Linear actuator release mechanism and electronic cruise control based thereon
First Claim
1. A linear actuator comprising:
- an elongated rod;
electrically controlled drive means for axially reciprocating said rod without substantially rotating said rod;
coupling means for releasably coupling said rod with an element to be reciprocated thereby, said coupling means including an attachment member adapted to be secured to the element, said coupling means further including axial locking means for axially locking said rod and said attachment member when said rod and said attachment member are in a locked angular relation and for axially unlocking said rod and said attachment member when said rod and said attachment member are in an unlocked angular relation;
electrically controlled angular shifting means for angularly shifting at least one of said rod and said attachment member to position said rod and said attachment member in said locked and unlocked angular relations; and
bias means for biasing at least one of said rod and said attachment member toward said unlocked angular relation, whereby the coupling means is unlocked in case of electrical power malfunction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The specification discloses a linear actuator including a quick-release mechanism enabling the actuator to be successfully commercially utilized in a variety of applications including a vehicle speed control. More specifically, the actuator includes an axially reciprocable rod, a mechanism for angularly shifting the rod about its axis between first and second angular orientations, and a quarter-turn coupling for releasably coupling the rod to an element, such as a throttle cable, to be driven thereby. Angular shifting of the rod couples and releases the rod and driven element through the quarter turn coupling. Also disclosed is a vehicle speed control responsive to vehicle acceleration and/or vehicle tilt to deactivate the speed control when either the acceleration or tilt falls outside of acceptable parameters.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A linear actuator comprising:
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an elongated rod; electrically controlled drive means for axially reciprocating said rod without substantially rotating said rod; coupling means for releasably coupling said rod with an element to be reciprocated thereby, said coupling means including an attachment member adapted to be secured to the element, said coupling means further including axial locking means for axially locking said rod and said attachment member when said rod and said attachment member are in a locked angular relation and for axially unlocking said rod and said attachment member when said rod and said attachment member are in an unlocked angular relation; electrically controlled angular shifting means for angularly shifting at least one of said rod and said attachment member to position said rod and said attachment member in said locked and unlocked angular relations; and bias means for biasing at least one of said rod and said attachment member toward said unlocked angular relation, whereby the coupling means is unlocked in case of electrical power malfunction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification