JPH10311409A - Housing structure of electric actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a configuration in which a plurality of columns, which are members separate from the sheet metal, are attached between the upper and lower two sheet metals. Mutual distortion occurs, and this distortion causes inconvenience in the performance of the electric actuator. A plurality of plate-like pillars (12) continuous with the lower case (11) or the cover (13) are formed on at least one of a lower case (11) and a cover (13), and the plate-like pillars (12) are formed on the cover (13) or the lower case (11). It is stuck.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a housing structure of an electric actuator in which a plurality of gears are pivotally arranged between a lower case and a cover.

[0002]

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a housing structure of a conventional electric actuator, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of FIG. 8, and FIG.
FIG. In the drawing, reference numerals 1 and 2 denote two upper and lower sheet metals, and 3 denotes a plurality of supports attached between the sheet metals 1 and 2. , A housing structure of the conventional electric actuator is assembled, a plurality of gears (gear train) 4 are sandwiched between the upper and lower two metal plates 1 and 2 and the gears 4 are connected to the electric motor ( (Not shown).

[0003]

As described above, the housing structure of a conventional electric actuator is composed of two upper and lower metal plates 1 and 2, as described above.
Since only a plurality of columns 3 are assembled between the two, the torsional moment generated when the gear 4 supported between the metal plates 1 and 2 is driven by an electric motor causes the upper and lower metal plates 1 and 2 to rotate. As shown in FIG. 10, there is a problem in that the two actuators are distorted, and this distortion causes inconvenience in the performance of the electric actuator. Further, as a countermeasure against the above-mentioned distortion, there is a problem that the weight increases if the thickness of the metal plates 1 and 2 is increased or the number of the columns 3 is increased. Further, since the upper and lower metal plates 1 and 2 and the columns 3 are separate members, there is a problem in that the number of parts is increased and the assembly is troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an electric actuator capable of obtaining a sufficient strength against a torsional moment when driving a gear, and having a reduced number of parts and facilitating assembly work. The purpose of the present invention is to obtain a housing structure.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric actuator housing structure comprising a combination of a lower case and a cover, wherein a plurality of gears are provided between the lower case and the cover. In the housing structure of the electric actuator to be supported, at least one of the lower case and the cover is formed with a plurality of plate-like columns continuous with the lower case or the cover, and the plate-like columns are fixed to the cover or the lower case. Things.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, at least one of the lower case and the cover is provided with at least one pair of plate-like pillars, and the plate surfaces of these plate-like pillars are separated from each other at a facing position. Are parallel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing structure of an electric actuator, wherein a lower case or a cover is partially bent to form a plate-like column.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing structure of an electric actuator, wherein the plate-like column portion is sandwiched between one of the lower cases having the plate-like column portion or the other cover or the lower case to be attached to the cover. Is fixed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing structure for an electric actuator, wherein a bifurcated holding piece is provided at a tip end of a plate-shaped column, and assembled to one of the lower case or cover having the plate-shaped column. The holding piece portion is deformed and engaged with an engaging portion provided on the other cover or lower case to be attached.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a housing structure of an electric actuator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of FIG. 1, and FIGS.
The same or corresponding parts as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a lower case made of a flat sheet metal, a resin plate or the like, and has at least a pair of plate-like column portions 12 rising on at least two opposite sides. These plate-like column portions 12 are provided in the lower case 11.
Of the lower case 11 by partially bending the
As shown in FIG. 2, the plate-like column portions 12 are arranged so that their respective plate surfaces are parallel to each other at the separated and opposed positions.

As described above, the plate-like cover 13 is fixed to the upper end of the plate-like column portion 12 which is formed integrally with the lower case 11 and rises. The cover 13 may be made of a resin plate or the like other than a sheet metal as in the case of the lower case 11.

In the housing structure of the electric actuator configured as described above, the lower case 11 is bent to form the plate-like column portion 12 integrally, thereby eliminating the need for a column that is a separate member from the lower case 11. Therefore, the number of parts is reduced, so that the material can be saved, and the plate 13 can be easily assembled only by attaching and fixing the cover 13 to the plate-like column portion 12. In addition, as described above, at least a pair of plate-like column portions 12 that rise continuously from the lower case 11 have their respective plate surfaces facing each other at the parallel separated position, so that the gear 4
Sufficient strength against the torsional moment generated at the time of driving is obtained, and distortion between the lower case 11 and the cover 13 can be prevented.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a housing structure of an electric actuator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the second embodiment, similarly to the case of the first embodiment, an outward flange portion 12 is provided on an upper end portion of a plate-like column portion 12 which is formed by partially bending and lowering a lower case 11.
a is bent, and also in the cover 13, a leg-shaped plate-shaped column 14 is integrally formed at a portion corresponding to the plate-shaped column 12, and the lower end of the plate-shaped column 14 is also formed. The outwardly directed flange portion 14a is formed by bending the flange portion 14a.
And the flange portion 12a are joined to form a housing structure fixed with screws 15. In addition, the flange portion 14 of the cover 13 may be either one formed by partially bending the cover 13 and integrally formed, or one welded to the cover 13. Therefore, in the second embodiment as well, similar to the first embodiment, sufficient strength against a torsional moment is obtained, and distortion between the lower case 11 and the cover 13 can be prevented.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 4 is a side view showing a housing structure of an electric actuator according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 5 (a) is a perspective view showing a separated state of a plate-like column portion and an engaging portion of a cover in FIG. FIG. 5B is a front view showing a state in which the plate-like column of FIG. 4 is fitted into the engaging portion of the cover.
FIG. 5C is a front view showing a state in which the plate-like column of FIG. 5B is locked to the engaging portion of the cover. In the third embodiment, at least one pair of plate-like pillars 12 formed by partially bending and lowering the lower case 11 are integrally formed with bifurcated holding pieces 12b and 12c, and a cover 13 is formed. A notch-shaped engaging portion 13a for fitting and engaging the holding piece portions 12b and 12c is provided at the edge of. Then, the holding pieces 12b and 12c of the lower case 11 are
3 after being fitted into the engaging portion 13a.
b, 12c are bent in the expanding direction to hold their holding pieces 1
The cover 13 is clamped and fixed to the upper end of the plate-like column portion 12 of the lower case 11 by engaging the upper portions 2b and 12c with the upper portion of the engaging portion 13a (the upper surface portion of the cover 13).
Therefore, in the case of the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 6 (a) is a perspective view showing a main part of a housing structure of an electric actuator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 (b) is a front view showing an engaged state of FIG. 6 (a). It is. In the fourth embodiment, the plate-like column 12 of the lower case 11 at the edge of the cover 13
A protruding piece-like engaging portion 13b is integrally formed at a position corresponding to the above, and engaging recesses 13c are formed on both sides of the engaging portion 13b. Further, locking claws 12d which are bent in a relative direction are formed at the tips of the forked holding pieces 12b and 12c formed at the tips of the plate-like pillars 12 of the lower case 11. Then, the protruding piece-shaped engaging portion 13b of the cover 13 is fitted between the holding piece portions 12b, 12c, and the holding piece portions 12b, 12c are aligned with the engaging recesses 13c on both sides of the engaging portion 13b. By closing the locking claws 12d of the holding pieces 12b and 12c in the relative direction, the holding pieces 1
The cover 13 is fixed to the tip of the plate-like column portion 12 of the lower case 11 by chucking the protruding engagement portion 13b with 2b and 12c. Therefore, even in the fourth embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an electric actuator to which the housing structure of FIG. 4 is applied.
Reference numeral 16 denotes an electric motor mounted on the cover 13, and reference numeral 17 denotes an output shaft. A valve (not shown) for opening / closing or switching a fluid flow path of the air conditioner is linked to the output shaft 17, The torque of the electric motor 16 is transmitted to the output shaft 17 via the gear (gear train) 4 to control the opening and closing or switching of the valve.

[0017]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, at least one of the lower case and the cover is formed with a plurality of plate-like pillars continuous with the lower case or the cover. Since the pillar portion is fixed to the cover or the lower case, it is possible to eliminate the need for a support member that is a separate member from the lower case or the cover, thereby reducing the number of parts and saving material. Simply assembling and fixing the lower case can easily assemble, obtain sufficient strength corresponding to the torsional moment at the time of gear driving, and have the effect of preventing the lower case and the cover from being distorted.

According to the second aspect of the invention, at least one of the lower case and the cover is provided with at least one pair of plate-like pillars, and the plate surfaces of these plate-like pillars are made parallel at the separated facing positions. The same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the lower case or the cover is partially bent to form the plate-shaped column, the same effect as the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the plate-shaped column is fixed to one of the lower cases having the plate-shaped columns or the other cover or the lower case to be attached to the cover, and is fixed. The same effect as the invention described in Item 1 is obtained.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a fork-shaped holding piece is provided at the tip of the plate-like column, and the other cover or lower is assembled to one of the lower cases or covers having the plate-like column. Since the holding piece portion is deformed and engaged with the engaging portion provided on the case, the same effect as the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a housing structure of an electric actuator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a housing structure of an electric actuator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a housing structure of an electric actuator according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

5 (a) is a perspective view showing a state in which the plate-like column of FIG. 4 is separated from an engaging portion of a cover, and FIG. 5 (b) is a diagram showing that the plate-like column of FIG. FIG. 5C is a front view showing a state in which the plate-like column shown in FIG. 5B is engaged with the engaging portion of the cover.

FIG. 6 (a) is a perspective view showing a main part of a housing structure of an electric actuator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 (b) is an engagement state of FIG. 6 (a). FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an electric actuator to which the housing structure of FIG. 4 is applied.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a housing structure of a conventional electric actuator.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Gear 11 Lower case 12, 14 Plate-shaped column part 12b, 12c Nipping piece part 13 Cover 13a, 13b Engaging part

Claims (5)

[Claims] An electric actuator housing structure comprising a combination of a lower case and a cover and supporting a plurality of gears between the lower case and the cover, wherein at least one of the lower case and the cover has A housing structure for an electric actuator, wherein a plurality of plate-like pillars continuous with a lower case or a cover are formed, and the plate-like pillars are fixed to the cover or the lower case. 2. The plate-like column portion is provided with at least one pair in at least one of a lower case and a cover, and the plate surfaces of the plate-like column portions are made parallel to each other at a separated facing position. Housing structure of the electric actuator. 3. The housing structure for an electric actuator according to claim 1, wherein the plate-like column portion is formed by partially bending a lower case or a cover. 4. The plate-shaped column is characterized in that it is fixed to one of the lower cases having the plate-shaped column or the other cover or lower case to be assembled to the cover. The housing structure of the electric actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 5. A bifurcated holding piece portion is provided at the tip of the plate-like column portion, and engagement is provided on one of the lower case or the other cover or lower case having the plate-like column portion. The housing structure of the electric actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holding piece portion is deformed and engaged with the portion.