Patent · US Expired

Electric linear actuator with planetary action

US5491372A · kind A · utility

84Cited by
24References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 22, 1993
Grant dateFeb 13, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 22, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02K7/06
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrically powered linear actuator including an actuator assembly (having an actuator rod and a thread engaging portion), a motor assembly (having a stator) and a housing assembly. An elongated cylinder formed of a magnetic material is rotatably supported relative to the housing assembly. Magnets or other elements are mounted about an outer circumference of the cylinder to form an armature within the motor assembly. The elongated cylinder of the armature further includes an internally threaded bore. The thread engaging portion of the actuator assembly is moved along the threaded extent of the cylinder on rotation of the cylinder. Thus, the cylinder functions as an armature drive cylinder. The stator is selectively energized to rotate the armature drive cylinder clockwise or counterclockwise to reciprocally move the thread engaging portion of the actuator assembly and the output shaft. The threaded bore of the cylinder is significantly longer than the thread engaging portion of the actuator assembly such that the difference therebetween defines an actuation stroke for the device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.