor, which serves to convert electrical energy into a rotational movement of the motor shaft. In this context, an "operating cycle" is to be understood in particular as meaning each movement of the output means in the adjustment region of the actuator, in particular close to a position in the adjustment region of the actuator, and each movement of the output means to an end stop during the adjustment operation of the actuator. In this context, "adjusting operation" of the actuator is understood to mean an operating mode of the actuator for adjusting an element coupled to a driven member of the actuator.

In the present context, a "transmission" is to be understood in particular as a mechanical unit for transmitting and/or changing movements, energy and/or forces. In particular, the transmission is provided in the actuator, which transmits the rotational movement of the drive motor of the motor unit to the output of the actuator. In particular, transmissions are used to shift rotational speed, rotational direction and/or torque when transmitting rotational movements. The transmission is in particular designed completely or at least partially as a gear transmission, in particular a spur gear transmission. In particular, at least the last gear shift stage of the transmission is designed as a gear shift stage, in particular as a spur gear shift stage. In particular, a first transmission element, in particular a first gear wheel, of the transmission is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a motor shaft of a drive motor of the motor unit and is driven directly by the drive motor. The last gear stage of the transmission, in particular the last gear wheel of the transmission, serves in particular to transmit the rotary motion transmitted by means of the transmission to the output of the actuator.

The overload clutch can be arranged in the actuator in such a way that, in the event of an overload, the drive side is mechanically decoupled from the output side, so that damage to the drive motor of the motor unit, to the transmission and/or to other components in the drive train of the actuator is avoided. In order to transmit, in particular, a rotary drive movement from a drive side to a driven side, the overload clutch has, in particular, at least two clutch elements, wherein at least one first clutch element is arranged on the drive side and at least one second clutch element is arranged on the driven side. In the engaged state of the overload clutch, the drive movement can be transmitted via the clutch elements, wherein the clutch elements are engaged with one another in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner in the engaged state in order to transmit the drive movement and can be disengaged in the event of an overload. Preferably, the overload clutch can be configured, for example, as a friction clutch, a lockup clutch or an electromagnetic clutch. The overload clutch is preferably arranged directly between the last gear stage of the transmission, in particular the last gear wheel, and the output drive.

During the setting operation of the actuator, the output is moved during each operating cycle with a torque which is lower than the triggering torque of the overload clutch, in particular the output is moved toward an end stop. After a defined number of operating cycles of the output element, a change is made from the regulating operation to the rotary operation. "rotary operation" is to be understood to mean, in particular, an operating mode of the actuator in which the transmission is rotated relative to the output. In the rotating mode, the electric machine unit is set up to temporarily set the output to a higher torque than the triggering torque of the overload clutch (german:

) A greater torque moves towards the end stop. By exceeding the trigger torque of the overload clutch, the clutch element of the overload clutch is disengaged and the transmission is rotated relative to the output. The output element is moved with a torque greater than the triggering torque of the overload clutch toward the end stop during the rotational operation of the actuator only temporarily, in particular for a defined period of time, or until a predetermined rotational angle is reached. The rotary operation of the actuator is returned to the regulating operation of the actuator after the transmission has rotated relative to the output.

This type of actuator with advantageous wear characteristics is provided by this design. In particular, it is advantageously possible to rotate the transmission relative to the output, so that immediately after the rotation, the teeth of the transmission, which are different from those before the rotation, are subjected to a load during the setting operation of the actuator. This advantageously allows the load and/or wear to be distributed evenly to the teeth of the transmission, so that in particular a longer service life of the actuator, in particular of the transmission of the actuator, can be achieved. As an alternative or additional effect, higher loads can be achieved with the service life of the actuator remaining unchanged.

It is also proposed that the motor unit comprises at least one drive motor and at least one control unit, wherein the control unit is used for controlling the drive motor and for detecting an operating cycle of the output drive. A "control unit" is to be understood to mean, in particular, an electronic unit, which is provided, in particular, to control and/or regulate the rotational speed, the direction of rotation and/or the angle of rotation of the drive motor or the output. Preferably, the control unit comprises a computing unit and in particular, in addition to the computing unit, a memory unit having a control and/or regulating program stored therein, the control and/or regulating program being executed by the computing unit. In particular, the control unit actuates the drive motor during the adjusting operation of the actuator in order to move the output member and additionally detects the operating period of the output member and counts it. If the number of operating cycles of the output drive reaches the number specified previously and stored in the memory of the control unit, the control unit actuates a drive motor in a rotational mode, which moves the output drive toward an end stop and applies a torque to the output drive via the transmission that is greater than the triggering torque of the overload clutch. Alternatively, the angles that have been shifted over all operating cycles can be added and a change to a turning operation can be made after a predetermined total angle has been reached. Advantageously, after a defined number of operating cycles has been reached, in particular from a shift position of the output element, which is located at or at least in the vicinity of the end stop, a change is made from the setting operation to the rotary operation of the actuator. In this way, during the changeover from the adjusting operation to the rotating operation of the actuator, undesired adjustment of the displacement position of the output element can be limited to a minimum in an advantageous manner. If the output element is not in the end stop position or in the vicinity of the end stop when a predetermined number of operating cycles has been reached, the control unit can switch from the actuating operation to the rotary operation, in particular with a long delay, until the output element is brought into the displacement position at or at least in the vicinity of the end stop during the rotary operation. After the rotation of the transmission relative to the output, the control unit again initiates the setting operation of the actuator. This advantageously changes from the setting operation to the turning operation of the actuator.

