# US 10,871,225 B2 · Electromechanical, active dual-redundancy, twin-motor actuator to operate a component of a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,225 B2 - Document ID: US10871225B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/150,493 - Filed: 2018-10-03 - Published: 2019-04-11 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-06 - Assignees: Marelli Europe S.P.A. - Applicants: MARELLI EUROPE S.p.A. - Inventors: Federico Pezzotta; Stefano Musolesi; Michele Garofalo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871225B2 ## CPC - F16H 63/3466: {using electric motors} - B60T 1/005: {by locking of wheel or transmission rotation} - B60T 1/062: {acting on transmission parts} - B60T 13/746: {and mechanical transmission of the braking action} - F16D 65/14: Actuating mechanisms for brakes; Means for initiating operation at a predetermined position (brake control systems, parts thereof B60T) - F16H 61/12: Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe (in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192) {; Circumventing or fixing failures} - F16H 61/32: Electric motors {, actuators or related electrical control means} therefor - H02K 7/1166: {comprising worm and worm-wheel (structural association with bearings specially adapted for worm gear drives H02K7/081)} - F16D 65/0006: {Noise or vibration control} - F16D 2066/003: {Position, angle or speed} - F16D 2121/24: using motors - F16D 2125/48: with parallel stationary axes, e.g. spur gears - F16D 2125/52: with non-parallel stationary axes, e.g. worm or bevel gears - F16D 2125/64: Levers - F16D 2127/06: Locking mechanisms, e.g. acting on actuators, on release mechanisms or on force transmission mechanisms - F16H 2061/122: {Avoiding failures by using redundant parts} - F16H 2061/1288: {the failing part is an actuator} - H02K 2213/06: Machines characterised by the presence of fail safe, back up, redundant or other similar emergency arrangements - F16H: GEARING - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) ## Abstract Electromechanical actuator to operate a component of a vehicle provided with a housing formed by a lower element and a lid; a transmission arranged inside the housing and comprising an output shaft provided with a first symmetry axis and an intermediate shaft, which meshes with the output shaft and is provided with a second symmetry axis transverse to the first symmetry axis; and a pair of electric motors also arranged inside the housing; wherein each of the two electric motors rotates the output shaft through the intermediate shaft and wherein the two electric motors are provided with respective rotation axes parallel to each other and transverse to the first symmetry axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electromechanical actuator (1) to operate a component of an internal combustion engine and/or of a vehicle comprising: a housing (2), which is obtained through a lower element (3) and a lid (4); a transmission, which is arranged inside the housing (2) and comprises an output shaft (9), which is provided with a first symmetry axis (X), and an intermediate shaft (18), which meshes with the output shaft (9) and is provided with a second symmetry axis (Y), which is transverse to the first symmetry axis (X); and a pair of electric motors (31, 32), which are also arranged inside the housing (2); wherein each one of the two electric motors (31, 32) causes the rotation of the output shaft (9) through the intermediate shaft (18), and wherein the two electric motors (31, 32) are provided with respective rotation axes (Z1, Z2), which are parallel to one another and transverse to the first symmetry axis (X); wherein the two electric motors (31, 32) are arranged side by side and are provided, at one of their axial ends, with respective gears (29, 30) arranged on opposite sides of a common toothed wheel (20) of the intermediate shaft (18) with which they mesh so that the gears (29, 30) transmit the motion from the corresponding electric motor (31, 32) to the same end of the intermediate shaft (18); and wherein at least one needle roller bearing is fitted on the output shaft (9) so as to lock the output shaft (9) in a radial direction and a plug (17) is placed to lock the output shaft (9) in an axial direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the rotation axes (Z1, Z2) are parallel to the second symmetry axis (Y). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An actuator according to claim 1, wherein, at one of their axial ends, opposite the axial end provided with the respective gear (29, 30), both electric motors (31, 32) are connected to a respective first axial spring (33) designed to dampen the vibrations produced by the rotation of the respective electric motor (31, 32). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An actuator according to claim 3, wherein both electric motors (31, 32) are connected to a respective second radial spring (35), which is constrained by means of fixing means (36) and surrounds a stator casing of the electric motors (31, 32). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate shaft (18) is provided with a worm-screw helical wheel (22), which, in use, meshes with a toothed wheel (13) with helical teeth of the output shaft (9). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the output shaft (9) is provided, at its first end, with a magnet (14) obtained as an upper portion or appendage, having an annular shape, coaxial to the first symmetry axis (X) and made of a magnetic material, which, in use, faces the lid (4). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An actuator according to claim 6, wherein the magnet (14) and the toothed wheel (13) with helical teeth are arranged at the first coupling end (12), opposite a second output end (10) of the output shaft (9) connected to an interface lever (11) for the operation of the component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An actuator according to claim 1, wherein two bearings (15, 16), preferably two needle roller bearings, are fitted on the output shaft (9) and a plug (17) or a sealing ring is interposed between the two bearings (15, 16) so as to lock the output shaft (9) in an axial direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An actuator according to claim 1 and comprising at least one sensor (34), which is caused to be integral to an inner surface of the lid (4) in a position facing and close to the output shaft (9), so as to detect the rotary motion of the output shaft (9) around the first symmetry axis (X). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the housing (2) is obtained through a lower element (3) and a lid (4), which are suitably connected to each other by a plurality of closing clips (5) arranged on the periphery of the housing (2), and define internally a compartment (V); wherein both the electric motors (31, 32) are arranged inside the housing (2); and in that, inside the compartment (V), a seat (7) is formed coaxial to the first symmetry axis (X) and defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall (8), which cantileverly projects from the lower element (3) towards the outside of the housing (2) and is designed to house a portion of the output shaft (9).