JP2009100598A - Motor actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize a case, relating to a motor actuator including a motor in the case, by reducing the housing space of electric wires in the case, leading to miniaturization of the entire motor actuator. <P>SOLUTION: A first case 10 has a guide pin 63 which acts as a regulating part which regulates bending state of a flat cable 62 (electric wire). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a motor actuator for operating a blower path switching door in a vehicle air conditioner, for example.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a vehicle air conditioner that employs a brushless motor as its drive source in order to realize fine air conditioning control, downsizing, low noise, and the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a motor actuator, a motor and a board connected to the motor by a flexible electric wire such as a flat cable are provided in the case. A detection element for detecting the rotation of the rotor and a control unit for controlling the rotation of the rotor are mounted on the substrate, and a desired operation of the motor actuator is realized by the rotation control of the control unit based on the detection signal from the detection element. It has become so.
JP 2006-254534 A

  However, in the motor actuator as described above, the electric wire needs to have a predetermined length in the manufacturing process. Therefore, even if the electric wire is bent and stored in the case in order to reduce the size of the case, the electric wire is bent. Taking into account, it was necessary to secure a large storage space. Along with this, there has been a problem that the case, and thus the motor actuator, is enlarged.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a motor actuator provided with a motor in a case, and to reduce the space for accommodating an electric wire in the case. It is to make the whole small.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a motor actuator having a motor in a case. The motor actuator is electrically connected to the motor and arranged in a bent state in the case. The gist of the invention is that it has a flexible electric wire, and the case is provided with a restricting portion for restricting the bending state of the electric wire.

  According to the present invention, since the case is provided with a restriction portion for restricting the bending state of the electric wire, it is possible to suppress the expansion of the flexible electric wire in the case. As a result, it is possible to reduce the space for storing the electric wires in the case, and to reduce the size of the case and thus the entire motor actuator.

The invention described in claim 2 is the motor actuator according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion is a protrusion formed on an inner surface of the case.
In this invention, since the restricting portion is a protrusion formed on the inner surface of the case, the restricting portion can be easily formed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the motor actuator according to the first or second aspect, the case contains first and second substrates connected to each other by the electric wire, and the first and second substrates are accommodated in the case. The gist is that the regulating portion is provided between the substrates.

  In this invention, the case accommodates the first and second substrates connected to each other by an electric wire, and the restricting portion is provided between the first and second substrates. Therefore, since the electric wire is guided between the substrates by the restricting portion, it is possible to contribute by reducing the size of the case.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the motor actuator according to any one of the first to third aspects, the case includes a first case and a second case, and the first and second cases are assembled. The gist of the invention is that, by assembling the case, the restricting portion can come into contact with the electric wire and the electric wire can be bent.

  In the present invention, by assembling the first and second cases, the restricting portion can come into contact with the electric wire and the electric wire can be bent. Therefore, it is not necessary to bend the electric wire in advance before assembling the first case and the second case, and the electric wire can be easily in a predetermined bent state.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the motor actuator according to the fourth aspect, the restricting portion is inclined with respect to the assembling direction of the first and second cases, and the first and second cases are assembled. The gist of the invention is that an inclined surface for guiding the electric wire is formed.

  In the present invention, the restricting portion is inclined with respect to the assembly direction of the first and second cases, and is formed with an inclined surface that guides the electric wire when the first and second cases are assembled. The damage of the electric wire due to the contact with the part can be suppressed.

  Therefore, according to the above-described invention, in the motor actuator provided with the motor in the case, it is possible to reduce the space for storing the electric wire in the case, and to reduce the size of the case and thus the entire motor actuator.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle air conditioner using a motor actuator according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle air conditioner includes a blower fan 4, an evaporator 5, a heater core 6, and air blown in the air conditioning duct 3 in an air conditioning duct 3 having an outside air introduction path 1 and an inside air circulation path 2. Various switching doors 7 for switching passages and a plurality of motor actuators 8 for operating the various switching doors 7 are provided.

  The air conditioning duct 3 is provided with an outside air introduction path 1 and an inside air circulation path 2 symmetrically on the inlet side as an air suction path, and a blower fan 4 driven by a motor 4a is provided near the inlet, immediately downstream thereof. Is provided with an evaporator 5. Further, on the further downstream side, a heater core 6 is provided so as to close almost half of the cross section of the duct 3. The downstream of the heater core 6 is divided into three branch ducts A, B, and C. An R / F door 7a that switches between intake and circulation of outside air is provided at the inlet, an air mix door 7b that opens and closes the remaining duct cross section at the heater core 6, and each of the branch ducts A, B, and C. A mode switching door 7c is provided at each branch portion. These various switching doors 7 are respectively provided with corresponding motor actuators 8 having the same configuration, and the various switching doors 7 are operated by rotation of the output shaft 8a.

  Next, the motor actuator 8 that drives the various switching doors 7 will be described with reference to FIG. A brushless motor 11 and a speed reduction mechanism 12 are housed in the first case 10 having a flat box shape in a drivingly connected state. In FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, the second case that closes the opening of the first case 10 is omitted so that the internal configuration can be seen, and the brushless motor 11 is shown in cross section. The first case 10 has a substantially rectangular plate-like bottom portion 10a, and a side wall 10b extending from the outer peripheral end of the bottom portion 10a in a direction orthogonal to the bottom portion 10a (in the direction orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 2 and in the Z direction). Formed from. In the first case 10, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 10c are formed at predetermined positions on the corners that transition from the outer peripheral end portion of the bottom portion 10a to the side wall 10b (see the lower left portion of the first case 10).

  With respect to such a first case 10, the second case is assembled so as to sandwich the brushless motor 11 from a direction orthogonal to the bottom portion 10a. Hereinafter, the direction orthogonal to the bottom portion 10a is referred to as an assembly direction. The second case is connected and held to the first case 10 by a plurality of engaging portions 10d formed at predetermined positions on the outer surface of the side wall 10b of the first case 10 and a connecting portion 10e formed slightly to the left of the center of the bottom portion 10a.

  The center piece 21 for supporting the brushless motor 11 with respect to the first case 10 has a fixing portion 22 formed in a hook shape at the base end portion thereof, and the fixing portion 22 of the connecting portion 10 e in the first case 10. It is held by a holding portion 10f formed at the lower position. Further, the fixing portion 22 is sandwiched between the holding portion 10f of the first case 10 and a holding portion (not shown) formed in the second case in the assembling direction.

  The center piece 21 is formed with a substantially cylindrical boss portion 23 extending from the center portion of the fixed portion 22 toward the tip of the brushless motor 11. The boss portion 23 opens toward the distal end side of the brushless motor 11, and a metal bearing 25 that supports the vicinity of the proximal end portion of the rotating shaft 24 is held therein. On the other hand, an armature core 27 around which a coil 26 for generating a rotating magnetic field is wound is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the boss portion 23. The armature core 27 is provided with a power feeding terminal (not shown) that is electrically connected to the coil 26.

  A worm shaft 31 on which a worm is formed is fixed to the tip of the rotating shaft 24 so as to be coaxial with the rotating shaft 24. The tip of the worm shaft 31 is supported on the side wall 10b of the first case 10 via a thrust receiving ball 32 for receiving a thrust load. The brushless motor 11 is provided in the first case 10 so that the axis L of the rotary shaft 24 is parallel to the flat surface (bottom portion 10a) of the first case 10.

  At the base end side of the worm shaft 31 in the rotating shaft 24, the center of the bottom of the bottomed cylindrical yoke 33 that opens to the base end side of the brushless motor 11 is fixed. A side wall of the yoke 33 extends along the axis L direction so as to cover the armature core 27, and a magnet 34 in which N poles and S poles are alternately magnetized in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the side wall is an electric machine. It is fixed so as to face the child core 27. The magnet 34, the yoke 33, and the rotary shaft 24 rotate as a result of the rotating magnetic field generated by the coil 26 acting on the magnet 34.

  The speed reduction mechanism 12 includes a worm shaft 31, a worm wheel 41, an intermediate gear 42, and an output gear 43 that are rotatably supported by a support shaft 10 g extending from the bottom portion 10 a of the first case 10 and orthogonal to the plate surface thereof. Consists of. The rotation of the brushless motor 11 is decelerated by the speed reduction mechanism 12 and transmitted to the output shaft 8a provided at the center of the output gear 43, and the various switching doors 7 are operated by the rotation of the output shaft 8a. Yes.

  In the brushless motor 11, a first substrate 51 electrically connected to the power feeding terminal is fixed to the base end of the boss portion 23 of the center piece 21 so as to be orthogonal to the axis L. The first substrate 51 is arranged in a slight space between the fixed portion 22 and the yoke 33. The first substrate 51 is formed so that its outer shape is slightly larger than the outer shape of the yoke 33 when viewed from the direction of the axis L, and the boss portion 23 passes through the substantial center thereof. Moreover, the 1st board | substrate 51 is not directly supported by the 1st case 10 and the said 2nd case, The edge part is a free end.

  Three Hall elements 52 as detection elements are arranged on the surface 51a of the first substrate 51 facing the magnet 34 (only one is shown in FIG. 2). The first substrate 51 is a single-sided substrate in which electronic components are mounted only on the front surface 51a, and the back surface thereof is in contact with the plate surface of the annular metal plate 53 through which the boss portion 23 is inserted. Each Hall element 52 is provided at a predetermined position facing the magnet 34 in the axis L direction. Each Hall element 52 detects a change in the magnetic field associated with the rotation of the magnet 34 and outputs an output signal corresponding to the change in the magnetic field.

  On the other hand, a second substrate 54 arranged in parallel with the first substrate 51 is supported on the left side wall 10 b of the first case 10. More specifically, a connector member 55 protruding toward the outside of the first case 10 is formed on the side wall 10 b, and a base portion 55 a at the base end of the connector member 55 is fixed to the surface 54 a of the second substrate 54. . The hook-shaped fitting portion 55b provided in the base portion 55a is fitted and supported in a groove 10h formed in the side wall 10b of the first case 10, whereby the second substrate 54 is supported by the first case 10. ing. The second substrate 54 is arranged so that the substantially lower half thereof overlaps the first substrate 51 in the axis L direction (viewed from the axis L direction). A drive control IC 56 electrically connected to the connector member 55 and a plurality of electric circuit parts (not shown) (a plurality of capacitors, choke coils, oscillators for LIN communication, etc.) are mounted on the second substrate 54. Yes.

  The connector member 55 is provided with a plurality of connection terminals 55c extending through the base portion 55a and the fitting portion 55b in the direction along the axis L. The base end of the connection terminal 55c penetrates through the second substrate 54 and is fixedly connected to the surface 54a of the second substrate 54 by soldering or the like. On the other hand, the tip of the connection terminal 55c can be connected to an external connector (not shown) from an opening convex portion 55d formed on the side wall 10b of the first case 10. The connection terminal 55c of the connector member 55 is electrically connected to the drive control IC 56 and the electric circuit component. Thus, power can be supplied from the external connector to the drive control IC 56 and the electric circuit component via the connector member 55.

  In the position corresponding to the lower ends (the opposite gear side end portions) of the first and second substrates 51 and 54 as described above, the first case 10 is formed with a housing convex portion 61 that is convex downward toward the outside. At the same time, the lower ends of the substrates 51, 54 extend into the accommodating convex portion 61. A flat cable 62 that is connected to each of the substrates 51 and 54 and electrically connects the substrates 51 and 54 is disposed in the housing convex portion 61. In the flat cable 62, a plurality of electric wires arranged in parallel are covered with a resin film, and both ends thereof are connected to the lower ends of the substrates 51 and 54, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, connection terminals 62 a respectively corresponding to the plurality of electric wires are provided at both ends of the flat cable 62, and the connection terminals 62 a are connected and fixed to the substrates 51 and 54. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the first and second substrates 51 and 54 connected by the flat cable 62 are developed. For convenience of explanation, the electronic components and holes of the substrates 51 and 54 are shown. Omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the bent state of the flat cable 62 is regulated by a guide pin 63 as a regulating portion that is formed to protrude from the bottom 10 a of the first case 10. More specifically, two guide pins 63 are formed along the axis L direction between the substrates 51 and 54, and each guide pin 63 has a cylindrical shape protruding in the assembling direction. The flat cable 62 bends in a U shape near the connection portion with each of the substrates 51 and 54, contacts with each guide pin 63 on a flat surface (flat surface), and follows the guide pin 63 at the contact portion. Is bent at a substantially right angle. Thus, the flat cable 62 is guided between the substrates 51 and 54 which are dead spaces by the guide pins 63.

  Since the flat cable 62 is accommodated in such a state that its bending is suppressed by the guide pins 63, the accommodation space of the flat cable 62 can be reduced, and the first case 10 and thus the motor actuator 8 as a whole can be reduced in size. It is possible to make it. Further, the flat cable 62 can be easily routed, and the flat cable 62 can be prevented from coming into contact with other components in the first case 10 when assembled to the first case 10. Assembly is improved. Furthermore, since the guide pin 63 suppresses flapping of the flat cable 62 when the motor actuator 8 is activated, noise and disconnection of the flat cable 62 can be suppressed.

  The first and second substrates 51 and 54 as described above become the basis after the Hall element 52, the drive control IC 56, the electric circuit component, and the printed wiring are mounted on a predetermined position of one base substrate. Each is formed by separating the substrates. After the separation, the connection terminal 62a of the flat cable 62 is connected and fixed to the same surface (surfaces 51a and 54a) of the substrates 51 and 54 by soldering.

  In such a motor actuator 8, the Hall element 52 outputs an output signal corresponding to the change in the magnetic field due to the rotation of the magnet 34 to the drive control IC 56, and the drive control IC 56 detects the rotational position of the magnet 34 based on these output signals. To do. The drive control IC 56 detects the rotational position of the output gear 43 (output shaft 8a) corresponding to the rotational position of the magnet 34, and generates a drive signal corresponding to the rotational position of the magnet 34 and the output shaft 8a. Then, the drive control IC 56 supplies a drive current to the coil 26 based on the drive signal, and rotates the brushless motor 11. In this manner, the drive control IC 56 controls the brushless motor 11 based on the signal input from the control switch via the connector member 55 and the output signal from each hall element 52, so that the motor actuator 8 can The opening degree of the switching door 7 can be adjusted.

Next, characteristic effects of the present embodiment will be described.
(1) Since the first case 10 is provided with the guide pin 63 as a restricting portion for restricting the bent state of the flat cable 62 (electrical wire), the spread of the flat cable 62 can be suppressed. As a result, the accommodation space for the flat cable 62 in the first case 10 can be reduced, and the case and thus the entire motor actuator 8 can be reduced in size.

(2) Since the guide pin 63 is a protrusion formed on the inner surface of the first case 10, it can be easily formed.
(3) The first case 10 and the second case accommodate the first and second substrates 51 and 54 connected to each other by the flat cable 62, and the guide pins 63 are interposed between the first and second substrates 51 and 54. Provided. Therefore, since the flat cable 62 is guided between the substrates 51 and 54 by the guide pins 63, it can contribute to downsizing the case.

(4) Since the guide pin 63 is integrally formed with the first case 10, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.
In addition, you may change embodiment of this invention as follows.

In the above embodiment, two guide pins 63 are provided, but one or three or more guide pins 63 may be provided.
In the above embodiment, the guide pin 63 is provided along the axis L between the first and second substrates 51 and 54. However, other than this, for example, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, they may be disposed below the first and second substrates 51 and 54.

-In above-mentioned embodiment, although the guide pin 63 was provided in the bottom part 10a of the 1st case 10, you may provide in the side wall 10b other than this, for example, and you may provide in a 2nd case.
In the above embodiment, the guide pin 63 has a columnar shape, but other than this, for example, a columnar shape extending along the axis L as shown in FIG. 5, or a columnar shape with a V-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. You may form in. According to these configurations, the strength of the guide pin 63 can be improved. Moreover, it is good also as a control part as shown in FIG.

  The second case 70 shown in FIG. 7 includes a bottom portion 70a arranged in parallel with the bottom portion 10a of the first case 10, and a side wall 70b extending in a direction orthogonal to the outer peripheral end of the bottom portion 70a (assembly direction). The outer shape is substantially the same as that of the first case 10. A second locking portion 71 that is locked to each locking portion 10d of the first case 10 is formed on the outer surface of the side wall 70b, and a second portion that is connected to the connecting portion 10e of the first case 10 is connected to the bottom portion 70a. A clamping part 73 that clamps the fixing part 22 of the center piece 21 is formed by the two connecting parts 72 and the holding part 10 f of the first case 10. And the control part 74 arrange | positioned between each board | substrate 51,54 is integrally formed with the bottom part 70a and the side wall 70b in the lower side position of the clamping part 73. FIG. Here, the first case 10 is not provided with a guide pin 63 (see FIG. 2) as a restricting portion.

