Actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9735657-B2
Application number	US-201414315410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2014
Priority date	Jun 26, 2013
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

An actuator includes two abutment elements and an adjusting device for changing their spacing in a translational displacement direction. A support element is provided between the abutment elements, a drive motor is supported by the support element, a first spindle nut is rotatably supported by the support element, a second spindle nut is rotatably supported by the support element, a first spindle engages the first spindle nut and is connected to one abutment element, and a second spindle engages the second spindle nut and is connected to the other abutment element. Two limit switches are mounted on a switch support on the support element and spaced apart from each other in the translational displacement direction. A first limit switch actuating element is attached to one of the abutment elements, and a second limit switch actuating element is attached to one of the spindles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuator comprising:
a first abutment element and a second abutment element, and
an adjusting device configured to move the second abutment element relative to the first abutment element in a translational displacement direction, wherein the adjusting device includes:
a support element disposed between the first and second abutment elements in the displacement direction,
a drive motor disposed on or in the support element,
a first spindle nut rotatably supported on or in the support element, in which first spindle nut is rotationally driven by the drive motor,
a second spindle nut rotatably supported on or in the support element, in which second spindle nut is rotationally driven by the drive motor,
a first spindle which is in engagement with the first spindle nut and which is fixedly connected to the first abutment element, and
a second spindle which is in engagement with the second spindle nut and is fixedly connected to the second abutment element,
wherein two limit switches are disposed so as to limit the translational displacement path between the two abutment elements, and
wherein the two limit switches are spaced in the translational displacement direction on a switch support, the switch support being attached to the support element, and
wherein a first actuating element for one of the two limit switches is attached to one of the abutment elements and wherein a second actuating element for the other of the two limit switches is attached to one of the spindles.

2. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the first abutment element or the second abutment or the first abutment element and the second abutment element are formed as plates.

3. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the two spindles are formed as threaded spindles and have the same thread pitch.

4. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the drive motor rotatably drives the first spindle nut via a first transmission element.

5. The actuator according to claim 4 , wherein the second spindle nut is rotatably driven by the first spindle nut via a second transmission element.

6. The actuator according to claim 4 , wherein the first transmission element or the second transmission element or the first transmission element and the second transmission element is formed as a gear.

7. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the drive motor is an electric motor.

8. The actuator according to claim 1 wherein the support element is a plate.

9. The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the limit switches are in communication with the drive motor, and wherein the drive motor is configured to switch off upon receiving a signal from one of the limit switches.

10. The actuator according to claim 1 , further including at least one guide element configured to guide the two abutment elements relative to each other in the translational displacement direction.

11. The actuator according to claim 4 , wherein the first transmission element or the second transmission element or the first transmission element and the second transmission element is a spur gear.

12. The actuator according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first abutment element or the second abutment or the first abutment element and the second abutment element are formed as plates,
wherein the two spindles are formed as threaded spindles and have the same thread pitch,
wherein the drive motor rotatably drives the first spindle nut via a first transmission element,
wherein the second spindle nut is rotatably driven by the first spindle nut via a second transmission element,
wherein the first transmission element or the second transmission element or the first transmission element and the second transmission element is formed as a gear, and
wherein the drive motor is an electric motor.

13. An actuator comprising:
a first abutment element,
a second abutment element spaced from the first abutment element and configured to be displaced from the first abutment element in a displacement direction,
a support element disposed between the first abutment element and the second abutment element,
a drive motor supported by the support element,
a first spindle nut rotatably supported by the support element and configured to be rotationally driven by the drive motor,
a second spindle nut rotatably supported by the support element and configured to be rotationally driven by the drive motor,
a first spindle in engagement with the first spindle nut and fixedly connected to the first abutment element,
a second spindle in engagement with the second spindle nut and fixedly connected to the second abutment element,
a switch support mounted on the support element,
first and second limit switches on the switch support spaced apart from one another in the displacement direction,
a first limit switch actuating element attached to one of the first and second abutment elements and a second limit switch actuating element attached to one of the first and second spindles.

14. The actuator according to claim 13 , wherein the first limit switch actuating element is attached to the second abutment element and the second limit switch actuating element is attached to the second spindle.

15. The actuator according to claim 14 , wherein the first limit switch is intersected by a first plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first spindle, the second limit switch is intersected by a second plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first spindle and wherein the second limit switch actuating element is always located at least partially between the first plane and the second plane.

16. The actuator according to claim 15 , wherein at least part of the first limit switch actuating element is always located in a space not between the first plane and the second plane.

17. The actuator according to claim 13 , wherein a distance between the first limit switch and the second limit switch remains constant when the second abutment element is displaced relative to the first abutment element.

18. The actuator according to claim 13 , wherein the switch support is located between the support element and the second abutment element.

19. An actuator comprising:
a first abutment element,
a second abutment element spaced from the first abutment element and configured to be displaced from the first abutment element in a displacement direction,
a support element disposed between the first abutment element and the second abutment element,
a drive motor supported by the support element,
a first spindle nut rotatably supported by the support element and configured to be rotationally driven by the drive motor,
a second spindle nut rotatably supported by the support element and configured to be rotationally driven by the drive motor,
a first spindle in engagement with the first spindle nut and fixedly connected to the first abutment element,
a second spindle in engagement with the second spindle nut and fixedly connected to the second abutment element, and
limit means for limiting movement of the second abutment element relative to the first abutment element.

Assignees

• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Meyer David S
• Uhri Patrick
• Waldner Stefan

Classifications

• H02K7/116

  with gears · CPC title

• F16H25/2056

  Telescopic screws with at least three screw members in coaxial arrangement · CPC title

• F16H2025/2053

  Screws in parallel arrangement driven simultaneously with an output member moved by the screws · CPC title

• F16H25/2015 Primary

  Means specially adapted for stopping actuators in the end position; Position sensing means · CPC title

• H02K11/042 Primary

  Rectifiers associated with rotating parts, e.g. rotor cores or rotary shafts · CPC title