Actuator gearbox with selectable linkages
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorHanXing Xu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator gearbox includes a drive shaft including a plurality of gear linkages that are spaced apart along the drive shaft, and a plurality of output shafts adjacent respective ones of the plurality of gear linkages. Each of the gear linkages includes a fixed gear coupled to one of the plurality of output shafts and a moving gear that is slideably coupled to the drive shaft. A bias spring is coupled to the moving gear to urge the moving gear out of engagement with the fixed gear. The mechanical switch moves the moving gear into engagement with the fixed gear on the output shaft adjacent the linkage to thereby cause the output shaft to rotate in response to rotation of the drive shaft.
Claims20
An actuator gearbox, comprising:
- a drive shaft extending in a first direction and comprising a plurality of gear linkages that are spaced apart along the drive shaft in the first direction;
- and
- a plurality of output shafts adjacent respective ones of the plurality of gear linkages;
- wherein each of the plurality of gear linkages comprises:
- a fixed gear coupled to a respective one of the plurality of output shafts;
- a moving gear that is slideably coupled to the drive shaft, wherein the moving gear is movable along a first axis of the drive shaft and rotates about the first axis in response to rotation of the drive shaft,
- a mechanical switch adjacent the moving gear;
- and
- a bias spring coupled to the moving gear and configured to urge the moving gear out of engagement with the fixed gear;
- wherein the mechanical switch is configured to move the moving gear into engagement with the fixed gear to thereby cause the one of the plurality of output shafts to rotate in response to rotation of the drive shaft.
A base station antenna system, comprising:
- a base station antenna;
- and
- an actuator gearbox comprising:
- a drive shaft extending in a first direction and comprising a plurality of gear linkages that are spaced apart along the drive shaft in the first direction;
- a plurality of output shafts adjacent respective ones of the plurality of gear linkages, wherein at least one of the plurality of output shafts is coupled to the base station antenna, wherein at least one setting of the base station antenna is controlled in response to motion of the at least one of the plurality of output shafts;
- wherein each of the plurality of gear linkages comprises:
- a fixed gear coupled to a respective one of the plurality of output shafts;
- a moving gear that is slideably coupled to the drive shaft, wherein the moving gear is movable along a first axis of the drive shaft and rotates about the first axis in response to rotation of the drive shaft,
- a mechanical switch adjacent the moving gear;
- and
- a bias spring coupled to the moving gear and configured to urge the moving gear out of engagement with the fixed gear;
- wherein the mechanical switch is configured to move the moving gear into engagement with the fixed gear to thereby cause the one of the plurality of output shafts to rotate in response to rotation of the drive shaft.
An actuator gearbox, comprising:
- a drive shaft extending in a first direction and comprising a plurality of gear linkages that are spaced apart along the drive shaft in the first direction;
- a motor coupled to the drive shaft;
- a motor controller coupled to the motor;
- a linear actuator adjacent the drive shaft;
- and
- a switch block coupled to the linear actuator;
- wherein each of the plurality of gear linkages comprises:
- an output gear;
- a moving gear that is slideably coupled to the drive shaft, wherein the moving gear is movable along a first axis of the drive shaft and rotates about the first axis in response to rotation of the drive shaft;
- and
- a mechanical switch adjacent the moving gear;
- wherein the mechanical switch is configured to move the moving gear into engagement with the output gear to thereby cause the output gear to rotate in response to rotation of the drive shaft;
- and
- wherein the linear actuator is configured to move the switch block into contact with the mechanical switch to selectively actuate the mechanical switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.