ROTARY-TO-LINEAR MECHANISM HAVING AN ISOLATOR
First Claim
1. A rotary- to-linear mechanism comprising:
- a elongate linearly-moveable first member having a longitudinal first axis;
a rotatably-moveable second member rotatably disposed about said first member, said second member defining a second axis about which it is rotatable and having interior surfaces between which is a central cavity through which said first and second axes extend;
a rotatably-moveable third member encircling said first axis and operatively engaged with said first member, linear movement of said first member along said first axis relative to said third member induced by rotational movement of said third member about said first axis relative to said first member, said third member disposed in said central cavity, said third member having an axial surface superposing a said second member interior surface, said superposed surfaces each defining one of a pair of corresponding grooves, each of said grooves encircling said first and second axes; and
an annular elastomeric isolator member disposed in said pair of corresponding grooves, and having a first elastic deformation in compression between said second and third members, said annular isolator member having frictional engagement with surfaces of said pair of corresponding grooves, said second and third members rotatably coupled through said frictional engagement, said third member having multiple degrees of freedom relative to said second member, relative movement between said second and third members opposed by a second elastic deformation of said annular isolator member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rotary-to-linear mechanism including an elongate linearly-moveable first member having a longitudinal first axis, and rotatably-moveable second and third members. The second member is rotatably disposed about the first member and defines a second axis about which it is rotatable. The third member encircles the first axis and is operatively engaged with the first member. The third member is disposed in a central cavity of the second member and has an axial surface superposing a second member interior surface, the superposed surfaces each defining one of a pair of corresponding grooves each encircling the first and second axes.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A rotary- to-linear mechanism comprising:
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a elongate linearly-moveable first member having a longitudinal first axis; a rotatably-moveable second member rotatably disposed about said first member, said second member defining a second axis about which it is rotatable and having interior surfaces between which is a central cavity through which said first and second axes extend; a rotatably-moveable third member encircling said first axis and operatively engaged with said first member, linear movement of said first member along said first axis relative to said third member induced by rotational movement of said third member about said first axis relative to said first member, said third member disposed in said central cavity, said third member having an axial surface superposing a said second member interior surface, said superposed surfaces each defining one of a pair of corresponding grooves, each of said grooves encircling said first and second axes; and an annular elastomeric isolator member disposed in said pair of corresponding grooves, and having a first elastic deformation in compression between said second and third members, said annular isolator member having frictional engagement with surfaces of said pair of corresponding grooves, said second and third members rotatably coupled through said frictional engagement, said third member having multiple degrees of freedom relative to said second member, relative movement between said second and third members opposed by a second elastic deformation of said annular isolator member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Au isolator assembly for use with a ball-screw in a rotary-to-linear mechanism, comprising:
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a rotatably-moveable container defining a container axis about which it is rotatable and haying interior surfaces between which is a central cavity through which said container axis extends; a rotatably-moveable ball-nut having a bore through which said container axis extends, said ball-nut disposed in said central cavity, said ball-nut having opposing axial surfaces superposing said container interior surfaces, said superposed surfaces each defining one of a pair of corresponding grooves, each of said grooves encircling said container axis; and an annular elastomeric isolator member disposed in each said pair of corresponding grooves, and having a first elastic deformation in compression between said container and said ball-nut, each said annular isolator member having frictional engagement with surfaces of its respective said pair of corresponding grooves, said container and said ball-nut rotatably coupled through said frictional engagement, said ball-nut having multiple degrees of freedom relative to said container, relative movement between said container and said ball-nut opposed by a second elastic deformation of said annular isolator member.
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Specification