Linear actuator

• US 9,528,580 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2013
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiMOTION Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: TiMOTION Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wu, Chou-Hsin
• Primary Examiner(s): MACARTHUR, VICTOR L
• Application Number:
  US14/141,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20150143934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 74/892.3, 74/892.9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/041 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2025/2059 Superposing movement by two screws, e.g. with opposite thread direction
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2025/2084 Perpendicular arrangement of drive motor to screw axis
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2025/209 using worm gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/20 Screw mechanisms with automatic reversal F16H25/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18624 Plural inputs, single output

Abstract

A linear actuator includes a housing (100), a base plate (200) disposed in the housing (100), and two actuating mechanisms (310, 320) disposed on the base plate (200) and received in the housing (100). Each actuating mechanism (310/320) comprises a motor (311/321), a transmission assembly (312/322), a screw rod (313/323), and a supporting block (314/324). Two motors (311, 321) and two transmission assemblies (312, 322) are disposed on the base plate (200). Two motors (311, 321) are kinetically connected to two assemblies (312, 322), respectively. One end of the screw rod (313/323) is connected to and rotated by the transmission assemblies (312/322). The other end of the screw rod (313/323) is screwed to the supporting block (314/324). Thus, two supporting blocks (314, 324) are driven to move in the housing (100).

Claims

1. A linear actuator, comprising:

a housing (100);

a base plate (200) disposed within and completely surrounding the housing (100);

two hub elements (210/220) disposed on two ends of the base plate (200), respectively; and

two actuating mechanisms (310, 320) disposed on the base plate (200) and completely received in the housing (100), each of the two actuating mechanisms (310, 320) comprising a motor (311/321), a transmission assembly (312/322), a screw rod (313/323), and a supporting block (314/324), wherein the two motors (311/321) and the two transmission assemblies (312, 322) are disposed on the base plate (200), the two motors (311, 321) are kinetically connected to the two transmission assemblies (312, 322), respectively, one end of the screw rod (313/323) is connected to and rotated by the transmission assembly (312/322), the other end of the screw rod (313/323) is screwed to the supporting block (314/324), and two supporting blocks (314, 324) are driven to move in the housing (100),

wherein each hub element has a receiving portion (212/222), and each transmission assembly (312/322) has a bearing (218/228) nested in the receiving portion (212/222).

2. The linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein two tracks (110, 120) are formed in the housing (100), the two actuating mechanisms (310, 320) are configured to correspond to the two tracks (110, 120), respectively, and the two supporting blocks (314, 324) are received in the two tracks (110, 120), respectively.

3. The linear actuator according to claim 2, further comprising two linkage assemblies (410, 420), each of which corresponding to a corresponding track (110/120) and pivoting with respect to the housing (100), wherein one end of each linkage assembly (410/420) is located outside the housing (100), and the other end of the each linkage assembly (410/420) is located inside the housing (100) and configured at one end of the corresponding track (110/120).

4. The linear actuator according to claim 3, wherein each linkage assembly (410/420) comprises a pivot (411/421) penetrating through and pivoting with respect to the housing (100), wherein two outer linkages (412/422) located outside the housing (100) each connect at two ends of a respective pivot (411/421) and an inner linkage (413/423) located inside the housing (100) and configured at one end of the corresponding track (110/120) to be pressed against by a corresponding supporting block (314/324) in the corresponding track (110, 120).

5. The linear actuator according to claim 4, wherein a supporting plate (414/424) is connected between the two outer linkages (412/422).

6. The linear actuator according to claim 4, wherein a supporting linkage (430) is connected between the two pivots (411/421).

7. The linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein the motor (311/321) of the actuating mechanism (310, 320) and the transmission assembly (312/322) are disposed on opposite sides of the base plate (200).

8. The linear actuator according to claim 7, wherein the motor (311/321) comprises a driving shaft (315/325) penetrating the base plate (200) to be connected to the transmission assembly (312/322).

9. The linear actuator according to claim 1, further comprising two linkage assemblies (410, 420), each of which pivoting to the housing (100), wherein one end of each linkage assembly (410/420) is located outside the housing (100), and the other end of the each linkage assembly (410/420) is located inside the housing (100) and pressed against one of the two supporting blocks (314, 324).

10. The linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein the base plate (200) is connected to the housing (100) by screws.