IP Library Granted Patent US 12,480,578
Granted Patent B2
US 12,480,578 · App. 18/252,421 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Actuator for a land-based motor vehicle component

Inventor: Laurent Roussel (Saint-Priest, FR)
Assignee: ELECTRICFIL AUTOMOTIVE
F16H61/32F16H63/3466
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,480,578
App. No.
18/252,421
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator comprising at least one epicyclic gear stage ( 28, 28.1, 28.2 ), and including an angular position sensor ( 42 ) comprising a target ( 46 ) mounted in a secured manner on a connecting rod ( 52 ) which is secured in rotation to a output mechanical connector ( 24 ) of the actuator ( 10 ), characterized in that the input component of the epicyclic gear stage is guided in rotation on the connecting rod ( 52 ) with a first positive diametrical guide clearance (“jg1”) relative to the main axis (A 2 ), in that the output component of the epicyclic gear stage is rigidly connected to the connecting rod ( 52 ), and in that a rotatable assembly of the epicyclic gear stage ( 28 ) is positioned relative to the actuator casing ( 12 ) with a diametrical displacement clearance (“jd”) which is at least 3 times greater than the first diametrical guide clearance (“jg1”).

Claims (30)

1 . An actuator for a member of a land motor vehicle, the actuator having an actuator casing which delimits an internal volume, comprising:

at least one electric motor having a motor output part, the motor output part having an axis of rotation, and

a mechanical transmission comprising at least one reduction gear train to transmit a motion of the motor output part of the electric motor to a output mechanical connector of the actuator,

wherein the at least one reduction gear train comprises at least one epicyclic gear stage having an input component that has a speed of rotation, and an output component that has a speed of rotation, the input component and the output component, which are rotatable relative to the casing about a main axis having a direction and at least one set of planet gear wheels, the speed of rotation of the input component being greater than the speed of rotation of the output component,

wherein the input component is mechanically connected to the motor output part by a mechanical connection which is arranged, along the direction of the main axis, behind the at least one set of planet gear wheels along the direction of the main axis, and the output mechanical connector is intended to be connected to the member of the land motor vehicle by a mechanical connection towards a front of the at least one set of planet gear wheels along the direction of the main axis,

an angular position sensor including a detector and a target,

wherein the target of the angular position sensor is arranged, along the direction of the main axis, behind the at least one set of planet gear wheels along the direction of the main axis of the epicyclic gear stage and is mounted in a secured manner on a connecting rod which is secured in rotation to the output mechanical connector of the actuator; and which axially passes through the epicyclic gear stage along its main axis,

wherein the input component of the epicyclic gear stage is guided in rotation on the connecting rod with a first positive diametrical guide clearance relative to the main axis,

wherein the output component of the epicyclic gear stage is rigidly connected to the connecting rod,

wherein at least one fixed component of the epicyclic gear stage is connected without clearance to the actuator casing, and

wherein the input component and the output component of the epicyclic gear stage belong to a rotatable assembly of the epicyclic gear stage which is positioned relative to the actuator casing, diametrically relative to the main axis, with a positive diametrical displacement clearance relative to the main axis to limit a diametrical displacement of the rotatable assembly of the epicyclic gear stage relative to the actuator casing, the diametrical displacement clearance being at least three times greater than the first diametrical guide clearance,

wherein the at least one epicyclic gear stage comprises an epicyclic train including a first gear wheel and a second gear wheel each having a symmetrical axis of revolution which coincides with the main axis, and including at least one set of planet gear wheels mounted in free rotation on a planet gear carrier, and in that the planet gear carrier forms the output component of the epicyclic gear stage.

2 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the diametrical displacement clearance is at least five times greater than the first diametrical guide clearance.

3 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the first diametrical guide clearance relative to the main axis is less than or equal to 0.05 millimeters, and the diametrical displacement clearance relative to the main axis is greater than or equal to 0.2 millimeters.

4 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the epicyclic gear stage comprises several epicyclic trains in series.

5 . The actuator according to claim 4 , wherein the epicyclic trains in series of the epicyclic gear stage each include a first gear wheel and a second gear wheel each having a symmetrical axis of revolution that coincides with the main axis, and each including at least one set of planet gear wheels mounted in free rotation on a planet gear carrier, and in that the planet gear carrier of a last of the epicyclic trains forms the rotatable output component of the epicyclic gear stage.

6 . The actuator according to claim 5 , wherein the first epicyclic train comprises the first gear wheel with external gear teeth which forms the rotatable input component of the epicyclic gear stage, and in that the first epicyclic train and the last epicyclic train each include the second gear wheel with internal gear teeth which are fixed components of the epicyclic gear stage and which are connected without clearance to the actuator casing.

7 . The actuator according to claim 6 , wherein the first epicyclic train comprises the planet gear carrier which carries the set of planet gear wheels of the first epicyclic train and which is guided in rotation on the connecting rod with a guide clearance.

8 . The actuator according to claim 6 , wherein the last epicyclic train comprises a first gear wheel with external gear teeth which is guided in rotation on the connecting rod with a guide clearance.

9 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the rotatable assembly of the epicyclic gear stage is, along the direction of the main axis, behind the epicyclic gear stage, free in rotational guidance and free in diametrical positioning.

10 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein, in a set of planet gear wheels of an epicyclic train, the planet gear wheels are angularly distributed in a uniform manner about the main axis.

11 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the axis of rotation of the motor output part of the electric motor is parallel to the main axis.

12 . The actuator according to claim 1 , comprising a printed circuit board which carries the detector of the angular position sensor, and which is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the main axis, behind the at least one set of planet gear wheels along the direction of the main axis, and in that the target is arranged on the connecting rod facing a front face of the printed circuit board.

13 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is arranged, along the direction of the main axis, in front of a printed circuit board which carries the detector of the angular position sensor.

14 . The actuator according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one reduction gear train comprises at least one gear stage which is arranged, along the direction of the main axis, behind a printed circuit board which carries the detector of the angular position sensor.

15 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the motor output part is arranged along the direction of the main axis behind the electric motor.

16 . The actuator according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one gear stage which is arranged along the direction of the main axis behind the printed circuit board comprises a motor pinion which is secured to a motor output shaft, which axially passes through the plane of the printed circuit board.

17 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the axis of rotation of the motor output part of the electric motor is perpendicular to the main axis.

18 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the axis of rotation of the motor output part of the electric motor is coaxial with the main axis.

19 . The actuator according to claim 1 , wherein the angular position sensor is an Eddy current sensor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2023
From: ROUSSEL, LAURENT
To: ELECTRICFIL AUTOMOTIVE
Reel/Frame 063650/0013 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 2011944 · Nov 20, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230417322A1 · Dec 28, 2023
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