Shaft Moves Through Rotary Drive Means Patents (Class 74/89.34)
  • Patent number: 12140207
    Abstract: A rotation support structure for an electric cylinder includes a motor attached to a housing and including an output shaft; and a speed reduction mechanism connected to the output shaft. The speed reduction mechanism includes a gear unit including a first gear and a shaft support portion and has an outer member facing an inner surface of the housing and a ball, and an annular second gear fixed to the housing and meshing with the first gear, one side end portion of the outer member faces the inner surface of the housing or a spacer attached to the housing, and the other side end portion faces the second gear. A gap is formed between the outer member and the second gear, and between the outer member and at least either the housing or the spacer. A gap is formed between the outer member and the inner surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ken Kato
  • Patent number: 12124043
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may include optical assemblies for presenting images to a user. Actuators may be used to adjust the spacing between the optical assemblies to accommodate different interpupillary distances. Upon detection of a power-down event or drop event, the device may be placed into an impact-safe mode. During the safe mode, the optical assemblies may be moved to predetermined impact-safe positions, brakes such as optical guide rail brakes may be adjusted, cushioning springs may be deployed, clutches may be adjusted, and/or other safety mechanisms may be activated to help protect the optical assemblies or other sensitive components from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matin Seadat Beheshti, Aidan N Zimmerman, John S Camp
  • Patent number: 12109923
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat may have a first rail and a second rail. The rails may mutually engage around each other to form an inner channel. A spindle nut may be supported by the second rail and a spindle, operationally connected to the spindle nut, may be arranged in the inner channel. In one end region of the first rail, a screw drive driven by a motor and interacting with the spindle may be arranged. The screw drive may be enclosed by a housing. The housing may have at least one cylindrical bearing portion for bearing a worm wheel connected to the spindle. The housing may also at least one step adjoining the cylindrical bearing portion. The step may be designed to support the worm wheel in the event of a crash. A vehicle seat having the longitudinal adjuster is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Inventors: Martin Kuzma, Andrej Sulak
  • Patent number: 11852237
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical actuator for generating an axial actuation force is provided. The electro-mechanical actuator includes an electric machine having a stator (1) and a rotor (2). The electro-mechanical actuator also includes a spindle drive with a rotary element (6) and with an element that is movable in a translatory manner. A rotation of the rotary element (6) may result in a translatory motion of the element that is movable in a translatory manner. The rotor (2) and the rotary element (6) of the spindle drive are coupled to each other in a circumferential direction (U) such that a rotation of the rotor (2) results in a rotation of the rotary element (6) of the spindle drive (5). A rotational play (8) is formed between the rotor (2) and the rotary element (6) of the spindle drive in the circumferential direction (U).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Andreas Füßl, Jürgen Wafzig, Andreas Wendzel, Lorenz Fischer, Holger Gohmert, Uwe Fehr, Michael Arnegger
  • Patent number: 11342135
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for connecting and disconnecting an electrical load circuit, operated at high voltage by a voltage source, in a transportation means that is electrically driven by a drive operated at low voltage. According to the invention, a contact stud (6) is connected to the push rod (11) of a linear drive (2) and the contact stud (6) can be moved into at least two positions in a switch housing (4), wherein the switch housing (4) has, on its internal wall, at least two contact rings (5), one of which is connected to the voltage source (7) and the other is connected to the consumer circuit (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: IIE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Ekkehard Kress
  • Patent number: 11035743
    Abstract: Embodiments of a series elastic actuator (SEA) disclosed herein include an elastic component coupled in series with a motor, wherein the elastic component comprises a pair of springs arranged concentrically around a central shaft of the housing for transmitting force to a mechanical ground of the SEA, and one or more spring support mechanisms arranged within an inner circumference of the springs. Some embodiments of the SEA may also include a spring deflection sensor, which is coupled within a recess formed within the mechanical ground of the SEA and configured to sense the force transmitted to the mechanical ground of the SEA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: APPTRONIK, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Paine, Jonas Fox, Bradley Resh
  • Patent number: 10811946
    Abstract: An electrical system includes a power inverter connected to a battery and outputting a polyphase voltage, and a cycloidal reluctance machine. A machine rotor provides output torque, and is surrounded and separated from the stator by an airgap. The rotor includes permanent magnets providing a fixed-orientation rotor field. The stator includes windings proximate the permanent magnets and electrically connected to the inverter to form stator electromagnets. The rotor field augments the stator field to boost output torque. The rotor is eccentrically positioned with respect to the stator to move with two degrees of freedom (2DOF), including rotating motion and orbiting motion about a center axis of the stator. A rotor constraint mechanism constrains motion of the rotor, such that the rotor is able to generate and transmit the output torque to a coupled load in at least one of the 2DOF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alireza Fatemi, Derek F. Lahr
  • Patent number: 10804757
    Abstract: A cycloidal reluctance machine includes a stator surrounding a rotor. Stator windings and rotor windings form respective concentric rotor and stator electromagnets. The rotor is eccentrically positioned with respect to the stator to move with two degrees of freedom (2DOF), including rotating motion about a rotary axis of the rotor and orbiting motion about a center axis of the stator. A rotor constraint mechanism (RCM) constrains motion of the rotor, such that the rotor is able to generate and transmit output torque to a coupled load in at least one of the 2DOF. A magnetic field polarity of stator poles and/or rotor poles of the respective stator and rotor changes over one electrical cycle of the polyphase voltage. The coupled load may be a drive axle of a vehicle in some embodiments. In others, the stator and rotor windings are driven via different power inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alireza Fatemi, Derek F. Lahr
  • Patent number: 10804759
    Abstract: An electrical system includes a cycloidal electric machine having a stator and an eccentric rotor. An airgap is defined between the stator and the rotor. The rotor moves with two degrees of freedom (2DOF), including rotating motion about the rotor axis and orbiting motion about the stator axis. A rotor constraint mechanism (RCM) constrains rotor motion to enable output torque to transfer to a coupled load in at least one of the 2DOF. The machine includes a structural element connected to or formed integrally with the rotor or stator that minimizes and substantially equalizes a size of the airgap around a circumference of the rotor. The element may be a crescent-shaped race of ferrous material coupled to a rotor shaft. The stator may include stator teeth, the rotor may include lobes, and the stator teeth and rotor lobes may have cycloid-profiled surfaces that form the structural element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Derek F. Lahr, Alireza Fatemi
  • Patent number: 10738526
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening/closing actuator includes a tubular housing, a motor part accommodated in the housing, a feeding apparatus accommodated in the housing and that supplies power to the motor part, and a closed-bottom tubular seal section that has a circumferential wall arranged to be interposed between an inner circumferential surface of the housing and an outer circumferential surface of the feeding apparatus, and that is arranged to cover the feeding apparatus with an entire thereof, wherein a rib extending in a circumferential direction is formed at an inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall of the seal section, and a concave section that receives the rib is formed at the outer circumferential surface of the feeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Masazumi Ishikawa, Takayuki Ikeda, Takashi Takizawa, Tsuyoshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 10711871
    Abstract: An linear actuator drive arrangement is disclosed that includes a drive screw including a drive screw threading on an outer periphery thereof and a first axial end of the drive screw is configured to support a load. The arrangement includes a motor including a stator and a rotor arranged radially within the stator. The rotor includes a rotor housing, a first ring nut, and a second ring nut. A plurality of planetary screws are arranged radially between the drive screw and the first ring nut and the second ring nut. A bearing assembly is arranged radially inside a first axial end of the rotor housing, and the bearing assembly axially supports the rotor housing. An encoder ring is fixed to a radially outer surface of the rotor housing at the first axial end of the rotor housing, and the encoder ring is concentric with the bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Joseph Johnson, Craig Hooker
  • Patent number: 10626965
    Abstract: A failsafe bar connection of a screw actuator includes a failsafe bar for transmitting load via a secondary load path, the failsafe bar having a bar-end with a convex thrust surface; and an attachment part for coupling load to an aircraft structure, the attachment part having a socket for retention of the bar-end, the socket providing a concave thrust surface. A contact mechanism is provided to monitor relative displacement of the convex thrust surface within the concave thrust surface in a direction along an axis of the attachment part. In this way, changes in backlash and loading of the secondary load path can be detected. The contact mechanism comprises a protuberance extending from the bar-end along the main rotational axis of the failsafe bar and a displaceable contact surface provided by a displaceable member in the attachment part, the relative position of which is monitored by a displacement sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SAS
    Inventor: Frédéric Vermande
  • Patent number: 10563747
    Abstract: A method for reducing condensation includes moving a linear motor slider that is positioned within a housing of an actuator. A first gas is pushed out of a transfer plate chamber through a first vent. A second gas is drawn into the transfer plate chamber through a second vent. Moisture is removed from the second gas as the second gas is being drawn into the transfer chamber by passing the second gas through at least one of a hydrophobic or oleophobic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Derick S. Balsiger
  • Patent number: 9941767
    Abstract: To provide a compact linear actuator having small back drive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: MOOG JAPAN LTD., NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi Tamai, Osamu Goto
  • Patent number: 9387874
    Abstract: A rear wheel steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a housing including a cylinder portion and a connection cover, an electric motor housed in the housing, a speed reduction mechanism housed in the housing, a linear motion mechanism including a nut member and a rod for converting a rotation of the nut member to a linear motion of the rod, the cylinder portion including a stopper portion provided at an inner surface of thereof between the electric motor and the speed reduction mechanism, a cylindrical holding member holding the speed reduction mechanism in the cylinder portion, and a bearing supporting the nut member for allowing the nut member to rotate relative to the cylindrical holding member. The bearing and the cylindrical holding member are sandwiched between the stopper portion and the connection cover and the cylindrical holding member is retained so as not to rotate relative to the cylinder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shimpei Fujii, Akiya Taneda, Shuuetsu Suzuki, Teruhide Sato
  • Patent number: 9243704
    Abstract: A drive axle assembly having a collar actuator mechanism that may include an electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic coil may be disposed in a stationary position with respect to a housing and may be configured to actuate the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Harry Trost
  • Patent number: 9222296
    Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing a deck lid of a vehicle body includes a jack-screw type drive unit having two elongated relatively rotatable drive elements which are threadably engaged for controlled bi-directional displacement. An electric motor engages the rotatable drive element. A first mounting device pivotally connects the rotatable drive element to a relatively fixed point on the vehicle. A second mounting device pivotally connects the non-rotatable drive element to the deck lid, or vice versa. The motor is energized to affect bi-directional control of the drive unit while enabling low back-drive effort. A concentric spring counters loading due to the weight of the deck lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: STRATTEC POWER ACCESS LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Hamminga, Waldemar Wawrzyniec Gmurowski
  • Patent number: 9212733
    Abstract: A linear actuator includes a housing, a motor, a decelerator and an actuating rod. The housing includes an outer sleeve, a motor sleeve, a connecting sleeve, and at least a motor bolt. The connecting sleeve is connected to one end of the outer sleeve, the motor bolt longitudinally penetrating the motor sleeve and connected to the connecting sleeve. The motor is arranged in the motor sleeve. The decelerator is arranged in the motor sleeve. The decelerator is connected to the motor. The actuating rod is arranged in the outer sleeve. The actuating rod is connected to the decelerator through the motor sleeve, and the actuating rod is driven by the motor through the decelerator. The elements of the linear actuator are thereby firmly assembled by simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TIMOTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chou-Hsin Wu
  • Patent number: 9211877
    Abstract: An actuator (1), especially for a motor vehicle parking brake has a telescopic device (2) that actuates a brake cable (6), and a drive unit which is equipped with an electromechanical drive for actuating the telescopic device (2). The actuator (1) further has a displacement sensor unit for detecting the actuating travel of the telescopic device (2) as well as a force sensor unit for detecting the force applied to the brake cable (6) by the drive unit. The displacement sensor unit and the force sensor unit are disposed next to each other in or on the housing (3) of the telescopic device (2) while being separated from the brake cable (6). The assembly has a particularly simple and compact design while reducing the constructive and mounting effort required during the production of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Wuerzburg
    Inventors: Norbert Deutloff, Ekkehard Kraft, Stephan Roos, Armin Sauer
  • Publication number: 20150135868
    Abstract: An electromechanical driving actuator with a damping device comprises an electric motor (26) comprising a stator (9) and a hollow rotor (3), the stator (9) enclosing the rotor (3) and the rotor having a base end and an operational end. The electromechanical actuator further comprises a retractable shaft (4) having a cavity and mounted coaxially with the rotor (3) in such a manner that an end portion of the retractable shaft (4) is arranged in the cavity of the rotor, the shaft's end portion being formed as a tubular member (8) having a bottom end and an operational end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Viktorovich Nikolaev, Vadim Igorevich Dunaev, Mikhail Evgenievich Fedosovsky
  • Patent number: 9035512
    Abstract: At least a rotor fixing portion and a bearing fitting portion are combined to form a hollow rotary shaft. The rotor of a rotary motor portion is fixed on the rotor fixing portion. A thrust radial bearing is fitted on the outer periphery of the bearing fitting portion and a screw nut is fitted to the bearing fitting portion. The rotor fixing portion and the bearing fitting portion are coupled with screw member(s) which are inserted into the hollow rotary shaft from one axial end of the hollow rotary shaft and axially extend inside the bearing fitting portion and the rotor fixing portion. A flange portion of the screw nut is fixed on an abutment portion of the bearing fitting portion in abutment with an end surface of an inner race of the thrust radial bearing that is located on the one axial end side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SANYO DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Tanaka, Shigenori Miyairi
  • Patent number: 8978496
    Abstract: Disclosed is a step actuator. The step actuator includes a housing; a stator installed in the housing; a rotor positioned radially inward from the stator, the rotor rotating and protruding from one side of the housing; a bearing installed at one side of the housing so as to be coupled with the rotor; a bearing cover coupled with one side of the housing to restrain movement of the bearing; a screw member coupled with the rotor to linearly move according to rotation of the rotor; and a mounting member coupled to the bearing cover to support the screw member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong Kon Lee
  • Patent number: 8978497
    Abstract: An assembly comprises a housing, a motor within the housing, and a thrust tube with an anti-rotation mechanism. The motor comprises a hollow rotor. An externally threaded screw shaft is coupled to the hollow rotor for rotation therewith. An internally threaded nut is coupled to the externally threaded screw shaft, wherein rotation of the screw shaft causes the nut to move axially. The thrust tube is operably connected with the nut, and the anti-rotation mechanism is attached to the thrust tube to substantially prevent rotation relative the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Tolomatic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan H. Bourgoine, Gary W. Rosengren, Brett C. Holker
  • Patent number: 8973452
    Abstract: In a body of an electric actuator, dust collecting pipes are disposed as a pair along an axial direction of a hole portion of the body. The dust collecting pipes are connected respectively to negative pressure supply ports provided in an end block, and include plural first through fifth suction holes separated mutually along an axial direction of the dust collecting pipes. Distances between the first through fifth suction holes are formed so as to become smaller stepwise from one end side of the dust collection pipes, on the side of the negative pressure supply ports, to the other end side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Shoichi Makado, Hiroyuki Shiomi
  • Patent number: 8950278
    Abstract: A linear step motor can include: a motor housing fixedly mounted at an inner surface of a ring-shaped stator and formed with an opening; a rotor rotatably mounted at a space centrally formed at the stator; a cover member coupled to a bearing to open/close the opening; a nut shaft centrally arranged at the rotor, coupled to an outside of the cover member by passing through a shaft hole centrally formed at an inner ring of the bearing, coupled at a periphery by a magnet and formed with a female screw gear-combined with a lead screw member formed at an inner surface with a male screw; and a fixing unit integrally formed with the nut shaft and fixed to the bearing coupled to the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seho Kim
  • Patent number: 8941276
