BACKDRIVE ASSEMBLY WITH A VARIABLE PRELOAD

• US 20150136528A1
• Filed: 11/15/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inteva Products LLC (Renco Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Carlos I. Tostado, Donald Michael Perkins
• Inventors: Tostado, Carlos I., Perkins, Donald Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,534,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 185/37
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 1/00 Spring motors spring-driven toys A63H; springs in general F16F; precision time mechanisms, e.g. for clocks or watches, G04B
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/02 with armatures moved one way by energisation of a single coil system and returned by mechanical force, e.g. by springs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system is disclosed herein. The system having a backdrive assembly that includes a spring body retainer having a first body portion, the spring body retainer configured for rotational movement about an axis. A biasing member is provided that is configured to exert a backdriving force on the spring body retainer. A spring leg retainer is provided having a second body portion and a plurality of projections, the spring leg retainer being configured to incrementally apply a preload torque to the biasing member. A spring locking plate is operably connected to the spring leg retainer, the spring locking plate being configured to engage at least one of the plurality of projections.

Claims

1. A backdrive assembly, comprising:

a spring body retainer having a first body portion, the spring body retainer configured for rotational movement about an axis;

a biasing member that is configured to exert a backdriving force on the spring body retainer;

a spring leg retainer having a second body portion and a plurality of projections, the spring leg retainer being configured to incrementally apply a preload torque to the biasing member; and

a spring locking plate operably connected to the spring leg retainer, the spring locking plate being configured to engage at least one projection of the spring leg retainer.

2. The backdrive assembly as in claim 1, wherein the spring locking plate further comprises a plurality of tabs that are configured to prevent rotation of the spring locking plate.

3. The backdrive assembly as in claim 1, wherein the biasing member comprises a lower leg and an upper leg, wherein the lower leg is fixably connected to the spring body retainer and the upper leg that is fixably connected to the spring leg retainer.

4. The backdrive assembly as in claim 1, wherein the spring locking plate further comprises a plurality of blocking features that operably engage the at least one protrusion of the spring leg retainer during the applying of the preload torque.

5. The backdrive assembly as in claim 1, wherein the spring body retainer further comprises a first spur gear that is configured to be rotated for exerting a predefined rotation to the first body portion.

6. The backdrive assembly as in claim 1, wherein the spring leg retainer comprises a second spur gear that is configured to be rotated for exerting a predefined rotation to the second body portion.

7. The backdrive assembly as in claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a torsion and compression spring.

8. A system, comprising:

a motor drive system including a motor coupled to a shaft; and

a backdrive assembly operably coupled to the motor drive system, the backdrive assembly configured for exerting a backdriving force to the shaft of the motor, wherein the backdrive assembly further comprises;

a spring body retainer having a first body portion, the spring body retainer capable of rotational movement;

a biasing member that is configured to exert the backdriving force on the spring body retainer;

a spring leg retainer arranged opposite the spring body retainer, the spring leg retainer having a second body portion and a plurality of projections, the spring leg retainer being configured to incrementally apply a preload torque to the biasing member; and

a spring locking plate operably connected to the spring leg retainer, the spring locking plate being configured to engage at least one of the plurality of projections.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein the spring locking plate further comprises a plurality of tabs that are configured to prevent rotation of the spring locking plate.

10. The system as in claim 8, wherein the biasing member comprises a lower leg and an upper leg, wherein the lower leg is fixably connected to the spring body retainer and the upper leg that is fixably connected to the spring leg retainer.

11. The system as in claim 8, wherein the spring locking plate further comprises a plurality of blocking features that are configured to operably engage at least one of the plurality of projections.

12. The system as in claim 8, wherein the spring body retainer further comprises a spur gear that is configured to be rotated for exerting a predefined rotation to the first body portion.

13. The system as in claim 8, wherein the spring leg retainer further comprises a second spur gear that is configure to be operably coupled to a complementary spur gear for exerting a predefined rotation to the second body portion.

14. The system as in claim 8, wherein the biasing member is a torsion and compression spring.

15. A method of assembling a system, comprising:

coupling a motor to a spring body retainer;

coupling a biasing member to the spring body retainer;

coupling a spring leg retainer to the biasing member and fixably connecting the biasing member to each of the spring body retainer and the spring leg retainer;

coupling a spring locking plate to the spring leg retainer to form an assembly;

inserting the assembly into a housing and preventing rotation of the spring locking plate;

rotating each of the motor and the spring body retainer with a predefined rotation; and

rotating the spring leg retainer with a second predefined rotation.

16. The method as in claim 15, wherein the preventing of the rotation of the spring locking plate further comprises slidably coupling a plurality of tabs of the spring locking plate to the housing.

17. The method as in claim 15, further comprising fixably connecting each of a lower leg of the biasing member to the spring body retainer and an upper leg of the biasing member to the spring leg retainer.

18. The method as in claim 15, further comprising operably engaging a plurality of protrusions of the spring leg retainer with a plurality of blocking features, the plurality of blocking features being associated with the spring locking plate.

19. The method as in claim 15, further comprising rotating a first spur gear formed on the spring body retainer exerting the first predefined rotation to the spring body retainer.

20. The method as in claim 19, further providing a second spur gear of the spring leg retainer and exerting a second predefined rotation to the spring leg retainer with the second spur gear.