It is also proposed that the motor unit is used to rotate the transmission by a defined rotational angle relative to the output after a defined number of operating cycles of the output. The angle of rotation by which the transmission is rotated during the rotational operation of the actuator is set in particular in such a way that, in the setting operation immediately following the rotational operation, in particular in the entire setting range of the actuator, the other teeth of the last gear shift stage, i.e. the teeth which differ from the setting operation preceding the rotational operation, are subjected to a load. This advantageously distributes the load and wear in the transmission, so that an advantageously long service life of the transmission and of the entire actuator can be achieved.

A method for operating an actuator having a motor unit, a transmission, a drive output and an overload clutch is also proposed, wherein the motor unit is provided to drive the drive output by means of the transmission, the overload clutch is arranged between the last gear stage of the transmission and the drive output, wherein after a defined number of operating cycles of the drive output is moved with a torque greater than the trigger torque of the overload clutch towards an end stop. During the setting operation of the actuator, the output is displaced during each operating cycle with a torque which is lower than the triggering torque of the overload clutch. This also applies in particular to the movement of the output means towards the end stop. Preferably, the number of operating cycles of the output drive is detected during operation of the actuator, in particular during an adjusting operation of the actuator. After a predetermined number of operating cycles of the output drive, the output drive is temporarily moved by the electric motor unit via the transmission to an end stop with a torque greater than the triggering torque of the overload clutch. By exceeding the trigger torque of the overload clutch, the clutch element of the overload clutch is disengaged and the transmission is rotated relative to the output. This can be advantageously achieved by rotating the transmission relative to the output member: immediately after the rotation, the teeth of the transmission, which are different from those before the rotation, are subjected to a load during the setting operation of the actuator. This advantageously allows the load and/or wear to be distributed evenly to the teeth of the transmission, so that in particular a longer service life of the actuator, in particular of the transmission of the actuator, in particular of the last gear stage, can be achieved.

It is also proposed that the transmission be rotated by a predetermined rotational angle relative to the output after a predetermined number of operating cycles of the output. The angle of rotation by which the transmission is rotated during the rotational operation of the actuator is set in particular in such a way that, in the setting operation immediately following the rotational operation, in particular in the entire setting range of the actuator, the other teeth of the last gear shift stage, i.e. the teeth which differ from the setting operation preceding the rotational operation, are subjected to a load. Alternatively, this makes it possible to select a rotation angle of the output drive which is smaller than the adjustment range of the output drive when a high number of end stops are used. This advantageously distributes the load and wear in the transmission, so that an advantageously long service life of the transmission and of the entire actuator is achieved.

The actuator according to the invention should not be limited to the above-described applications and embodiments. In particular the actuator according to the invention may have a number different from the number of individual elements, members and units described therein in order to fulfil the functions described therein.

Drawings

Other advantages will be derived from the following description of the figures. Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings. The figures, description and claims include various combinations of features. The person skilled in the art can also consider these features separately and make up other advantageous combinations.

In which is shown:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an actuator; and

fig. 2 shows a flow chart of a method for operating an actuator.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of the actuator 28. The actuator 28 has the motor unit 10, the transmission 12, and the driven mechanism 14. The motor unit 10 is provided to drive a driven member 14 by means of a transmission 12. An overload clutch 16 is also arranged between the last gear 18 of the transmission 12 and the output drive 14. The overload clutch 16 can be designed, for example, as a friction clutch, a lock-up clutch or an electromagnetic clutch.

The transmission 12 is arranged in the actuator 28 to transmit the rotational movement of the drive motor 20 of the motor unit 10 to the output 14 of the actuator 28. The drive motor 20 is preferably designed as an electric motor, in particular as a brushless direct current motor. The transmission 12 is designed as a gear transmission, in particular as a spur gear transmission. A first gear wheel 34 of the transmission 12 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a motor shaft 36 of the drive motor 20 and is driven directly by the drive motor 20. The last gear shift stage 18 of the transmission 12 is provided to transmit the rotational movement of the drive motor 20 transmitted by means of the transmission 12 to the output 14 of the actuator 28. An overload clutch 16 is also arranged between the last gear 18 of the transmission 12 and the output drive 14. The overload clutch 16 can be designed, for example, as a friction clutch, a lock-up clutch or an electromagnetic clutch. The overload clutch 16 is configured to mechanically decouple the drive side from the driven side in the event of an overload, thereby avoiding damage to the drive motor 20, the transmission 12, and/or other components within the drive train of the actuator 28.

