Control device and corresponding production method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11258380-B2
Application number	US-201815948680-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2018
Priority date	Apr 10, 2017
Publication date	Feb 22, 2022
Grant date	Feb 22, 2022

Abstract

A method for producing a control device for mechanically controlling a component. The control device may have a device housing including a motor accommodating space in which an electric motor is arranged. The electric motor may include a motor housing having a stator and a rotor, the rotor including a rotor shaft. The method may include selecting an electric motor from a plurality of electric motors each suitable for a specified application. Each of the plurality of electric motors may have a different respective axial motor length and may have a same respective motor cross section. Further, the method may include adapting the motor accommodating space to the respective axial motor length of the selected electric motor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for producing a control device for mechanically controlling a component, the control device having a device housing and a cover configured to close the device housing, the device housing and the cover defining an interior space, at least a portion of the interior space defining a motor accommodating space for receiving one of a plurality of electric motors each suitable for a specified application, the method comprising:
selecting an electric motor from the plurality of electric motors, the plurality of electric motors respectively including a motor housing having a stator and a rotor including a rotor shaft, each of the plurality of electric motors having a different respective axial motor length that extends from a first axial end of the motor housing to a second axial end of the motor housing and having a same respective radial motor cross section; and
adapting the motor accommodating space to the selected electric motor via adjusting an axial length of the motor accommodating space to correspond to the respective axial motor length of the selected electric motor;
wherein the axial length of the motor accommodating space is a distance from an axial inner surface of the cover to an axial support surface disposed within the interior space of the device housing, the first axial end of the motor housing resting on the axial support surface when the selected electric motor is disposed within the motor accommodating space.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein adapting the motor accommodating space includes i) selecting the cover from a plurality of covers that each have a different respective axial cover length such that the axial length of the motor accommodating space corresponds to the respective axial motor length of the selected electric motor when the selected cover is installed on the device housing and ii) installing the selected cover on the device housing to adjust the axial length of the motor accommodating space; and
wherein the axial support surface is defined by an axial inner surface of the device housing that delimits an axial end of the interior space each of the plurality of covers define a different axial length for the motor accommodating space when installed.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein installing the selected cover on the device housing includes welding the selected cover to the device housing, wherein the device housing is plastic and the cover is plastic.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein installing the selected cover on the device housing includes coupling the cover to the device housing with a crimped connection, wherein the device housing is one of metal and plastic, and the cover is metal.

5. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising structuring the device housing, prior to adapting the motor accommodating space, such that a portion of the axial length of the motor accommodating space within the device housing corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of electric motors having the shortest respective axial motor length.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein adapting the motor accommodating space includes:
selecting a spacer element suitable for the selected electric motor from a plurality of spacer elements each having a different axial extent, the selected spacer including the axial support surface; and
changing an axial distance between an axial inner surface of the device housing that delimits an axial end of the interior space and the first axial end of the motor housing to increase or decrease the axial length of the motor accommodating space based on the respective axial motor length of the selected electric motor via inserting the selected spacer element into the interior space.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the selected spacer element is one of a spring and a sleeve.

8. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising structuring the device housing, prior to adapting the motor accommodating space, such that the motor accommodating space is sized to receive a respective one of the plurality of electric motors having the largest respective axial motor length with the first axial end of the motor housing in direct contact with the axial inner surface of the device housing such that the axial support surface is defined by the axial inner surface of the device housing.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein adapting the motor accommodating space further includes selecting no spacer element and inserting no spacer element into the motor accommodating space when the respective one of the plurality of electric motors having the largest respective axial motor length is selected.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
adapting the motor accommodating space includes changing an axial insertion depth of the selected electric motor to adjust the axial length of the motor accommodating space based on the respective axial motor length of the selected electric motor via shortening an axial height of an axial stop to a desired axial height suitable for the selected electric motor; and
the axial stop is integrally disposed on the device housing within the interior space and defines the axial support surface such that the first axial end of the motor housing is supported at an axial distance from an axial inner surface of the device housing that delimits an axial end of the interior space.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising structuring the axial stop, prior to adapting the motor accommodating space, such that the axial height of the axial stop is configured for a respective one of the plurality of electric motors having the smallest respective axial motor length.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein adapting the motor accommodating space further includes not shortening the axial height of the axial stop when the respective one of the plurality of electric motors having the smallest respective axial motor length is selected.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein shortening the axial height of the axial stop includes completely removing the axial stop such that the axial support surface is defined by the axial inner surface of the device housing when a respective one of the plurality of electric motors having the largest respective axial motor length is selected.

14. A control device for mechanically controlling a component, comprising:
a device housing and a cover configured to close the device housing, the device housing and the cover defining an interior space, at least a portion of the interior space defining a motor accommodating space;
the motor accommodating space having an axial length extending from an axial inner surface of the cover to an axial support surface disposed within the interior space of the device housing;
an electric motor arranged within the motor accommodating space, the motor including a motor housing having a rotor and a stator disposed therein, the rotor including a rotor shaft on a front side of the motor housing, wherein the motor housing defines an axial motor length extending from the front side to a rear side of the motor housing facing an axial inner surface of the device housing that delimits an axial end of the interior space;
at least one of an axial stop and a spacer element disposed within the device housing and including the axial support surface, the at least one of the axial stop and the spacer element disposed between and in contact with the rear side of the motor housing and the axial inner surface of the device housing such that the electric motor is supported within the motor accommodating space via the at least o

Assignees

• Mahle Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Makarow Eugen
• Salfeld Edgar
• Wetzel Florian

Classifications

• F16K31/04 Primary

  using a motor · CPC title

• H02K1/00

  Details of the magnetic circuit (magnetic circuits for relays H01H50/16) · CPC title

• H02K2213/12

  Machines characterised by the modularity of some components · CPC title

• H02K5/04

  Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof · CPC title

• H02K2213/09

  Machines characterised by the presence of elements which are subject to variation, e.g. adjustable bearings, reconfigurable windings, variable pitch ventilators · CPC title