    Abstract: In one arrangement, a motor assembly includes a housing defining a housing chamber, a stator disposed within the housing chamber, and a rotor assembly disposed within the housing chamber. The rotor assembly includes a spindle housing defining a spindle housing chamber extending along a longitudinal axis of the spindle housing and a set of magnets disposed about an outer periphery of the spindle housing and in proximity to the stator. The rotor assembly includes a ball nut cartridge disposed within the spindle housing chamber of the spindle housing and a securing mechanism configured to secure the ball nut cartridge to the spindle housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Charles Haferman, Andrew Joseph LaFosse, Christopher Alan Pare
  • Publication number: 20150020623
    Abstract: A step actuator includes a housing, a stator in the housing, a rotor including a magnet provided radially inward of the stator and a nut member inserted into the magnet and protruding through one side of the housing, a bearing rotatably supporting the nut member, a screw member coupled with the nut member to linearly move as the rotor rotates, and a mounting member supported on one side of the housing to support the screw member in such a manner that the screw member is linearly movable. The nut member includes an end portion passing through the bearing and a coupling portion extending from the end portion to couple with the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Woo Jin HYUN
  • Patent number: 8931125
    Abstract: A cradle drive mechanism is provided. The cradle drive mechanism includes a drive motor, an intermediate frame and a screw and nut transmission device driven by the drive motor so as to drive linear reciprocating motion of the intermediate frame. The cradle drive mechanism also includes a rotating, shaft having a first driving wheel and a gear, a transmission belt, and a rack meshed with the gear so that, during linear reciprocating motion of the intermediate frame, the rack forces the gear to rotate and drive rotation of the first driving wheel, wherein rotation of the first driving wheel drives rotation of the transmission belt. The cradle drive mechanism also includes a cradle connector fixed on the transmission belt and configured to connect a cradle and to drive linear reciprocating motion of the cradle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Xianfa Fang, Gaoxian Zhang, Gang Hu, Xin Yang
  • Patent number: 8899120
    Abstract: A linear actuator is provided which includes a motor and a screw as an output shaft and in which the rotational movement of the motor is converted into the linear movement of the screw, wherein at least one retainer to hold a plurality of balls is disposed at the inner periphery of a hollow rotor of the motor, a ball screw is formed at the outer periphery of the screw, the balls are engaged with the ball screw such that the screw is set coaxial to the rotor, and wherein the screw provided with the ball screw is moved linearly by means of the rotation of the balls disposed circumferentially at the inner periphery of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Nakamura, Masahiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8887343
    Abstract: A system and method for propelling a hose, including: a system housing and a tractor element disposed in the housing. The tractor element includes: a tractor housing with a through-bore; and a protrusion extending into the through-bore. The system includes: a hose assembly including a substantially helical coil disposed about a hose; and an actuator for rotating the tractor housing with respect to the system housing. The tractor element is fixed in the system housing with respect to axial movement; and the hose assembly can be disposed in the through-bore so that the protrusion contacts a portion of the coil. As the tractor housing is rotated in a rotational direction: the protrusion exerts a displacement force on the coil; and the hose assembly reacts to the displacement force by displacing in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald P. Zink
  • Patent number: 8826756
    Abstract: An adjustable mechanism for a motor vehicle is used to adjust an adjustable element in a motor vehicle, especially a seating part. Said mechanism comprises a spindle nut comprising an axis, said spindle nut co-operating with a thread spindle and comprising external toothing on the external surface thereof which is in contact with an additional drive element. The external toothing of the spindle nut is formed by recesses in the external surface of the spindle nut which are inwardly turned in a radial manner, the teeth depths thereof diminishing in the direction of at least one axial end of the spindle nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Matthias Hoffmann, Andrea Bauersachs, Andreas Prause
  • Patent number: 8826757
    Abstract: A step actuator includes a housing, a stator in the housing, a rotor including a magnet provided radially inward of the stator and a nut member inserted into the magnet and protruding through one side of the housing, a bearing rotatably supporting the nut member, a screw member coupled with the nut member to linearly move as the rotor rotates, and a mounting member supported on one side of the housing to support the screw member in such a manner that the screw member is linearly movable. The nut member includes an end portion passing through the bearing and a coupling portion extending from the end portion to couple with the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo Jin Hyun
  • Patent number: 8770052
    Abstract: A linear actuator that does not require a high assembly precision is provided. A linear actuator includes a motor portion including a rotary shaft, a rotor, and a stator, a first bearing portion that supports a first end of the rotary shaft, a locknut threadably engaged on the first end of the rotary shaft, and a ball screw mechanism including a ball screw nut screwed to the locknut and a ball screw threadably engaged with the ball screw nut. Gaps formed between an outer peripheral portion of the rotary shaft and an inner peripheral portion of the locknut, except a male thread portion formed on the rotary shaft and a female thread portion formed on the locknut threadably engaged with each other, are defined to have respective predetermined sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Nakatake, Kazuyuki Kitazawa, Shigenori Miyairi
  • Publication number: 20140157922
    Abstract: An electric assist steering system comprising a first lead screw connected to a steering shaft, a first lead screw nut engaged with the first lead screw, the first lead screw moveable along an axis of the first lead screw, a second lead screw, a second lead screw nut engaged with the second lead screw, the second lead screw connected to the first lead screw nut, an electric motor engaged with the second lead screw nut whereby the second lead screw nut is rotatable by the electric motor, and the first lead screw nut comprises a gear for engaging a steering system pinion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Dean Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140150580
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting rotary motion to linear motion comprising: a cylindrical bore; a plurality of balls of uniform radius. The apparatus further comprises a rotor element, The rotor element further comprising a helical groove on the perimeter of the rotor element, wherein the helical groove comprises two ends and a race, wherein the race is configured to hold the plurality of balls in contact with a surface of the bore and is further configured to roll the ball in a helical groove path. The apparatus further comprises a recirculation conduit joining the two ends of the helical groove, wherein the conduit is configured to create a path for the plurality of balls and is further configured to allow the plurality of balls to remain in the helical groove during rotation of the rotor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: John McEntee
  • Patent number: 8733192
    Abstract: A high-load linear actuator includes a driving mechanism, a worm shaft, a worm wheel assembly, a lead screw, a telescopic pipe and an outer pipe. The driving mechanism includes a base and a motor. The base has a supporting portion and an accommodating portion. The motor is fixed to the supporting portion. The worm shaft extends from the motor into the supporting portion. The worm wheel assembly includes a worm wheel and two bearings for supporting the worm wheel in the accommodating portion. The worm wheel is drivingly engaged with the worm shaft. The lead screw is disposed through the worm wheel and driven by the motor for rotation. The telescopic pipe slips on the lead screw to be threadedly connected therewith. The outer pipe slips on the telescopic pipe. The rotation of the lead screw drives the telescopic pipe to linearly extend or retract relative to the outer pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Timotion Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chou-Hsin Wu
  • Patent number: 8702400
    Abstract: A surface motor direct-drive sucker-rod screw pump device is driven by a vertical three-phase permanent magnet brush-less DC motor, and comprises a motor controller (6), a rectifying circuit, an inversion circuit, a CPU and a driving circuit. The motor controller (6) is used to adjust the voltage and frequency of the motor by the rectifying circuit, the inversion circuit, the CPU and the driving circuit. Thus, the speed of the motor can vary from zero to the maximum. The device is easy to operate and has a higher efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Millennium Oilflow Systems & Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Songbo Gou, Yongjian Tang, Hengli Cong
  • Publication number: 20140102231
    Abstract: A threaded rod reciprocation inner rotor direct drive mechanism is provided. The threaded bush of the threaded rod set serves as the rotary shaft of the rotor section of the inner rotor torque motor. A part of the threaded rod set is a part of the inner rotor torque motor. Accordingly, the blind spot of the conventional technique is overcome to reduce the number of the components and minify the total volume and simplify the assembling and processing procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: HIWIN MIKROSYSTEM CORP.
    Inventor: Yung-Tsai CHUO
  • Publication number: 20140102230
    Abstract: An actuator includes a housing assembly, a ball nut, a ball screw, and a ball screw stop. The ball nut is rotationally mounted in the housing assembly, is adapted to receive an input torque, and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate and supply a drive force. The ball screw is mounted within the housing assembly and extends through the ball nut. The ball screw has a first end and a second end, and is coupled to receive the drive force from the ball nut. The ball screw is configured, upon receipt of the drive force, to selectively translate between a stow position and a deploy position. The ball screw stop is mounted on the ball screw to translate therewith and is configured to at selectively engage the housing assembly while the ball screw is translating, and engage the ball nut when the ball screw is in the deploy position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Paul T. Wingett, John Perek, Kellan Geck
  • Patent number: 8650978
    Abstract: There is provided a linear actuator provided with a dust-proof mechanism capable of preventing dust-proof belts from being deformed, improving a sealing performance between the dust-proof belts and a housing member, and achieving high dust-proof performance irrespective of a size of the linear actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Aso, Toshiya Tanaka, Toshiaki Mizuno, Norinobu Ogawa, Minoru Tsukada, Yukitoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8650977
    Abstract: An electric actuator has a housing (2), an electric motor (3), a speed reduction mechanism (6), a ball screw mechanism (8) and a rotation sensor (9). The ball screw mechanism (8) has a screw thread shaft (23) that moves axially but cannot rotate relative to the housing (8). A nut (24) is inserted over the screw thread shaft (23) and can rotate relative to the housing (2), via a rolling bearing (11), mounted on the housing (2), but cannot move axially. A swing link (13) is arranged to perform the pendulum motion interlocked with the linear motion of the driving shaft (7). A magnet (18) is mounted on the end of a pivotal shaft (17) to form the reference point of the pendulum motion. The position of the driving shaft (7) is detected by the rotation sensor (9) arranged opposite to the magnet (18) via a predetermined air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Yoshinori Ikeda, Tatsunori Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8601952
    Abstract: The linear actuator has a hollow main body having open and closed ends, a cylinder fixed to a closed side in the body and having an open end at open side, a linear motion rod having one end extending from the open end of the body and a wear ring on an outer circumference of the other end and slidably housed in the cylinder, and a hollow shaft rotatably supported in the body, wherein the shaft has magnet on outer circumferential surface, a winding section included on an inner surface of the body and the magnet configure a hollow motor, a nut coaxially fixed to the shaft and a screw on an outer surface of the linear motion rod are engaged with each other to configure a rotation/linear motion converter, and oil seals seal a gap between the shaft and the body in both sides are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Moog Japan Ltd., Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Tamai, Osamu Goto
  • Patent number: 8601889
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a linear drive and to adjustable units with a linear drive. The linear drive includes a central, drivable connecting element, a stationary first element in working connection with the connecting element, and a stationary second element in working connection with the connecting element and arranged axially opposite the first element. The first and second elements are connected to the connecting element by corresponding pairs of threads. The pairs of threads are designed as oppositely threaded pairs to create a compact, essentially three-part linear drive capable of maximum travel distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: weiss Präzisionstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Carsten Lessing
  • Publication number: 20130312549
    Abstract: A portable computer device and a screw rod device are provided. The portable computer device includes a computer body, a display, a support member and a screw rod structure. The support member is rotatably connected to the computer body and the display respectively. The screw rod structure is disposed in the computer body, and includes a fixing base, a free gear, a screw rod, a transmission gear and a driving gear. The fixing base has an accommodating portion and a connecting portion, and is connected to the display through the connecting portion. The free gear is disposed in the accommodating portion and screwed to the screw rod. The driving gear drives the free gear through the transmission gear, so that the free gear moves along an axial direction of the screw rod, thereby pushing the fixing base to adjust an included angle between the display and the computer body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Bo-Yi Li, Chia-Lian Yen