The motor unit 10 comprises a control unit 22 in addition to the drive motor 20. During the setting operation 30 of the actuator 28, the control unit 22, in addition to actuating the drive motor 20, also serves to detect an operating cycle 42 of the output drive 14. After a predetermined number of operating cycles 42 of the output drive 14, a transition is made from the regulating operation 30 to the rotary operation 32. During the rotational operation 32, the electric motor unit 10 is set up such that the transmission 12, in particular the last gear shift stage 18, rotates about a fixed rotational angle relative to the output 14. In order to rotate the transmission 12 relative to the driven member after a predetermined number of operating cycles of the driven member 14, the electric machine unit 10 is designed to temporarily drive the driven member 14 by means of the transmission 12 with a torque greater than the triggering torque of the overload clutch 16 against an end stop, not shown. By exceeding the activation torque of the overload clutch 16, the clutch elements of the overload clutch 16 are disengaged and the transmission 12, in particular the last gear 18, is rotated relative to the output drive 14. After the transmission 12 has rotated relative to the output 14, the control operation 30 of the actuator 28 is returned from the rotational operation 32. By rotating the transmission 12 relative to the output drive 14, the other teeth of the last shift gear 18 of the transmission 14, i.e. the teeth that were different from the teeth before the rotation 32, are subjected to a load in the next actuating operation 30 after the end of the rotation 32.

Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of a method for operating the actuator 28. The method for operating the actuator includes two operating modes of the actuator 28, an adjusting mode 30 for adjusting an element coupled to the output 14 of the actuator 28, and a rotating mode 32 in which the transmission 12, in particular the last gear 18, is rotated relative to the output 14. During each operating cycle 42 within the adjustment operation 30, the follower 14 moves within the adjustment region of the actuator 28. This includes movement to any position within the adjustment region of the actuator 28 and any movement of the follower 14 toward the end stop. In a method step 38 of the setting operation 30 of the actuator 28, the number of operating cycles 42 of the output drive 14 is detected (recorded) by the control unit 22 of the motor unit 10 and counted.

After a defined number of operating cycles 42 of the output drive 14, the control operation 30 is changed into the rotary operation 32. The control unit 22 switches from the regulating mode 30 into the turning mode 32. During the rotational operation 30, the output drive 14 is moved in one method step with a torque greater than the activation torque of the overload clutch 16 toward the end stop. By exceeding the activation torque of the overload clutch 16, the clutch elements of the overload clutch 16 are disengaged and the transmission 12, in particular the last gear 18, is rotated relative to the output drive 14. The transmission 12 rotates by a predetermined rotational angle with respect to the driven mechanism 14. In method step 40 of rotational operation 32, this rotational angle is detected and compared with a previously specified rotational angle. After the specified pivot angle has been reached, the control operation 30 is switched back from the pivot operation 32.

List of reference numerals

10 a motor unit; 12 a transmission; 14 a driven mechanism; 16 an overload clutch; 18 shift gears; 20 driving a motor; 22 a control unit; 28 an actuator; 30, regulating operation; 32, running in a rotating mode; 34 a gear; 36 motor shafts; 38 method step; 40, a method step; 42 run period; 44 method step.

Claims

1. Actuator with a motor unit (10), a transmission (12), a driven member (14) and an overload clutch (16), the motor unit (10) being provided to drive the driven member (14) via the transmission (12), the overload clutch (16) being arranged between a last gear stage (18) of the transmission (12) and the driven member (14), characterized in that the motor unit (10) is provided to, after a defined number of operating cycles (42) of the driven member (14), temporarily move the driven member (14) with the transmission (12) to an end stop with a torque greater than a trigger torque of the overload clutch (16).

2. Actuator according to claim 1, wherein the motor unit (10) comprises at least one drive motor (20) and at least one control unit (22), wherein the control unit (22) is adapted to control the drive motor (20) and to detect an operating period (42) of the driven mechanism (14).

3. Actuator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the motor unit (10) is arranged to rotate the transmission (12) with respect to the driven mechanism (14) by a defined rotation angle after a defined number of operating cycles (42) of the driven mechanism (14).

4. Actuator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the overload clutch (16) is formed as a friction clutch, a lock-up clutch or an electromagnetic clutch.

5. Method for operating an actuator (28) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after a defined number of operating cycles (42) of the output (14), the output (14) is moved with a torque greater than the triggering torque of the overload clutch (16) towards an end stop.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the number of operating cycles (42) of the driven mechanism (14) is detected during operation of the actuator (28).

7. The method of claim 5 or 6, wherein the transmission (12) is rotated relative to the driven mechanism (14) by a prescribed rotational angle after a prescribed number of operating cycles (42) of the driven mechanism (14).