# US 11,078,997 B2 · Motor driven electromechanical actuator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,997 B2 - Document ID: US11078997B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/746,281 - Filed: 2016-07-20 - Published: 2018-08-02 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-20 - Assignees: National Machine Group - Applicants: National Machine Company - Inventors: Raymond Alvero Forrester, Jr.; Robert William Hyde - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078997B2 ## CPC - F16H 37/041: {for conveying rotary motion with constant gear ratio} - F16H 1/16: comprising worm and worm-wheel - F16H 7/02: with belts; with V-belts - F16H 7/023: {with belts having a toothed contact surface or regularly spaced bosses or hollows for slipless or nearly slipless meshing with complementary profiled contact surface of a pulley} - F16H 57/031: characterised by covers or lids for gearboxes - F16H 57/035: Gearboxes for gearing with endless flexible members - F16H 57/039: Gearboxes for accommodating worm gears - H02K 7/1166: {comprising worm and worm-wheel (structural association with bearings specially adapted for worm gear drives H02K7/081)} - H02K 11/215: Magnetic effect devices, e.g. Hall-effect or magneto-resistive elements - H02K 11/25: Devices for sensing temperature, or actuated thereby - F16H 2057/02034: {Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines} - F16H: GEARING - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) ## Abstract A motor driven electromechanical actuator assembly includes a motor assembly having a motor shaft and a gear assembly. The gear assembly includes a plurality of gears with a belt drive that couples the motor assembly to the actuator output shaft. The actuator assembly also includes a position sensor system configured to determine a rotational characteristic of the drive shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An actuator, comprising: a housing defining an internal envelope and having a removable cover; a motor assembly provided on a surface of the internal envelope and comprising a motor and a motor shaft supported by the motor, the motor configured to supply a first torque to the motor shaft; a gear assembly comprising a drive belt coupled to receive the first torque from the motor shaft and coupled to supply a second torque to a sprocket fixed along an axis of a worm screw shaft, wherein the motor shaft and worm screw shaft extend into a first open side of the drive belt, and a second open side of the drive belt is exposed upon removal of the removable cover, a drive gear fixed along the axis of a drive shaft, the drive shaft having a sensor end, the drive gear being engaged along the outer surface of a worm screw portion to receive the second torque from the worm screw shaft and operable, in response thereto, to supply a drive torque to the drive shaft; and a position sensor system into which the sensor end of the drive shaft is inserted, and wherein the position sensor is configured to determine a rotational characteristic of the drive shaft, the position sensor system comprising a Hall effect sensor and a magnet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the motor and, when the temperature of the motor exceeds a threshold temperature, a controller switches the motor into a stall condition to prevent damage to the motor assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1, wherein the actuator is contained in a housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The actuator of claim 3 wherein the worm screw shaft further comprises a backdrive, whereby the rotation of the drive shaft may be reversed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The actuator of claim 4, wherein a back drive cap is provided on the removable cap and removable to expose the backdrive. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The actuator of claim 3 wherein a drive end of the drive shaft protrudes through the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The actuator of claim 3 further comprising a visual position indicator that is located on an external surface of the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1 wherein the motor is an electric motor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1 wherein the position sensor further comprises an integrated chip having a rotational collar that is secured to the sensor end of the drive shaft, the rotational collar being rotatable within a receiving port disposed in the integrated chip. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1 further comprising one or more electrical position indicators. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1, wherein a portion of the housing separates the internal envelope of the housing within which the motor assembly is provided from an area of the internal envelope within which the drive belt is provided. ### Claim 12 An actuator, comprising: a housing defining an internal envelope and having a removable cover; a motor assembly provided on a surface of the internal envelope and comprising a motor and a motor shaft, the motor configured to supply a first torque to the motor shaft; a gear assembly comprising a drive belt coupled to receive the first torque from the motor shaft and coupled to supply a second torque to a sprocket fixed along an axis of a worm screw shaft, wherein the motor shaft and worm screw shaft extend into a first open side of the drive belt, and a second open side of the drive belt is exposed upon removal of the removable cover, a drive gear fixed along the axis of a drive shaft, the drive shaft having a sensor end, the drive gear coupled to receive the second torque from the worm screw shaft and operable, in response thereto, to supply a drive torque to the drive shaft; a position sensor system configured to receive the sensor end of the drive shaft and to determine a rotational characteristic of the drive shaft, the position sensor system comprising a Hall effect sensor and a magnet; and a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the motor and, when the temperature of the motor exceeds a threshold temperature, a controller switches the motor into a stall condition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The actuator of claim 12, further comprising a visual position indicator that is located on an external surface of the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The actuator of claim 12, wherein the worm screw shaft further comprises a backdrive, whereby the rotation of the drive shaft may be reversed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The actuator of claim 14, wherein the removable cover is a having a back drive cap that is removable to expose the backdrive. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The actuator of claim 12 wherein a drive end of the drive shaft protrudes through the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The actuator of claim 12 wherein the motor is an electric motor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The actuator of claim 12 wherein the position sensor comprises a chip having a rotational collar that is secured to the sensor end of the drive shaft, the rotational collar being rotatable within a receiving port disposed in the chip. ### Claim 19 An actuator, comprising: a housing defining an internal envelope and having a removable cover; a motor assembly provided on a surface of the internal envelope and comprising a motor and a motor shaft, the motor configured to supply a first torque to the motor shaft; a gear assembly comprising a drive belt coupled to receive the first torque from the motor shaft and coupled to supply a second torque to a sprocket fixed along an axis of a worm screw shaft, wherein the motor shaft and worm screw shaft extend into a first open side of the drive belt, and a second open side of the drive belt is exposed upon removal of the removable cover, a drive gear fixed along the axis of a drive shaft, the drive shaft having a sensor end, the drive gear coupled to receive the second torque from the worm screw shaft and operable, in response thereto, to supply a drive torque to the drive shaft; a position sensor configured to receive the sensor end of the drive shaft and to determine a rotational characteristic of the drive shaft, the position sensor comprising a Hall effect sensor; a magnet, and a rotational collar secured to the sensor end of the drive shaft, the rotational collar being rotatable within a receiving port disposed on the integrated chip; and a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the motor and, when the temperature of the motor exceeds a threshold temperature, a controller switches the motor into a stall condition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The actuator of claim 19 wherein the removable cover is a drive belt covering having a back drive cap that is removable to expose the backdrive.