EP3191695B1 - Electromagnetic regulating device - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuating device, in particular for actuating tasks on an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.

State of the art

Due to limited installation space at a job site, there is often a need to use a plurality of typically selective, i. H. independently controllable ram units for a respective setting task to realize an actuating device sufficiently compact. Thus, on the one hand sufficient electromagnetic functionality is ensured, for example with regard to the necessary adjusting stroke of the plunger units and reaction or switching time, on the other hand, there is no unwanted mutual interference - mechanical or electromagnetic - before.

It is known from the prior art to implement actuating tasks which require a plurality of actuator units with the aid of individual actuator units fastened or provided independently of one another, which leads to increased configuration or assembly effort and usually only limits the compactness of the overall arrangement is.

This problem is exacerbated by the fact that often the intended use environment, which requires engagement of a plurality of ram units, dictates that the ram units are allowed to be closely spaced from each other and often spaced only a predetermined maximum distance apart. However, this is often not possible with individual, individually fastened actuator units or solvable only with restrictions.

From the DE 10 2007 028 600 B4 an electromagnetic actuator is known in which a plurality of, for example, three actuator units with correspondingly three ram units is provided in a common, hollow cylindrical housing. In this case, the drive of the elongated cylindrical, metallic plunger units takes place in that the plunger units are seated on an engagement surface of a respective associated actuator unit and, for example, adhere there by means of magnetic action. In this case, the engagement surface typically forms the distal end of an anchor unit of the respective actuator unit.

In parallel to each other driven engagement surfaces of adjacent actuator units respective seated thereon plunger units therefore act eccentrically and with their engagement side faces with the engagement surfaces, whereby a compact arrangement of axially parallel plunger units is carried out, and thus - according to predetermined setting or use conditions - minimum axial distances of the plunger units can be realized to each other.

A disadvantage of this solution is that it comes through the eccentric force to tilting moments that lead to increased friction and wear and must be taken over an additional component. Further, an actuator is required for operation for each plunger. In the event of damage, the plungers could unintentionally be actuated simultaneously.

From the DE 10 2009 015 486 A1 Furthermore, an electromagnetic actuator is known in which each actuator pin is associated with a permanent magnet, wherein the permanent magnets are oppositely poled aligned and a magnetic coil means by electrical reversal generates a reversing with the Bestromungsrichtung magnetic field. Again, the force is applied to the actuator pins due to the small space eccentric.

Likewise the DE 10 2011 009 327 A1 describes an electromagnetic actuator with eccentric force. Permanent magnets are each assigned to a polar body.

Furthermore, from the DE 10 2009 006 061 A1 an actuator with two Betätigungsaktuatoren known. The actuation actuators are designed as double actuators, each having an armature and a stator unit. The anchor units each comprise an actuating pin, which in addition to the magnetic force by means of spring means is actuated. Permanent magnets connect the actuating pins with centering elements by means of magnetic force.

Disclosure of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide an electromagnetic actuator with a plurality of actuator elements, which is inexpensive and robust to manufacture with a compact design and low lateral distance of actuators.

The above object is achieved according to the invention with the features of independent claim 1.

Favorable embodiments and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the other claims, the description and the drawings.

An electromagnetic positioning device with an actuator unit and an actuating unit acting in an axial direction is proposed, wherein the actuator unit has a coil producing a magnetic field with a pole core arranged inside the coil. At least two permanent magnets are then arranged on an end face of the pole core in the axial direction, can be applied to these and designed to be displaceable in the axial direction, wherein the permanent magnets of the coil are independently drivable. Furthermore, the permanent magnets are differently polarized in the axial direction and can be driven by energizing the coil, so that when the coil is energized, at least one of two or more permanent magnets moves in the axial direction opposite to the other permanent magnets. The Actuator is arranged in the axial direction subsequent to the actuator unit, wherein the actuating unit comprises at least two actuating elements, which are actuated in the axial direction. In this case, each actuating element of the actuating unit is assigned to one of the permanent magnets and actuated by it in the axial direction. The actuator unit and the actuating unit are arranged in a common housing of the adjusting device.

According to the invention, the actuating elements and the respective permanent magnet are arranged concentrically, so that a force is applied centrally to the actuating elements, which are arranged rotatably in the housing. As a result, an eccentric loading and thus increased wear are excluded, without having to dispense with a space-optimized adjusting device and a minimum axial distance of the actuating elements. Even costly management measures can be omitted.

Since the actuators are rotatable, wear, for example, when rolling in engagement grooves can be minimized.

The electromagnetic actuating device according to the invention comprises a plurality of permanent magnets, which can be used in particular also at locations with limited installation space and in particular in systems with a small distance of the actuators.

The electromagnetic adjusting device comprises a current-carrying coil which is arranged in a housing and has a pole core in the interior for focusing the generated magnetic field. The magnetic field of one coil acts on a plurality of, at least two permanent magnets which actuate actuating elements of an actuating unit. The actuator is an integral part of the actuator. Depending on the polarity of the permanent magnets and the polarity of the magnetic field generated in the coil, the permanent magnets are attracted or repelled by the magnetic field of the coil. In this way, the permanent magnets, when energizing the coil and generating the magnetic field in the coil, moves and thereby also actuate the actuators of the actuator unit. In a Starting position, the permanent magnets hold the actuators by the magnetic force on the pole core. In addition, the actuating elements by a counter force, such as a spring force, are held in a starting position. These holding forces are only overcome when the coil is energized by the generated magnetic field before the permanent magnets set in motion due to the magnetic field. With the movement of the actuating elements actuating elements, for example, on or in an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, are actuated. A mechanical provision is particularly advantageous when the permanent magnet forces are also used as holding forces in the extended position of the actuating elements.

An adjusting device can independently control two actuating elements. The solution according to the invention requires few components for driving two rams. This results in a saving of space and weight, since each set of components coil, pole core and permanent magnet omitted and a small housing can be used

In a case of damage, such as a short circuit, it is not possible that both actuators of a control device are actuated. In the prior art, all actuator units in the housing and thus all plungers can be actuated simultaneously.

The selection of the controlled actuating element is carried out according to an advantageous embodiment in a simple manner in that the coil has a single winding and the permanent magnets are each driven by reversing and energizing the coil.

According to an alternative advantageous embodiment, the selection takes place in that the coil has two windings on a bobbin with different flow directions, wherein a winding is associated with a permanent magnet and the permanent magnets are each driven by energizing the associated winding.

By correspondingly connecting the two coil windings, it is achieved that the two coil windings have different directions of flow when they are energized. Thus, depending on which winding is flowed through, different-acting magnetic fields constructed and thus the same effect is achieved as when reversing the coil. The two + poles of the coil windings are placed on permanent plus and can ideally be connected to the same connector pin. The two other ends of the double winding are connected separately via a respective switch with the ground. About the respective switch, the corresponding coil winding can now be energized.

Next results in an increase in the reliability of the fact that in case of failure of the control or power management only one actuator can be operated.

The energy consumption of the adjusting device according to the invention is favorable, since a lower friction in the system and lower moving masses are present, due to the fact that per actuator only one permanent magnet segment is moved. This also allows higher accelerations and thus shorter switching times.

Preferably, the actuating elements are designed as plungers. Conceivable according to the invention, however, other forms of actuators.

According to further advantageous embodiments, the actuators may themselves be magnetized or small permanent magnets may be provided with approximately the diameter of the actuators integrated into the actuator.

Preferably, the permanent magnets are arranged as ring magnets on a peripheral shoulder of the actuating elements and provided fixed thereto.

For lossless arrangement, the ring magnets are preferably each between two Disc elements of a magnetically conductive material arranged on the shoulder, wherein at least the disc facing the disc element is attached to the actuating element. It results in a simple attachment of the magnets on the actuators.

If the permanent magnets each comprise a magnetically non-conductive ring element, which can be fastened to the disk elements, the permanent magnets are particularly insensitive to impact and damage with the associated disadvantageous consequences can be ruled out.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the permanent magnets are immersed in paragraphs of the housing and each can be applied to a bottom of paragraphs. As already mentioned above, the magnetic force can then be used in the extended position of the respective actuating element as a holding force and it results in each case a bistable position.

Preferably, the pole core is disposed within the coil and extends at its end associated with the actuating elements in the axial direction almost to one end of the coil, wherein the housing in the axial direction directly adjoins the coil. As a result, a particularly high magnetic force can be achieved because the magnetic field lines are introduced approximately perpendicular to the axial direction of the pole core in the housing.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

einen Schnitt durch eine unbestromte Stellvorrichtung, bei dem die Permanentmagnete am Ende der Betätigungselemente innerhalb der Spule angeordnet sind;

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt durch eine unbestromte Stellvorrichtung, bei dem die Permanentmagnete am Ende der Betätigungselemente angeordnet sind und stirnseitig am Polkern außerhalb der Spule anliegen.
Diese Beispiele fallen nicht unter dem Wortlaut des Anspruchs 1.

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt durch eine unbestromte Stellvorrichtung nach einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in Ausgangsstellung und

Fig. 4

einen Schnitt durch ein Betätigungselement der Stellvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 3.

Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawing. In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

Fig. 1

a section through a de-energized actuator, wherein the permanent magnets are arranged at the end of the actuators within the coil;

Fig. 2

a section through a de-energized adjusting device, wherein the permanent magnets are arranged at the end of the actuating elements and abut the front side of the pole core outside of the coil.
These examples are not covered by the wording of claim 1.

Fig. 3

a section through a de-energized actuator according to an embodiment of the invention in the starting position and

Fig. 4

a section through an actuating element of the adjusting device according to Fig. 3 ,

Embodiments of the invention

In the figures, the same or similar components are numbered with the same reference numerals. The figures are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting.

FIG. 1 shows a section through an energized actuator 10. The electromagnetic actuator 10 includes an actuator 44 and an acting in an axial direction L actuator 46. The actuator 44 has a cylindrically shaped, a magnetic field generating coil 12 with a pole core 13 disposed within the coil , Two actuator elements 14, 16 are then arranged on an end face 48 of the pole core 13 in the axial direction L, wherein an actuator element 14, 16 each formed as a permanent magnet 15, 17, or more Gleichpolpolte permanent magnet elements. The coil 12 drives both actuator elements 14, 16. The actuating unit 46 is arranged in the axial direction L subsequent to the actuator unit 44, wherein the actuating unit 46 comprises two actuating elements in the form of plungers 22, 24 which are slidably mounted in bores 32, 34 of the actuating unit 46 in the axial direction L. The plungers 22, 24 of the actuating unit 46 are each associated with one of the actuator elements 14, 16 and the respective actuator elements 14, 16 actuates its associated plunger 22, 24 in the axial direction L. Due to the design of the actuators 22, 24 as a plunger For example, the actuating unit 46 may also be referred to as a ram unit. However, the shape of the actuators is not limited to a plunger shape.

The actuator unit 44 and the plunger unit 46 are arranged in a common housing 26 of the adjusting device, which favors the compact design of the adjusting device 10.

The coil 12 is a cylindrical toroidal coil. In the de-energized state, the coil 12, whose coil wires are perpendicular to the plane of representation, no magnetic field. If the coil 12 is energized via the terminals 36, 38, a magnetic field builds up around the coil 12, wherein the field lines again run perpendicular to the coil wires and thus extend in the sectional plane parallel to the display plane. The magnetic field also acts at the location of the actuator elements 14, 16 and thus the permanent magnets 15, 17. Thus occurs an interaction, attractive or repulsive type, between the magnetic field of the coil 12 and the magnetic fields of the permanent magnets 15, 17, which is a movement of the actuator 14, 16 causes.

According to the first embodiment, the actuating elements 22, 24 may themselves be magnetized or may be provided as small permanent magnets 15, 17 with approximately the diameter of the actuating elements 22, 24 integrated in the actuating element 22, 24. To reduce the installation space, the Permanent magnets 15, 17 arranged in this embodiment within the coil 12. The permanent magnets 15, 17, which constitute the actuator elements 14, 16, are arranged at the end of the actuating elements 22, 24 and immerse with the actuating elements 22, 24 in an area inside the coil 12. Distances 40, 42 between the permanent magnets 15, 17 and the pole core 13 can be so minimal when the permanent magnets 15, 17 abut the end face 48 of the pole core 13.

When current is applied to the coil 12, depending on the polarity of the current, one of the permanent magnets 15, 17 is repelled and the other of the two permanent magnets 17, 15 is attracted. In this way, the actuators 22, 24 are moved in the actuator unit 46 in the axial direction L by a return element 70, which is designed as a plate or disc of magnetic material. In FIG. 1 are the two permanent magnets 15, 17 in the de-energized state of the coil 12 at a mean distance 40, 42 between permanent magnets 15, 17 and the end face 48 of the pole core 13 is shown.

In a second example, that in FIG. 2 is shown, the actuators 22, 24 are also either magnetized over a portion of their length itself or provided with small permanent magnets 15, 17 with approximately the diameter of the actuators 22, 24 which are arranged at the end of the actuators 22, 24. This example provides a very compact and cost-effective embodiment of the actuators 22, 24, as also in the example in FIG. 1 is used FIG. 2 dive the Permanent magnets 15, 17, however, not in the interior of the coil 12, since this interior is filled in this case with the pole core 13. The distance 40, 42 between the permanent magnets 15, 17 and the end face 48 of the pole core 13 can only reduce to zero, so that the permanent magnets 15, 17 abut the pole core 13. If the coil 12 is energized, then, depending on the polarity of the energization of one of the permanent magnets 15, 17 repelled and the other of the two permanent magnets 17, 15 attracted. In this way, learn the actuators 22, 24 in the actuator 46 in this embodiment, an advantageous central force application and are moved in the axial direction L, in this embodiment, a further guide the actuators 22, 24 except the holes 32, 34 of the actuator 46 was waived. In FIG. 2 are the two permanent magnets 15, 17 in the de-energized state of the coil 12 at a distance 40, 42 between the permanent magnets 15, 17 and the end face 48 of the pole core 13 shown by zero, since in the de-energized state of the actuator 44, the permanent magnets 15, 17 of the pole core 13, which may be made of steel, for example, are tightened.

FIG. 3 shows a section through an embodiment. In contrast to the two embodiments described above, the permanent magnets 15, 17 are arranged here as ring magnets on a circumferential shoulder 18, 20 of the actuating elements 22, 24 and secured thereto. The actuating element 22 is in FIG. 4 shown in an enlarged view cut. The actuating element 24 is of identical design, wherein, as described, the polarity of the permanent magnet 17 is reversed.

It can be seen that the ring magnet 15 between two disc elements 28, 30 of a magnetically conductive material on the shoulder 18, 20 is arranged. The disk element 18 facing the shoulder 18 is provided annularly and, like the permanent magnet 15, is centered by a central projection 50 and fastened to the actuating element 22, for example by laser welding or gluing.

Are the permanent magnets 15, 17 each of a magnetically non-conductive Ring element 56, 58 comprises, they are particularly impact-resistant by such encapsulation and damage with the associated adverse consequences can be excluded. The ring element 56, 58 can also be fastened to the disc elements 28, 30 in a simple and reliable manner by means of laser welding or gluing.

Overall, a simple and secure attachment of the magnets 15, 17 results on the actuators 22, 24th

The pole core 13 is arranged in this embodiment exclusively within the coil 12 and its bobbin 60 and extends at its the actuators 22, 24 associated end in the axial direction almost to one end of the coil 12. The housing 26 closes in axial Direction directly to the coil 12 and the bobbin 60, so that a particularly high magnetic force can be achieved because the magnetic field lines are introduced approximately perpendicular to the axial direction L of the pole core 13 in the housing 26.

The arrangement of the pole core 13 to the housing 26 is crucial, since an air gap between the pole core 13 and the housing 26 has a very strong influence on the force level of the adjusting device 10.

As FIG. 3 can be seen further, the housing 26 is integrally formed in the region of the actuating unit 46 and additionally comprises the coil 12 on its outer side. The bobbin 60 forms on a side facing away from the actuating unit 46 has a bottom 72 which is sealed to the housing 26.

The permanent magnets 15, 17 are further immersed in paragraphs 62, 64 of the housing 26 and each at a bottom 66, 68 of the paragraphs 62, 64 can be applied. In this way, the magnetic force can also be used in the extended position of the respective actuating element 22, 24 as a holding force and it results in each case a bistable position.

The actuating elements 22, 24 are rotatably arranged in the housing 26, so that Wear, for example, when rolling in engagement grooves can be minimized. In principle, the invention is not limited to two actuators. Thus, the arrangement of more than two - for example, four or six - actuators is conceivable.

