U.S. patent application number 10/862450 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-16 for pneumatic actuator with electrical position detector.
This patent application is currently assigned to FAIST COMPONENTI S.P.A.. Invention is credited to Bonotto, Walter, Pennicchi, Marcello.
Application Number | 20040250678 10/862450 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29560543 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040250678 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bonotto, Walter ; et
al. |
December 16, 2004 |
Pneumatic actuator with electrical position detector
Abstract
The invention consists of the combination of a pneumatic
actuator part (1) and an electrical position detector part (2), the
containing structures thereof sealingly combine along a contour
edge (3), with the containing structure (8) of the electrical
position detector part (2) contributing to implement the depression
chamber (4) of the pneumatic actuator part (1) and inside thereof
there is provided a small chamber (15) housing the resistive member
(16), the thrust spring (19) and the head (17) of the sliding
member bearing the electrical contacts (18) rubbing onto the
resistance (16).
Inventors: |
Bonotto, Walter; (Umbertide
(Perugia), IT) ; Pennicchi, Marcello; (Perugia,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET
2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
FAIST COMPONENTI S.P.A.
MONTONE (PG)
IT
|
Family ID: |
29560543 |
Appl. No.: |
10/862450 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
92/5R ;
92/98R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F15B 15/2853 20130101;
F15B 15/10 20130101; F02B 37/186 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
092/005.00R ;
092/098.00R |
International
Class: |
F01B 025/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 12, 2003 |
IT |
AR2003U000013 |
Claims
1. A pneumatic actuator with electrical position detector to be
used in the vehicles with inner combustion engines and in
particular in adjusting and controlling the turbocompressor,
comprising a pneumatic actuator part (1) and an electrical position
detector part (2), characterized in that the containing structure
(9) of the pneumatic actuator part (1) and the containing structure
(8) of the electrical position detector part (2) sealingly combine
between them along a contour edge (3) and in that the containing
structure (8) of the electrical position detector part (2)
implements the "vault" of the depression chamber (4) of the
pneumatic actuator part (1).
2. The pneumatic actuator with electrical position detector, as
claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the containing structure
(8) of the electrical position detector part (2) has on the inside
thereof a small chamber (15) inside thereof the variable resistance
(16), the head (17) with the contacts (18) rubbing onto the
resistance (16) and the spring (19) positioned so as to oppose the
sliding of said head (17) are housed.
3. The pneumatic actuator with electrical position detector, as
claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the small chamber (15)
inside the containing structure (8) of the electrical position
detector part (2) is closed on the lower part by a plug (31)
equipped at least with a central hole for the sliding of the shaft
(26) projecting from the head (17).
4. The pneumatic actuator with electrical position detector, as
claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the containing structure
(8) of the electrical position detector part (2) has the spout (10)
therethrough it puts into communication the outside with the
depression chamber (4) of the pneumatic actuator part (1).
5. The pneumatic actuator with electrical position detector, as
claimed in claim 1, characterized in having a variable electrical
resistance (16) with structure with feet buried into the moulded
jet therewith the casing (8) of the electrical position detector
part (2) is implemented and with the surfaces at sight therethrough
the electrical connection with the rubbing contacts (18) is
implemented.
6. The pneumatic actuator with electrical position detector, as
claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in the small chamber
(15), inside the containing structure (8) of the electrical
position detector part (2), longitudinal grooves (21) are placed
for the positioning and the not-guided sliding at least of the head
(17) with the rubbing contacts (18).
7. The pneumatic actuator with electrical position detector, as
claimed in claim 1, characterized in having a spring (19) sized so
as to perform the thrust onto the head (17) sufficient to keep
inside the chamber (4) the end of the shaft (26) in contact with
the head of the extracting member (7).
8. The pneumatic actuator with electrical position detector, as
claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the containing structure
(8) of the electrical position detector part (2) on the inside
thereof has a surface shaped like a circular crown (11)
thereagainst the spring (2) opposing the sliding of the cup-like
structure (6) towards the containing structure (8) bucks when a
depression is produced in the chamber (4).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a pneumatic actuator with
electrical position detector, apt for vehicles with internal
combustion engines and in particular for adjusting and controlling
the turbocompressors.
[0002] Pneumatic actuator devices combined with electrical position
detectors of resistive type, utilized in the turbocompressors, are
known.
[0003] In such devices the pneumatic actuator group, usually
working under depression, has the structure defining the depression
chamber on one side equipped with a guide for sliding the
extracting member, on the opposite side it is provided with a hole,
with sealing gaskets, therethrough the head of said extracting
member connects to the sliding stem of the resistive sensor of the
electrical position detector. The end of said sliding stem, in
order to keep adhering to the head of the extracting member of the
pneumatic actuator, is constantly pushed by a spring. The head of
the sliding stem of the resistive sensor and said spring are housed
inside the casing of the electrical position detector which is
applied above the pneumatic actuator. Said head is equipped with
sliding guides and with flexible and elastic electric contacts
which are destined to rub onto a resistive film glued inside said
casing of the electrical position detector so that the sliding of
said head with electric contacts determines the change in value of
the resistance part comprised between the output electrodes. The
measurement of the resistance comprised between the output
electrodes allows then to detect the position of the rubbing
contacts and therefore the position of the extracting member of the
pneumatic actuator.
[0004] Such device, then, results to be constituted by the
combination of two distinct mechanisms: a pneumatic one and an
electrical one. Such combination involves the mechanical assembly
of two structures which requires a complex and therefore expensive
intervention in changing and adapting the first structure, the
pneumatic one. The two mechanisms are connected between them
through the structure delimiting the chamber of the pneumatic
actuator working under depression or however under a pressure
different from the environmental one. Therefore, it is necessary
utilizing appropriate gaskets which cannot guarantee the perfect
sealing and thus the correct operation of the first mechanism, that
is the pneumatic actuator.
[0005] On the contrary, the position detector has the resistive
film on the inside thereof, which can wear quickly at high
temperatures wherein the combined system is made to operate, when
it is utilized in the turbocompressors, therefore its long duration
cannot be guaranteed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to implement a
pneumatic actuator device with electrical position detector which
results to have a moderate cost and assured operation, even in
presence of high pressures or depressions.
[0007] Another object is to implement a device which cannot be
opened, then which is not subjected to tamperings and/or
alterations outside the firm manufacturing it.
[0008] Still another object is to implement a device with the
incorporated electrical part apt to withstand even the high
temperatures, therefore which is able to guarantee a long
duration.
[0009] At last, another object is to implement a device enabling to
be manufactured with smaller sizes than the ones of the
corresponding known devices.
[0010] The invention which has allowed achieving such results
concretizes in the combination of a pneumatic actuator part and an
electrical position detector part, the containing structures
thereof sealingly combine along the contour edge thereof. The
containing structure of the electrical position detector part
implements the upper part or "vault" of the depression chamber of
the pneumatic actuator part and, inside thereof, it is equipped
with a small chamber, closed by a plug on the lower side. Such
chamber houses the resistive member, the thrust spring and the
sliding member, the head thereof bears the contacts rubbing onto
the resistance and the stem thereof, once crossed the plug, reaches
the head of the extracting member of the pneumatic actuator part in
order to move therewith.
[0011] Such device results particularly advantageous because its
structure is relatively simple, it is very strong and therefore
resistant and it has a moderate cost. It is advantageous because it
cannot be opened and, however, each intervention inside thereof
leaves traces in the junction sealingly joining the two parts,
therefore it can be checked.
[0012] It is advantageous because the adjusting resistive member is
a mechanical structure apt to withstand even the high temperatures,
therefore it guarantees a long duration even when the invention is
utilized in the turbocompressors of the vehicles with internal
combustion engines.
[0013] Furthermore, it is advantageous because the whole structure
thereof is compact and not much bulky.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Other advantages will be easily understood, particularly by
the skilled persons working in the art, by reading the following
detailed description related to the preferred embodiment solution,
illustrated by way of example in the drawings of the enclosed
figure wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is the prospective view of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is the front view of the invention, sectioned with an
axial plane;
[0017] FIG. 3 is the exploded front view of the electrical position
detector part.
[0018] It is meant that the drawings are just exemplary in order to
make easier the comprehension of the invention, without being a
limitation therefor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0019] Substantially, therefore, the invention consists of a device
wherein two parts combine, one onto the other. The lower one is the
pneumatic actuator part 1, the upper one is the electrical position
detector 2. The two parts are implemented so that the containing
structure 9 of the pneumatic actuator 1 and the containing
structure 8 of the electrical position detector part 2 combine
between them with a joint 3, sealing along the contour edge. In
such implementation the containing structure 8 of the electrical
position detector part 2 implements the upper part or "vault" of
the depression chamber 4 of the pneumatic actuator 1. In the
solution exemplified in the FIG. 2, the containing structure 9 of
the pneumatic actuator part 1 on the top has an edge directed
towards the outside. The edge of the flexible sheath 5, inside the
central part thereof the cup-like structure 6 is housed, on the
base thereof the extracting member 7 of the pneumatic actuator part
1 is fastened, rests on such edge.
[0020] The containing structure 8 of the electrical position
detector part 2 is shaped like a cup upside-down with respect to
the containing structure 9 of the pneumatic actuator part 1. The
ending edge thereof is folded towards the outside in order to rest
on the edge of the flexible sheath 5, therefore on the most inner
part of the edge of the containing structure 9 of the pneumatic
actuator part 1. The edge of the containing structure 9 is then
folded towards the inside to compress and clamp the overlapped
edges of the containing structure 8 and of the flexible sheath 5,
until implementing the sealing joint 3. The containing structure 8
of the electrical position detector part 2 and the flexible sheath
5 originate the depression chamber 4 of the pneumatic actuator 1.
Said chamber 4 communicates with the outside through the spout 10,
placed on the containing structure 8 of the electrical position
detector part 2. The containing structure 8 on the inside thereof
also has the surface 11, shaped like a circular crown, thereagainst
the spring 12 bucks. It opposes the sliding of the base of the
cup-like structure 6 inside the containing structure 9 of the
pneumatic actuator part 1 when, through the spout 10, a depression
is produced inside the chamber 4.
[0021] The containing structure 8 of the electrical position
detector part 2 on the inside thereof has a small chamber 15 inside
thereof the variable resistance 16, the head 17 with the contacts
18 rubbing onto the resistance 16 and the spring 19 opposing the
sliding of said head 17 are housed.
[0022] Said small chamber 15 is vantageously closed on the lower
side by a plug 31 which is provided at least with a hole for the
not-guided sliding of the shaft 26 of the head 17 which is equipped
with rubbing electrical contacts 18. Said plug 31 can be provided
with feet 32 for the positioning and snap-locking thereof into the
seat destined to receive it or it can be fastened to said seat by
welding, glueing and any other way.
[0023] The variable electrical resistance 16 is equipped with its
own mechanical structure and/or with a support with feet buried in
the jet, that is it can be stabilized in the position destined
thereto by co-molding with the casing 8 of the electrical position
detector part 2. However, it has the surfaces at sight therethrough
the electrical connection with the rubbing contacts 18, integral to
the head 17, is performed.
[0024] At last, inside said chamber 15 advantageously there are
longitudinal grooves 21 for the positioning and the not-guided
sliding at least of the head 17 equipped with contacts 18. All this
to guarantee the electrical contact of the contacts 18 themselves
onto the resistance 16 upon changing the position thereof inside
the small chamber 15.
[0025] On the contrary, the spring 19 is sized to perform the
thrust onto the head 17. The thrust is sufficient to keep inside
the chamber 4 the end of the shaft 26 in contact with the head of
the extracting member 7 of the pneumatic actuator part 1.
[0026] Upon the implementation, the manufacturing particulars could
also be subject to variations, without altering the functional
logique of the invention, therefore with said variations being
comprised within the scope of the invention as defined by the
following claims.
* * * * *