Actuator for remote devices or the like
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An actuator for operating a remote device comprising:
- a rotatable member;
a motor having a shaft, said motor being energizable to drive said shaft in first and second rotational directions;
a reduction gear operatively interposed between said motor and said rotatable member; and
a clutch;
said reduction gear comprising;
a first ring gear operatively connected with said clutch for being selectively rendered stationary with respect to a housing of said actuator;
a second ring gear connected with said rotatable member for rotation therewith;
a carrier;
pinion gears rotatably supported on said carrier, said pinion gears each having a first section which meshes with said first ring gear and a second portion which meshes with said second ring gear; and
a sun gear, said sun gear being in drive connection with the shaft of said motor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In order to render an actuator which is capable of selectively operating two remotely arranged latches or the like devices highly compact, the device is provided with a reversible motor, a reduction gear and a clutch arrangement which includes a solenoid coil. In some embodiments the clutch includes a two stage arrangement which permits a small power economical solenoid arrangement to be used. The invention further features the use of a compact reduction gear which includes two ring gears and stepped pinion gears.
58 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An actuator for operating a remote device comprising:
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a rotatable member; a motor having a shaft, said motor being energizable to drive said shaft in first and second rotational directions; a reduction gear operatively interposed between said motor and said rotatable member; and a clutch; said reduction gear comprising; a first ring gear operatively connected with said clutch for being selectively rendered stationary with respect to a housing of said actuator; a second ring gear connected with said rotatable member for rotation therewith; a carrier; pinion gears rotatably supported on said carrier, said pinion gears each having a first section which meshes with said first ring gear and a second portion which meshes with said second ring gear; and a sun gear, said sun gear being in drive connection with the shaft of said motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An actuator for operating a remote device comprising:
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a rotatable member; a motor having a shaft, said motor being energizable to drive said shaft in first and second rotational directions; a reduction gear operatively interposed between said motor and said rotatable member; and a clutch which selectively establishes a drive connection between said rotatable member and said shaft through said reduction gear when engaged, said clutch comprising; a first rotatable element, said first element being connected with a gear element of said reduction gear; a second rotatable element; means for selectively connecting said second element with a stationary structure of said actuator; a resilient member arranged with said first and second elements so that mutual rotation between said first and second elements causes said resilient member to distort and engage said stationary structure in a manner which renders said first element stationary until said selectively connecting means renders said second rotatable element rotatable with respect to said stationary structure of said actuator.
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5. An actuator for operating first and second independent remote devices, comprising:
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a rotatable member; a first flexible cable, said first cable having a first end operatively connected to said rotatable member and a second end operatively connected to said first remote device; a second flexible cable, said second cable having a first end operatively connected to said rotatable member and a second end operatively connected to said second remote device; said first and second cables being operatively connected at their respective first ends to said rotatable member in a manner that rotation of said rotatable member in a first rotational direction causes said first cable to be moved in a direction which activates said first remote device independently of said second remote device and rotation of said rotatable member in a second rotational direction causes said second cable to be moved in a direction which activates said second remote device independently of said first remote device; a clutch; and a motor arrangement operatively connected with said rotatable member through said clutch, said motor arrangement being selectively energizable to drive said rotatable member in said first and second rotational directions.
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6. An actuator for operating first and second remote devices, comprising:
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a rotatable member; a first flexible cable, said first cable having a first end operatively connected to said rotatable member and a second end operatively connected to said first remote device; a second flexible cable, said second cable having a first end operatively connected with said rotatable member and a second end operatively connected with said second remote device; said first and second cables being operatively connected at their respective first ends to said rotatable member in a manner that rotation of said rotatable member in a first rotational direction causes said first cable to be moved in a direction which activates said first remote device and rotation of said rotatable member in a second rotational direction causes said second cable to be moved in a direction which activates said second remote device; and a motor arrangement operatively connected with said rotatable member through said clutch, said motor arrangement being selectively energizable to drive said rotatable member in said first and second rotational directions; wherein said motor arrangement includes; a reversible motor; and a clutch arrangement for selectively connecting said motor with said rotatable member. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification