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DE-102024210790-A1 - Actuator device for a pneumatic adjustment mechanism of a vehicle seat

DE102024210790A1DE 102024210790 A1DE102024210790 A1DE 102024210790A1DE-102024210790-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator device for a pneumatic adjustment device of a vehicle seat, comprising an actuating section that can be configured to open and/or close a valve of the pneumatic adjustment device, a bending section connected to the actuating section, a mounting section that can be attached to a support element, and a lever section that can be supported on a section of the support element and is displaceable relative to that section, wherein the lever section is arranged between the actuating section and the mounting section, and wherein, when the actuator device is actuated, the bending section is bendable in such a way that the actuating section is moved between a first position for opening the valve and a second position for closing the valve. The invention further relates to an actuator unit, with an actuator device according to the invention.

Inventors

  • Michael Beuschel
  • Manuel Froschmeier
  • Johann Steinberger
  • Stefan Bauer

Assignees

  • AUMOVIO GERMANY GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241111

Claims (14)

  1. Actuator device (1) for a pneumatic adjustment device of a vehicle seat, comprising: an actuating section (2) which can be configured to open and/or close a valve (8) of the pneumatic adjustment device, a bending section (3) connected to the actuating section (2), a mounting section (4) which can be attached to a support element (5), a lever section (6) which can be supported on a section (7) of the support element (5) and is displaceable relative to the section (7), wherein the lever section (6) is arranged between the actuating section (2) and the mounting section (4), and in that, when the actuator device (1) is actuated, the bending section (3) is bendable such that the actuating section (2) is moved between a first position for opening the valve (8) and a second position for closing the valve (8).
  2. Actuator device (1) according Claim 1 , characterized in that an actuator element (9) is connected to the lever section (6), wherein the actuator element (9) can transmit a force in a first direction (R1) to the lever section (6), and the lever section (6) is designed to redirect this force in a second direction (R2) to open and/or close the valve (8).
  3. Actuator device (1) according Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the lever cut (6) can be contacted with the support element (5) at a free end (11), wherein the free end (11) is displaceable relative to the support element (5).
  4. Actuator device (1) according Claim 2 or 3 , characterized by the fact that the lever section (6) has a support area (12) which is aligned in a plane parallel to the first direction (R1) and/or parallel to the actuator element (9).
  5. Actuator device (1) according Claim 4 , characterized in that the support area (12) forms a movable pivot point about which the lever section (6) can be rotated when the actuating section (2) is moved.
  6. Actuator device (1) according to one of the Claims 2 until 5 , characterized by the fact that the lever section (6) is arranged in a plane formed by the first direction (R1) and the second direction (R2).
  7. Actuator device (1) according to one of the Claims 3 until 6 , characterized by the fact that the support area (12) is guided in the section (7) of the support element (5) and is displaceable.
  8. Actuator device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pressure force can be exerted on the section (7) of the support element (5) by means of the lever section (6) in an installed state of the actuator device (1) in a vehicle seat, in particular in a pneumatic adjustment device of a vehicle seat.
  9. Actuator device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever section (6) for transmitting forces to the support element (5) can be formed from the actuation of the actuator device (1).
  10. Actuator device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending section (3) is subjected to a preload in an installed state of the actuator device in a vehicle seat, in particular in a pneumatic adjustment device of a vehicle seat.
  11. Actuator device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator element comprises a shape memory alloy and/or is designed as a shape memory element.
  12. Actuator unit (10), comprising: an actuator device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, an actuator element (9) connected to the lever section (6) of the actuator device (1), and a support element (5) connected to the mounting section (4) of the actuator device (1), whereby the lever section (6) is supported on a section (7) of the support element (6) and is displaceable relative to the section (7).
  13. Actuator unit (10) after Claim 12 , characterized by the fact that the actuating section (2) is connected to a valve opening of the valve (8).
  14. Actuator unit (10) after Claim 12 or 13 , characterized in that the actuator element (9) is connected to the actuator device (1) by a crimp connection (13).

Description

The present invention relates to an actuator device for a pneumatic adjustment mechanism of a vehicle seat. The invention further relates to an actuator unit comprising an actuator device according to the invention. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND In vehicles, inflatable, elastic cushions can be used to shape seat contours. These cushions can be filled with air. Electrically actuated valves can be used to control the air pressure. For example, a wire made of a shape memory alloy (SMA) can be used as the actuator for actuating the valves. This wire shortens in length when an electric current flows and the resulting heat is generated. For simple and cost-effective assembly and connection technology, the SMA element is advantageously electrically and mechanically connected to a carrier element, such as a printed circuit board, which can also include the control electronics. For efficient control of the valve with such an actuator, it may be necessary to use a lever to translate the actuator's movement into a suitable movement of the valve element. From the WO 2015 185132 A1 An actuator is known in which a parallelogram movable by means of film hinges is provided, which translates the contraction of a U-shaped SMA wire into a larger movement of a sealing element. A spiral spring serves as the return element. The DE 10 2018 112091 A1 This describes a partially elastic element that translates the contraction of a U-shaped SMA wire into a larger movement of a sealing element. The elastic element simultaneously generates the restoring force. Furthermore, the DE 10 2019 208051 B4 A one-piece actuating element with a bent section that converts the movement of a straight SMA wire into a stroke of the actuating section. The bent section simultaneously generates the restoring force. A disadvantage is that the bending section responsible for the restoring force must extend over a certain length to avoid excessive material stress, particularly fatigue fracture. An initial contraction of the SMA wire can therefore initially cause deformation of the bending section before the contraction is converted into a stroke of the valve element. In this process, some of the mechanical work expended on the SMA wire, particularly during the initial contraction, may remain unused for actuating the valve. Furthermore, the SMA wire contracts more strongly to achieve the desired stroke of the valve element, which in turn can shorten its service life. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Against this background, the present invention aims to provide an actuator device that enables an efficient conversion of the mechanical work of an actuator element, such as an SMA wire, into an actuation path for a pneumatic valve. According to the invention, this problem is solved by an actuator device with the features of claim 1 and/or by an actuator unit with the features of claim 12. Accordingly, the following is planned: An actuator device for a pneumatic adjustment device of a vehicle seat, comprising an actuating section that can be configured to open and/or close a valve of the pneumatic adjustment device, a bending section connected to the actuating section, a mounting section that can be attached to a support element, and a lever section that can be supported on a section of the support element and is displaceable relative to the section, wherein the lever section is arranged between the actuating section and the mounting section, and wherein, when the actuator device is actuated, the bending section is bendable such that the actuating section is moved between a first position for opening the valve and a second position for closing the valve. An actuator unit comprising an actuator device according to the invention, and comprising an actuator element connected to the lever section of the actuator device, and comprising a support element connected to the fastening section of the actuator device, wherein the lever section is supported on a section of the support element and is displaceable relative to the section. The insight underlying the present invention consists in the fact that a contract The energy input of an actuator element, such as in particular an SMA wire, should preferably be completely converted into mechanical actuation work for a valve in order to reduce the actuation force and/or the actuation path of the actuator element and thus increase its service life. The underlying idea of the present invention is to provide a lever section arranged between the actuating section and the mounting section. The lever section is designed such that it can bear against a section of the support element. In particular, the support element, even in a rest position where the actuator device is not loaded, can bear against the section of the support element with a small force or press against the support element with a small force. This allows the lever section to be fixed in a specific position. When the actuator device is actuated, particularly by actuating an actuator s