Method and apparatus for positioning a torque motor armature
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsLoren H. Uthoff, Robert J. Mohan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque motor and throttle body are integrated within a single assembly for application with an internal combustion engine charge air inlet. The butterfly valving element of the throttle body and rotor of the motor are mounted on a common shaft, the position of which is established by a fly-by-wire control circuit. The rotor is selectively affixed to the shaft through an intermediate coupling which is excessible externally of the motor's closed stator assembly.
Claims38
An improved motor of the type including a stator assembly defining two generally parallel spaced pole faces, an output shaft operatively engaging a load element for rotation therewith and, an armature carried with said shaft for rotational displacement adjacent said pole faces in response to a control signal, said improvement comprising:
- coupling means extending externally of said stator assembly operative to selectively position said armature in a fixed relationship with said shaft.
An improved motor of the type including a stator assembly defining two generally parallel spaced pole faces, an output shaft disposed for rotation about an axis operatively engaging a load element for displacement therewith, an inductor operative to establish a magnetic field between said pole faces having a characteristic intensity varying as a function of a control signal applied to said inductor, and an armature carried with said shaft for selective rotational displacement between said pole faces in response to variations in said magnetic field intensity, said improvement comprising:
- coupling means extending in part externally of said stator assembly operative to selectively position said armature in a fixed relationship with said shaft.
An improved motor of the type including a substantially closed stator assembly defining two generally parallel spaced pole faces, an output shaft operatively engaging a load element for rotation therewith, an armature disposed substantially internally of said stator assembly, said armature carried by said shaft for rotational displacement adjacent said pole faces in response to a control signal, said improvement comprising:
- means operative to limit axial freedom of movement of said shaft with respect to said stator assembly;
- and
- coupling means operative to selectively position said armature in a fixed relationship with said shaft independent of said shaft axial movement limiting means, said coupling means being accessible to means external to said stator assembly to effect said fixed armature/shaft positioning.
In combination:
- a load including an element disposed for rotational displacement about an axis;
- and
- a motor comprising,
- a stator assembly defining two generally parallel spaced pole faces,
- an output shaft disposed for rotation about said axis and operatively engaging said load element for rotation therewith,
- an armature carried with said shaft for rotation about said axis,
- coupling means extending in part externally of said stator assembly operative to selectively position said armature between said pole faces and to fix said armature for rotation in unison with said load element, and
- an inductor operative to establish a magnetic field between said pole faces having a characteristic intensity varying as a function of a control signal applied to said inductor and effecting selective rotational displacement of said armature between said pole faces in response to said variations in magnetic field intensity.
A throttle control device for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- means defining an air intake passage;
- a valving element disposed for rotational displacement about an axis within said intake passage to effect modulation of air flowing therethrough;
- a throttle valve driving motor including a housing assembly fixed with respect to said intake passage defining means and including a stator defining two generally parallel spaced pole faces, an output shaft operatively engaging said valving element for rotation therewith, an armature carried with said shaft for rotational displacement adjacent said pole faces in response to a throttle command signal and coupling means extending externally of said housing assembly operative to selectively position said armature in a fixed relationship with said shaft.
A method of selectively positioning a motor armature in a fixed relationship with an output shaft of said motor, said method comprising the steps of:
- rigidly affixing an elongated coupling member to said armature;
- concentrically positioning said member and armature on said shaft for relative displacement;
- placing said member, armature and shaft in assembly with a substantially closed motor stator, said armature partially interspacing opposed pole faces within said stator for electromagnetic interaction therewith, said coupling and shaft extending axially beyond a point external of said stator;
- limiting axial freedom of displacement of said shaft;
- manipulating said coupling member to effect a predetermined positioning of said armature between said pole faces;
- and
- affixing said coupling and shaft at said external axial point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.