US5041748A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lightweight, direct drive electromechanical actuator
Assignee: Sundstrand Corp
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Filing: 1989-10-16
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Granted: 1991-08-20
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Expires: 2009-10-16
Abstract
Abstract An actuator (10) comprises a housing having sections (11, 11') joined by a band clamp (12). A high torque, low speed motor (14) is provided in the housing and has a rotor (17) associated with a ballscrew rod (18) which is received in the hollow end of a ballnut/rod (20). The ballscrew rod (18) and the ballnut/rod (20) are provided with grooves (19, 20 respectively) between which ceramic balls (20) are entrained. The rod (20) translates in only a rectilinear direction and the grooves (19) of the ballscrew rod (18) are protected from the environment by the ballnut/rod (20) which covers the free end of the ballscrew rod (18).
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Huber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:52
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K7/00; H02K7/06; F; F16; F16H; F16H25/00; F16H25/18; F16H25/20; F16H25/22; F16H25/2204; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/18576; Y10T74/18688
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An actuator, comprising a housing, a motor operatively arranged within the housing and directly driving a shaft located at least partly within the housing, a first coupling means on an outer surface of the shaft axially displaced from the motor, and a rod movable into and out of the housing for transmitting loads, the rod having a hollow portion and a second coupling means associated with the hollow portion of the rod which cooperates with the first coupling means within the housing so that the first and second coupling means are not exposed, and the housing is a multipart housing joined by at least one removable band clamp.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An actuator, comprising a housing, a motor operatively arranged within the housing and directly driving a shaft located at least partly within the housing, a first coupling means on an outer surface of the shaft axially displaced from the motor, and a rod movable into and out of the housing for transmitting loads, the rod having a hollow portion and a second coupling means associated with the hollow portion of the rod which cooperates with the first coupling means within the housing so that the first and second coupling means are not exposed, and the housing is a multipart housing joined by at least one removable band clamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
127 words
An actuator, comprising a multipart housing joined by at least on removable band damp, a motor operatively arranged within the housing and directly driving a shaft located at least partly within the housing, a first coupling means on an outer surface of the shaft axially displaced from the motor, and a rod movable into and out of the housing for transmitting loads, the rod having a hollow portion and a second coupling means associated with the hollow portion of the rod which cooperates with the first coupling means within the housing, the motor has a rotor unitary with the shaft; and the first coupling means, and the second coupling means comprise a ballscrew and ballnut, and balls are operatively arranged between the first and second coupling means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
127 words
An actuator, comprising a multipart housing joined by at least on removable band damp, a motor operatively arranged within the housing and directly driving a shaft located at least partly within the housing, a first coupling means on an outer surface of the shaft axially displaced from the motor, and a rod movable into and out of the housing for transmitting loads, the rod having a hollow portion and a second coupling means associated with the hollow portion of the rod which cooperates with the first coupling means within the housing, the motor has a rotor unitary with the shaft; and the first coupling means, and the second coupling means comprise a ballscrew and ballnut, and balls are operatively arranged between the first and second coupling means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
An actuator, comprising a housing, a motor operatively arranged within the housing and directly driving a shaft located at least partly within the housing, a first coupling means on an outer surface of the shaft axially displaced from the motor, and a rod movable into and out of the housing for transmitting loads, the rod having a hollow portion and a second coupling means associated with the hollow portion of the rod which cooperates with the first coupling means within the housing and at least one feedback device provides a signal responsive to position of the rod relative to the housing and the feedback device includes a means to prevent rotation of the rod relative to the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
An actuator, comprising a housing, a motor operatively arranged within the housing and directly driving a shaft located at least partly within the housing, a first coupling means on an outer surface of the shaft axially displaced from the motor, and a rod movable into and out of the housing for transmitting loads, the rod having a hollow portion and a second coupling means associated with the hollow portion of the rod which cooperates with the first coupling means within the housing and at least one feedback device provides a signal responsive to position of the rod relative to the housing and the feedback device includes a means to prevent rotation of the rod relative to the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
An actuator, comprising a housing, a motor operatively arranged within the housing and directly driving a shaft located at least partly within the housing, a first coupling means on an outer surface of the shaft axially displace from the motor, and a rod movable into and out of the housing for transmitting loads, the rod having a hollow portion and a second coupling means associated with the hollow portion of the rod which cooperates with the first coupling means within the housing, means for providing incremental feedback, a motor control adjacent the motor, at least one feedback device providing a signal responsive to the position of the rod relative to the housing, and the feedback device includes a means to prevent rotation of the rod relative to the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
An actuator, comprising a housing, a motor operatively arranged within the housing and directly driving a shaft located at least partly within the housing, a first coupling means on an outer surface of the shaft axially displace from the motor, and a rod movable into and out of the housing for transmitting loads, the rod having a hollow portion and a second coupling means associated with the hollow portion of the rod which cooperates with the first coupling means within the housing, means for providing incremental feedback, a motor control adjacent the motor, at least one feedback device providing a signal responsive to the position of the rod relative to the housing, and the feedback device includes a means to prevent rotation of the rod relative to the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
116 words
An actuator, comprising a housing, a motor operatively arranged within the housing and directly driving a shaft located at least partly within the housing, a first coupling means on an outer surface of the shaft axially displaced from the motor, and a rod movable into and out of the housing for transmitting loads, the rod having a hollow portion and a second coupling means associated with the hollow portion of the rod which cooperates with the first coupling means within the housing, and the housing is a multipart housing with each part being constructed form a composite material with at least one split line separating the parts with each split line being joined by a clamp.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
An actuator, comprising a housing, a motor operatively arranged within the housing and directly driving a shaft located at least partly within the housing, a first coupling means on an outer surface of the shaft axially displaced from the motor, and a rod movable into and out of the housing for transmitting loads, the rod having a hollow portion and a second coupling means associated with the hollow portion of the rod which cooperates with the first coupling means within the housing, and the housing is a multipart housing with each part being constructed form a composite material with at least one split line separating the parts with each split line being joined by a clamp.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An actuator in accordance with claim 5 wherein: the composite material comprises a graphite and polyamide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An actuator in accordance with claim 5 wherein: the clamp comprises a band clamp.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An actuator in accordance with claim 6 wherein: the clamp comprises a band clamp.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An actuator in accordance with claim 5 wherein: the first coupling means and the second coupling means comprise a ballscrew and ballnut, and balls are operatively arranged between the first and second coupling means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
An actuator in accordance with claim 5 further comprising: at least one feedback device providing a signal responsive to the position of the rod relative to the housing and the feedback device including a means to prevent rotation of the rod relative to the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An actuator in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the motor is a switched reluctance motor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling means and and ballnut, the second coupling means comprise a ballscrew and ballnut, and balls are operatively arranged between the first and second coupling means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the motor is a switched reluctance d.c. motor and has a rotor unitary with the shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
An actuator according to claim 3, wherein the first coupling means and the second coupling means comprise a ballscrew and ballnut, and balls are operatively arranged between the ballscrew and the ballnut.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An actuator according to claim 14, wherein the motor is a switched reluctance d.c. motor and has a rotor unitary with the shaft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
An actuator according to claim 15, wherein the housing is a multipart housing joined by at least one removable band clamp.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
An actuator to claim 16, wherein the rod is configured to prevent rotation thereof with respect to the housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
An actuator according to claim 4, wherein the first coupling means and the second coupling means comprise a ballscrew and ballnut, and balls are operatively arranged between the ballscrew and the ballnut
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
An actuator according to claim 4, wherein the motor is a switched reluctance d.c. motor and has a rotor unitary with the shaft.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-19 | 1995-02-18 | 1995-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-19 | 1999-02-18 | 1999-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-19 | 2003-02-18 | 2003-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |