Patent US3873066A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3873066A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-contained mechanical actuator
Assignee: ASR 9 INC A CORP OF
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Filing: 1973-09-13
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A self-contained mechanical actuator, such as a jackscrew, which includes a housing in which a drive shaft assembly connects a power source to the input side of a speed reduction gear train, the output of which is associated with load-bearing means for manipulation of a load. A brake is provided in association with the drive shaft assembly where a minimum braking force can be used to maximum advantage. The brake includes a carrier member mounted about the drive shaft assembly solely by a plurality of ball elements carried by the carrier member and biased against the drive shaft assembly to apply a braking force against the shaft. The carrier member is restrained against rotational movement about the drive shaft assembly by engagement with an abutment rib in the housing, and against axial movement along the drive shaft assembly by ball element engagement in a circumferential groove formed in the shaft, with the carrier member being otherwise free for radial and axial movement to allow self-alignment of the ball elements in the groove for even braking action of the ball elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin A Opyrchal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:17
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66F; B66F3/00; B66F3/08; B66F3/44; F; F16; F16H; F16H25/00; F16H25/18; F16H25/20; F16H2025/2062; F16H2025/2084; F16H2025/209; F16H25/24; F16H25/2454; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/18576
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A self-contained mechanical actuator which includes a housing, a drive motor, a drive shaft assembly connecting the drive motor with the input side of a speed reduction gear train within said housing, and load-bearing means associated with the output side of said reduction gear train for manipulating a load, the improvement of braking means comprising a carrier member mounted on said drive shaft assembly, a plurality of radially spaced ball elements carried at circumferentially spaced locations in said carrier member, means acting individually on each of said ball elements for biasing said ball elements into contact with said drive shaft assembly, said ball elements constituting the sole support for said carrier member, and stationary abutment means disposed on said housing for engagement with said carrier member to restrict rotational movement thereof and thereby cause said ball elements to apply a braking resistance to rotation of said drive shaft assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A self-contained mechanical actuator which includes a housing, a drive motor, a drive shaft assembly connecting the drive motor with the input side of a speed reduction gear train within said housing, and load-bearing means associated with the output side of said reduction gear train for manipulating a load, the improvement of braking means comprising a carrier member mounted on said drive shaft assembly, a plurality of radially spaced ball elements carried at circumferentially spaced locations in said carrier member, means acting individually on each of said ball elements for biasing said ball elements into contact with said drive shaft assembly, said ball elements constituting the sole support for said carrier member, and stationary abutment means disposed on said housing for engagement with said carrier member to restrict rotational movement thereof and thereby cause said ball elements to apply a braking resistance to rotation of said drive shaft assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
In a self-contained mechanical actuator, the improvement defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said abutment means is fixed with respect to said housing and extends toward said drive shaft assembly, and in that said carrier member is formed with a slot for receiving said abutment means, the dimensions of said slot being greater than the dimensions of the portion of said abutment means located therein to loosely receive the same and allow relative movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a self-contained mechanical actuator, the improvement defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that said abutment means comprises a projecting rib formed integrally with said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a self-contained mechanical actuator, the improvement defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that said abutment means comprises a bolt element detachably mounted in said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a self-contained mechanical actuator, the improvement defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that means are provided in association with said carrier member to restrict axial movement of said carrier member along said drive shaft assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a self-contained mechanical actuator, the improvement defined in claim 5 and further characterized in that said restricting means includes a circumferential groove formed in said drive shaft assembly for engagement by said biased ball members, the bias on said ball elements acting to maintain said ball members in said circumferential groove to thereby restrict the axial movement of said carrier member along said drive shaft assembly with said carrier member being otherwise free to move axially and radially to allow said ball elements to align themselves and said carrier member evenly with said groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a self-contained mechanical actuator, the improvement defined in claim 6 and further characterized in that said drive shaft assembly includes a drive motor shaft component, an input shaft component drivingly connected to said reduction gear train, and a selectively removable coupling component connecting said drive motor shaft component to said input shaft component, and in that said circumferential groove is formed in the exterior surface of said coupling component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a self-contained mechanical actuator, the improvement defined in claim 6 and further characterized in that said carrier member includes a plurality of radial bores extending therethrough, said bores being equally spaced circumferentially from one another with each bore threadably receiving at the radially outermost portion thereof an adjustable screw element, and in that one of said ball elements is disposed in each of said bores at the radially innermost portion thereof with a biasing spring element acting between said screw element and said ball element to urge said ball element radially inwardly, the position of said screw member in each said bore being adjustable to vary the bias imposed on said ball element associated therewith when said ball element is in engagement with said circumferential groove in said drive shaft assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1162125A
Cited
US3559499A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |