Electric actuator
AssigneeTol-O-Matic, Inc.
InventorsBrett C. Holker, Jeff Karls, Jeremy R. Forbord
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrically powered linear actuator having a thrust assembly, a motor with a hollow rotor surrounding at least a portion of the thrust assembly, and a lubricant passage for replenishing lubricant to the force transmitting components of the actuator.
Claims17
An electrically powered actuator comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor within the housing comprising:
- an axially fixed, rotatable hollow rotor;
- an axially fixed, externally threaded elongated screw shaft operably coupled to the hollow rotor and capable of rotating therewith;
- a rotationally fixed, internally threaded nut coupled to the elongated screw shaft, such that rotation of the screw shaft causes the nut to move axially;
- a lubricant access point provided exterior to the housing;
- and
- a lubricant passage extending from the lubricant access point to the threaded nut.
An electrically powered actuator comprising a housing, a hollow rotor within the housing and rotatable relative to the housing, a threaded lead screw axially located within the hollow rotor, a threaded nut operably coupled to the screw, and means for lubricating the threaded nut.
The electrically powered actuator of claim 14, wherein the thrust tube comprises:
- an elongated, outer hollow tubular portion;
- and
- an elongated, inner hollow tubular portion;
- wherein the inner tubular portion has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the outer tubular portion, creating the internal lubricant passage of the thrust tube between the outer and inner tubular portions.
A method for lubricating an electrically powered actuator, comprising;
- attaching a lubrication tool to an external lubricant access point of the actuator, the actuator comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor within the housing comprising:
- an axially fixed, rotatable hollow rotor;
- an axially fixed, externally threaded elongated screw shaft operably coupled to the hollow rotor and capable of rotating therewith;
- and
- a rotationally fixed, internally threaded nut coupled to the elongated screw shaft, such that rotation of the screw shaft causes the nut to move axially;
- delivering a lubricant from the lubrication tool to the lubricant access point;
- and
- flowing the lubricant along a lubricant passage extending from the lubricant access point to the threaded nut, thereby lubricating the nut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.