Actuator

• US 5,839,320 A
• Filed: 12/09/1996
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harada Industry Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Harada Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Komachi, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Application Number:
  US08/762,432
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 74/425, 74/606 R, 310/89, 310/91, 403/335, 403/338, 403/375
• US Class Current: 74/425
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/50 Flanged connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/08 Insulating casings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1166 comprising worm and worm-wheel structural association with bearings specially adapted for worm gear drives H02K7/081
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19828 Worm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2186 Gear casings

Abstract

Disclosed is an actuator, comprising a casing prepared by integrally bonding a first case member and a second case member which are separated from each other in an axial direction of the casing, bracket holding portions formed to provide a pair on the inner surfaces of the first and second case members, a motor having a mounting bracket and housed in the casing with the mounting bracket held by the bracket holding portions, a worm gear mounted to a rotary shaft of the motor, and an operating section including a worm wheel which is rotated in mesh with the worm gear so as to impart a predetermined driving force to an adjustment section of an apparatus to be controlled, wherein the bracket holding portion of the first case member includes a groove formed along an inner peripheral portion of the holding portion for receiving one peripheral portion of the mounting bracket of the motor, and the bracket holding portion of the second case member includes a pushing portion formed along an inner peripheral portion of the holding portion for pushing the other peripheral portion of the mounting bracket of the motor.

Claims

1. An actuator, comprising:

a casing prepared by integrally bonding a first case member and a second case member which are separated from each other in an axial direction of the casing;

bracket holding portions formed to provide a pair on the inner surfaces of said first and second case members, respectively, such that these bracket holding portions conform with each other when the first and second case members are bonded to each other;

a motor having a mounting bracket consisting of a flat plate perpendicular to the axial direction of the casing and housed in said casing with said mounting bracket held by said bracket holding portions;

a worm gear mounted to a rotary shaft of said motor; and

an operating section including a worm wheel which is rotated in mesh with said worm gear so as to impart a predetermined driving force to an adjustment section of an apparatus to be controlled,

wherein the bracket holding portion of the first case member includes a groove formed along an inner peripheral portion of said holding portion for receiving one peripheral portion of said mounting bracket of the motor, and the bracket holding portion of the second case member includes a pushing portion formed along an inner peripheral portion of said holding portion for pushing the other peripheral portion of the mounting bracket of the motor.

2. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said pushing portion is constructed to impart a pushing force to the mounting bracket of the motor via an elastic member.

3. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said mounting bracket of the motor includes a plurality of projections from the periphery, the tip portion of each of said projections being capable of insertion into said groove formed in the bracket holding portion of the first case member.

4. The actuator according to claim 3, wherein at least that projection of said plural projections which is inserted into a bottom portion of the groove of the bracket holding portion includes a tip portion capable of elastic deformation such that, when said projection is inserted into the groove, said tip portion is pressed against the bottom portion of the groove so as to be elastically deformed.

5. An actuator for controlling operations of apparatus, comprising:

a first casing member having a first bracket holding portion and a second casing member having a second bracket holding portion, said bracket holding portions being configured to be in an aligned relationship when said casing members are joined to form a casing; and

a drive mechanism positioned at least partially within said casing, said drive mechanism having a mounting bracket that includes a plurality of projections, each projection having a tip portion that can be inserted into a groove in said first bracket holding portion, and wherein at least a portion of said second bracket holding portion presses against said mounting bracket when said casing is formed.

6. The actuator according to claim 5, wherein said portion of said second bracket holding portion pressing against said mounting bracket includes an elastic member.

7. The actuator according to claim 5, wherein at least one projection of said plurality of projections includes a tip portion capable of elastic deformation such that when said projection is inserted into said groove and said casing is formed said tip portion is deformed within said groove and pushes said mounting bracket toward said second bracket holding portion.

8. The actuator according to claim 5, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a motor.

9. The actuator according to claim 8, wherein said motor includes a shaft having a gear attached thereto.

10. The actuator according to claim 9, wherein said gear comprises a worm gear.

11. The actuator according to claim 10 further comprising an operating section having a worm wheel that meshes with said worm gear, wherein said operating section can be coupled to the apparatus in which said actuator is controlling the operation thereof such that rotational movement of said shaft is translated from said worm gear to said worm wheel and movement of said worm wheel can be translated to the apparatus.

12. The actuator according to claim 5 further comprising an operating section that can be coupled to the apparatus in which said actuator is controlling the operation thereof.

13. The actuator according to claim 12, wherein said operating section translates movement of said drive mechanism to movement of the apparatus being controlled.

14. The actuator according to claim 5, wherein said mounting bracket comprises a flat plate that is received by said groove in said first bracket holding portion.

15. The actuator according to claim 5, wherein said portion of said second bracket holding portion pressing against said mounting bracket presses against a portion of said flat plate.