US3743987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spline for rotary actuator
Assignee: LUCAS LEDEX Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-05
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1992-09-05
Abstract
Abstract An improved spline for drivingly connecting the armature of a rotary solenoid actuator to an output shaft driven by the armature comprises needle bearings lodged between confronting flutes of the armature and the driven shaft. The flutes have flat angularly disposed longitudinal walls so as to make line contact with the needle bearings.
Inventors
- 👤 B Yost
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:30
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01F; H01F7/00; H01F7/06; H01F7/08; H01F7/14; H01F7/145; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
In a rotary actuator device comprising an electromagnet assembly rotatably supporting a shaft, an armature having a bore receiving said shaft and movable axially along said shaft in response to energization of said electromagnet assembly, axial to helical motion conversion means coacting between said electromagnet assembly and said armature to rotate said armature helically along the axis of said shaft, and helical to rotary motion conversion means coacting between said armature and said shaft to rotate, without axially moving, said shaft, the improvement wherein said helical to rotary motion conversion means comprises a plurality of first indentations in said shaft circumferentially spaced about the axis of said shaft, an equal number of second indentations in the interior wall of said bore, each of said first indentations confronting a second indentation, a plurality of bearing members, there being a one piece bearing member circumferentially interfitting each first indentation and its confronting second indentation, one of the first and second indentations interfitted by each bearing member being an axially extending flute to allow relative axial movement of its interfitting bearing member, and means coacting between said electromagnet assembly and said shaft to support said shaft against axial motion relative to said electromagnet assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a rotary actuator device comprising an electromagnet assembly rotatably supporting a shaft, an armature having a bore receiving said shaft and movable axially along said shaft in response to energization of said electromagnet assembly, axial to helical motion conversion means coacting between said electromagnet assembly and said armature to rotate said armature helically along the axis of said shaft, and helical to rotary motion conversion means coacting between said armature and said shaft to rotate, without axially moving, said shaft, the improvement wherein said helical to rotary motion conversion means comprises a plurality of first indentations in said shaft circumferentially spaced about the axis of said shaft, an equal number of second indentations in the interior wall of said bore, each of said first indentations confronting a second indentation, a plurality of bearing members, there being a one piece bearing member circumferentially interfitting each first indentation and its confronting second indentation, one of the first and second indentations interfitted by each bearing member being an axially extending flute to allow relative axial movement of its interfitting bearing member, and means coacting between said electromagnet assembly and said shaft to support said shaft against axial motion relative to said electromagnet assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The rotary actuator device of claim 1 in which the other of the first and second indentations interfitted by each bearing member is also an axially extending flute and said bearing members are needle bearings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The rotary actuator device of claim 2 in which said bore has a generally cylindrical wall and said second indentations are flutes in said wall extending axially throughout the length of said wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The rotary actuator device of claim 2 in which said flutes are V-shaped in cross section and have line contact with said needle bearings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The rotary actuator device of claim 1 in which said equal number is four.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The rotary actuator device of claim 1 in which said shaft has an axially extending collar portion larger in diameter than portions of said shaft adjacent thereto, and in which said first indentations are flutes axially traversing said collar portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
A spline assembly to nonrotatably couple a shaft with a member movable axially along said shaft, said member having a bore therethrough, said shaft having a radially enlarged collar portion received in said bore, said collar portion having diametrically disposed aXially extending flutes traversing the axial length thereof, said bore having diametrically disposed axially extending flutes traversing the length thereof, the flutes of said collar portion confronting the flutes of said bore, and elongated needle bearings interposed between said confronting flutes and circumferentially interfitting said flutes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
A spline assembly to nonrotatably couple a shaft with a member movable axially along said shaft, said member having a bore therethrough, said shaft having a radially enlarged collar portion received in said bore, said collar portion having diametrically disposed aXially extending flutes traversing the axial length thereof, said bore having diametrically disposed axially extending flutes traversing the length thereof, the flutes of said collar portion confronting the flutes of said bore, and elongated needle bearings interposed between said confronting flutes and circumferentially interfitting said flutes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The spline assembly of claim 7 in which the diametrically disposed flutes in each of said collar portion and said bore comprise two pairs, said flutes in each of said collar portion and said bore disposed at equiangular positions about the axis of said shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The spline assembly of claim 7 in which said flutes each have a V-shaped cross section in planes perpendicular to the axis of said shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |