EP2929550A1

EP2929550A1 - Electromagnetic actuating apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2929550A1
Application number: EP13789230.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Timo Rigling
Original assignee: ETO Magnetic GmbH
Current assignee: ETO Magnetic GmbH
Priority date: 2012-12-05
Filing date: 2013-10-30
Publication date: 2015-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-30
Also published as: US9551246B2; CN104798147B; CN104798147A; DE102012111851A1; EP2929550B1; DE102012111851B4; WO2014086535A1; US20150322830A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator apparatus comprising a core unit (12; 50) having coil means (16), which core unit is designed to interact with armature means (34, 36, 38, 32, 30) guided movably relative to the core unit in response to energization of the coil means, wherein the armature means have a plurality of plunger units (30, 32), which are spaced physically apart from one another and can be driven simultaneously and to which permanent magnet means (34) are assigned in each case in the direction towards the core unit, said permanent magnet means having permanent magnetization along a corresponding longitudinal movement axis of the plunger units, wherein the plurality of plunger units which can be driven parallel to one another interacts magnetically with an end face of the core unit having the same polarity, and the permanent magnet means have permanent magnetization in the same axial direction.

Description

Electromagnetic stiff device

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator according to the preamble of the main claim. Such a device is known from WO 2010/063394 A1 of the applicant and describes a coil means having core unit, which is designed to interact with relative to the core unit movably guided anchor means in response to energization of the coil means. The anchor means comprise a plurality of ram units which each have permanent magnet means at their end directed towards the core unit. In response to the energization of the core unit and the polarity chosen for this energization, it is thus possible to selectively drive individual ones of the ram units, in that the core unit repels, by the electromagnetically generated flow, a respective one of the permanent magnet units. Also, depending on the design of the device, an opposite movement of, for example, a pair of plunger units can be realized.

Especially in a context of internal combustion engines for automobiles, an electromagnetic actuator device for camshaft adjustment has prevailed. Such a technology makes it possible, in particular, to intervene by means of a ram unit driven in the manner described above into a positioning groove of an adjusting cam or the like of the engine assembly designed to cooperate with the ram end, thus effecting camshaft adjustment. In this case, such a positioning groove then also allows the return of an extended ram unit back into a stop position on the core unit after the end of the energization.

In addition, as known from the prior art, such as the generic prior art introduced above, it is anticipated that a plurality of ram units will be used for camshaft adjustment. For example, it is possible to use a first of the camshaft displacement tappet units along a first axial direction and a second one of the tappet units for axial return of a correspondingly offset camshaft. leneinheit to use. On the one hand, it is assumed to be known to associate each of these ram units with a separate electromagnetic actuator, these actuators then being clocked or energized in accordance with a particular application. The cited prior art state of the art according to WO 2010/063394 already described beyond the possibility, in response to the energization of only a single coil (or an array of coils) to move a plurality of ram units simultaneously or together. In particular, the possibility is here also disclosed of simultaneously and rectilinearly moving the plurality of ram units (that is to say, for example, a pair of guided guided rams), but this requires that corresponding to the polarity conditions at the described bow-shaped or U-shaped yoke area, selected or assigned polarity conditions of the permanent magnet means must apply relative to a respective yoke core section.

Accordingly, a realization of a multi-tappet technology is complex and moreover brings difficulties in the exact assignment during assembly. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an electromagnetic actuator device for simultaneously driving (moving) a plurality of ram units from a starting position into an engagement position (for example offered by a camshaft adjustment), which is structurally simple to implement and simplifies in assembly and maintenance , The present invention is intended to be particularly suitable for a context of use (intended use) in an internal combustion engine.

The object is achieved by the electromagnetic actuator device having the features of the main claim; Advantageous developments of the invention are described in the subclaims. In an advantageous manner according to the invention, the generic technology is further developed in that the plurality of plunger units with their permanent magnet means end-to-end cooperate with a (possibly multi-part) end face of the core unit which is homopolar for each of the associated plunger units, ie each time has a same polarity.

In that regard, the present invention differs in principle from the used as a generic educated WO 2010/066394, since the local design and geometric conditions inevitably lead to the fact that for the respective the ram units associated end faces of different pole end faces of the core unit are assigned. The invention property "gleichpolig" with respect to the end face (s) of the core unit does not mean that it is immutable during any operating phases of the electromagnetic actuator device according to the invention in the absence of electromagnetic flux in the core unit) a first (permanently magnetically generated) polarity is impressed into the end face (s) of the core unit by the effect of the permanent magnet means of the respective tappet units, since in this respect the core unit is part of a permanent magnetic flux circuit in the no-current (rest) On the other hand, if an electromagnetic flux is generated in the core unit by the current supply of the coil means according to the invention, it acts according to the invention (and is set up with respect to the polarity of the current supply) in such a way that the common, uniform (= Gleichpo The polarity of the end face acts repulsively against the respective permanent magnet means of the ram unit and thus drives it from its starting position on the core unit into an engagement position of the respective associated setting partner. According to the invention, this is additionally made possible by the fact that the permanent magnet means (typically realized as permanent-magnetic disks, which are provided on one or both ends with suitable flux-conducting disk elements) have axially equidirectional permanent magnetization, in other words, between one direction the permanent magnetization of the plurality of adjacently provided permanent magnets of the respective ram units there is no directional difference. In accordance with the invention, this leads to the fact that, in response to the energization, the plurality of ram units are moved and driven synchronously, synchronously and parallel to one another, wherein the term "parallel" with respect to the driven ram units does not mean that the ram units also run along their respective, entire stroke can be continuously moved - in the context of respective embodiments of the invention, it is conceivable, for example, that perform about various groove depths or the like conditions on the intervention partner, the plunger units different movement strokes up to an engagement position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, again in principle lent structural departure from the geometric realization principle of the generic technology according to WO 2010/063394, it is envisaged and advantageous, the coil unit realized as a single coil form an axially and centrally extending portion of the core unit enclosing. If this arrangement is then surrounded by a suitable, for example, cup-shaped or hollow cylindrical housing, a compact, easily produced and magnetically powerful unit is produced, with the (uniformly polar) end face preferably protruding axially from an enclosed or overlapping region of the coil , Again, alternatively or additionally, it is provided in the context of a preferred development, a (housing) to close the front side by means of a guide element (guide portion), which then advantageous to offer a guide for the plurality of ram units (which then with a respective end-side engaging portion of the Tappet units from these guides ha- On the other hand, such a guide section, as part of a closed about the housing magnetic circuit, inside not only offers a stop for the permanent magnet means of the respective ram units, but also, realize by a suitable permanent magnetic adhesive effect, a bistability for the de-energized case can.

In the preferred structural-geometric configuration of the core unit, it is on the one hand further education and preferably provided to form the core unit as a single, further preferably integrally realized core element. This can then engage with the above-described axial center section in the (surrounded) coil, at the same time have a extending out of the coil and radially widening section, which then end- or frontally realized the same pole end face of the core unit. Such an embodiment of the invention, in turn, combines design simplicity and thus ease of manufacture and assembly with favorable electromagnetic or flux-guiding properties, so that for both operating states - in the de-energized adhesive state of the tappet units and in the movement or extended state of the tappet units - Each optimized flow conditions are present.

In particular, such a configuration, widened with respect to the end face, of the core unit makes it possible to produce a respective plurality of magnetic flux circuits corresponding to the plurality of tappet units, which are guided approximately radially-edge-sided to a housing section provided correspondingly there and then closed via the housing can be.

Such an advantageous effect can also be realized by an alternative embodiment of the core unit by means of a plurality of core elements, wherein according to this embodiment, the (same pole) end face can be realized by a plurality of more preferably flat or plate-like core elements, which, more preferably, the magnetic associated or cooperating permanent magnet elements of the plunger units appropriately aligned and / or dimensioned, allow an optimization of the mechanical, geometric and magnetic conditions in the Aktuatorvorrich- tion. Again, for the simple realization of the DC polarity, it is preferable to connect the majority of the core elements (eg plate-like, permanent magnet means adapted to a circumferential contour) by suitable flux-guiding means in the form of transverse or bridge pieces of suitably magnetically flux-conducting material, so that, analogously to the above-described principle of a one-piece or one-piece core element, the same magnetic effect can be realized with a core composed of a plurality of elements or components.

In both embodiments, the flux guiding means thus advantageously cause a magnetic flux distribution into the core elements when the coil is energized, wherein in preferred implementations an air gap is formed between the core elements (core end pieces).

From the above discussion of the advantages of the present invention over the generic state of the art results in addition that for the activation of the plurality of plunger units a (eg pulsed) energization of a single polarity is sufficient. According to preferred embodiments of the invention, it is also provided in particular, the coil unit upstream or associated drive means to design so that they can make the energization in only one polarity, namely that polarity, which in the manner described above when activated the repulsion of the plurality causes the ram units to effect the simultaneous-parallel movement. On the other hand, it is not necessary, in contrast to the generic state of the art, to provide a polarity reversal of the coil means (this is based in particular on the typical application that the return of the majority of ram units from their engaged position back to the stop or abutment position on the core unit by the action of correspondingly formed engagement grooves on the plunger units, this does not necessarily cover the complete return stroke, but rather would start from a predetermined return position, in the case of de-energized coil means, the permanent-magnet effect of the permanent-magnet means attached to the tappet units causes a corresponding attraction and restoring force in cooperation with the core unit). In accordance with a further development, a suitable conical shape of the core unit (formed in one or more parts) also effects an optimization of permanent magnetic flux circuits with regard to a provision of the plunger units.

