EP3857576B1 - Electromagnetic actuating device with adaptable plunger arrangement - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator. In particular, the present invention relates to an electromagnetic adjusting device with at least two actuator units and adjusting means for changing the relative position of the plunger of the actuator units.

Electromagnetic adjusting devices as actuators for a wide variety of adjusting tasks in the motor vehicle sector are sufficiently known from the prior art. As for example in DE 20 114 466 U1 shown, these generally have stationary coil means that can be energized, armature means that are movably mounted relative to them, and a ram that interacts with them and is movably mounted along an axial direction of the ram, which can be driven in response to energizing the coil means along the ram direction and can be moved out of the actuator housing.

Such actuators are used in particular for adjusting the camshaft of an internal combustion engine. In order to achieve short switching times while at the same time enabling economical series production, it has proven advantageous to provide such actuators with permanent magnets on the armature side, which interact repulsively with the energized coil means. However, precisely for use in adjusting the camshaft, at least two actuators to be provided adjacent are generally required, in particular in order to be able to realize a wide variety of positioning of the camshaft by means of two adjacently arranged tappets of the actuators.

It is thus already known from the prior art to arrange two separate actuators adjacent to one another and to operate them in a suitable manner for engaging the tappets in the camshaft. However, this causes additional effort in the electrical connection and in the assembly of the individual actuators. Also, relatively small distances between the tappets cannot be achieved due to a necessary minimum housing width, which is determined by the radial extent of the coil means mounted therein. It is also known to arrange two adjacent and individually controllable tappets in a common housing. However, such an arrangement is problematic with regard to the assembly and operating tolerances that are unavoidable in a motor vehicle internal combustion engine, since tolerance compensation is not possible due to the multiple tappet guidance in a single housing. Furthermore, such an embodiment is generally manufactured specifically for an interaction with a specific, predefined actuating partner, for example a specific camshaft guide, and its possible application or use is therefore very limited. Corresponding actuator arrangements are off DE102016123571A1 , DE102017114246A1 , DE102013108027A1 and JP2017078338A famous.

The present invention is based on the object of overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art or at least significantly reducing them. In particular, an improved electromagnetic actuating device is to be provided which enables optimized adaptability with regard to installation and fitting tolerances at the installation site, while at the same time having a space-saving design and low production costs. This object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims represent advantageous developments of the present invention.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to an electromagnetic actuating device having at least two actuator units arranged adjacent to one another in a housing, each having stationary coil means that can be energized, armature means mounted so as to be movable relative to them, and a tappet which interacts with the anchoring means and is mounted so that it can move along an axial tappet direction, with a free end section for engaging in an actuating partner, in particular a guide groove of a camshaft, the tappets of the actuator units of the actuating device being arranged in such a way that their tappet directions run parallel to one another, and wherein the device has adjusting means integrated in the housing for changing the arrangement of at least one plunger along a plane perpendicular to the respective direction of the plunger.

This means in particular that an arrangement or positioning of the respective tappet can be adjusted or adapted by the adjusting means. A plane perpendicular to the direction of the ram is understood to be a plane which is perpendicular to the respective axial direction of the ram and thus extends radially thereto. In particular, the adjusting means should allow the respective tappet arrangement to be adapted along or parallel to the said plane and thus be radially flexible.

The device according to the invention achieves the effect that the plungers of the adjacent actuator units of the adjusting device can be variably positioned relative to one another, in contrast to the prior art, while at the same time maintaining the preferred axis-parallel alignment of the plungers or the plunger directions. As a result, the device is not only designed to be adaptable with regard to assembly or operating tolerances, but can also be used for different purposes or adapted with regard to an intervention in different adjusting partners. In particular, the present device can be adapted to differently designed guide grooves of camshafts. At the same time, the integral design of the device results in simplified component handling and simplified assembly of the actuating device, for example possible in an internal combustion engine. Furthermore, increased vibration rigidity is achieved through the single-housing design.

The arrangement or positioning of the respective tappet or the respective tappets of the device relative to one another, in particular with regard to their relative radial position, is preferably determined during assembly of the electromagnetic actuating device or in the installed state of the device. In this case, the arrangement of the rams is defined either by an associated actuator itself or by guide means positioned in front of it, for example a guide or mounting plate having predefined fitting bores.

The adjusting means according to the invention for changing the arrangement of a tappet along a plane perpendicular to the associated tappet direction can also be used in an alternative electromagnetic actuating device which has only a single actuator unit.

The respective plungers of the actuator units of the device can preferably be brought selectively at least into a retracted and an extended state along the respective axial direction of the plunger by interaction with the associated armature and coil means. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment means are designed in such a way that they enable the relative arrangement of the tappets to be changed or adapted independently of a relative arrangement of the respectively associated armature means and/or coil means. This means that a change in the relative arrangement of the plunger of the device in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the plunger is preferably not accompanied by a change in the relative arrangement of the armature means and/or coil means, in particular not in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the plunger.

The respective coil means of the individual actuator units are preferably arranged statically in the housing, i.e. their position in relation to one another and/or in relation to the housing cannot be changed. The respective anchor means of the individual actuator units are preferably arranged in an unchangeable manner relative to one another, at least in one direction perpendicular to the direction of the ram. This means that the armature means are arranged to be movable along their longitudinal axis with respect to the respective associated coil means, but a radial distance between the individual armature means of the device is preferably unchangeable and thus firmly defined. In an alternative embodiment, the respective anchoring means of the device can be variably arranged or mounted relative to one another in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the ram.

In a preferred embodiment, the adjusting means are designed in such a way that they allow a change in an axial distance d between adjacent rams and/or a change in the preferably radial position of at least one respective ram relative to the respective other, in particular adjacent ram or to the housing of the device. The latter is understood to mean that in a top view or bottom view of the housing along the direction of the ram, a positioning of the respective ram that is preferably radial to the direction of the ram can be changed. Depending on the design of the adjusting means, this can be accompanied by or without changing the distance between the tappet axes.

The adjusting means are preferably designed in such a way that they enable a change in the center distance d and/or the relative position of adjacent tappets to one another independently of a center distance and/or the relative position of the respective longitudinal axes of the respectively assigned coil means and/or the respectively assigned anchor means.

In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment means are designed in such a way that they allow at least one ram to be moved relative to another ram in a direction perpendicular to the respective direction of the ram. In a further preferred embodiment, the adjustment means enable a relative movement of both or more plungers of the device to one another. The individual tappets can be arranged such that they can be moved in relation to one another in the same way and/or in different ways by the adjusting means.

A preferred axial spacing of the adjacently arranged rams of the device is between 10 and 30 mm, more preferably between 15 and 25 mm. The adjusting means preferably allow the respective ram position to be changed or shifted by up to 5 mm, more preferably by up to 10 mm and most preferably by up to 15 mm, in a direction perpendicular to the respective direction of the ram. This enables a particularly flexible adaptability to different purposes and partners. For the application of pure tolerance compensation, the adjusting means preferably allow a change or displacement of the respective ram position by up to 0.15 mm, preferably by up to 0.3 mm, and most preferably by up to 0.5 mm, in a vertical direction to the respective ram direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the respective plunger of the actuator unit is mounted in the housing by means of a plunger guide provided. The ram guide is preferably an essentially cylindrical component in which the ram is mounted or guided so that it can be displaced axially in the respective direction of the ram. The guide is preferably arranged immovably on the housing in the axial direction of the ram and can protrude at least partially from a housing base body. For example, the guide can have two internal bearing points for storage or Have leadership of the plunger. Alternatively, the plunger can also be mounted or guided only in a cylindrical bore of the guide.

In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment means have an adaptable or adjustable mounting of at least one plunger of an actuator unit in the housing of the device. The adaptable mounting can be, for example, a direct mounting of the ram or of a component connected to the ram, such as the ram guide described above, in which the ram can in turn be mounted in an axially displaceable manner.

In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment means have at least one groove-shaped recess for the displaceable mounting of a tappet or a tappet guide receiving the tappet. The groove-shaped recess is preferably arranged in a base plate of the housing. This can be formed integrally with the housing or arranged on the housing as a separate component, for example in the form of a separate flange plate. The groove-shaped recess can be at least partially linear and/or curved. In a further preferred embodiment, the groove-shaped recess can also be in the form of a segment of a circle and/or form a complex curved path. The groove-shaped recess preferably has a homogeneous width.

The adjusting means can have securing means, by means of which the respective ram and/or a ram guide accommodating the ram is secured against loss on the housing and in particular on the groove-shaped recess. The securing means can, for example, comprise a flange-like securing disk which is adapted to an outer diameter of the tappet guide and which can engage in the groove-shaped recess or is guided therein. Alternative security means can be realized by caulking the individual components to one another, so that the plunger or the guide receiving the plunger is secured to the housing.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least one ram whose position can be changed by the adjustment means is axially decoupled from the anchor means assigned to it and/or the coil means assigned to it. This means that the axial orientation of the plunger is not determined by the axial orientation of the associated stationary coil means and/or the axial orientation of the armature means. The respective tappet is preferably arranged or mounted such that it can be displaced relative to the stationary coil means assigned to it and/or the associated anchor means of the respective actuator unit in a direction perpendicular to the respective axial extension, i.e. radially. The described axial decoupling can also be present for both or several rams of the device.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the rams of the device, more preferably both or all rams of the device, is arranged eccentrically with respect to the associated stationary coil means and/or the associated anchor means of the respective actuator unit. This means that the respective center axis of the tappet is not arranged coaxially with the respective center axis of the armature or a center axis of the coil. A center distance of the respective tappet is preferably smaller than a center distance of the associated coil means and/or armature means.

In a preferred embodiment, the respective tappet is slidably mounted on the anchoring means or on a so-called disc pack of the anchoring means by means of magnetic force or is slidably attached to them. This can be done, for example, by magnetizing an end of the plunger and/or the anchor means or the end associated with the anchor means Disk package done. In this case, the ram is preferably arranged to be displaceable on the anchoring means in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the ram.

In an alternative embodiment, the respective plunger is firmly connected to the armature means assigned to it and the respective armature means are arranged or mounted in the housing such that they can be displaced relative to the assigned stationary coil means in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the ram.

In a preferred embodiment, the adjusting device has a common connection or plug unit for energizing the coil means of the actuator units. This is preferably made of polymeric material. The connection or plug unit is preferably formed integrally on the housing, i.e. not as a separate component.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of the electromagnetic adjusting device as described above for mounting on an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle for adjusting its camshaft.

The camshaft itself or a component upstream of the camshaft can be used to determine the positioning of the tappets of the device in the installed state, for example a separate guide plate with predefined fitting bores, through which the tappets and/or the tappet guides are guided or supported in a radially fixed position relative to one another .

• Fig. 1a eine Vorderansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Stellvorrichtung mit Ansicht der Stößel im Teilschnitt,
• Fig. 1b eine Untersicht der Stellvorrichtung nach Fig. 1a,
• Fig. 1c eine Seitenansicht der Stellvorrichtung mit Ansicht eines adaptierbaren Stößels im Teilschnitt,
• Fig. 1d eine Detailansicht aus Fig. 1a, welche die Verbindung von Stößel und Ankermittel zeigt,
• Fig. 1e eine Detailansicht aus Fig. 1c, welche die Verbindung eines adaptierbaren Stößels mit den Ankermitteln zeigt,
• Fig. 2a-2e Ansichten analog zu den Figuren 1a-1e einer weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Stellvorrichtung, mit zwei adaptierbaren Stößel,
• Fig. 3a-3e Ansichten analog zu den Figuren 2a-2e einer weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Stellvorrichtung, mit zwei adaptierbaren Stößel und alternativ angeordneten Verstellmitteln,
• Fig. 4a-4d Ansichten analog zu den Figuren 3a-3d einer weiter bevorzugten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Stellvorrichtung, mit zwei adaptierbaren Stößel und alternativen Verstellmitteln,
• Fig. 5a-5e Ansichten analog zu den Figuren 1a-1e einer weiter bevorzugten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Stellvorrichtung, mit einem adaptierbaren Stößel und alternativer Ausgestaltung der Ankermittel, und
• Fig. 6 eine seitliche Schnittansicht der bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Stellvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2a-2e im montierten Zustand in einer einem Stellpartner der Vorrichtung vorgeschalteten Führungsplatte.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and from the figures. These show in:

• Fig. 1a a front view of an adjusting device according to the invention with a view of the plunger in partial section,
• Fig. 1b a bottom view of the actuator Fig. 1a ,
• 1c a side view of the adjusting device with a view of an adaptable plunger in partial section,
• Fig. 1d a detailed view Fig. 1a , which shows the connection between the plunger and the anchor means,
• Fig. 1e a detailed view 1c , which shows the connection of an adaptable plunger to the anchoring means,
• Figures 2a-2e Views analogous to the Figures 1a-1e a further preferred embodiment of the adjusting device according to the invention, with two adaptable tappets,
• Figures 3a-3e Views analogous to the Figures 2a-2e a further preferred embodiment of the adjusting device according to the invention, with two adaptable tappets and alternatively arranged adjusting means,
• Figures 4a-4d Views analogous to the Figures 3a-3d a further preferred embodiment of the adjusting device according to the invention, with two adaptable tappets and alternative adjustment means,
• Figures 5a-5e Views analogous to the Figures 1a-1e a further preferred embodiment of the adjusting device according to the invention, with an adaptable plunger and alternative design of the anchor means, and
• 6 a side sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the adjusting device according to Figures 2a-2e in the mounted state in a guide plate connected in front of a positioning partner of the device.

In the figures, the same elements and elements with the same function are provided with the same reference symbols.

Figures 1a-1e show different views of a first preferred embodiment of the adjusting device according to the invention. In the Fig. 1a The adjusting device 20 shown in a side sectional view has two adjacently arranged actuator units 1a, 1b, which are arranged in a common housing 10. Housing 10 is preferably formed of polymeric material, such as by injection molding, and may be in one or more pieces. In the present case, the housing 10 has an essentially cylindrical base body 10a and a base plate 10b that can be fastened thereto on the base side. A seal 11, for example an O-ring, can be arranged between the base plate 10b and the housing base body 10a. The housing 10 preferably has only one common connection or plug unit 30 for energizing the actuator units 1a, 1b. The connection or plug unit 30 is preferably formed integrally on the housing at a head end of the base body 10a, opposite the base plate 10b. The housing can have integrated mounting holes 40a, 40b for assembly purposes.

The actuator units 1a, 1b each have coil means 2a, 2b that can be energized, are arranged stationary in the housing and are known from the prior art, and armature means or an armature assembly 3a, 3b that can be moved relative thereto, also known from the prior art. Latter can have several coaxially arranged disks, such as a base disk 12a, a permanent magnet disk (cf. 12b in Figure 5d ), a head disk 12c and an outer (locking) ring 12d, which form a so-called disk pack 12. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the armature means 3a, 3b have a cylindrical extension 13 which extends coaxially from the disk pack 12 at least partially through the coil means 2a, 2b. The armature means 3a, 3b of the individual actuator units 1a, 1b are thus preferably arranged coaxially to a central axis L1, L2 of the respective associated coil means 2a, 2b and can be moved along the respective axis L1, L2 by energizing the respective coil means 2a, 2b.

The adjusting device 20 also has the respective actuator units 1a, 1b assigned tappets 4a, 4b, which are designed to interact with the respectively assigned armature means 3a, 3b such that energizing the respective coil means 2a, 2b causes a movement of the armature means 3a, 3b and as a result a movement of the ram 4a, 4b along a respective axial ram direction S1, S2. The rams 4a, 4b or their respective ram direction S1, S2 are preferably aligned axially parallel to one another. The actuator units 1a, 1b are designed in such a way that the tappets 4a, 4b are selectively at least in a retracted state by energizing the respective coil means 2a, 2b (cf. tappet 4b in Fig. 1a ) and an extended state (cf. plunger 4a in Fig. 1a ) can be brought.

The tappets 4a, 4b are cylindrical and each have a free end section 5a, 5b which protrudes from the housing 10 and which is designed to engage in an adjusting partner, in particular a guide groove of a camshaft. The rams 4a, 4b are preferably mounted in or on the housing 10 by means of associated ram guides 9a, 9b. The ram guides 9a, 9b are preferably substantially Cylindrical components in which the ram 4a, 4b is mounted or guided so as to be axially displaceable in the respective axial ram direction S1, S2. The guides 9a, 9b are preferably arranged immovably on the housing 10 at least in the axial ram direction S1, S2. The guides 9a, 9b can have two internal bearing points 14a, 14b and 15a, 15b for supporting or guiding the plunger 4a, 4b. Alternatively, the plungers 4a, 4b can each be mounted or guided in a cylindrical bore provided in the guides 9a, 9b.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the tappets 4a, 4b are axially decoupled from the associated coil means 2a, 2b and the associated armature means 3a, 3b. This means that the axial alignment of the respective tappet 4a, 4b is not determined by the axial alignment of the stationary coil means 2a, 2b and the armature means 3a, 3b. In particular, the rams that can be moved axially along the respective ram direction S1, S2 are not arranged or aligned coaxially with the coil means 2a, 2b and armature means 3a, 3b, which are arranged coaxially according to the present exemplary embodiment. The tappets 4a, 4b or their respective tappet direction S1, S2 are preferably arranged eccentrically to the central axis L1, L2 of the coil means 2a, 2b (and the armature means 3a, 3b). A center distance d between the ram axes 4a, 4b is smaller than a center distance d2 between the central axes L1, L2 of the coil means 2a, 2b and the armature means 3a, 3b.

The plungers 4a, 4b are preferably connected to the associated anchor means 3a, 3b by means of magnetic force. As for example in Fig. 1d shown, the plungers 4a, 4b thereby adhere to the anchoring means 3a, 3b independently of the positioning of the anchoring means 3a, 3b, ie both in the retracted and in the extended state. The plungers 4a, 4b adhere to the respective base disk 12a of the anchor means 3a, 3b. This can be done, for example, by suitable magnetization of the anchor means 3a, 3b and/or an end 16a, 16b of the respective plunger 4a, 4b assigned to the anchor means. Due to the magnetic connection between the respective plunger 4a, 4b and the associated anchoring means 3a, 3b, the respective plunger 4a, 4b is arranged to be flexibly displaceable relative to the anchoring means 3a, 3b at least in a direction perpendicular to the plunger direction S1, S2 and preferably radially.

The device also has adjusting means 6 integrated in the housing, which are designed in such a way that they enable the relative arrangement of the plungers 4a, 4b to be adjusted to one another in or parallel to a plane E perpendicular to a plunger direction S1, S2. The plane E, in which or along which the relative position of the plungers 4a, 4b can be changed by the adjustment means 6, is preferably parallel to the extension of the base plate 10b of the housing 10. The adjustment means 6 allow a change or adjustment of the relative position of the plunger 4a, 4b while maintaining the axis-parallel alignment of the plunger.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the adjusting means 6 have at least one adaptable bearing 17a of the plunger 4a, by means of which at least one of the plungers 4a is arranged or mounted in the housing 10 in a displaceable manner. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the adaptable bearing 17a has a groove-shaped, elongated recess 7a in the base plate 10b of the housing 10 . The ram 4a together with the ram guide 9a receiving the ram is guided through the elongated recess 7a. The adaptable bearing 17a preferably has securing means 8a which are designed to hold the ram 4a and/or the ram guide 9a receiving the ram 4a captively within the groove-shaped recess 7a. The securing means 8a can be a flange-like disk, which is adapted to the ram guide 7a or fastened to it on the peripheral side and rests on an inner surface 10c of the bottom plate 10b. An outer diameter of the securing means 8a is preferably adapted to an inner diameter of the groove-shaped recess 7a in such a way that a displacement of the plunger 4a or the plunger guide 9a together with the securing means 8a along the groove-shaped recess 7a is preferably still possible without great effort.

The adjusting means 6 or the groove-shaped recess 7a is as shown in FIG Fig. 1b visible, arranged such that it runs along a linear direction R1, which runs parallel to a center distance d of the two plungers 4a, 4b. The direction R1 lies in the (displacement) plane E as previously described. By moving the plunger 4a within the linear recess 7a and thus along the direction R1, the center distance d between the plungers 4a and 4b can be changed directly. As a result, the relative position of the ram can be adapted to different adjusting partners, in particular with regard to a distance between guide grooves into which the adjacent rams are intended to engage. Securing against a (further) change in the ram position in the assembled state of the device 20 can be provided by the respective actuating partner and/or a guide plate (not shown) positioned in front of the actuating partner, through which the rams 4a, 4b and/or the ram guides 9a, 9b are performed in the assembled state.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the adjacent ram 4b is fixed in its radial orientation, ie along the plane E perpendicular to the ram direction S2. In this case, a ram guide 9b of the ram 4b is arranged on the housing in a stationary, ie unchangeable, manner. For example, the plunger guide 9b as in the Figures 1a and 1b shown by means of a bore 7c adapted to the guide in the base plate 10b. Alternatively, the stationary guide 9b can also be formed integrally with the housing 10 .

The adjustment means 6 of the actuating device 20 described above also enables the relative arrangement of the plungers 4a, 4b to be adjusted independently of the stationary relative arrangement of the respectively associated anchor means 3a, 3b and the coil means 2a, 2b.

the Figures 2a-2e show views analogous to the Figures 1a-1e a further preferred embodiment of the adjusting device according to the invention, which has two adaptable plungers 4a, 4b. The basic structure of the device 20 shown here corresponds to the structure according to FIG Figures 1a-1e . The adjustment means 6 according to the present exemplary embodiment now have two adaptable bearings 17a, 17b instead of one, by means of which both rams 4a, 4b of the device 20 can be displaced along the plane E, perpendicular to the respective ram direction S1, S2.

As in Figure 2b shown, the adaptable bearings 17a, 17b both have a groove-shaped recess 7a, 7b. As shown in the figure, these extend in the (displacement) plane E, preferably collinearly along the direction R1. The center distance d between the rams 4a, 4b can thus be directly adjusted by means of each bearing 17a, 17b. The design of the second bearing 17b of the adjusting means corresponds to that already mentioned with reference to FIG Figures 1a-1e described first storage 17a. In an alternative exemplary embodiment that is not shown, the groove-shaped recesses 7a, 7b can also each extend parallel to the direction R1 shown and thus not collinear with one another. Further alternatively, the groove-shaped recesses 7a, 7b can be arranged at an angle to one another.

With such an embodiment, the positioning of the tappets 4a, 4b relative to one another and/or relative to the housing 20 can be adjusted even more optimally.

the Figures 3a-3e show views analogous to the Figures 2a-2e a further preferred embodiment of the adjusting device according to the invention, which has two adaptable tappets. The basic structure of the device 20 shown corresponds to the structure according to FIG Figures 2a-2e .

In contrast to the previous exemplary embodiment, the groove-shaped recesses 7a, 7b are arranged parallel to one another in the base plate 10b when the housing 10 is viewed from below. In particular, the first groove-shaped recess 7a runs along a linear direction R2 and the second groove-shaped recess along a linear direction R3, which are preferably both perpendicular to the axial distance d of the plungers 4a, 4b (in the bottom view shown of the housing according to Figure 3b ) get lost. The tappets 4a, 4b can thus be optimally adapted to a positioning partner along the parallel directions R2, R3. Here, the position of the tappet on the housing 10 can be adjusted with and without changing the center distance d between the tappets 4a, 4b. In an alternative embodiment that is not shown, the directions R2, R3 can also run at an angle to one another.

the Figures 4a-4d show views analogous to the Figures 3a-3d a further preferred embodiment of the adjusting device according to the invention, which has two adaptable plungers 4a, 4b. The basic structure of the device 20 shown here also corresponds to the structure according to FIG Figures 3a-3d .

In contrast to the previous exemplary embodiment, the adjusting means 6 or the adaptable bearings 17a, 17b now have non-linear but curved groove-shaped recesses 7a, 7b, by means of which the respective ram 4a, 4b are arranged to be displaceable in the (displacement) plane E perpendicular to the ram direction S1, S2. in the in Figure 4b shown bottom view, the groove-shaped recesses 7a, 7b are arranged in the shape of a circular segment in the base plate 10b of the housing 20. The tappets 4a, 4b are thus arranged to be displaceable along the circular directions R4 and R5 shown in the figure. The groove-shaped recesses 7a, 7b shown can, as shown in the figure, be arranged mirrored to one another on an axis Z through the base plate 10b. The groove-shaped recesses 7a, 7b can, however, also run differently from one another in deviation from the embodiment shown and/or form more complex curved paths.

Due to the arrangement of the adjustment means 6 shown, the respective plunger position on the housing 10 in the (displacement) plane E can be set even more flexibly.

Figures 5a-5e show another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In contrast to the previous exemplary embodiments, the rams 4a, 4b are here firmly connected to the respective associated anchoring means 3a, 3b. This can, as in Figure 5d shown, by means of a bore 18a, 18b in the anchor means 3a, 3b, in which the respective plunger 4a, 4b is fitted or pressed. Alternatively, the ram 4a, 4b can also be welded and/or glued to the anchoring means 3a, 3b or to the disk pack 12 of the anchoring means. The anchor means 3a, 3b and the associated plunger 4a, 4b are thus preferably arranged concentrically to one another.

An axial decoupling of the armature means 3a from the coil means 2a is carried out according to this embodiment, preferably by omitting the cylindrical extension 13 of the armature means 3a, which is coaxial to the coil means (see e.g. 1c ). The armature means 3a are therefore not coupled to the central axis L1 of the coil means with regard to their axial position, but can be moved in particular perpendicularly thereto. To guide the armature means 3a in the housing 10, a guide 19 which is enlarged in the radial direction d3 in comparison to the previous exemplary embodiments can be provided inside the housing 10 below and/or inside the associated coil means 2a. The axial guidance of the armature means 3a also preferably takes place via the ram guide 9a assigned to the ram 4a.

The remaining structure of the actuating device 20 according to this exemplary embodiment corresponds to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG Figures 1a-1e . In particular, the adjustment means 6 of the device have an elongated groove-shaped recess 7a, which extends in a linear direction R1 parallel to the center distance d in the base plate 10b and in which the at least one adaptable plunger 4a is mounted.

In accordance with the previous embodiments, the embodiment according to Figures 5a-5e also have adjusting means for both plungers 4a, 4b. In addition to the linear groove-shaped recess 7a shown, these adjusting means can also have one or more recesses that are at least partially curved or have a different shape.

6 shows a side sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the adjusting device according to FIG Figures 2a-2e in the assembled state in a guide or interface plate 50 upstream of a positioning partner of the device. The guide plate 50 preferably has two predefined fitting bores 51a, 51b, which can be fitted to the respective positioning partner, for example a camshaft (not shown) arranged underneath or to one or several guide grooves of the camshaft are adapted.

The positioning of the tappets 4a, 4b previously adjusted by means of the adjusting means 6 according to the invention on the guide plate 50 or on the fitting bores 51a, 51b arranged therein is now fixed in the mounted state of the adjusting device 20 shown. In particular, the guides 9a, 9b can no longer be changed radially relative to one another due to the predefined fitting bores 51a, 51b and thus also the plungers 4a, 4b mounted therein. A respective outer diameter of the guides 9a, 9b can be adapted to the respective inner diameter of the fitting bores 51a, 51b.

As shown, the adjusting device 20 can be mounted on a flat surface 52 of the guide plate 50, for example by means of the fastening bores 40a, 40b described above, and can thus be fixed axially. The thickness of the guide plate 50 is preferably selected such that the plungers 4a, 4b can protrude on an underside 53 opposite the surface 52 and that they can be selectively engaged with an actuating partner arranged underneath by energizing the associated coil means 2a, 2b.

As described above, the adjusting device 20 can be adapted to a predefined arrangement of fitting bores 51a, 51b with regard to the exact positioning of the plungers 4a, 4b by means of the adjusting means 6 according to the invention. In particular, a tolerance compensation can take place on predefined fitting bores 51a, 51b and thus on a predefined positioning partner during assembly and/or the positioning device 20 can be adapted to different positioning partners or different interfaces.

The embodiments described above are merely exemplary, the invention in no way being limited to the embodiments shown in the figures is limited. In particular, the embodiments shown can also be combined with one another. Likewise, the adjusting means according to the invention for changing the arrangement of a tappet along a plane perpendicular to the associated tappet direction can also be used in an alternative electromagnetic actuating device which has only a single actuator unit.

Claims (15)

1. An electromagnetic positioning device (20) comprising at least two actuator units (1a, 1b) arranged adjacent to one another in a housing (10), the actuator units (1a, 1b) each comprising energizable stationary coil means (2a, 2b), armature means (3a, 3b) mounted so as to be movable in relation to the coil means (2a, 2b), and a plunger (4a, 4b) interacting with the armature means (3a, 3b) and mounted so as to be movable along an axial plunger direction (S1, S2) and having a free end section (5a, 5b) for engaging into a positioning partner, in particular a guide groove of a camshaft,

   the plungers (4a, 4b) of the actuator units (1a, 1b) of the positioning device (20) being arranged in such a manner that their plunger directions (S1, S2) run parallel to one another,

   characterized in that

   the device (20) comprises adjustment means (6) integrated into the housing (10) for changing the arrangement of at least one plunger along a plane (E) perpendicular to the respective plunger direction (S1, S2).
2. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment means (6) are configured in such a manner that they enable a change in the relative arrangement of the plungers (4a, 4b) with respect to each other independent of a relative arrangement of the respective associated armature means (3a, 3b) and/or coil means (2a, 2b).
3. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adjustment means (6) are configured in such a manner that they enable a change in an axial distance (d) of the plungers (4a, 4b) to one another and/or a change in the position of at least one respective plunger (4a, 4b) relative to the respective other plunger (4a, 4b) and/or relative to the housing (10).
4. The electromagnetic positioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment means (6) are configured in such a manner that they enable a movement of at least one plunger (4a, 4b) in relation to another plunger (4a, 4b) in a direction (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5) which is perpendicular to the respective plunger direction (S1, S2).
5. The electromagnetic positioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment means (6) comprise an adaptable bearing (17a, 17b) of at least one plunger (4a, 4b) of an actuator unit (1a, 1b) in the housing (10) of the device (20).
6. The electromagnetic positioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment means (6) comprise at least one groove-shaped recess (7a, 7b) for a displaceable bearing of a plunger (4a, 4b) inside a bottom plate (10b) of the housing (10).
7. The electromagnetic positioning device according to claim 6, wherein the groove-shaped recess (7a, 7b) is linear and/or curved.
8. The electromagnetic positioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment means (6) comprise securing means (8a, 8b) by means of which a respective plunger (4a, 4b) and/or a plunger guide (9a, 9b) receiving the plunger is secured to the housing (10) of the positioning device (20).
9. The electromagnetic positioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plungers (4a, 4b) of the actuator units (1a, 1b) are arranged on the housing (10) by means of provided plunger guides (9a, 9b).
10. The electromagnetic positioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the plungers (4a, 4b) is arranged so as to be changeable with respect to its radial position in relation to the stationary coil means (2a, 2b) and/or the armature means (3a, 3b) of the respective actuator unit (1a, 1b).
11. The electromagnetic positioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the plungers (4a, 4b) is arranged eccentrically in relation to the stationary coil means (2a, 2b) and/or the armature means (3a, 3b) of the respective actuator unit (1a, 1b).
12. The electromagnetic positioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the plungers (4a, 4b) is arranged preferably radially displaceable by means of magnetic force on the armature means (3a, 3b) of the respective actuator unit (1a, 1b).
13. The electromagnetic positioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least one of the plungers (4a, 4b) is fixed to the respective armature means (3a, 3b) and the respective armature means are arranged in the housing (10) preferably radially displaceable in relation to the associated stationary coil means (2a, 2b).
14. The electromagnetic positioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning device (20) comprises a common connector or plug unit (30) for energizing the coil means (2a, 2b) of the actuator units (1a, 1b).
15. A use of the electromagnetic positioning device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 for the installation on a combustion engine of a motor vehicle in order to adjust its camshaft.

Images