  • Publication number: 20130312555
    Abstract: In an electric linear motion actuator for transmitting torque of a rotary shaft (4) to planetary rollers (7) and thus to a linearly driven output member constituted by an outer race member (5), axial movement of a carrier (6) supporting the planetary rollers (7) is restricted, and the outer race member (5) is axially slidably fitted in a radially inner surface of a cylindrical portion (1a) of a housing (1) and is rotationally fixedly coupled to an object to be driven via keys (25) The planetary rollers (7) have their radially inner surfaces rotatably supported, on respective support pins (6c) of the carrier (6), and are radially inwardly biased by radial compression ring springs (21) wound around the support pins (6c) so as to envelop the support pins. The planetary rollers (7) are thus pressed against the radially outer surface of the rotary shaft (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya YAMASAKI
  • Publication number: 20130307241
    Abstract: A disconnectible stabilizer bar assembly for a vehicle having first and second stabilizer bar halves, a housing fixed to an end portion of each stabilizer bar half, so as to align the two halves. The housing containing a stator with magnetic coil, a rotor with exterior magnets and threaded onto a hollow screw, with the stator selectively rotating the rotor and the rotation translated into axial movement of the screw. The screw having meshing means on an interior surface and an end face, the interior meshing means meshed with an exterior meshing means on one of the stabilizer bar halves, and the end face meshing means selectively coupled and decoupled with aligned mashing means on the other of the stabilizer bar halves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Mark Brown
  • Publication number: 20130305858
    Abstract: A micrometer drive configuration for a handheld micrometer comprises: a frame; a spindle; a linear displacement sensor that senses a displacement of the spindle; a threaded spindle drive having a relatively coarse thread pitch, wherein the threaded spindle drive is attached to a spindle drive gear; a planetary drive gear that mates to the spindle drive gear; a ring gear surrounding and mating to the planetary drive gear; and a thimble generally surrounding the spindle drive gear, the planetary drive gear, and the ring gear. The thimble is coupled to drive the spindle drive gear through the planetary drive gear, and the planetary drive gear is sized and mounted such that the spindle drive gear turns faster than the thimble.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Benjamin Keith Jones
  • Patent number: 8567272
    Abstract: A step actuator includes a housing, a stator in the housing, a rotor including a magnet provided radially inward of the stator and a nut member inserted into the magnet and protruding through one side of the housing, a bearing rotatably supporting the nut member, a screw member coupled with the nut member to linearly move as the rotor rotates, and a mounting member supported on one side of the housing to support the screw member in such a manner that the screw member is linearly movable. The nut member includes an end portion passing through the bearing and a coupling portion extending from the end portion to couple with the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo Jin Hyun
  • Publication number: 20130239713
    Abstract: The invention concerns a displacement device comprising a transmission 2 driven by an electric motor 1, guide rails 5, a displacement slider 6, a transmission housing 8 and a closure cover 7, characterised in that an externally threaded nut (4) is arranged longitudinally slidably on a profile bar (3) between the transmission (2) and said externally threaded nut (4) and said externally threaded nut (4) is mounted rotatably in a displacement slider (6) in such a way that said externally threaded nut (4) is longitudinally displaced upon rotation by the transmission (2) which is driven by the drive motor (1) and the profile bar (3) in the thread profile segments of the guide rails (5) and is displaced along the guide rails (5) by way of the end run-on surfaces (9) of the displacement slider (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: DEWERTOKIN GMBH
    Inventor: Klaus Peter Flamme
  • Publication number: 20130239714
    Abstract: A ball screw device has a plurality of spiral raceways. One end and the other end of each raceway is connected via a bridge. An annular flange of a ball nut has a plurality of mounting portions at equal intervals in a circumferential direction. A fixing screw is fitted to each mounting portion. The bridges arranged so as to overlap with the annular flange in position in an axial direction are arranged at positions different in the circumferential direction from positions at which the mounting portions are arranged, and are arranged at unequal intervals in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kosuke Yamanaka