Smart actuator comprising vibration processing, and method for evaluating vibrations on a transmission component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11946544-B2
Application number	US-202017599213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2020
Priority date	May 8, 2019
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

An actuator (1) for a component, in particular for a transmission component of a motor vehicle, including a processor (2) which is connected to an electric motor (3) for the closed-loop or open-loop control thereof, a final control element (4) which can be moved by the electric motor (3), wherein at least one (actuator-integrated) vibration sensor (5) is coupled to the processor (2), and the processor (2) is designed to evaluate the signals delivered by the vibration sensor. A method for evaluating vibrations on a transmission component of a motor vehicle is also provided, in which vibrations on the transmission component are detected by a vibration sensor (5) on the actuator and are processed in a processor (2) of an electromotive actuator (1).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An actuator for a component, the actuator comprising:
an electric motor;
a processor which is connected to the electric motor for closed-loop or open-loop control thereof;
a final control element that is movable by the electric motor;
at least one vibration sensor coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to evaluate signals delivered by the vibration sensor; and
a housing at least partially surrounds each of the electric motor, the processor, and the at least one vibration sensor.

2. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is mounted on a transmission of a power train of a motor vehicle.

3. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least one of report or store at least one of an evaluation or the signals.

4. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is connected to a storage device.

5. The actuator according to claim 4 , wherein the storage device is arranged in the housing of the actuator, and the storage device is connected to at least one of the processor or the vibration sensor.

6. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration sensor is configured for vibration-resistant attachment to a transmission part or the housing of the actuator.

7. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein a connector is disposed within the housing and coupled through a wired connection to the processor, the connector being configured to transfer at least bus signals and power to the processor.

8. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration sensor is configured as a structure-borne sound sensor or acceleration sensor.

9. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to carry out an NVH analysis.

10. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured as a parking lock actuator, seat adjustment actuator, a pump actuator, a clutch actuator, a switch actuator, a gear setting actuator, a dial actuator, an actuator for a swingarm with chassis action, or e-axle actuator.

11. A method for evaluating vibrations in a transmission component of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
detecting vibrations on the transmission component by a vibration sensor on an electric motor of an electromotive actuator, and processing the detected vibrations in a processor of the electromotive actuator;
wherein a housing at least partially surrounds each of the electric motor, the processor, and the vibration sensor.

12. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the component is a transmission component of a motor vehicle.

13. An actuator for a component, the actuator comprising:
an electric motor;
a processor connected to the electric motor for closed-loop or open-loop control thereof;
a connector coupled through a wired connection to the processor, the connector being configured to transfer at least bus signals and power to the processor;
a final control element that is movable by the electric motor; and
a vibration sensor coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive and evaluate signals from the vibration sensor, and store at least one of the signals or results of the signal evaluation in a memory.

14. The actuator according to claim 13 , wherein the actuator is mounted on a transmission of a power train of a motor vehicle.

15. The actuator according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to report the results of the signal evaluation.

16. The actuator according to claim 13 , wherein the vibration sensor is configured for vibration-resistant attachment to a transmission part or a housing of the actuator.

17. The actuator according to claim 13 , wherein a housing at least partially surrounds the electric motor, the processor, and the vibration sensor.

18. The actuator according to claim 13 , wherein the vibration sensor is configured as a structure-borne sound sensor or acceleration sensor.

19. The actuator according to claim 13 , wherein the actuator is configured to carry out an NVH analysis.

20. The actuator according to claim 13 , wherein the actuator is configured as a parking lock actuator, seat adjustment actuator, a pump actuator, a clutch actuator, a switch actuator, a gear setting actuator, a dial actuator, an actuator for a swingarm with chassis action, or e-axle actuator.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Vornehm Martin

Classifications

• F16H63/3466 Primary

  using electric motors · CPC title

• F16H61/12 Primary

  Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe (in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192) {; Circumventing or fixing failures} · CPC title

• F16H63/3425

  characterised by pawls or wheels · CPC title

• F16H2061/124

  Limiting the input power, torque or speed · CPC title

• F16H63/00

  Control outputs {from the control unit} to change-speed- or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion {or to other devices than the final output mechanism} · CPC title