In-line actuator apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An in-line actuator comprising:
- a. a housing;
b. a drive disk rotatably mounted within said housing;
c. a gear set in driving communication with said drive disk;
d. an electric motor mounted to said housing, said electric motor having a rotor shaft, and said rotor shaft in driving communication with said gear set;
e. a lead screw connected to said drive disk;
f. a traveling block connected to said lead screw, wherein said electric motor drives said gear set to rotate said drive disk, and said drive disk moves said traveling block in an axial direction via said lead screw; and
g. a Bowden cable assembly having a cable portion and a sleeve potion, wherein said cable portion is connected to said traveling block, and wherein said housing comprises a seat to receive said sleeve portion.
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Abstract
An actuator having an electric motor with a rotor shaft engaged with a gear set within a housing is provided. As an example, the gear set may be a planetary gear set. The planetary gears are engaged with a disk. The disk is fixed to a shaft rod or other force transmitting component such as lead screw. The lead screw is engaged with a traveling block. When the load screw rotates, the traveling block moves along the lead screw. The lateral movement of the traveling block may be linked to further force application devices, such as a pin or a cable. In one embodiment, the rotor shaft is a hollow tube, and the lead screw is a spindle or rod disposed to slide in and out of the rotor shaft tube.
84 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An in-line actuator comprising:
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a. a housing; b. a drive disk rotatably mounted within said housing; c. a gear set in driving communication with said drive disk; d. an electric motor mounted to said housing, said electric motor having a rotor shaft, and said rotor shaft in driving communication with said gear set; e. a lead screw connected to said drive disk; f. a traveling block connected to said lead screw, wherein said electric motor drives said gear set to rotate said drive disk, and said drive disk moves said traveling block in an axial direction via said lead screw; and g. a Bowden cable assembly having a cable portion and a sleeve potion, wherein said cable portion is connected to said traveling block, and wherein said housing comprises a seat to receive said sleeve portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An in-line actuator comprising:
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a. a housing having a toothed inner race; b. an electric motor mounted to said housing, said electric motor having a rotor shaft; c. a pinion connected to said rotor shaft; d. a drive disk having at least one integral axle; e. at least one planetary gear rotatably mounted on said at least one integral axle, said at least one gear engaged with said toothed inner race and driven communication with said pinion; f. a lead screw connected to said drive disk; and g. a traveling block connected to said lead screw, wherein said electric motor drives said gear set to rotate said drive disk, and said drive disk moves said traveling block in an axial direction via said lead screw; and h. a Bowden cable assembly having a cable portion and a sleeve portion, wherein said cable portion is connected to said traveling block, and wherein said housing comprises a seat to receive said sleeve potion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification