Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Winstead Secrhist &Minick PC
  • Patent number: 6734582
    Abstract: A linear actuator incorporates a DC motor whose stator is secured to a frame. A shaft is coupled to the rotor of the DC motor one end of which is circumferentially coupled to the inside of a torsion spring and the outer section of the torsion spring is coupled to the frame. The center section of the shaft is circumferentially raised creating first and second shaft stops. The middle of the shaft is threaded and threadedly coupled to a translating actuator which has a radial raised portion which engages a section of the frame. The radial raised section provides a radial stop and prevents the translating actuator from rotating. Additional radial raised portions on the translating actuator create first and second stops that engage the first and second shaft stops at each extreme of travel. The first stop keeps the threads from binding in a retracted position and the second stop keeps the threads from binding in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse Vernon Corbett, Jr., Richard Hunter Harris