JPH11260639A - Joining method for lamination stack of electromagnetic actuator to housing of the actuator and lamination and housing assembly for the electromagnetic actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a joining method for the housing of a lamination stack which can be easily manufactured, allows an assembly having higher stiffness and provides a tight contact between two members so as to facilitate heat transfer. SOLUTION: A lamination stack 14 having a shaped feature part 26 is provided and a mold 34 for forming a housing 17 is provided. Here the lamination stack 14 is inserted into the mold as the shaped feature part 26 of the lamination stack 14 so as to form a fixing shaped feature part 30 at the housing 17, and a material is so molded as to surround at least a part of the lamination stack 14 for the shaped feature part 26 of the lamination stack 14 which is fixed with the shaped feature part of the housing 17 and further more for molding the housing 17 to couple the lamination stack 14 to the housing 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention is filed on December 9, 1997.
Claims of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 061,144, filed on even date, the contents of which are used herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to electromagnetic actuators for vehicle engines, and more particularly to a method of coupling an actuator lamination stack to an actuator housing.

[0003]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional electromagnetic actuators for opening and closing valves of internal combustion engines have "open" and "closed" electromagnets which, when energized, generate electromagnetic forces on a mover. Close. The mover is pre-loaded by a pair of identical springs arranged in parallel. The mover is connected to a cylinder valve of the engine. The mover is located approximately halfway between the open and closed electromagnets when the spring is balanced. When the armature is held magnetically in the closed or open position (applied to the open or closed electromagnet), potential energy is stored by the spring. When the magnetic force is isolated from the mover in the open position, the potential energy of the spring is converted to the kinetic energy of the moving mass, causing the mover to move toward the closing electromagnet. If the friction is low enough, the mover can then be captured in the closed position by passing a current through the closing electromagnet.

[0004] Conventional electromagnetic actuators have a pair of electromagnets, each electromagnet having a lamination stack coupled to a housing. A coil is assigned to each lamination stack. Usually, the lamination stack is fixed to the housing by a pin connection, said pin connection generally being difficult to mount due to the forces required to form an interference fit with the housing.

That is, a lamination stack housing that is easy to manufacture and that allows for a more rigid assembly, yet provides intimate contact between the two members to facilitate heat transfer. You need to provide a bond.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to satisfy the above requirements.

[0007]

According to the principles of the present invention,
This object is achieved by a method of coupling a lamination stack of an electromagnetic actuator to a housing of the electromagnetic actuator, the method including providing a lamination stack having at least one feature. A mold is provided to form a housing. The lamination stack is inserted into the mold such that the features of the lamination stack form mating features in the housing. A material is cast surrounding at least a portion of the lamination stack to form a housing, whereby the features of the lamination stack engage the features of the housing, and thus couple the lamination stack to the housing. The lamination stack and housing assembly is then removed from the mold.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lamination stack housing assembly for an electromagnetic actuator, the lamination stack housing assembly having a lamination stack and a housing. The lamination stack has a plurality of individual laminations. The lamination stack also has a bottom surface and a shape feature assigned to the bottom surface. The housing has an upper surface and a shape feature associated with the upper surface. The housing houses the lamination stack such that the lamination stack features engage the housing features and the bottom surface of the lamination stack contacts the top surface of the housing.

Other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention, the method of operation and function of the related members of the structure, the combination of the members and the economics of manufacturing are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Further clarification will be had from consideration of the appended claims. All drawings form part of this specification.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an electromagnetic actuator, indicated generally at 10, having a lower housing assembly lamination stack connection provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The electromagnetic actuator 10
An upper housing 13 containing the upper electromagnet 15 and a lower housing 17 containing the lower electromagnet 19 are provided. The mover 2 is moved so as to move between the electromagnets 15 and 19.
1 is arranged. The mover 21 is supported by a shaft 23. Shaft 23 is configured to be coupled in a conventional manner to the stem of a cylinder valve (not shown) of a vehicle engine.

The present invention will be described with respect to the lower electromagnet 19. However, the principles of the present invention also apply to the configuration of the upper electromagnet 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower electromagnet 1
9 has a lamination stack, schematically indicated by the reference numeral 14,
Are housed in the lower housing 17. As shown in FIG. 2, it is advantageously formed from a plurality of individual laminated laminations 16, preferably of a soft magnetic material such as silicon iron. Individual lamination 16
Is a generally E-shaped defining channel 18 for receiving the coil assembly 24 (FIG. 1) of the lower electromagnet 19.
Advantageously, the individual laminations 16 are joined by a weld 29 or other suitable method to form a lamination stack 14, for example by pins or interlocking devices. According to the present invention, each lamination 16 has at least one feature that is assigned to a bottom surface 28, which is used to form at least one feature 26 of the lamination stack 14. Work together. In the illustrated embodiment, the feature 26 includes two spaced apart dovetails projecting from the bottom surface 28, which are connected to the lower housing 17 as described below. 14 is used for fixing.

FIG. 3 shows a cast lower housing 17 without the lamination stack 14 attached.
Is shown. As shown, the lower housing 17 has at least one shape feature 30 assigned to the upper surface 32 of the lower housing, the shape feature 30 being the shape feature 2 of the lamination stack 14.
6 to be engaged. In the illustrated embodiment, the features 30 of the lower housing 17 are two spaced channels formed in the upper surface 32 of the lower housing for receiving the dovetails 26 of the lamination stack 14. 30.

For the best possible heat transfer, the lamination stack 14 is preferably in intimate contact with the lower housing 17. This is best achieved by first placing the lamination stack in the mold. The mold is formed to form the lower housing 17. Thus, the dovetails 26 of the lamination stack 14 form features 30 or channels in the lower housing 17 during the casting operation.
In the embodiment shown, the lower housing 17 is made of aluminum. However, it is contemplated that other castable materials having high heat transfer properties could be used as the material for the lower housing 17. Therefore, as the aluminum is cast around the lamination stack 14, due to the hardening of the aluminum, the dovetail 26 of the lamination stack 14 engages the channel 30 of the lower housing 17, thereby providing the lower housing 17 with the lamination stack. To join. FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the lamination stack 14 connected to the lower housing 17 after the casting operation, wherein the upper surface of the lower housing 17 contacts the bottom surface 28 of the lamination stack 14. After the aluminum has hardened, the assembly of lower housing 17 and lamination stack 14 is removed from the mold.

Dovetail 26 in lamination stack 14 and channel 3 in lower housing 17
Instead of providing a zero, the lamination stack 14 may have a channel and the lower housing 17 may have an engaging dovetail.

The features 26 of the lamination stack 14 are shown as dovetails and the mating features 30 of the lower housing 17 are shown as channels.
The mating features 26 and 30 are provided in the lower housing 1.
It is contemplated that another configuration for coupling lamination stack 14 to 7 may be provided. For example, one member can have a groove, and the other member can have a protrusion housed in the groove.

Casting, such as placing the lamination stack 14 inside the housing 17, is advantageous because it reduces the machining work required to prepare the housing for the lamination stack when the two parts are assembled separately. It is. The lamination stack is engaged by the housing over its entire length,
Increased rigidity is provided to the lamination stack,
This reduces deflection during actuator operation.

Furthermore, the dovetail 26 of the lamination stack 14 engages a channel 30 provided in the housing 17 so that the substantially flat top surface of the housing 17 is substantially flat bottom surface 28 of the lamination stack 17.
As a result, good heat transfer between these two members is promoted.

The foregoing preferred embodiments have been illustrated and described to illustrate the structural and functional principles of the present invention, and to illustrate the manner in which the preferred embodiments may be practiced. May be changed without departing from the rules. Accordingly, the present invention includes all modifications that fall within the spirit of the following claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates a housing provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
It is a longitudinal section showing an electromagnetic actuator which has a lamination stack connection.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a lamination stack of the electromagnetic actuator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cast lower housing of the electromagnetic actuator of FIG. 1 without the lamination stack attached.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the lamination stack of the electromagnetic actuator of FIG. 1 coupled to the lower housing after a casting operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 electromagnetic actuator, 13 upper housing,
14 lamination stack, 15 upper electromagnet, 16 lamination, 17 lower housing, 18 regulatory channel, 19 lower electromagnet, 2
1 mover, 23 axes, 24 coil assembly,
26 shape features, 28 bottom surface, 29,30 shape features, 32 top surface, 34 mold

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 25, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All figures

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

FIG.

FIG. 4

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H01F 7/126 H01F 7/16 K

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A method of coupling a lamination stack of an electromagnetic actuator to a housing of an actuator, comprising: providing a lamination stack having at least one feature; providing a mold for forming a housing; The lamination stack is inserted into the mold such that the feature forms an engaging feature in the housing, wherein the feature of the lamination stack engages the feature of the housing and thus the housing. Activating a lamination stack for an electromagnetic actuator, wherein a material is cast surrounding at least a portion of the lamination stack to form the housing to join the lamination stack. How to bind to the mediator of the housing. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said lamination stack is removed from said mold with a housing. 3. The lamination stack of claim 1, wherein the feature of the lamination stack comprises one of a dovetail and a channel, and wherein the feature of the housing comprises the other of the dovetail and the channel. the method of. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the feature of the lamination stack includes a dovetail, and wherein the feature of the housing includes a channel containing the dovetail. 5. A pair of dovetails extending from a bottom surface of said lamination stack at a distance from said bottom surface of said lamination stack.
The method of claim 4, wherein the pair of dovetails are adapted to engage a pair of channels provided in the housing. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein aluminum is cast in a mold to form said housing. 7. The lamination stack provided by combining a plurality of individual laminations, each of the individual laminations having a cooperating feature to form the shape feature of the lamination stack. The method of claim 1, comprising: 8. The lamination stack, wherein the feature is assigned to a bottom surface of the lamination stack, the feature of the housing is assigned to a top surface of the housing, and wherein the casting comprises: The method of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the housing contacts the bottom surface of the lamination stack when a feature is engaged. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the lamination stack is provided with a plurality of features and a corresponding number of mating features is formed in the housing based on casting the material. 10. A lamination housing assembly for an electromagnetic actuator, wherein the lamination stack comprises a plurality of individual laminations, the lamination stack having a bottom surface and a feature associated with the bottom surface. Wherein the housing has an upper surface and a shape feature assigned to the upper surface, and wherein the shape feature of the lamination stack contacts the upper surface of the housing while the bottom surface of the lamination stack contacts the upper surface of the housing. A lamination housing assembly for an electromagnetic actuator, wherein the housing houses the lamination stack to engage the feature. 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the features of the lamination stack include a dovetail, and the features of the housing include a channel for receiving the dovetail. 12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein each of said individual laminations is substantially E-shaped. 13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said bottom surface of said lamination stack and said top surface of said housing are each substantially planar. 14. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein said lamination is made of a magnetic material and said housing is made of aluminum. 15. The assembly of claim 10, wherein a plurality of features are provided on the lamination stack, and a corresponding number of features are provided on the housing.