Linear actuator

• US 7,347,115 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2003
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NSK Limited
• Original Assignee: NSK Limited
• Inventors: Yamashita, Tomofumi, Otaki, Ryoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fenstermacher; David M.
• Application Number:
  US10/505,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20050155444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 74/893.7, 74/893.8, 74/893.9
• US Class Current: 74/89.38
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/746 and mechanical transmission of the braking action
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/24 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/40 Screw-and-nut
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/28 arranged apart from the brake
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/2204 with balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/2454 Brakes; Rotational locks
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/06 Means for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/083 radially supporting the rotary shaft at both ends of the rotor H02K7/086, H02K7/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18568 Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18688 Limit stop
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18696 including means to selectively transmit power [e.g., clutch, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18704 Means to selectively lock or retard screw or nut

Abstract

A rotary shaft and a rotation driven member are connected as to transmit motive power when the rotary shaft rotates relatively to the rotation driven member. A roller gets displaced to a first position where a frictional force with an outer race and the rotation driven member decreases, thereby permitting transmission of a rotational force from the rotary shaft to the rotation driven member. When the rotation driven member rotates relatively to the rotary shaft, the roller gets displaced to a second position where the frictional force with the outer race and the rotation driven member increases, thereby rotationally fixing the rotation driven member with respect to the outer race. The power transmission from a brake apparatus to an electric motor can be hindered while permitting the power transmission to the brake apparatus from the electric motor by using either a worm exhibiting a relatively low transmission efficiency or a worm wheel.

Claims

1. A linear actuator for driving a driven member, comprising:

housing;

an electric motor attached to said housing; and

a power transmission mechanism for transmitting motive power of said electric motor to said driven member,

said power transmission mechanism including;

a fixing portion;

a rotation driving portion so connected to said electric motor as to be capable of transmitting the motive power;

a rotation driven portion receiving a rotational force from said rotation drive portion and getting rotationally displaced;

a converting mechanism for converting a rotational motion of said rotation driven portion into an axis-line directional motion of a movable member so connected to said driven member as to be capable of transmitting the motive power; and

a lock member disposed between said fixing portion and said rotation driven member,

wherein when a rotational force is inputted to said rotation driving portion to rotate said rotation driven portion, said lock member is guided to a first position in which there decreases a frictional force with said fixing portion and said rotation driven portion, the transmission of the rotational force to said rotation driven portion from said rotation driving portion is thereby permitted,

when the rotational force is inputted to said rotation driven portion to rotate said rotation driving portion relatively in one direction, said lock member is guided to a second position in which there increases the frictional force with said fixing portion and said rotation driven portion, the rotation to said rotation driving portion from said rotation driven portion is thereby fixed, and

said rotation driven portion receives a force from said driven member so as to rotate in one direction at least in a state where said driven member is driven.

2. A linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein said converting mechanism includes a ball screw mechanism including a nut connected to a screw shaft, a ball and said rotation driven portion.

3. A linear actuator according to claim 2, wherein at least part of an axis-directional engagement portion between said rotation driving portion, said rotation driven portion is within a ball existing range of said ball screw mechanism.

4. A linear actuator according to claim 2, wherein said nut member has a circulation path for circulating said ball and is formed with a balancing cut portion on an outer peripheral surface on an opposite side with the axis line being interposed therebetween with respect to said circulation path.

5. A linear actuator according to claim 2, wherein at least one of a tube member formed with said circulation path and a press member for pressing said tube member is formed of a material having a specific gravity that is larger than that of said nut member.

6. A linear actuator according to claim 2, wherein said housing shields said power transmission mechanism in a state where said screw shaft can protrude outside,

said housing includes a movable case attached to said screw shaft protruding from said housing, getting displaced together with said screw shaft in the axis-line direction with respect to said housing and incapable of a relative rotation with respect to said housing, and

said movable case is so connected to said driven member as to be capable of transmitting the motive power.

7. A linear actuator according to claim 6, wherein a buffer member for buffering an impact when said movable case or said screw shaft abuts, is disposed in said housing.

8. A linear actuator according to claim 2, wherein said nut is said rotation driven portion.

9. A linear actuator according to claim 8, wherein a cam surface is formed on part of an outer peripheral surface of said nut, and said lock member moves along said cam surface between said first position and said second position.

10. A linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein said converting mechanism includes ball screw mechanism having a screw shaft connected to said rotation driven portion, a ball and a nut.

11. A linear actuator according to claim 10, wherein an output shaft of said electric motor and said screw shaft are coaxially connected in a butting state through a bush and said rotation driven portion.

12. A linear actuator according to claim 10, wherein there are provided at least a bearing for rotatably supporting one side end of said screw shaft and a bearing for rotatably supporting said rotation driven portion.

13. A linear actuator according to claim 10, wherein said nut is supported on said screw shaft in at least two positions with its thread groove being interposed therebetween.

14. A linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein a cam surface is formed on part of an outer peripheral surface of said rotation driven portion, and said lock member moves along said cam surface between said first position and said second position.

15. A linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein an aperture is provided in a position facing an axial center of said rotation driving portion in said housing.

16. A linear actuator according to claim 15, wherein there is provided a cover for shielding the aperture of said housing.

17. A linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein part of said rotation driving portion protrudes from the aperture provided in said housing.

18. A linear actuator according to claim 15, wherein an outer surface of a free end of said rotation driving portion on the side with which said rotation driven portion does not engage, is formed in a polygonal shape coaxial with said rotation (driving) portion.

19. A linear actuator according to claim 15, wherein a free end of said rotation driving portion on the side with which said rotation driven portion does not engage, is formed with a hole having an inner peripheral surface taking a polygonal shape coaxial with said rotation driving portion.

20. A linear actuator according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said screw shaft and said nut is disposed inward in a direction of a coil or a magnet of said electric motor.

21. A linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein said power transmission mechanism includes a planetary type speed reduction gear for transmitting the motive power of said electric motor.

22. A linear actuator according to claim 21, wherein said planetary type speed reduction gear has a sun gear connected to a rotary shaft of said electric motor, a planetary gear meshing with said sun gear and a carrier for rotatably supporting said planetary gear, and said rotation driving portion is connected to said carrier.

23. A linear actuator according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said screw shaft and said nut is disposed inward in a radial direction of said planetary type speed reduction gear.

24. A linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein said power transmission mechanism includes a driving body for driving said lock member when rotating said rotation driven portion upon inputting the rotational force to said rotation driving portion, and a restricting member for restricting the drive of said driving body when said driving body tries to drive said lock member toward said second position from said first position.

25. A linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein said power transmission mechanism includes a driving body for driving said lock member when rotating said rotation driven portion upon inputting the rotational force to said rotation driving portion, and a protruded portion so provided as to protrude in a radial direction from said rotation driven portion and serving to transmit the rotational force to said rotation driven portion from said rotation driving portion in a way that abuts on said driving body.