Actuator and Sensor Assembly
First Claim
1. An actuator and sensor assembly comprising:
- a sensor housing including a wall defining a pocket;
a connector assembly including a sensor, the connector assembly being adapted for coupling to the sensor housing in a relationship wherein the sensor extends into the pocket defined by the wall of the sensor housing;
an actuator housing including a base defining an aperture, the sensor housing and the actuator housing being coupled together and defining an interior cavity;
a piston located and movable in the interior cavity and defining a receptacle;
a magnet located in the receptacle of the piston, the magnet generating a magnetic field, the sensor being adapted to sense a change in the magnetic field in response to movement of the piston and the magnet relative to the sensor; and
an actuator shaft including a first end coupled to the piston and a second end extending through the aperture in the actuator housing and into coupling relationship with a movable object.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator and sensor assembly comprising respective sensor and actuator housings defining an interior chamber. Clips on the sensor housing engage the actuator housing for coupling the sensor and actuator housings together. The sensor housing includes a wall defining a pocket. A connector with a sensor couples to the sensor housing in a relationship wherein the sensor extends into the sensor housing pocket. A movable piston is located in the interior chamber and a tube thereon defines a receptacle for a magnet located adjacent the pocket. The piston is seated on a flexible diaphragm. An actuator shaft includes one end coupled to the piston and an opposite end coupled to a movable object. A plurality of pins in the actuator housing mount the assembly to a support bracket. The sensor senses changes in the magnetic field in response to changes in the position of the magnet relative to the sensor.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An actuator and sensor assembly comprising:
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a sensor housing including a wall defining a pocket; a connector assembly including a sensor, the connector assembly being adapted for coupling to the sensor housing in a relationship wherein the sensor extends into the pocket defined by the wall of the sensor housing; an actuator housing including a base defining an aperture, the sensor housing and the actuator housing being coupled together and defining an interior cavity; a piston located and movable in the interior cavity and defining a receptacle; a magnet located in the receptacle of the piston, the magnet generating a magnetic field, the sensor being adapted to sense a change in the magnetic field in response to movement of the piston and the magnet relative to the sensor; and an actuator shaft including a first end coupled to the piston and a second end extending through the aperture in the actuator housing and into coupling relationship with a movable object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A sensor assembly comprising:
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a sensor housing including a wall defining an opening and a pocket; a connector including a sensor, the connector being coupled to the sensor housing in a relationship wherein the sensor extends through the opening and into the pocket defined by the wall of the sensor housing; and a magnet located adjacent the pocket and adapted for movement relative to the sensor in the pocket, the sensor being adapted to sense a change in the magnetic field generated by the magnet in response to the movement of the magnet relative to the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An actuator and sensor assembly comprising:
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a sensor housing including a wall defining an opening and a pocket and a circumferentially extending skirt; a connector assembly including a substrate having a sensor mounted thereon, the connector assembly being coupled over the top of the sensor housing in a relationship wherein the substrate and the sensor extend through the opening and into the pocket defined by the wall of the sensor housing; an actuator housing including a base defining a central aperture and a circumferentially extending side wall, one of the skirt of the sensor housing or the side wall of the actuator housing including a plurality of clips and the other of the skirt of the sensor housing or the side wall of the actuator housing including a lip, the plurality of clips engaging against the lip for coupling the sensor housing to the actuator housing, the sensor and actuator housings together defining an interior cavity; a flexible diaphragm located in the interior cavity and including a peripheral portion wedged between the skirt of the sensor housing and the side wall of the actuator housing; a magnet carrier assembly located in the interior cavity and seated against the flexible diaphragm, the magnet carrier assembly including a receptacle for a magnet, the magnet carrier assembly being adapted for linear movement within the interior cavity from a first position adjacent the base of the actuator housing to a second position away from the base of the actuator housing, the magnet being located opposite, spaced, and isolated from the pocket containing the sensor; an actuator shaft including a first end in the interior cavity coupled to the magnet carrier assembly and a second end extending through the aperture in the base of the actuator housing and coupled to a moveable object; a spring in the interior cavity extending between the wall of the sensor housing and the magnet carrier assembly, the spring biasing the magnet carrier assembly in the first position adjacent the base of the actuator housing; and a pressurization source coupled to one of the sensor housing or the actuator housing for adjusting the pressure in the interior cavity and causing the movement of the magnet carrier assembly, the movement of the magnet carrier causing a change in the magnetic field generated by the magnet which is sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification