Actuator assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An actuator assembly comprising:
- an actuator;
a worm gear that is rotated by the actuator;
a first gear unit that is rotatable about a first axis and has a pinion gear and a drive gear that engages the worm gear, wherein the drive gear has a pocket and the pinion gear is disposed on an opposite side of the drive gear from the pocket;
a second gear unit that is rotatable about a second axis and has an output gear that engages the pinion gear, wherein the second gear unit has a linkage retainer that has a mounting block that receives an end of a linkage, au arcuate wall that is spaced apart from an outside circumference of the second gear unit and radially disposed with respect to the second axis, and a plurality of retention tabs that are spaced apart from each other and from the mounting block and extend from a distal end of the arcuate wall in a direction that extends away from the second axis, wherein the linkage is disposed on the arcuate wall, and a stop that limits rotation of the second gear unit about the second axis, wherein the stop extends from the outside circumference of the second gear unit and is disposed on an opposite side of the second gear unit from the arcuate wall; and
a biasing member that is only partially received in the pocket, wherein the worm gear and first gear unit transmit torque from the actuator to rotate the second gear unit from a first position to a second position and the biasing member actuates the second gear unit from the second position to the first position.
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Abstract
An actuator assembly having an actuator, a worm gear, a first gear unit, a second gear unit, and a biasing member. The actuator may rotate the worm gear, first gear unit, and second gear unit in first rotational directions while the biasing member may rotate the worm gear, first gear unit, and second gear unit in second rotational directions.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An actuator assembly comprising:
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an actuator; a worm gear that is rotated by the actuator; a first gear unit that is rotatable about a first axis and has a pinion gear and a drive gear that engages the worm gear, wherein the drive gear has a pocket and the pinion gear is disposed on an opposite side of the drive gear from the pocket; a second gear unit that is rotatable about a second axis and has an output gear that engages the pinion gear, wherein the second gear unit has a linkage retainer that has a mounting block that receives an end of a linkage, au arcuate wall that is spaced apart from an outside circumference of the second gear unit and radially disposed with respect to the second axis, and a plurality of retention tabs that are spaced apart from each other and from the mounting block and extend from a distal end of the arcuate wall in a direction that extends away from the second axis, wherein the linkage is disposed on the arcuate wall, and a stop that limits rotation of the second gear unit about the second axis, wherein the stop extends from the outside circumference of the second gear unit and is disposed on an opposite side of the second gear unit from the arcuate wall; and a biasing member that is only partially received in the pocket, wherein the worm gear and first gear unit transmit torque from the actuator to rotate the second gear unit from a first position to a second position and the biasing member actuates the second gear unit from the second position to the first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An actuator assembly comprising:
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a housing assembly; an actuator that is received in the housing assembly and that has an output shaft; a worm gear that is rotatable about a worm gear axis and is secured to the output shaft for rotation therewith; a first gear unit that is rotatable about a first axis and that has a pinion gear, a drive gear that engages the worm gear, the drive gear including a set of teeth that are arranged around the first axis, a rim that extends continuously around the first axis and partially defines a pocket, wherein the rim is disposed outside of the pocket, extends away, from a lateral side of the drive gear that is disposed outside of the pocket, and faces away from the pinion gear in an axial direction that extends away from the pinion gear, and a pin mount that includes a through hole that receives a pin and a reinforcement boss that extends continuously around the through hole and is disposed on a side of the drive gear that laces away from the pocket and that extends from the set of teeth toward the pinion gear; a biasing member that has an end that engages the pin and is disposed on the first gear unit such that a portion of the biasing member extends in the axial direction past the rim and is disposed outside of the pocket; and a second gear unit is rotatable about a second axis and that has an output gear that engages the pinion gear; wherein the actuator rotates the worm gear, first gear unit, and second gear unit in first directions about the worm gear axis, first axis, and second axis, respectively, and the biasing member rotates the worm gear, first gear unit, and second gear unit in second directions about the worm gear axis, first axis, and second axis, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification