Limit Stop Patents (Class 74/89.37)
  • Patent number: 8714039
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stroke-restricting device of a linear actuator and a wire-reeling mechanism thereof. The linear actuator includes a base and a telescopic pipe. The stroke-restricting device includes a box, a movable member, a block, a pair of switches, and a wire-reeling mechanism. The box is fixed to the base and has a wall plate. The wall plate is provided with a through-hole. The movable member includes a rod penetrating the through-hole and movable with respect to the box. The block is fixed to the rod. The pair of switches is fixed to the box to correspond to the block. Each of the switches has a trigger portion for generating electrical signals by means of contact of the block. Each of the trigger portions is located at two opposite ends of a moving path of the block. The wire-reeling mechanism includes a wire disposed in the telescopic pipe and moving therewith. One end of the wire is connected to the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Timotion Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chou-Hsin Wu
  • Publication number: 20140116820
    Abstract: An electric braking apparatus is provided and includes an electromechanical actuator (EMA) configured to apply an axial load on a brake stack and a damping end-stop. The damping end-stop is configured to transmit torque into the EMA and includes an end cap, a screw disposed such that a longitudinal axis about which the screw is rotatable extends through the end cap, a nut threadably engaged with the screw and movable with the end cap relative to the screw with screw rotation and a spring element anchored on the end cap to resist the screw rotation beyond a predefined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: David Drennen, Harald Klode, Robert French, Kevin Rehfus
  • Patent number: 8656798
    Abstract: A linear actuator is provided which is able to simplify its structure by adding a stopper function, too, to a detent mechanism and to prevent generation of radial load. The linear actuator comprises a ball screw mechanism, to which a rotational driving force is transmitted, for converting a rotational motion into a linear motion. The ball screw mechanism comprises radially projecting guide projections provided in a linear motion component, and a guide groove arranged in a securing portion facing the linear motion component and is engaged with the guide projections to guide the guide projections in an axial direction. The guide projection has a projection projecting by the predetermined length, while engaging into the guide groove, at a stroke end of the linear motion component and a locking portion provided in a rotary motion component is locked to the projection of the guide projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawahara, Tooru Harada, Tomofumi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8640562
    Abstract: A linear actuator is presented, having a drive shaft, a transmission connected to the drive shaft, and a spindle connected to the transmission. The drive shaft, the transmission and the spindle are connected in such a way that a rotational movement of the drive shaft is transmitted to the spindle via the transmission. The linear actuator also has a spindle nut arranged rotationally prevented onto the spindle, and an end stop detection unit for detecting that the spindle nut reaches an end position on the spindle. The end stop detection unit comprises an end stop detection shaft connected to the transmission in such a way that a rotational movement of the spindle is transmitted to the end stop detection shaft such that a rotational movement of the spindle is reflected by a rotational movement of the end stop detection shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: KIH-Utveckling AB
    Inventor: Hans Pettersson
  • Patent number: 8640563
    Abstract: An actuator for a ram air turbine system includes a lock bolt having a multiple circumferentially arranged lateral supports. A piston rod supports multiple up-lock wedges. Multiple rollers are supported by the lateral supports with chamfers on the rollers engaging one another and are configured to radially support the up-lock wedges in a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Lang, Gary Sasscer
  • Patent number: 8616080
    Abstract: Provided is an actuator characterized by the use of a shuttle that shifts in response to an overload. The shuttle is movable axially relative to a rotary input member by continued rotation of the rotary input member so that a stop on the shuttle moves from an ambush position allowing free rotation of the rotary input member to a blocking position preventing further rotation of the rotary input member. In this way, the shuttle prevents rotation of a rotary input member during an overload of a control surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Flatt, Ted Alexander McKay
  • Publication number: 20130327168
    Abstract: A gear motor having a safety mechanism includes a motor body, a speed reduction mechanism, a transmission mechanism, and a touch switch. The speed reduction mechanism includes a worm and a worm wheel drivingly engaged with the worm. The transmission mechanism includes a base fixed to the speed reduction mechanism, a lead screw rod pivotally connected to the base and rotatably driven by the worm wheel, and a nut threadedly connected to the lead screw rod. The touch switch is electrically connected to the motor body and provided aside the lead screw rod, thereby stopping the motor body when the nut contacts the touch switch. Thus, the gear motor not only controls the operation of the driven mechanism, but also allows various driven mechanisms to be mounted thereon. The assembled volume of the gear motor and the driven mechanism is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Chou-Hsin WU
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8601891
    Abstract: A driving device having a housing tube connected to a stationary base part or a movable structural component part a protective tube connected to the other respective part a spindle drive which has a threaded spindle and a spindle nut arranged on the threaded spindle by which the housing tube and protective tube are movable axially relative to one another, and a rotary drive that drives the spindle drive via a clutch, a rotationally rigid interconnection thereof can be canceled when a determined torque is exceeded. A magnetic ring having a plurality of north and south poles is rotationally arranged near a stationary sensor element. The magnetic ring is arranged at the clutch that is connected to the threaded spindle, fixed with respect to rotation relative to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Marian Bochen, Michael Knopp
  • Publication number: 20130255413
    Abstract: The invention is a stand-alone automatic basket lift for deep fryers. The lift has an arm controlled by a timer. A standard basket 14×5×5 inch containing food is attached to the arm. Upon pushing the start button, the arm will lower the basket into the fryer and stay a predetermined time there frying the food. After the predetermined time elapses, the basket is lifted out of the deep fryer. The timer has six memories to store the predetermined time at user's desire. The predetermined time can be programmed to the accuracy of one second by the user. The maximum predetermined time is 99 minutes and the minimum is one second. Each lift is a stand-alone machine and can be installed at different positions relative to the fryer. For practical applications, two lifts are built into one unit. Three models for different installation positions are designed: side-installation model, back-installation model and top-installation model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Yi Liu
  • Patent number: 8534147
    Abstract: An electromotive linear drive, in particular for adjusting parts of an item of furniture, having a multi-part housing which is produced from plastic in an injection-molding process and in which are mounted at least one drive train and a block-shaped spindle nut which engages at least partially around the housing and/or at least partially into the housing. The housing is formed from at least two housing parts and has sliding tracks for the spindle nut, wherein at least the thread flights of the spindle are arranged outside the housing. In one preferred embodiment, the housing is arranged below the region of the spindle in relation to the assembled position of the electromotive linear drive. The housing parts forming the housing are of identical or similar, preferably shell-shaped, design in cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: DewertOkin GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Roither, Christian Müller
  • Publication number: 20130211343
    Abstract: A lead screw, a lead screw nut and a drive member are aligned with an axis defining an axial direction and an opposite axial direction. A coupling between the lead screw and the lead screw nut allows a helical movement of the lead screw with respect to the lead screw nut at least in the axial direction. The lead screw is coupled with the drive member, the coupling generating a helical movement of the lead screw with respect to the drive member when the drive member is moved in the axial direction with respect to the lead screw. A dispense stop feature of the lead screw nut and a dispense stop feature of the drive member prevent the generation of the helical movement of the lead screw when a specified end position of the drive member is approached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: David Aubrey Plumptre
  • Publication number: 20130186218
    Abstract: An electric linear actuator has a guide screw and a telescopic tube. A safety mechanism for the linear actuator includes a nut, a nut sheath, a sleeve, and a torsion spring. The nut connects the guide screw. The nut sheath is fixed on one side of the nut and is provided with a plurality of bumps. One end of the sleeve is put around the nut sheath and the other end thereof is connected to the telescopic tube. The sleeve is provided with a plurality of rabbets corresponding to the bumps. The torsion spring is disposed around the nut sheath and the sleeve. When the guide screw is rotated, the nut sheath is engaged with the sleeve by embedding the bumps into the rabbets. When the sleeve stops, the bumps and the rabbets depart from engagement to make the nut sheath and the nut freely rotate against the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: TIMOTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: TIMOTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8459133
    Abstract: The swinging operation of a rotary striker turns micro switches and, which detect the position of a piston, ON/OFF. The striker includes a lower-limit switch cam and an upper-limit switch cam. The cams and engage with switch bosses and that move together with the piston. When the piston is positioned at a lower-limit stop position L, the cam becomes engaged with the boss to make the striker swing in the X-direction and pushes a switch button of the switch. When the piston is positioned at an upper-limit stop position U, the cam becomes engaged with the boss to make the striker swing in the Y-direction and pushes a switch button of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Inoue, Masato Nakamura, Masatoshi Suzuki, Tsuyoshi Kumamoto
  • Publication number: 20130139625
    Abstract: An entertainment button device includes: an entertainment button that a player can push; a button-up-and-down mechanism configured to move the entertainment button up and down from a predetermined normal operation position to a protruding position in which the entertainment button protrudes upward from the normal operation position; a stopper plate configured to hold the entertainment button in the protruding position; and a protruding position detector configured to detect the entertainment button being held by the stopper plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Masayuki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8448540
    Abstract: An assembling mechanism of a self-locking linear actuator includes a gearbox, a one-piece rear retainer seat and a casing. The gearbox is composed of two half pieces, which are mated with each other for accommodating and locating a transmission mechanism of the actuator. The rear retainer seat is fixedly held in the gearbox for supporting a bearing of a threaded rod of the transmission mechanism and bearing the stress from the threaded rod. The contact faces of the rear retainer seat and the gearbox are regular polygonal to facilitate adjustment of fixing angle of the rear retainer seat. The casing is composed of two half casings, which are mated with each other to accommodate the transmission mechanism, the gearbox and the rear retainer seat. The mating faces of the half casings are parallel to the axis of the output shaft of a motor to facilitate connection operation of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Hiwin Mikrosystem Corp.
    Inventors: Hsin-An Chiang, Tung-Hsin Chen, Tai-Hung Lin, Shih-Yuan Tseng, Kuo-En Tseng
  • Patent number: 8424402
    Abstract: The outer diameter of a spline nut and the inner diameter of a nut body holding portion of a housing gradually decrease in the downward direction. A ball screw protection unit includes a nut body taper face that is formed in the outer peripheral face of the spline nut, a holding portion taper face that is formed in the nut body holding portion, and a disc spring that is provided at the upper end of the spline nut and that biases the spline nut in such a direction that a friction force between the nut body taper face and the holding portion taper face increases (downward direction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Watanabe, Satoshi Kondo, Yasuhiro Ohta
  • Patent number: 8418574
    Abstract: A combined linear and rotary actuator has a shaft with a screw thread, a nut engaging the screw thread and engaging means movable between a first location where rotation of the turning mechanism produces substantially linear displacement of the shaft, and a second location where rotation of the turning mechanism produces substantially rotary displacement of the shaft. The linear actuator finds particular use on retractable marine propulsor such as used on submarines and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Stephen Myers, Francis Russell Watson
  • Publication number: 20130068053
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein may be useful for use in a ballscrew assembly. In this regard, a ballscrew assembly is provided comprising a ballscrew having a ballscrew stop, a ballnut having a ballnut stop, wherein contact between the ballnut stop and the ballscrew stop impede rotation of the ballscrew relative to the ballnut. The ballnut stop may comprise an axial mating surface and the ballscrew stop may comprise an axial mating surface. Additionally, the ballnut may comprise threads axially spaced a first distance apart and the ballnut stop comprises a surface having length equal to the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric D. Cahill, David Bernard Drennen, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus
  • Patent number: 8388253
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjustably coupling a threaded linkage rod to an arm of a fuel valve, air valve, air damper, damper blade assembly, or actuator that can include a sleeve, a collar, and a lock restraining axial movement of the collar with respect to the sleeve. The sleeve may include an inside threaded wall defining a sleeve bore axially receiving the linkage rod. The collar may include (i) a collar body having a collar bore axially receiving the sleeve and (ii) an about radial extension for engagement with the arm of the fuel valve, air damper, or actuator. Rotation of the sleeve causes axial movement of the sleeve, and thus the collar locked thereto, along the linkage rod. Fine position adjustments can be made to the position of the radial extension, and thus the arm of the fuel valve, air damper, or actuator engaged thereto, with respect to the linkage rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventor: Kenneth Rae McClelland
  • Patent number: 8358096
    Abstract: A linear electro-mechanical actuator comprises a housing with a reversible DC-motor (1), which through a transmission (2) can move an activation element (5) between two end positions. The activation element (5) will in the two end positions cause the electrical end stop switches (17, 25) to be activated for interrupting the current for the DC motor (1) in the end positions of the activation element (5) for running the motor (1) in one direction. Parallel to the end stop switches (17, 25), an extra set of switches (21, 23) are incorporated for determining in which end position the activation element (5) is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventor: Jeppe Bastholm
  • Publication number: 20130008270
    Abstract: A limit switch assembly for a screw jack includes a worm screw jack assembly, a gear mechanism and a limit switch mechanism. The worm screw jack assembly includes a worm shaft, a worm gear and a screw jack shaft. The gear mechanism includes a piston, an adapter block, a planetary gearbox, and a gearbox shaft. The piston is drivable by the worm gear and engages the gearbox and the gearbox shaft extends out of the adapter block on an opposing side of the piston. The limit switch mechanism is coupled to the screw jack by the gear mechanism, and includes at least two limit switches operable to control movement of the screw jack shaft. The planetary gearbox may have interchangeable ratios to accommodate worm gear screw jacks with an increased number of gear ratios, drive screw lead, and length of travel requirement combinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: NOOK INDUSTRIES
    Inventors: Ronald Lee Giovannone, Matthew Ryan Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20130000432
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for adjusting and locking a movable control surface, which includes, but is not limited to a rotatably held spindle, an adjustment body, a linear guide, a drive unit, a linear positioning encoder and a control unit. The adjustment body with the linear guide is slidably guided along a first movement axis, and the spindle is connected to the adjustment body for moving the adjustment body along the movement axis. The adjustment body is configured to connect to a control surface mount, and the linear positioning encoder and the drive unit are connected to the control unit. The latter is designed to adjust a predetermined actuating position of the adjustment body by rotation of the spindle with the drive unit and by comparing an actual position, detected by the linear positioning encoder, of the adjustment body with the predetermined actuating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Eldert AKKERMANN
  • Publication number: 20120318082
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a rotational movement into an axial movement. A threaded rod is provided, on which a nut is arranged to be movable axially to the threaded rod. At least one blocking structure is provided, which is so arranged that it blocks rotational movement of the nut during the axial movement along the threaded rod. There is provided on the threaded rod at least one end stop, which limits axial movement of the nut along the threaded rod. Between the axially movable nut and the end stop, a wedge lock washer pair is arranged. The wedge lock washer pair is so embodied that the wedge lock washers are brought into engagement by the pressing of the nut against the end stop and produce a prestress torque, wherein torque for releasing the nut from the end stop is smaller, essentially by the prestress torque of the wedge lock washer pair, than the torque applied as the nut first pressed against the end stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Auma Riester GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Tobias Wasser
  • Publication number: 20120255380
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stroke-restricting device of a linear actuator and a wire-reeling mechanism thereof The linear actuator includes a base and a telescopic pipe. The stroke-restricting device includes a box, a movable member, a block, a pair of switches, and a wire-reeling mechanism. The box is fixed to the base and has a wall plate. The wall plate is provided with a through-hole. The movable member includes a rod penetrating the through-hole and movable with respect to the box. The block is fixed to the rod. The pair of switches is fixed to the box to correspond to the block. Each of the switches has a trigger portion for generating electrical signals by means of contact of the block. Each of the trigger portions is located at two opposite ends of a moving path of the block. The wire-reeling mechanism includes a wire disposed in the telescopic pipe and moving therewith. One end of the wire is connected to the movable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Chou-Hsin Wu
  • Patent number: 8272284
    Abstract: An electrically driven linear actuator (1) has an electric motor with a ball screw mechanism (3 and 4) connected to an output shaft (2a) of the electric motor (2), via a power transmitting mechanism (10 and 12) to convert a rotary motion of the electric motor (2) to a linear motion of an object member to be controlled by the actuator (1). Housing members (5, 6 and 8) contain the ball screw mechanism (3 and 4) and the power transmitting mechanism (10 and 12). Stroke end members (14 and 14), of a ball screw shaft (4) or a ball screw nut (3) forming the ball screw mechanism (3 and 4), are rotatably supported relative to the housing members (5 and 8) via a free rotation mechanism (20 and 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Tateishi, Yoshinori Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8272285
    Abstract: An actuator comprises an actuator shaft mounted for rotation by a drive shaft, releasable lock means operable to restrict axial movement of the actuator shaft relative to the drive shaft, and an output member co-operating with the actuator shaft such that rotation of the actuator shaft drives the output member for translating movement relative to the actuator shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Keith Kearns, David John Langford, Timothy Hudson
  • Patent number: 8262531
    Abstract: An actuator (100) includes a differential (105), the differential comprising a gear train comprising a first leg (106a) and a second leg (106b); a motor (101) configured to power a rotating ball screw (104) through the first leg (106a) of the differential (105); and a brake (103) connected to the second leg (106b) of the differential (105), the brake (103) having a holding force, such that in the event a torque in the differential (105) exceeds the holding force, the brake (103) is configured to dissipate the torque in the differential (105).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Himmelmann, David Lang
  • Publication number: 20120222510
    Abstract: Linear actuator comprising a housing (1) consisting of at least two parts (1 a, 1 b) a mounting console (2) a reversible motor (7) with a transmission (22), a spindle (5) which over the transmission is driven by the motor, a bearing (16) for embedding the spindle (5), a spindle nut (6) secured against rotation on the spindle, an outer tube (3) which surrounds the spindle, an activation element (4) telescopically mounted in the outer tube (3) and connected to the spindle nut (6), a front mounting (8) on the outer end of the activation element (4), a rear mounting (9) arranged in the housing. In the rear mounting (9) is a seat for the bearing (31) of the spindle. The motor (7), the transmission (22) and the outer tube (3) is secured to the console (2). The mounting console (2) is constructed as a separate element around which the two parts (1a, 1 b) of the housing is assembled and the mounting console (2) constitutes alone the bearing chassis of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Henrik Winther, Torben Iversen
  • Patent number: 8256311
    Abstract: An actuator mounting assembly includes a cap, a rod, a spring mechanism, and a switch assembly. The cap is adapted to couple to an actuator. The rod extends through the cap and includes a first end adapted to extend through the actuator and a second end adapted to attach to a fixed location. The spring mechanism is disposed in the cap cavity, is compressible, and has a predetermined preload. The switch assembly is disposed in the cap and adapted to sense relative positioning between the rod and the cap and to provide signals based on the sensed relative positioning. When the rod and the cap are in a first relative position, the switch assembly provides a first signal to the actuator to allow the cap to move axially relative to the rod, but when in a second relative position, the switch assembly discontinues providing the first signal to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Payne, Jim Kern, Stephen Birn
  • Patent number: 8240637
    Abstract: The device includes a spindle rotatably supported perpendicular to a value displacement direction and is made of a first spindle part and a second spindle part. The two parts are provided with outside threads configured in opposite directions to each other. On the first spindle part, a first nut having a complementary inside thread is applied. On the second spindle part, a second nut having a complementary inside thread is applied. The first nut includes a first bearing for the rotatable support of one end of a first connecting rib. The second nut comprises a second bearing for the rotatable support of one end of a second connecting rib. The other end of the first connecting rib and the other end of the second connecting rib are rotatably supported on a third bearing. Parallel to the spindle, on the side thereof facing away from the valve member, a stop is provided for the first nut and for the second nut, the stop surface extends perpendicular to the displacement direction of the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Hannewald
  • Patent number: 8201468
    Abstract: An electromotive furniture double drive includes at least one drive motor, which is in driving engagement with a speed reduction gear train. An output element, which is secured against rotation, can be moved in its longitudinal direction by means of the speed reduction gear train. At least the speed reduction gear train and the output element are arranged in the housing, and the end positions of each output element are limited by at least one end switch. The output element and/or the housing has an adjustment device by means of which the position of the switching threshold of the at least one end switch can be adjusted from an area outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Dewert Antriebs- und Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Heinrichs
  • Publication number: 20120085186
    Abstract: A ball screw (7, 24), having a threaded nut (10, 26) which is arranged on a threaded spindle (2, 28) and having a circumferential stop (43) which is arranged between the threaded spindle (2, 28) and the threaded nut (10, 26) and which takes effect in a stop position of the threaded nut (10, 26), wherein a stop part (51) is arranged on the threaded spindle (8, 28), wherein the stop part (51) and the threaded nut (10, 26) are provided in each case with a marking (49, 50) for determining a rotational position of the stop part (51) in which the stop part (51) should be arranged on the threaded spindle (8, 28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jurgen Osterlanger, Josef Miko, Manfred Kraus, Stefanie Barthlein
  • Patent number: 8127633
    Abstract: By a linear actuator of the type comprising a driven spindle with a spindle nut, the outer positions and possibly also the intermediate positions of the spindle nut can be determined by a specially designed switch construction. This switch comprises an elongated conductor (8a), and next to this at least one other short conductor (8b), and where a connection element (10) for the spindle nut is equipped with an electric conductive element (9), for creating contact between the two conductors (8a, 8b). With two short conductors at the end of the elongated conductor end-stop switches for the nut are achieved and with more short conductors between the two end conductors the position of the spindle nut between its outer positions can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventor: Henning Kristensen
  • Patent number: 8109164
    Abstract: A linear actuator includes a housing formed of a first half shell and a second half shell and defining an accommodation chamber, a front opening in front of the accommodation chamber and a receiving chamber at the bottom side of the accommodation chamber, a driving mechanism having a push rod movably mounted in the accommodation chamber and extending out of the front opening, a motor mounted outside the accommodation chamber and a spindle coupled to and rotatable by the motor for causing the transmission shaft to reciprocate, and limit switches detachably mounted in the receiving chamber for stopping the motor upon movement of the transmission shaft to a front or rear limit position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Moteck Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Hsien-Te Tseng, Chun-Chih Liu
  • Patent number: 8109165
    Abstract: A linear actuator includes a first structure having an axis. A second structure is configured to translate relative to the first structure in response to rotation of the first structure. First and second stops are respectively operatively connected to the first and second structures. The first and second stops are configured to engage with one another at a travel limiting position. A compliant member is operatively arranged between the first and second structures and is configured to absorb energy between the first and second structures in the travel limiting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Himmelmann
  • Patent number: 8082813
    Abstract: A lead screw actuator for displacing holder with a collimator lens in an optical scanning device has a home-position for accurately determining the position of the collimator lens. An anti-seize construction is provided to avoid the holder to get stuck against the home-position due to the friction between both surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Andre Latenstein Van Voorst, Libert Henricus Augustinus Maria Camps, Johannes Antonius Van Rooij
  • Publication number: 20110290050
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adjusting device (5) for automatically actuating the vehicle door (3) of a motor vehicle, said device (5) having:—a first tubular housing (15) connected to the body (9) of the vehicle (1) and a second tubular housing (25) connected to the vehicle door (3) to be adjusted, the second tubular housing (25) can be moved telescopically relative to the first housing (15), and—a spindle drive (21) comprising: •a spindle (27), which can be rotated by an electric-motor drive arranged in the first tubular housing (15), • a spindle nut (31) threaded with the spindle (27), which when the spindle (27) is rotated, is displaced along the longitudinal axis (A) of the spindle (27), from a retracted rest position into an extended position, • a push rod (33) bearing the spindle nut (31), which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A) of the spindle (27), said push rod (33) being coupled to the second tubular housing (25), • and a tubular guide part (39) enclosing the push rod (33) and the
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: VALEO SICHERHEITSSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Kummer, Dietmar Orth
  • Patent number: 8042417
    Abstract: An actuator is described which comprises a rotatable actuator member (14, 114) and a lock arrangement (28, 128) operable to lock the actuator member (14, 144) against rotation, the lock arrangement (28, 128) comprising an axially movable lock member (30, 130, 230a, 230b), the lock member being movable between a locked position in which it co-operates with a stop (34, 136) to resist rotation of the actuator member, and a released position, and an actuation device (62, 162) operable to move the lock member towards its released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Harlow Davies, John Herbert Harvey, Steven Blakemore, Edward George Hill
  • Patent number: 8033193
    Abstract: A device for interrupting selectively a rotary translational movement, includes a threaded elongated element and an element having a female thread mating with the tread of the elongated element, one of said elements performing a translatory movements as far as at least a position defined by an end-of-travel stop as a result of engagement with the other element, and said translating element being able to undergo momentary deformation upon reaching said at least one end-of-travel position with the effect of being disengaged from the other element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Nice SpA
    Inventor: Andrea Malausa
  • Publication number: 20110162469
    Abstract: A component is described for adjusting a movable part, of a vehicle in particular, having a gear shaft, which extends along an axis of rotation and has a receiving groove, and having a stop disk, which is situated in the receiving groove, the receiving groove being situated obliquely to the axis of rotation. Also described is a component in which the receiving groove has a contour, so that the stop disk is in contact with the receiving groove in a first contact area and in a second contact area in both the unloaded state and under load by a blocking force acting in a spatial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, the first contact area and the second contact area being situated on opposite sides of the stop disk. Also described is a component in which the receiving groove has an upper side and a lower side, at least the upper and/or lower sides of the receiving groove forming an acute angle with the axis of rotation. Also described is a gear shaft of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen OBERLE, Andreas Stock, Andrew Pierson, Gilles Peter
  • Patent number: 7965934
    Abstract: A switching mechanism for a camera device includes a driving device, a first screw bar connecting to the driving device, a second screw bar connecting to the first screw bar, and a lead screw having an end coupled with the second screw bar. The first screw bar is driven by the driving device via a screw thread thereof, and the second screw bar is driven by the first screw bar via a screw thread thereof, thereby driving the lead screw for rotation. The screw nut is disposed on the lead screw and moved back and forth via the rotation of the lead screw. Two stop blocks disposed at two ends of the lead screw respectively are to limit two positions of the moved screw nut while the screw nut is moved beyond a threaded area of the lead screw, upon which time the screw nut is slightly engaged with the lead screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: VTC Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Tai-Kuo Wang, Wen-Chi Wang, Julian Lin
  • Publication number: 20110132115
    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: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong Kon Lee
  • Publication number: 20110107859
    Abstract: A suspension actuator (1) for positioning a movably mounted component of a motor vehicle suspension, including a first actuator component (4), which is to be connected to the movably mounted component, and a second actuator component (3), which is to be connected to a fixed suspension component, wherein both actuator components can be axially adjusted relative to one another via a ball-type linear drive (5), which includes a threaded spindle (6) and a nut (7) running thereon. Either the nut can be driven via a drive motor (10) for the axial adjustment of the threaded spindle or the spindle can be driven via a drive motor for axial adjustment of the nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jurgen Osterlanger, Ralf Mayer, Manfred Kraus, Thomas Mehlis, Stefanie Barthlein, Meinhard Schmidt, Thomas Dirnberger, Tobias Noss, Falk Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20110072921
    Abstract: A linear actuator includes a first structure having an axis. A second structure is configured to translate relative to the first structure in response to rotation of the first structure. First and second stops are respectively operatively connected to the first and second structures. The first and second stops are configured to engage with one another at a travel limiting position. A compliant member is operatively arranged between the first and second structures and is configured to absorb energy between the first and second structures in the travel limiting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Richard A. Himmelmann
  • Patent number: 7905157
    Abstract: A housing has a screw shaft passing wall in which a through hole, through which a screw shaft passes, is formed. A spline outer cylinder is held at one end by the screw shaft passing wall, and a disc spring that biases the spline outer cylinder toward the screw shaft passing wall is arranged at the other end of the spline outer cylinder. A tapered recess is formed in one end face of the spline outer cylinder, and a tapered projection that is fitted in the tapered recess is formed in a face of the screw shaft passing wall of the housing, which faces the spline outer cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Shige, Yasushi Kadota, Satoshi Kondo, Atsushi Sakuta
  • Patent number: 7886630
    Abstract: When a column 4 reaches a tilting ascent end, the lower end 732 of a nut 73 abuts on the buffering segment 83 of a buffer 82. Thus, while the buffering segment 83 of the buffer 82 is elastically deformed, the nut 73 stops with no impact. Accordingly, the inertia when the nut 73 stops is restrained and the tightening torque of the nut 73 when the nut 73 stops is also restrained. For this reason, when an electric motor 61 is rotationally driven in a reverse direction, a feeding screw shaft 71 rotates in the reverse direction with the normal rotation torque of the electric motor 61. Thus, the nut 73 is caused to ascend in the axial direction along the screw segment of the feeding screw shaft 71 so that the column 4 can be tiltingly moved downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Tomaru, Yuuichi Tomaru, Kouhei Yonezawa, Naoki Sawada
  • Patent number: 7886625
    Abstract: An actuator with self-locking assist device comprises an actuator and a self-locking assist device, wherein the self-locking assist device is disposed at one end of the actuator, and the friction force between the self-locking assist device and the actuator is used to improve the self-locking capability of the actuator, thus preventing the uncontrollable movement of the actuator caused by the influence of the load carried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hiwin Mikrosystem Corp.
    Inventor: Fu-Yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 7866225
    Abstract: A spindle drive (10), in particular for adjusting a movable part (58) in a motor vehicle, includes a drive assembly (42), which drives a drive wheel (18) supported on a spindle (16). The drive wheel (18) is rotatably supported in a support tube (14) that includes a receptacle (52) for a fastening device (54) for diverting crash forces. A guide tube (64) that accommodates the spindle (16) and overlaps axially with the support tube (14) is located coaxially with spindle (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Oberle, Andreas Lienig
  • Patent number: 7861611
    Abstract: A stop device comprises a rotatable shaft, a travelling nut mounted upon the shaft in such a manner that rotation of the shaft causes the nut to translate along the shaft, and a stop member mounted upon the shaft and operable to limit the length of the shaft along which the travelling nut can translate, wherein the stop member is adjustably mounted upon the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Steven James Martin, Scott Gary Haldron