Electronic control device for controlling actuators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9748040-B2
Application number	US-201214352095-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2012
Priority date	Oct 17, 2011
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

An electronic control device for controlling at least one rotatably arranged actuator includes electronic components, such as a device for the contact-free reception of electrical energy and the contact-free reception of signals, a device for generating magnetic fields, and a common housing that encloses the electronic components and assimilates them. The control device is rotatable and designed for attaching on or into a component rotating around a rotational axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A combination of an electronic control device and a rotatably arranged actuator, comprising:
the electronic control device comprising:
a plurality of electronic components, including devices that provide contact-free reception of electrical energy or control signals, or devices that provide contact-free generation of magnetic fields;
a common housing, the electronic components assimilated within the common housing;

wherein the control device is configured and rotatable with the actuator, the common housing configured to attach the control device onto or within a component that rotates around a rotational axis.

2. The combination as in claim 1 , wherein the actuator is electromagnetically actuated and is arranged at least partially outside of the common housing and electromagnetically connected with the device within the common housing that provides contact-free generation of magnetic fields.

3. The combination as in claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic valve or a pneumatic valve.

4. The combination as in claim 3 , wherein the actuator comprises a rotating drive or a translational drive.

5. The combination as in claim 1 , wherein the rotating component is a functional mounting arranged on a rotating shaft, the actuator contained at least partially in the functional mounting.

6. The combination as in claim 5 , wherein the common housing comprises a front wall configured as an interface with the functional mounting.

7. The combination as in claim 6 , comprising a plurality of the actuators, the common housing comprising a corresponding number of hollow cylindrical actuator housings disposed around a circumference of the common housing, each of the actuators operably housed at least partially in a respective one of the actuator housings.

8. The combination as in claim 7 , wherein the front wall comprises a connection fitting axially aligned with each actuator housing, the connection fittings attaching to the functional mounting.

9. The combination as in claim 7 , wherein each actuator housing defines a space that is fillable with oil from the functional mounting, the space defined axially parallel with a rotational axis of the functional mounting.

10. The combination as in claim 9 , wherein movable parts of the actuator within the actuator housing are immersed in hydraulic oil.

11. The combination as in claim 10 , wherein the movable parts are made of a material and shape so as to have an average density corresponding to that of the hydraulic oil.

12. The combination as in claim 7 , wherein an electric motor is coaxially configured with each actuator housing, the electric motor comprising a stator arranged on an outside of the actuator housing and a rotor a ranged on an inside of the actuator housing.

13. The combination as in claim 7 , wherein a magnetic coil is coaxially arranged on an outside of each actuator housing, and a magnetic armature is coaxially arranged on an inside of each actuator housing.

14. The combination as in claim 1 , wherein the device that provides contact-free reception of electrical energy or control signals comprises a secondary coil arranged at one of a radially inner or radially outer area within the common housing.

15. The combination as in claim 1 , further comprising a signal generating sensor rotatably mounted with the electronic control device, the electronic control device in contact-free reception of signals from the signal generating sensor.

16. The combination as in claim 15 , wherein the signal generating sensor is a position sensor.

17. The combination as in claim 1 , wherein the common housing comprises a ring cylinder defining a closed annular space sealed with a sealing compound.

18. The combination as in claim 1 , wherein the common housing comprises a ring cylinder defining a closed annular space, and further comprising a supporting bandage arranged around a peripheral side of the ring cylinder.

19. The combination as in claim 1 , wherein the common housing comprises a ring cylinder defining a closed annular space, the common housing made from a fiber-reinforced plastic material.

20. A transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a rotating gear shaft;
a functional mounting arranged on the rotating shaft;
an actuator contained at least partially in the functional mounting;
an electronic control device for controlling the actuator, the electronic control device further comprising:
a plurality of electronic components, including devices that provide contact-free reception of electrical energy or control signals, or devices that provide contact-free generation of magnetic fields;
a common housing, the electronic components assimilated within the common housing; and
wherein the control device is configured and rotatable with the actuator, and the common housing is attached to the functional mounting.

Assignees

• Reisch Matthias
• Dreibholz Ralf
• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Reisch Matthias
• Dreibholz Ralf

Classifications

• F16D2048/0221

  Valves for clutch control systems; Details thereof · CPC title

• F16H63/3026

  comprising friction clutches or brakes (band brake actuating mechanisms F16H63/3003) · CPC title

• F16D48/0206

  in a system with a plurality of fluid-actuated clutches · CPC title

• F16D2048/0251

  Electric motor driving a piston, e.g. for actuating the primary cylinder · CPC title

• F16H2063/305

  using electromagnetic solenoids · CPC title