Display device for an actuator and actuator for an armature

• US 8,760,313 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2009
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PS Automation GmbH
• Original Assignee: PS Automation GmbH
• Inventors: Bernhart, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBINIYI, PAULSON IDOWU
• Application Number:
  US13/127,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20110215943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: 340/691.6, 340/870.02, 324/156, 324/157, 324/110, 324/114, 475/170, 475/305, 475/331
• US Class Current: 340/691.6
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0008 Mechanical means F16K37/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19642 Directly cooperating gears

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device (54) for an actuator having at least one mechanical display element (10, 11) and a variable speed gear unit, particularly a signal gear unit designed as a variable speed gear unit, having at least two gears with differing transmission ratios, wherein there is a mechanical switching arrangement with which the different gears and/or transmission ratios of the variable speed gear unit can be selected and/or switched even when the display device is mounted operationally ready in a housing without intervention into the housing and without opening the housing from outside, and/or wherein the resolution of the display device (54) and/or the movement of the at least one display element (10, 11) on the actuating path to be displayed of a respective actuator and/or a respective armature can be selectively adjusted. The invention furthermore relates to an actuator having a said type of display device (54).

Claims

1. A display device for an actuator comprising:

a mechanical display element;

a variable-speed signal gear unit, having at least two gears with different gear ratios, wherein a mechanical switching system is provided by means of which different gears and gear ratios of the variable-speed gear unit may be selected and switched from the outside, even when an operational display device is installed in a housing, without intrusion into the housing and without opening the housing, and wherein the resolution of the display device and the motion of the mechanical display element on the adjustment distance of a particular actuator to be displayed or of a particular fitting may be selectively adjusted;

wherein the switching system has a control element via which a desired gear ratio, even in the inset or installed state in a housing, is adjustable from the outside in such a way that it is not necessary to remove the display device or open the housing in order to adjust the gear ratio;

wherein the switching system has a clip-like or web-like switching element which is mounted or retained at or on a selector shaft and the switching element has a pin or an axle having a first ratchet wheel which is supported in a rotatably movable manner and which is engaged with a second ratchet wheel which is supported on the selector shaft in a rotatably movable manner and cooperates with same, and in predetermined switching positions the first ratchet wheel is engaged with a respective further toothed gear of the variable-speed gear unit and cooperates with same;

wherein the switching system has a number of lock or catch positions which corresponds to the number of gears or gear ratios of the gear unit;

wherein the catch or lock positions are situated or distributed approximately equidistantly on a partial circle;

wherein when the display device is driven, all toothed gears of the variable-speed gear unit are always in motion, regardless of the gear ratio selection;

wherein the variable-speed gear unit includes a toothed gear set having multiple intermeshing toothed gears arranged in a partial circle, which cooperate with the mechanical display element via the switching system;

wherein securing means are provided so that the clip-like or web-like switching element is secured and locked or snap-locked in the particular switching positions to prevent inadvertent twisting; and

wherein a planet wheel with outer gearing which is rotatably supported coaxially with the system is provided, which acts as a central coupling element between the drive wheel of a particular drive and the display device, and always allows a horizontal orientation of the display device, regardless of the mounting position of the particular drive or the particular fitting.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein means are provided via which the mechanical display element may be adjusted and adapted to the particular end position setting of the actuator or a fitting in the installed state of the display device, without opening the housing and without intruding into the housing.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the motion of the mechanical display element is a rotary motion.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the variable-speed gear unit is a multistage gear unit.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the variable-speed gear unit has a stepped toothed gear.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein in addition, in each case multiple toothed gears, having different toothing are situated and/or fixed one behind the other on a shaft, and/or multiple toothed gears, having different toothing are rigidly joined together and rotatably situated one behind the other on an axle.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the securing means include a locking bar, situated or provided on the clip-like or web-like switching element.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the securing means have recesses in a support element or eyes provided at the predetermined switching positions for locking the switching element.

9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the selector shaft which supports the clip-like or web-like switching element is, and/or is held, under elastic pretension, and as a result of the elastic pretension is fixed and/or held in the predetermined switching positions.

10. The display device according to claim 1, wherein an electronic adjustment path sensor system is provided, wherein multiple toothed gears and/or shafts of the variable-speed gear unit are provided with incremental encoders and/or rotary encoders, and/or the design of the electronic adjustment path sensor system and in particular of the incremental encoders integrated into the gear unit stages of the mechanical position display is provided as a single stage.

11. The display device according to claim 1, wherein by action of a force in the longitudinal and/or axial direction on the selector shaft, against the elastic pretension, is it possible to unlock the switching system and in particular the clip-like or web-like switching element, thus allowing selection of a different gear ratio.

12. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the associated sensor system for sampling and/or reading the incremental encoders and/or rotary encoders is situated opposite same.

13. The display device according to claim 10, wherein a processing device and an electronic display element are provided, the processing device evaluating the position information of the sensor system.

14. The display device according to claim 13, wherein the electronic display element is situated on a support element.

15. The display device according to claim 10, wherein an interface for transmission and/or readout of the position information for transmission to a process control system and/or manufacturing execution system, is provided.

16. The display device according to claim 15, wherein the interface is a LAN-, WAN-, Ethernet-, USB-, WLAN-, Bluetooth-, profibus-, CAN-, or CANopen-based interface, or a combination thereof.

17. The display device according to claim 1, wherein multiple seals for sealing the housing and display device with respect to contaminants and/or moisture are provided.

18. An actuator for a fitting which includes a housing and a mechanical display device that is inset or installed in the housing according to claim 1, which cooperates with the drive, and wherein a switching system is provided which is accessible and operable from the front of the housing by means of which the different gears and gear ratios of the variable-speed gear unit may be selected and switched from the outside without intrusion into the housing and without opening the housing, and wherein the resolution of the display device and the motion of the mechanical display element on the adjustment path of a particular actuator to be displayed or of a particular fitting may be selectively adapted.

19. The actuator according to claim 18, wherein a coupling element for the positive-fit and/or friction-fit connection and/or coupling of the drive shaft and/or the output drive shaft and/or the spindle of the drive to the display device and in particular to the planet wheel of the display device is provided in such a way that the planet wheel and/or the a mechanical display element carries out a motion which is proportional to the rotary motion of the drive.

20. The actuator according to claim 18, wherein the housing and the display device are sealed with respect to one another and/or protected from contaminants twofold.

21. The actuator according to claim 18, wherein a coupling element is provided for the positive-fit connection of the drive shaft and/or the output drive shaft to the display device.

22. The actuator according to claim 21, wherein the coupling element includes a drive wheel having a shaft.