The advantageous unipolar configuration of the energization according to further development does not mean that, nevertheless, alternative polarity reversal can be performed for the purpose of assisting a reset, but this is usually not necessary for core applications of the present invention. As a result, the present invention is thus outstandingly suitable for realizing a camshaft adjustment with a plurality of suitably engaging ram units, the present invention combining design simplicity and high operational reliability with favorable maintenance and assembly characteristics, in particular providing the opportunity for having substantially standardized ones Components synchronous and parallel movable plunger movements can be realized.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawing; these show in:

Fig. 1 is an end view of the electromagnetic actuator according to a first embodiment of the invention with a multi-part core unit;

2 shows a longitudinal sectional view along the section line AA in the view of FIG. 1 in the de-energized state of the coil unit (a) or in the energized state and extended in an engaged position ram units (b); different views of the core unit in the embodiment of Fig. 1, Fig. 2; an end view analogous to Figure 1 of an electromagnetic actuator according to a second embodiment of the invention with a one-piece core unit.

3 shows along the section line AA in FIG. 4 for clarifying a currentless (a) or energized (b) state of the coil unit in a longitudinal section, and FIG. 6 shows different views of the core unit of the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, FIG. 5 ,

A cylindrical core element 10 of the multipart core unit 12 shown in detail in FIG. 3 is enclosed on the shell side by a coil 16 wound on a coil carrier 14 and engages at one end in a disc-shaped bottom section 18 of a housing 20 of the positioning device shown in FIGS first embodiment.

On the housing bottom 18 axially opposite end of the core member 10, this magnetically conductive with a transversely to the axial direction (vertical direction in the figure representation of FIG. 2) extending connecting or bridge piece 22 is connected, in turn turn plate-shaped (Fig. 3) core end pieces 24, 26 engage as a pair of magnetically conductive. At the end, these form an iW in a common end face of the core unit 12 lying transversely to the longitudinal axis. The first exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 implements an electromagnetic actuator device having a plurality of tappet units 30, 32 guided parallel to one another in a guide piece 28 that is opposite the bottom surface 18, wherein these elongate tappets 30, 32 are widened together with a relative to the tappet diameter Permanent magnet assembly form respective anchor units which are along and parallel to the axial direction relative to the core unit 12 movable and driven. More specifically, each of the permanent magnet assemblies has a disk-shaped axially magnetized permanent magnet 34 axially covered on both sides by a magnetic flux-conducting disk 36, 38. According to the invention, the permanent magnetization of the respective permanent magnet assemblies 34, 36, 38 of the two plunger units 30, 32 is directed axially equal, wherein in the representation shown in Fig. 2, the permanent magnetic south pole is directed upwards and toward the core unit 12.

This arrangement of (stationary) core unit with associated stationary coil unit 14, 16 together with this axially movable guided ram / permanent magnet units is enclosed on the shell side of a magnetically conductive, hollow cylindrical housing shell 40, which approximately in the in Fig. 2 (a) shown de-energized state the coil winding 16 closes a permanent magnet flux of the respective permanent magnet discs 34 radially via the discs 38 and the radially cone-shaped core portions 24, 26. In that regard, the common (same polarity) polarity of the core end face formed of the units 24, 26 shown in Fig. 2 (a) as a N-pole shows a permanent magnetization impressed by the permanent magnets 34.

If, as shown in the direct comparison in FIG. 2 (b), an energization is introduced into the coil winding 16, the common polarity at the end face of the core unit ("S" in the FIG. so that a repulsive force (downward in the plane of the figure of Fig. 2) is applied to the permanent magnet discs 34 of the plunger units 30 and 32. This results in the extended state shown in Fig. 2 (b) (Engaging state) of the plunger units 30, 32 which engage with respective end-side engaging portions 42 in (not shown) cam grooves of a actuatable by the adjusting device camshaft Verstellvorhchtung. It is also apparent from FIG. 2 (b) that in the extended position, a respective permanent-magnetic flux circuit is closed via the housing shell 40 or the front-side guide and closing element 28, so that the armature units in the in FIG (b) shown position, as far as in a de-energized state of the coil unit, a normally-stable extended position can be realized.

A return to the starting position of Fig. 2 (a) takes place in the described embodiment in that the control grooves (not shown) by cooperating with the engaging ends 42 of the plunger 30, 32 move them back towards the core unit 12, wherein from a certain stroke then the situation shown in Fig. 2 (a) - energized - occurs, in which by permanent magnet action of the discs 34, the anchor units are pulled back to the core unit or its end face. This means that in the preferred exemplary embodiment, the reset can take place without current supply (in particular even without reversed current supply) of the coil 16, even if, according to the training and alternatively, such a polarity reversal can possibly also support the reset.

Fig. 3 illustrates with its front view (a), its rear view (d) and their tilted by 90 ° to each other side views (b) and (c) structural details of the multi-part core unit of the first embodiment. It turns out that the plate-like elements 24, 26 are aligned in the radial diameter and corresponding to the permanent magnet assemblies 34, 36, 38, so far as the magnetic flux conditions are optimized, it can be done compact and space-saving. It is advantageous both for manufacturing and assembly reasons, as well as for reasons of reliable magnetic flux, the plate-shaped core elements 24, 26 with central projections in adapted holes or through holes. intervene fractures of the bridge element 22, as illustrated in particular the sectional views of Figures 2 (a) and (b).

The second embodiment of Figures 4 to 6, with otherwise identical constructive realization of the electromagnetic actuator, an alternative embodiment of the core unit. In the constructive details of the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 to be described below, identical reference numerals designate identical or equivalent assemblies in comparison to the first exemplary embodiment (FIGS Discussion of deviating implemented core unit is done.

As can be seen in particular the sectional views of Figures 5 (a) and (b), the core unit 50 is integrally formed in Figure 1. According to the assembly 10 of the first embodiment, this one-piece core unit includes a center portion 52, to which a pair of radially widened core portions 54 connects, which, in turn provided with a conical shape 56, the end face a gleichpolare surface for cooperation with the plunger units 30, 32 and forming permanent magnet assemblies 34, 36, 38 thereon. In that regard, the one-piece core unit shown in FIG. 6 from various views (again analogous to FIG. 3) achieves the same geometry and functionality as the unit assembled from individual parts of the first embodiment, and also the operation when the coil 16 is energized.

While the present embodiments have been illustrated as cylindrical coils having a single coil embracing a core portion, and thus a pair of plunger units could be driven synchronously and in parallel, the present invention is not limited to these configurations. Rather, both a plurality of more than two tappet units can be driven, as well as another geometry of the core unit, the housing shape and the guides conceivable, so that the present invention, on the described and preferred application of the camshaft adjustment addition, almost any purpose can be supplied.

Claims

Expectations

1. Electromagnetic actuator device with

a core unit (12; 50) having coil means (16), which is designed to cooperate with armature means (34,36,38,32,30) which are movably guided relative to the core unit in response to an energization of the coil means,

wherein the anchor means have a plurality of spatially spaced, simultaneously drivable plunger units (30, 32), each of which is assigned permanent magnet means (34) in the direction of the core unit, which have permanent magnetization along a respective longitudinal axis of movement of the plunger units, characterized in that

the majority of the plunger units that can be driven parallel to one another magnetically interact with an end face of the core unit that has the same polarity

and the permanent magnet means have an axially rectified permanent magnetization.

2. Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the plunger units are guided in a guide element (28) and/or guide section which delimits the end face of a preferably cylindrical housing (18, 40) which encloses the coil means.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the coil means have an individual coil (14, 16) enclosing a section (10; 52) of the core means and the same-polar end face protrudes axially from an overlapping area of the individual coil.

Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,

characterized in that,

the core center has a single core element (50) which has a diameter and/or cross-sectional dimension that widens towards the end face.

Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,

characterized in that

the end face is realized with a plurality of core elements (24, 26) corresponding to the plurality of plunger units, which are connected to one another mechanically via flux-conducting means (22) and an electromagnetic flux of the coil means in a flux-conducting manner.

Device according to claim 5,

characterized in that

the core elements (24, 26) are designed like a plate and/or are aligned coaxially and/or aligned with an associated permanent magnet body (34) of the permanent magnet means, which is widened radially with respect to the plunger units.

Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized in that

the core means, in particular in the area of the end face, form a cone section.

Device according to one of claims 5 to 7,

characterized in that

the flux guide means cause a magnetic flux distribution into the core elements, with an air gap preferably being formed between the core elements.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8,

characterized in that

The coil means are assigned electrical control means, which are designed to control and / or activate the unipolar current supply.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9,

characterized in that

the coil means are designed for single-pole current supply and in particular no means for reversing the polarity of the current supply are connected upstream or assigned to the coil means.

1 1. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10,

characterized in that

the tappet units are designed to interact with an internal combustion engine unit, in particular for switching or actuating a camshaft adjustment unit of an internal combustion engine.