  The restricting portion 74 is formed to have a length substantially equal to the side wall 70b in the assembling direction, and a guide surface 74a extending in a direction orthogonal to the bottom portion 70a (the assembling direction) is formed at the end on the holding portion 10f side. In addition, an inclined surface 74b that is curved with a predetermined curvature so as to approach the side wall 70b toward the opening of the second case 70 is formed on the restricting portion 74 so as to be connected to the guide surface 74a. The inclined surface 74 b is inclined in the assembling direction of the second case 70 and slightly protrudes from the opening of the second case 70. The restricting portion 74 also serves as a reinforcing rib for improving the rigidity of the second case 70.

  Such a restricting portion 74 is formed such that the inclined surface 74b guides the flat cable 62 accommodated in the first case 10 when the first and second cases 10 and 70 are assembled. The flat cable 62 in contact with 74b is bent by the inclined surface 74b. In a state where the assembly of the first and second cases 10 and 70 is completed, the flat surface of the flat cable 62 comes into contact with the guide surface 74a, and the inside of the case (the holding portion 10f side) follows the restriction portion 74. The bent state is convex.

  According to such a configuration, by assembling the first and second cases 10 and 70, the restricting portion 74 can come into contact with the flat cable 62, and the flat cable 62 can be bent. Therefore, it is not necessary to bend the flat cable 62 before assembling the case in advance, and it can be easily set in a predetermined bent state. In addition, since the regulating portion 74 is inclined in the assembling direction and is formed with an inclined surface 74b that can come into contact with the flat cable 62 when the case is assembled, damage to the flat cable 62 due to contact with the regulating portion 74 is suppressed. be able to.

  In the above embodiment, the restricting portion is the protrusion (guide pin 63) formed on the inner surface of the first case 10, but other than this, for example, the bottom portion 10a or the side wall 10b of the first case 10 is deformed and formed. It is good also as a control part.

  In the above embodiment, the first and second substrates 51 and 54 are provided. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. For example, the first and second substrates 51 and 54 are configured by a single substrate connected to the motor by electric wires. Alternatively, it may be composed of three or more substrates.

In the above embodiment, the flat cable 62 is used as the electric wire, but other than this, for example, a lead wire or a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) may be used.
In the above embodiment, the outer rotor type brushless motor 11 is used. However, for example, a brush motor or a stepping motor may be used. Further, it may be an inner rotor type motor.

  In the above embodiment, the vehicle air conditioner has been described as an example. However, the motor actuator 8 may be used for devices other than the vehicle air conditioner, such as a vehicle headlamp control system (Adaptive Front Lighting System).

The schematic block diagram of the vehicle air conditioner using the motor actuator which concerns on this invention. The top view which shows the motor actuator of the state which removed the case cover. Schematic which shows a 1st board | substrate, a 2nd board | substrate, and a flat cable. The top view which shows the control part in another example. The top view which shows the control part in another example. The top view which shows the control part in another example. The perspective view which shows the control part in another example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 ... Motor actuator, 10 ... 1st case, 11 ... Brushless motor, 51 ... 1st board | substrate, 54 ... 2nd board | substrate, 62 ... Flat cable as an electric wire, 63 ... Guide pin as a control part, 70 ... 2nd Case, 74 ... restriction part, 74b ... inclined surface.

Claims (5)

In the motor actuator with a motor in the case,
A flexible electric wire electrically connected to the motor and arranged in a bent state in the case;
The motor actuator according to claim 1, wherein the case is provided with a restricting portion for restricting a bending state of the electric wire. The motor actuator according to claim 1, wherein
The motor actuator according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion is a protrusion formed on an inner surface of the case. The motor actuator according to claim 1 or 2,
The motor actuator according to claim 1, wherein the case includes a first substrate and a second substrate connected to each other by the electric wire, and the restriction portion is provided between the first and second substrates. The motor actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The case is composed of a first case and a second case,
A motor actuator, wherein the first and second cases are assembled to allow the restricting portion to contact the electric wire so that the electric wire is bent. The motor actuator according to claim 4, wherein
The restricting portion is formed with an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to an assembling direction of the first and second cases and guides the electric wire when the first and second cases are assembled. Motor actuator.

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