Abstract: An actuator, preferably a linear actuator for furniture, comprises a brake spring (20) in the form of a helical spring having a plurality of windings wound around a cylindrical element (10) of plastics rotatable at least during braking, said spring being tightened around the cylindrical element for braking. The frictional heat generated hereby can cause the plastics to be deformed, which adversely affects the braking power. This is solved by providing the cylindrical element (10) consisting of plastics with an insert (12) of metal for carrying off the frictional heat preferably into other metal parts of the actuator that may serve as cooling faces. To carry off heat additionally, it is proposed to arrange a second heat-conducting element (18) in intimate contact with the outer side of the spring (20), said element being likewise connected with other metal parts of the actuator that may serve as cooling faces.

Abstract: A linear actuator useful for adjusting furniture includes a housing (1) with a reversible electric-motor (2) which, via a transmission (11, 13), drives a spindle (4) with a force absorbing bearing (16). On the spindle there is a nut (5) to which an actuation rod (86) is fixed surrounded by an outer tube (7). The actuator is with the actuation rod and a rear mounting mounted in the construction into which the actuator should be built-in. The motor housing is part of the supporting construction, as a console is fixed to this (10) with a fixing for the outer tube, spindle bearing and a rear mounting and is designed to absorb the forces occurring hereon. As the housing, as with previously known actuators, need not absorb and transfer forces, this can be made as a thin shell.

Abstract: An actuator includes a quick release inserted in a transmission between an activating element (6) and a reversible electric motor (2) for releasing the activating element from the electric motor and the part of the transmission extending from the motor to the quick release. The quick release comprises two cylindrical coupling parts (8, 9) surrounded by a coupling spring (11) having outwardly bent ends, said ends being connected with their respective cylindrical elements (12, 13), seated to take part in the rotation of the coupling under normal circumstances, and wherein the two cylindrical elements (12, 13) with a release (14) are adapted to being rotated mutually to turn the ends of the spring away from each other, such that the spring (11) is released from at least one of the coupling (8, 9) for complete or partial release of the coupling.

Abstract: In adjustable structure with a drive unit (8), e.g., an actuator driven by an electric motor and controlled via a control unit, a jamming protection arrangement is needed in certain connections. A solution is provided to a jamming protection arrangement, based on a piezo element (20) incorporated in the structure, alternatively in the drive unit. The piezo element is connected with the control unit, which is constructed such that the drive unit is stopped or reversed if a deviation occurs in the force on the adjustable element (5) or the structure.

Abstract: An electric-motor driven furniture drive (2) for adjusting parts of an item of furniture in relation to each other, comprising two electric-motor driven adjustment units (4,6), both of which in an assembled position of the furniture drive (2) are actively connected to a part of the item of furniture to be adjusted in order to adjust same. According to the invention, a common drive motor (24) is provided in order to drive the adjustment units (4,6), in addition to coupling means which can move between a first and a second position. In the first position, said coupling means are used to couple the drive motor to the first adjustment unit (4) and in the second position, said coupling means are used to couple the drive motor to the second adjustment unit (6), thereby establishing a drive connection with the respective adjustment unit (4,6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a furniture drive (2) for adjusting parts of a piece of furniture in relation to one another which is configured as a dual drive. Said drive comprises two drive units (4, 4?), every drive unit (4, 4?) being provided with a linearly displaceable drive element that is functionally linked with a pivoted lever for pivoting said lever in the mounting position of the furniture drive. Said pivoted lever in turn is functionally linked with a part of the piece of furniture to be adjusted. The drive according to the invention is further characterized in that the linearly displaceable drive element or a support element (24) linked therewith is provided with a support surface (26) for supporting the pivoted lever (18) in a position remote from its pivot axis (16) in the mounting position of the furniture drive (2), which surface is inclined with respect to the axis of motion (29) of the drive element.

Abstract: An electrical operating panel, in particular for height-adjustable tables equipped with actuators or lifting columns driven by an electric motor. The panel has a first part (1) intended for fixed mounting of the panel and a second part (2) with operating keys (19) for activating electrical switches. The two parts are hinged together, and the hinge is formed with a rotary shaft (10) on the no part and a bearing with a cylindrical face (13) on the other part and formed with interengaging projections (16) and depressions (15) such that the second part may assume various angular positions relative to the first part, the force between projections and depressions bearing greater than the necessary operative pressure on the operating keys, but smaller than the force necessary to manually move the second part between the various angular positions. The panel is of simple structure and easy to mount and use. The users may easily set the keyboard part in the desired angular position.

Abstract: A control for DC motors, in particular actuators driven by a DC motor for adjustment of furniture, such as tables, beds, chairs, etc. includes a pseudomotor which is capable of supplying a voltage that corresponds to the motor speed on the basis of the current and voltage supplied to the motor. The voltage of the pseudomotor is supplied to an adjustable power supply, where it is compared with an internal reference voltage and adjusts the voltage difference down to the smallest possible difference between the voltage of the pseudomotor and the internal reference voltage. For greater accuracy, the control additionally includes a compensation circuit configured to evaluate a dominating frequency in the commutator noise. Thus, there is provided a simple and low cost control for parallel running of two or more actuators.

Abstract: An actuator with an electric motor which drives an activation element, such as a rotatable arm or a longitudinally movable rod, via a transmission. The transmission has at least two transmission stages, the first one being formed by a worm drive, the second one being formed by a crown and bevel wheel (5; 4a, 4b), the bevel wheel (4a, 4b) being driven by the worm wheel (3a, 3b), and the crown wheel (5) having a power take-off (15). The transmission may readily be formed so that the axis of the crown wheel (5) is in direct extension of the worm (2). A relatively compact transmission with a high gearing may be achieved hereby, and with worm wheel as well as crown and bevel wheel of plastics the transmission is also comparatively noiseless.

Abstract: A rotary actuator, in particular for adjustable articles of furniture, including beds or mattress supports, for incorporation in a structure for adjustment of an element in it, e.g.

Abstract: A remote control system includes at least one hand control (2) and one or more control units (4). Each control units transmits a signal with a unique frequency. The hand control receives this signal from the control unit, which appears the strongest to the hand control receiver, as well as transmits a signal with a frequency which is a whole multiple of the received signal. The advantage of the system is that an arbitrary hand control automatically adapts itself to the control unit from which the signal is strongest and subsequently communicates with the control unit. The system may be constructed such that one-way or two-way communication may take place. In one embodiment, the system is exclusively composed of standard components, the spreading on the components being used for forming the unique signal. The system lends itself for all forms of furniture equipped with motor driven adjustment facilities.

Abstract: A power supply for DC motors, in particular for actuators for use in the adjustment of tables, beds and the like, comprises a transformer (T1) with a rectifier (D1-D4); and a buffer capacitor. The power supply comprises voltage limiting unit (Z1) coupled in parallel with the motor and connected to switch unit (Q1) so that the motor is connected on a first part of the sine half-waves, but is disconnected when the voltage determined for the voltage limiter is reached. This ensures a good mean voltage, and the voltage does not exceed an upper permissible value. This also means that the motor speed is more independent of the load, which is an advantage e.g. in case of height-adjustable tables. In an embodiment, the power supply comprises additional means for measuring the current power in the motor, and this measurement is used as a feedback for controlling the motor speed to keep the speed of the motor.