Actuator assembly with rotational position sensor

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 8,975,793
App. No.: 13/551,996
Granted: Mar 10, 2015
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An actuator assembly includes a housing having a central axis, a motor compartment on one end defined about the central axis, a gear compartment on the other end. An electronic rotational position sensor is fixed relative to the housing proximate the motor compartment. A motor assembly is disposed in the motor compartment and has a hollow input shaft extending along the central axis into the gear compartment. An output shaft extends along the central axis and has a lower end extending out of the gear compartment and an upper end extending freely through the hollow input shaft to a point proximate to the electronic rotational position sensor. A gear assembly is supported within the gear compartment for translating rotation of the input shaft to the output shaft. A sensed object is disposed on the upper end of the output shaft opposed to the speed sensor.

Claims (65)

1. An actuator assembly comprising:

a housing having a central axis, a motor compartment on one end defined about said central axis and a gear compartment on the other end;

an electronic rotational position sensor fixed relative to said housing and proximate to said motor compartment;

a motor assembly in said motor compartment having a hollow substantially cylindrical input shaft extending along said central axis into said gear compartment;

an output shaft extending along said central axis and having a lower end extending out of said gear compartment and an upper end extending freely through said input shaft to a point proximate to said electronic rotational position sensor;

a gear assembly supported within said gear compartment defined about said central axis for translating rotation of said input shaft to said output shaft; and

a sensed object on the upper end of said output shaft opposed to said rotational position sensor;

wherein said input shaft is part of a rotor assembly of said motor assembly;

wherein said motor assembly includes a stator assembly having a stator support frame fixed to said housing to prevent relative rotation between said stator assembly and said housing;

wherein said upper end is radially supported within said stator support frame with a bushing;

wherein said bushing acts to shield said rotational position sensor from magnetic flux generated by said motor assembly; and

wherein said bushing is disposed in a central bore of said stator support frame.

2. An actuator assembly as in claim 1 further comprising a shield which radially surrounds at least a portion of said rotational position sensor to shield said rotational position sensor from magnetic flux generated by said motor assembly.

3. An actuator assembly as in claim 2 wherein said shield is disposed at least partly within a bore in said stator support frame.

4. An actuator assembly as in claim 1 further comprising a circuit board assembly disposed adjacent to said motor compartment wherein said rotational position sensor is mounted to said circuit board assembly.

5. An actuator assembly as in claim 4 wherein said circuit board assembly includes electrical circuits and electrical componentry which are used to control rotation of said rotor assembly.

6. An actuator assembly comprising: