ROTARY ACTUATOR WITH ANGLED HOUSING CONNECTION

• US 20190326792A1
• Filed: 04/23/2018
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DUS Operating, Inc. (Dura Automotive Topco Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Dura Operating LLC (Dura Automotive Systems)
• Inventors: Jeon, Jinseok
• Granted Patent: US 10,811,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0006 Electronic control units for transmission control, e.g. connectors, casings or circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/32 Electric motors actuators or related electrical control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/722 coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0052 characterized by joining features of the housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0069 having connector relating features for connecting the connector pins with the PCB or for mounting the connector body with the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters

Abstract

In at least some implementations, an actuator includes a motor, an output rotated by the motor about an axis, and a housing having an interior in which the motor and electrical component are received. The housing includes a first housing part and a second housing part coupled to the first housing part to define at least part of the interior. The first housing part has a first mounting surface and the second housing part having a second mounting surface arranged to overlap the first mounting surface when the second housing part and first housing part are coupled together and wherein the first mounting surface and second mounting surface are both arranged at an acute angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis.

Claims

1. An actuator, comprising:

a motor;

an output rotated by the motor about an axis; and

a housing having an interior in which the motor and electrical component are received, the housing including a first housing part and a second housing part coupled to the first housing part to define at least part of the interior, the first housing part having a first mounting surface and the second housing part having a second mounting surface arranged to overlap the first mounting surface when the second housing part and first housing part are coupled together and wherein the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface are both arranged at an acute angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis.

2. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the first housing part includes a tubular sidewall having a portion that extends parallel to the axis or within ten degrees of parallel to the axis and wherein the first mounting surface is defined at an end of the sidewall that circumscribes an open end of the first housing part.

3. The actuator of claim 2 which also includes a component that extends outwardly beyond the sidewall of the first housing part and wherein the first mounting surface is axially spaced from the component.

4. The actuator of claim 3 wherein the component is received within an opening formed in the second housing part.

5. The actuator of claim 3 wherein the axial position of the first mounting surface relative to a plane that extends through the sidewall and is perpendicular to the axis varies in a circumferential direction around the first mounting surface, and the area of the first mounting surface that is closest to the plane is rotationally aligned with the component.

6. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the motor is part of an assembly that includes a circuit board coupled to the motor, and wherein at least a portion of the first housing part overlaps the full axial extent of the motor and circuit board or is within 4 mm of overlapping the full axial extent of the motor and circuit board.

7. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the first mounting surface is planar.

8. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the first mounting surface is planar and the second mounting surface is planar.

9. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the first mounting surface is elliptical.

10. The actuator of claim 4 wherein the component is an electrical connector and the opening in the second housing part is circumscribed by material of the second housing part.

13. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the first mounting surface is planar.

14. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the first mounting surface is planar and the second mounting surface is planar.

15. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the first mounting surface is elliptical.

11. An actuator, comprising:

a motor assembly including a motor, a circuit board electrically coupled to the motor and including an electrical connector extending outwardly beyond the motor, and an output rotated by the motor about an axis;

a first housing part having a base, a sidewall extending from the base and a first mounting surface at a free end of the sidewall; and

a second housing part coupled to the first housing part to define an interior in which the motor assembly is received, the second housing part having a second mounting surface overlapped with the first mounting surface and an opening spaced from the mounting surface in which the electrical connector is at least partially received, and wherein the first mounting surface and second mounting surface are both arranged at an acute angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis.

12. The actuator of claim 11 wherein the plane extends through the sidewall spaced from the first mounting surface and the axial position of the first mounting surface relative to the plane varies in a circumferential direction around the first mounting surface, and the area of the first mounting surface that is closest to the plane is rotationally aligned with the electrical connector.

16. The actuator of claim 11 wherein the opening in the second housing part is circumscribed by material of the second housing part.