High speed rod-style linear actuator

A linear actuator comprising:

• a housing having a longitudinal axis;
• a drive member in reciprocal engagement within the housing and disposed along the longitudinal axis thereof;
• an output rod having a first end coupled to the drive member within the housing and a second end positionable exterior to the housing, opposite the first end;
• a belt drive comprising a timing belt configured to selectively position the drive member within the housing along the longitudinal axis, wherein the timing belt is disposed within the housing and coupled to the drive member such that the second end of the output rod is selectively positioned exterior to the housing;
• one or more wear members or rings disposed in sliding engagement between the drive member and an inner surface of the housing;
• a bushing disposed in sliding engagement about the distal end of the output rod in a front end of the housing;
• and
• a clamp attachment configured for clamping the timing belt to the drive member, wherein the clamp attachment clamps the timing belt to an inner surface of the drive member within a body of the drive member, and wherein the clamp attachment is disposed between a longitudinal axis of the output rod and the longitudinal axis of the actuator housing;
• wherein the output rod is coupled to the timing belt via the piston member and disposed above the timing belt with the longitudinal axis of the output rod between an inner surface of the actuator housing and the upper portion of the belt drive, opposite a lower portion of the belt drive across the longitudinal axis of the actuator housing.

A method of operating a linear actuator, the method comprising:

• supporting an output rod in sliding engagement within an actuator housing, wherein the output rod comprises a first end attached to a drive member and a second end selectively positionable exterior to the actuator housing, opposite the first end;
• positioning the drive member in reciprocal motion within the actuator housing, along a longitudinal axis thereof;
• and
• selectively controlling the reciprocal motion of the drive member with a belt drive system comprising a timing belt disposed between a drive pulley and an idler along the longitudinal axis within the housing;
• wherein the drive member is coupled to the timing belt between the drive pulley and the idler, such that the second end of the output rod is selectively positioned based on a rotational position of the drive pulley;
• wherein the drive member comprises a piston member disposed about the timing belt and coupled to an upper or lower portion thereof with a belt clamp clamped to an inner surface of the piston member within a body of the piston member, the belt clamp disposed between a longitudinal axis of the output rod and the longitudinal axis of the actuator housing, and wherein the linear actuator comprises one or more wear rings or other sliding engagement members positioned between an outer surface of the piston member and an inner surface of the actuator housing, and wherein the output rod is coupled to the timing belt via the piston member and disposed above the timing belt with the longitudinal axis of the output rod between an inner surface of the actuator housing and the upper portion of the belt drive, opposite a lower portion of the belt drive across the longitudinal axis of the actuator housing, and further comprising:
• positioning the piston in reciprocal sliding engagement with an inner surface of the actuator housing;
• and
• supporting the output rod in sliding engagement proximate the second end, parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis of the actuator housing.