WO2023274837A1

WO2023274837A1 - Actuating apparatus for the actuation of a control element of a control device of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2023274837A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/067174
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benedikt Glins; Felix Böckmann; Joerg Kressner
Original assignee: Zf Friedrichshafen Ag
Priority date: 2021-06-28
Filing date: 2022-06-23
Publication date: 2023-01-05
Also published as: DE102021206654A1

Abstract

An actuating apparatus (1) for the actuation of a control element of a control device of a motor vehicle, in particular of a clutch device or a parking lock device, which actuating apparatus (1) has an actuator (6) which is configured to move an output element (2) which is coupled or can be coupled to the control element, wherein the actuating apparatus (1) has a detection device (8) which is configured to detect an operating state of the actuating apparatus (1), wherein the output element (2) is coupled to the actuator (6) by means of at least one rotatably mounted intermediate stage (4), wherein the detection device (8) is configured to detect the operating state based on a rotary angle of the intermediate stage (4).

Description

Actuating device for the actuation of an actuating element

Control device of a motor vehicle

The invention relates to an actuating device for actuating an actuating element of an actuating device of a motor vehicle, in particular a clutch device or a parking lock device, which actuating device has an actuator which is designed to move an output element that can be coupled or is coupled to the actuating element, wherein the Actuating device has a detection device, which is designed to detect an operating state of the actuating device.

Actuating devices, by means of which actuating elements of actuating devices of motor vehicles are actuated, are basically known from the prior art. Corresponding actuating devices have an actuator which is designed to generate a movement in order to move an output element which is coupled to the actuating element of the actuating device and which in turn moves the actuating element. Since the actuator usually performs a rotary motion for this purpose, it is also known to detect the angle of rotation on the shaft of the actuator, for example a motor shaft, or alternatively to detect the angle of rotation on the driven element.

In order to achieve the full adjustment path of the actuating element, the actuator rotates said shaft by several revolutions. As a result, no absolute measurement or detection of the state of the actuator or the state of the actuating device is possible in any operating state, since no clear assignment of the current angle of rotation to the present state is possible. In other words, one and the same angle of rotation can be assigned to different states, since the motor shaft of the actuator completes several complete revolutions over the adjustment path. In relation to the alternative approach, in which the angle of rotation is detected at the output element, the quality of the detection is closely related to the gear ratio selected. Usually, the driven element performs a rotational movement of less than 90°, for example only 20°, in order to change the position of the actuating element. This can the angle of rotation and thus the state of the actuating device are often not detected precisely enough.

It follows from this that, in the prior art, a reference run usually has to be carried out in order to determine the state of the actuating device, during which the actuating element is moved to a mechanical end stop, for example. On the one hand, such reference runs cost time, since they have to be carried out each time the positioning system is started, for example. In addition, the execution of the reference runs can be perceived as disturbing by a user of the motor vehicle, particularly acoustically. Likewise, in the event of an error in the actuating system, the current position or the current state of the actuating device can be lost, so that a new reference run would be required. However, it is not possible to carry out the reference runs in any given operating state, so that the motor vehicle must first be brought into a defined operating state, for example.

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively improved actuating device.

The object is achieved by an actuating device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous configurations are the subject of the subclaims surface.

As described, the invention relates to an actuating device for actuating an actuating element of an actuating device of a motor vehicle, in particular a clutch device or a parking lock device. For this purpose, the actuating device has an actuator, for example an electric motor, which has a drive shaft with a drive element that performs a rotary movement in order to move a drive element that is coupled to the actuating element. For example, the drive element and the driven element can be designed as toothed elements, for example as gear wheels or gear wheel segments. A detection device is assigned to the actuating device or the actuating device has a detection device which can detect an operating state of the actuating device. Various states can be recorded as the operating state, for example a basic state or a set state or a disengaged state. Furthermore, it is possible to detect the travel of the actuating element or to detect a position of the actuating element in relation to the states of the actuating device. The invention is based on the finding that the output element is coupled to the actuator by means of at least one rotatably mounted intermediate stage, with the detection device being designed to detect the operating state based on a rotation angle of the intermediate stage.

In other words, it is proposed that the operating state of the actuating device is not detected based on a rotational angle of the drive element or on the actuator, or based on a rotational angle of the driven element or on the side of the actuating element, but rather the operating state based on the rotational angle the intermediate stage can be detected. The intermediate stage couples the actuator to the driven element or the intermediate stage transmits the movement generated by the actuator to the driven element. For this purpose, it is not necessary for the intermediate stage to be in direct engagement with the drive element and the driven element; instead, further stages, for example a pre-transmission, can be arranged between the intermediate stage and the drive element of the actuator or the driven element.

Because the operating state is detected based on the angle of rotation of the intermediate stage, the actuator or the drive element and the output element can cover any angle of rotation during the adjustment movement. The intermediate stage can be tuned in relation to the detection of the operating status. The boundary conditions that are customary in the prior art can thus be omitted. For example, a reduction in the complexity of the actuating device is possible, please include, since no further means for detecting the operating state have to be provided on the software or hardware side, for example routines can be simplified in the software that are used for carrying out reference runs must be provided. The rotational movement that the intermediate stage performs during the transmission of the movement of the actuator to the output element or the actuating element can be coordinated in particular with how the operating state is detected or the coordination of the intermediate stage can enable improved detection.

When the driven element moves, the intermediate stage can cover a greater angle of rotation than the driven element; in particular, the movement range of the intermediate stage can be limited to less than 360° over the entire travel of the driven element. This results in an unambiguity in the loading movement of the intermediate stage, since the intermediate stage is not moved by more than one complete revolution, in particular less than one complete revolution. On the one hand, this means that each angle of rotation of the intermediate stage can be assigned to an operating state of the actuating device, i.e. the operating state can be recorded or determined directly from the angle of rotation. Likewise, a larger angle of rotation can be swept over by the intermediate stage during the movement of the driven element by the design of the intermediate stage than the driven element is rotated by the movement of the intermediate stage.

As a result, the movement in the intermediate stage is thus translated to a greater extent, so that the angle of rotation of the intermediate stage can be detected with a finer resolution. The Ver ratio between the rotational movement of the output element and the rotational movement of the intermediate stage depends on the coordination of the output element and intermediate stage. The unambiguity of the movement is achieved by limiting the movement of the intermediate stage to less than 360°. The finer resolution can be achieved by the intermediate stage covering a larger angle of rotation than the output element. The two boundary conditions can be met simultaneously or individually.

The range of motion of the intermediate stage, for example the maximum angle of rotation by which the intermediate stage is rotated when the actuating element or the driven element is fully moved, can be at least twice as large as the range of motion of the driven element. In other words, they can Transmission ratios between the intermediate stage and the output element are set in such a way that at a rotation angle of the intermediate stage the output element travels only half the rotation angle. Thus, instead of detecting the angle of rotation of the output element, the angle of rotation of the intermediate stage is detected, which is at least twice as large, which improves the resolution of the angle of rotation detected.

The movement range of the intermediate stage can have a safety range of at least 20° to 40° in relation to a complete rotation, wherein the movement range can be in particular between 120° and 340°, in particular between 180° and 270°. The safety range thus indicates the distance from the complete rotation of the intermediate stage when executing the entire adjustment path. In other words, the intermediate stage can only be rotated up to the safety range when the movement of the output element is completely carried out and thus can perform less than one complete revolution. The safety range can be between 20 and 40°, for example, so that the entire range of movement of the intermediate stage is limited to 320 to 340°. The range of movement can also be further restricted, for example to a movement between 120° and 140° or 180° and 270°. The design of the movement range also depends on the travel that the output element is to realize or on the translation of the individual transmission elements, in particular of the drive element on the part of the actuator, the intermediate stage and the output element.

The range of movement of the intermediate stage can also be defined as a function of an adjustment path to be achieved for the driven element or an adjustment element and/or as a function of a positioning accuracy. As described, with the corresponding movement of the intermediate stage, which ultimately directs the movement of the actuator to the output element, the full travel of the output element can be realized. Depending on the transmission ratios, the intermediate stage can be selected in such a way that the movement is unambiguous and the resolution that is as high as possible when detecting the angle of rotation and thus the operating state is possible. The detection device can have, for example, a transmitter element, in particular a magnetic one, and a receiver element, with the transmitter element or the receiver element being coupled to the intermediate stage, in particular being arranged on the intermediate stage. A sensor device, for example, which is arranged on the intermediate stage, can be assigned to the detection device. For example, the transmitter element can be a magnetic element that is arranged at the intermediate stage. A corresponding sensor, for example an xMR or Hall sensor, can be arranged on a printed circuit board arranged at a distance from the transducer element or independently.

In particular, this allows an absolute measurement of the orientation of the intermediate stage, so that the angle of rotation can be recorded in absolute terms. It is therefore not necessary to carry out reference runs, since the orientation or the angle of rotation of the intermediate stage can be recorded at any time and the operating status of the actuating device can therefore also be output at any time. If the intermediate stage carries out a relative movement, i.e. if the intermediate stage transmits a movement of the actuator to the output element and thus to the actuating element, this can also be recorded, so that a movement currently being carried out can also be output or recorded.

As described, the transmitter element can be designed as a magnetic element, for example as a diametrically round magnet. The transmitter element can be movable together with the intermediate stage, for example the transmitter element can be arranged rotatably on an axis of rotation of the intermediate stage. As already described, the intermediate stage can be embodied as a gear wheel or gear wheel segment which can be rotated about the axis of rotation.

By arranging the round magnet on the intermediate stage, for example on the axis of rotation, the transmitter element is moved together with the intermediate stage, for example rotated. By detecting the state of the transmitter element, ie its orientation, the orientation or the current angle of rotation of the intermediate stage is also directly detected. The transmitter element can, for example, as Diametral round magnet can be arranged on the shaft, for example encapsulated in a transmitter element housing and pressed onto the shaft. The movement of the intermediate stage thus changes the magnetic field orientation that the encoder element has, which magnetic field orientation can in turn be detected by the receiver element, i.e. a suitable sensor, so that the absolute measurement or detection of the angle of rotation can be carried out.

The actuator can have, for example, a spur gear or a worm gear, which is in engagement with a toothed section of the intermediate stage, in particular via a pre-transmission. The drive element, which is driven by the actuator, can thus be designed as a spur gear or as a worm gear. In this case, the drive element can be coupled directly to the intermediate stage or via a pre-transmission, for example a gear wheel or gear wheel segment interposed between the intermediate stage and the drive element. It is also possible, please include the design of the drive element as a worm wheel or to couple it to a worm wheel, which in turn can be directly or indirectly engaged with the intermediate stage.

The actuator may further include a main housing and an intermediate housing disposed within the main housing, the main housing providing a first bearing for an intermediate shaft of the intermediate stage and the intermediate housing providing a second bearing for the intermediate shaft. The shaft around which the intermediate stage can be rotated is also referred to below as the intermediate shaft. The main housing thus forms a structure which can close off or enclose the actuating device, in particular the individual transmission elements of the actuating device, from the outside. Here, the main housing provides the bearing point for the intermediate shaft of the intermediate stage and the intermediate housing arranged in the main housing provides the second bearing point for the intermediate shaft. The intermediate housing can thus be understood as a half-shell or partial housing within the main housing. The intermediate housing can delimit the region of the intermediate stage, in particular the detection device, from the rest of the interior space of the main housing. In addition, the invention relates to a motor vehicle, comprising an actuating device described above. All the advantages, details and features that have been described in relation to the actuating device can be transferred to the motor vehicle. The actuating device can be assigned to an actuating device of the motor vehicle, for example a clutch device or a parking lock device. The actuating device can thus move the drive element, which movement of the drive element is transmitted via the intermediate stage to an output element, which output element in turn is coupled to the actuating element, for example in order to open or close a clutch device or to disengage or engage a parking lock device.

The invention is explained below using exemplary embodiments with reference to FIG. The figures are schematic representations and show:

Fig. 1 shows an actuating device according to a first embodiment in egg ner perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows the actuating device from FIG. 1 in an axial representation; FIG.

3 shows the actuating device from FIGS. 1, 2 in a perspective representation; and

4 shows an actuating device according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows an actuating device 1 for a not-shown motor driving tool. The actuating device 1 is designed in particular for the actuation of a control device, for example a clutch device or a parking lock device. In principle, all actuating devices can be actuated by means of the actuating device, which can be provided by a suitable actuating element.

For this purpose, the actuating device 1 has an output element 2 which is rotatably mounted. The output element 2 is designed, for example, as a gear wheel segment. The output element 2 is arranged on an output shaft 3 and rotatably mounted with this bar. Furthermore, the driven element 2 is coupled, in particular via a suitable gearwheel element, to an intermediate stage 4, which in turn is coupled to a drive element 5 of an actuator 6. In other words, the actuator 6, for example an electric motor, can move the drive element 5, in particular by rotating the motor shaft of the actuator 6. The rotational movement of the drive element 5 is transmitted via the intermediate stage 4 to the output shaft 3 and the output element 2, so that a coupled with the output element 2 actuating element can be moved in corre sponding switching states.

In Fig. 1, an optional pre-translation 7 is also shown, the transmission of the Drehbewe the drive element 5 translates to the intermediate stage 4 forwards. In this embodiment, the preliminary translation 7, the drive element 5 and the intermediate stage 4 are designed as spur gears, the intermediate stage 4 and the preliminary translation 7 can have several spur gear stages. It is also possible to couple the intermediate stage 4 directly to the drive element 5, as is shown in an alternative embodiment in FIG. 4, for example.

The rotary motion of the drive element 5 is thus passed on to the pre-transmission 7 by the motion of the actuator 6, which generates the rotary motion of the drive element 5 on the motor shaft, in particular to a first spur gear stage of the pre-transmission 7, with the pre-transmission 7 having a second spur gear stage with egg ner first stage of the intermediate stage 4 is engaged. The intermediate stage 4 may have a second stage that engages a stage on the output shaft 3 . The rotary movement of the intermediate stage 4 can thus cause the output shaft 3 to rotate, so that the output element 2 is rotated. The coupling between the output element 2 or the output shaft 3 and the intermediate stage 4 can also be selected as desired, as long as the rotational movement, which is translated from the intermediate stage 4 to the output shaft 3, results in a suitable movement of an actuating element, which is also connected to the Output shaft 3 is coupled, can be set over. The actuating device 1 is associated with a detection device 8, which is best shown in FIG. This has a sensor device which has a transmitter element 9 and a receiver element 10 . In this exemplary embodiment, the transmitter element 9 is designed as a magnetic element that generates a certain magnetic field alignment. The encoder element 8 can be designed, for example, as a diametrically round magnet and thus generate a magnetic field in the direction of the receiver element 10, so that the encoder element 8 has a defined magnetic field alignment. The encoder element 9 is also connected to the intermediate stage 4 , in particular arranged on an intermediate shaft 11 of the intermediate stage 4 .

Thus, the magnetic field orientation or the orientation of the magnetic field that is generated by the encoder element 9 changes when the intermediate stage 4 moves BE. As described, the orientation of the magnetic field can be received by the receiver element 10, which can be designed as a Hall sensor or as an xMR sensor, for example. As a result, it can be absolutely detected in which direction the intermediate stage 4 is, ie by which angle of rotation the intermediate stage 4 was deflected, for example, from a basic position. As a result, the connection between the operating state of the actuating device 1 and the current angle of rotation of the intermediate stage 4 can be established. In other words, it can be absolutely detected at any time which state the actuating device 1 is currently in. This eliminates reference runs and corresponding routines in software or a control device and the means required for this, for example mechanical stops.

As shown in FIG. 3, the receiver element 10 can be arranged on a circuit board or circuit board. It is also possible for the receiver element 10 to be arranged at a different distance in relation to the transmitter element 9 .

The actuator 1 further includes a main body 12 and a housing 13 Zwischenge. The main housing 12 in this case offers a first bearing point for the intermediate shaft 11 of the intermediate stage 4 , the intermediate housing 13 providing a second bearing point for the intermediate shaft 11 of the intermediate stage 4 . The intermediate housing 13 can thus be understood as a half-shell that is inside the Main body 13 is arranged and a space within the main body 12 defines.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1-3, the intermediate stage 4 has a different translation or diameter and number of teeth than the drive element 5 or the driven element 2. The translations between the intermediate stage 4, the drive element 5 and the driven element 2 are such coordinated so that over the entire travel of the actuating element, which is connected to the driven element 2, the intermediate stage 4 has a range of motion in which the intermediate stage 4 is moved less than one complete revolution.

The angle of rotation, which can be detected via the detection device 8, can thus be clearly assigned to the current operating state of the actuating device 1. It can also be seen that the intermediate stage 4 has a significantly larger range of motion than the output element 2 . This means that the angle of rotation that can be detected by the detection device 8 can be resolved more precisely than a movement of the driven element 2 .

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of an actuating device 1 in which the drive element 5 is designed as a worm wheel. As previously described, the drive element 5 can be coupled directly or indirectly to the intermediate stage 4, for example via the pre-transmission 7, as illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1-3, or directly, as illustrated in FIG . As also previously described, the intermediate stage 4 can have two spur gear stages, which can be coupled directly or indirectly to an output element 2 , which in turn is arranged to be rotatable or pivotable about the output shaft 3 . Although this is not explicitly shown, the actuating device 1 of FIG. 4 is also assigned a detection device 8 that works according to the same principle. Furthermore, a main body 12 and an intermediate body 13 may be provided.

The embodiments, details, advantages and features shown in the individual figures can be combined with one another as desired, are interchangeable with one another and can be transferred to one another. The actuators 1 shown can be arranged in particular in a motor vehicle or a motor vehicle can have them.

Reference sign Actuating device Output element Output shaft Intermediate stage Drive element Actuator Pretranslation Detection device Transmitter element Receiver element Intermediate shaft Main housing Intermediate housing

Claims

patent claims

1. Actuating device (1) for actuating an actuating element of an actuating device of a motor vehicle, in particular a clutch device or a parking lock device, which actuating device (1) has an actuator (6) which is designed to have an output element that can be or is coupled to the actuating element (2), the actuating device (1) having a detection device (8) which is designed to detect an operating state of the actuating device (1), characterized in that the output element (2) can be rotated by means of at least one mounted intermediate stage (4) is coupled to the actuator (6), where in the detection device (8) is designed to detect the operating state based on a rotation angle of the intermediate stage (4).

2. Actuating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate stage (4) covers a larger angle of rotation when the driven element (2) moves than the driven element (2), in particular the range of movement of the intermediate stage (4) over the entire Travel of the driven element (2) is limited to less than 360°.

3. Actuating device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the range of movement of the intermediate stage (4), in particular the maximum angle of rotation of the intermediate stage (4), is at least twice as large as the range of movement of the output element (2).

4. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the range of movement of the intermediate stage (4) in relation to a complete revolution has a safety range of at least 20° - 40°, the range of movement being in particular between 120° - 340°, in particular between 180°-270°.

5. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the range of movement of the intermediate stage (4) depends on an adjustment path to be achieved of the driven element (2) or an actuating element and/or is defined as a function of a positioning accuracy.

6. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection device (8) has a, in particular magnetic, transmitter element (9) and a receiver element (10), the transmitter element (9) or the receiver element ( 10) coupled to the intermediate stage (4), in particular to the intermediate stage (4) net angeord, is.

7. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitter element (9) is designed as a magnetic element, in particular a diametrical round magnet, which can be moved together with the intermediate stage (4), in particular on an axis of rotation of the intermediate stage (4) rotatable.

8. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator (6) has a spur gear or a worm wheel which engages with a toothed section of the intermediate stage (4), in particular via a pre-transmission (7). stands.

9. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a main housing (12) and an intermediate housing (13) arranged in the main housing (12), the main housing (12) having a first bearing point for an intermediate shaft (11) of the Intermediate stage (4) provides and the intermediate housing (13) provides a second bearing point for the intermediate shaft (11).

10. Motor vehicle, comprising an actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.