The selection of the controlled actuating element 22, 24 is effected as described in a simple manner in that the coil 12 has a single winding and the permanent magnets 15, 17 are respectively controlled by reversing and energizing the coil 12.

Alternatively, the coil 12 on the bobbin 60 also have two windings with different flow directions, whereby the magnetic field builds up in each case in different directions. In this case, a different effect on the permanent magnets 15, 17 is applied, so that they can be actuated in each case by energizing the associated winding.

There are other variants possible, which may arise by combining the features listed here, but not all are shown.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

locking device

12

Kitchen sink

13

pole core

14

actuator

15

permanent magnet

16

actuator

17

permanent magnet

18

paragraph

20

paragraph

22

actuator

24

actuator

26

casing

28

disk element

30

disk element

32

Bore plunger

34

Bore plunger

36

Connection coil

38

Connection coil

40

Distance actuator element - Polkern

42

Distance actuator element - Polkern

44

actuator

46

operating unit

48

Front side Polkern

50

head Start

54

head Start

56

ring element

58

ring element

60

bobbins

70

Return element

72

ground

Claims (10)

1. Electromagnetic actuating apparatus (10) comprising an actuator unit (44) and an operating unit (46) which acts in an axial direction (L), wherein

   - the actuator unit (44) has a coil (12), which generates a magnetic field, with a pole core (13) which is arranged within the coil (12),

   - at least two permanent magnets (15, 17) which are arranged so as to adjoin an end side (48) of the pole core (13) in the axial direction (L), can be placed on the said end side and also are designed so as to be displaceable in the axial direction (L), wherein the permanent magnets (15, 17) can be driven independently of one another by the coil (12),

   - the permanent magnets (15, 17) have different polarities in the axial direction and can each be driven by energizing the coil (12), so that, when the coil (12) is energized, at least one of two or more permanent magnets (15, 17) moves counter to the other permanent magnets (15, 17) in the axial direction (L),

   - the operating unit (46) is arranged so as to adjoin the actuator unit (44) in the axial direction (L), wherein the operating unit (46) comprises at least two operating elements (22, 24) which can be operated in the axial direction (L), wherein each operating element (22, 24) of the operating unit (46) is associated with in each case one of the permanent magnets (15, 17) and is operated by the said permanent magnet in the axial direction (L),

   - the actuator unit (44) and the operating unit (46) are arranged in a common housing (26) of the actuating apparatus,

   characterized in that the operating elements (22, 24) and the respective permanent magnet (15, 17) are arranged concentrically, so that a force acts centrally on the operating elements (22, 24) which are arranged in a rotatable manner in the housing (26).
2. Actuating apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the coil (12) has a single winding and the permanent magnets (15, 17) are each driven by reversing the polarity of and energizing the coil (12).
3. Actuating apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the coil (12) has, on a coil former (60), two windings with different throughflow directions, wherein one winding is associated with in each case one permanent magnet (15, 17) and the permanent magnets (15, 17) can each be driven by energizing the associated winding.
4. Actuating apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating elements (22, 24) are magnetized.
5. Actuating apparatus according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the permanent magnets (15, 17) are provided so as to be integrated into the operating elements (22, 24).
6. Actuating apparatus according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the permanent magnets (15, 17), as ring magnets, are arranged on an encircling step (18, 20) of the operating elements (22, 24) and are provided such that they are fastened to the said step.
7. Actuating apparatus according to Claim 6, characterized in that the ring magnets are each arranged between two disc elements (28, 30), composed of a magnetically permeable material, on the step (18, 20), wherein at least that disc element (28) which faces the step (18, 20) is fastened to the operating element (22, 24).
8. Actuating apparatus according to Claim 7, characterized in that the permanent magnets (15, 17) are each surrounded by a magnetically non-permeable ring element (56, 58) which can be fastened to the disc elements (28, 30).
9. Actuating apparatus according to one of the preceding Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the permanent magnets (15, 17) can enter steps (62, 64) of the housing (26) and can each be placed on a base (66, 68) of the steps (62, 64).
10. Actuating apparatus according to one of the preceding Claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the pole core (13) is arranged within the coil (12) and, at its end which is associated with the operating elements (22, 24), extends almost as far as an end of the coil (12) in the axial direction and the housing (26) directly adjoins the coil (12) in the axial direction.

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