Filling an armature space of an actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12435809-B2
Application number	US-202318300005-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2023
Priority date	Apr 14, 2022
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

An electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) for an assembly, which has a fluid space configured to be fluidically connected to the actuator when the actuator is installed in the assembly, includes a movable armature in an armature space ( 6 ). The armature includes a movable armature rod ( 8 ). The actuator is configured to fill the armature space ( 6 ) with fluid, such as oil, via axial movements of the armature rod that draw fluid from the fluid space into the armature space ( 6 ) through a fluid path when the armature rod is fluidically connected to the fluid space.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle with a fluid space ( 16 ) configured to be fluidically connected to the actuator ( 1 ) when the actuator ( 1 ) is installed in the motor vehicle, the actuator ( 1 ) comprising:
a movable armature in an armature space ( 6 ), the armature comprising a movable armature rod ( 8 ),
wherein the actuator ( 1 ) is configured to fill the armature space ( 6 ) with fluid via movement of the armature rod ( 8 ) drawing fluid from the fluid space ( 16 ) into the armature space ( 6 ) through a fluid path ( 9 ) when the armature rod ( 8 ) is fluidically connected to the fluid space ( 16 ), and
wherein the actuator ( 1 ) is configured such that an evacuation of the armature space ( 6 ) of fluid during operation of the actuator ( 1 ) is prevented by a fluid-space-side radial bore ( 11 ) of the armature rod ( 8 ) being closed during a stroke of the actuator.

2. The electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the fluid path ( 9 ) is defined at least partially by an axial bore ( 10 ) or depression of the armature rod ( 8 ), the fluid-space-side radial bore ( 11 ) of the armature rod ( 8 ), and at least one armature-space-side bore ( 12 ; 13 ) of the armature rod ( 8 ).

3. The electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the armature rod ( 8 ) is radially surrounded at a fluid-space-side end of the armature rod ( 8 ) by a core ( 4 ), and a gap ( 18 ) that forms a portion of the fluid path ( 9 ) is disposed between the core ( 4 ) and the armature rod ( 8 ).

4. The electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) of claim 3 , wherein the fluid-space-side radial bore ( 11 ) of the armature rod ( 8 ) is closed during the stroke of the actuator by a projection ( 17 ) of the core ( 4 ).

5. The electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) of claim 4 , wherein the projection of the core ( 4 ) is defined axially between the gap ( 18 ) and a first fluid reservoir ( 19 ) of the armature space ( 6 ).

6. The electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 ,
wherein the armature space ( 6 ) is configured to provide damping via the armature space ( 6 ) having a first fluid reservoir ( 19 ) and a second fluid reservoir ( 20 ), the first fluid reservoir ( 19 ) and the second fluid reservoir ( 20 ) being fluidically connected via a portion of the fluid path ( 9 ).

7. The electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) of claim 6 , wherein the damping is adjustable by flow resistance of the fluid path ( 9 ) between the first fluid reservoir ( 19 ) and the second fluid reservoir ( 20 ).

8. The electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) of claim 6 , wherein the armature rod ( 8 ) comprises a first armature-space-side radial bore ( 12 ), a second armature-space-side radial bore ( 13 ), and an axial bore ( 10 ) or depression that collectively form the fluid path ( 9 ) between the first and second fluid reservoirs ( 19 , 20 ), and the damping is adjustable by way of a diameter of the first and the second armature-space-side radial bores ( 12 , 13 ).

9. The electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the actuator ( 1 ) is configured to fill the armature space ( 6 ) via a filling sequence that comprises a predetermined number of axial movements of the armature.

10. The electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the armature space ( 6 ) comprises a ventilation gap ( 15 ) at an end of the armature space ( 6 ) disposed opposite the fluid space ( 16 ), and the ventilation gap ( 15 ) is configured to provide ventilation of the armature space ( 6 ).

11. The electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing ( 14 );
a magnetic coil ( 2 ) radially surrounding an interior space;
a pole tube ( 3 ) projecting into the interior space surrounded by the coil ( 2 );
a core ( 4 ) projecting into the interior space surrounded by the coil ( 2 ), the core ( 4 ) disposed axially opposite the pole tube ( 3 ); and
a bearing ( 5 ),
wherein at least the core ( 4 ) and the pole tube ( 3 ) define the armature space ( 6 ),
wherein an armature restrictor of the armature forms a throttle ( 7 ) between a first fluid reservoir ( 19 ) and a second fluid reservoir ( 20 ) of the armature space ( 6 ),
wherein the armature rod ( 8 ) is mounted by the bearing ( 5 ), and
wherein the pole tube ( 3 ) and the bearing ( 5 ) form a ventilation gap ( 15 ) at an end of the armature space ( 6 ) disposed opposite the fluid space ( 16 ).

12. An assembly for a motor vehicle with the fluid space ( 16 ), the assembly comprising at least one of the electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 arranged within the assembly at the fluid space ( 16 ).

13. A method for filling the electromagnetic actuator ( 1 ) of claim 1 with fluid, the method comprising:
filling (S 1 ) the fluid space with fluid or providing a fluid-filled fluid space;
installing (S 2 ) the actuator at the fluid space; and
starting (S 3 ) a filling sequence with one or more axial movements of the actuator in order to fill the armature space ( 6 ) with the fluid.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Moosmann Markus
• Mayr Karlheinz
• Schmidt Thilo
• Guldenschuh Dominik

Classifications

• H01F7/1607

  Armatures entering the winding · CPC title

• H01F7/121 Primary

  Guiding or setting position of armatures, e.g. retaining armatures in their end position · CPC title

• F16K31/0696 Primary

  Shock absorbing, e.g. using a dash-pot · CPC title

• F16K31/0693

  Pressure equilibration of the armature · CPC title

• H01F7/081

  Magnetic constructions · CPC title