Anti-rotation device for actuators

An anti-rotation device for preventing relative rotation between first and second members, one of the first and second members being telescopingly disposed about the other one of the first and second members and at least one of the two members being linearly displaceable along a central axis extending through each of the two members, the anti-rotation device comprising:

• first and second guide surfaces provided on the first member, the two guide surfaces extending generally parallel with each other and with the central axis;
• at least one first roller disposed generally between the first and second guide surfaces, connected with the second member and rotatable about an axis located at a fixed position on the second member, the first roller being rollable along the first guide surface so as to prevent angular displacement between the first and second members when the displaceable one of the two members moves in a first direction along the axis, the first roller being adjustably mounted on the second member such that the position of the first roller axis on the second member is variable to adjust a spacing distance between the first roller axis and the first guide surface;
• and
• at least one second roller disposed generally between the first and second guide surfaces, connected with the second member and rotatable about an axis located at a fixed position on the second member, the second roller being rollable along the second guide surface so as to prevent angular displacement between the first and second members when the displaceable one of the two members moves in a second, opposing direction along the axis.

An assembly comprising:

• first and second members, one of the first and second members being telescopingly disposed about the other one of the first and second members and at least one of the two members being linearly displaceable along a central axis extending through each of the two members;
• and
• an anti-rotation device for preventing relative rotation between first and second members and including:
• first and second guide surfaces provided on the first member, the two guide surfaces extending generally parallel with each other and with the central axis;
• at least one first roller connected with the second member and rotatable about an axis located at a fixed position on the second member, the first roller being rollable along the first guide surface so as to prevent angular displacement between the first and second members when the displaceable one of the two members moves in a first direction along the axis;
• and
• at least one second roller connected with the second member and rotatable about an axis located at a fixed position on the second member, the second roller being rollable along the second guide surface so as to prevent angular displacement between the first and second members when the displaceable one of the two members moves in a second, opposing direction along the axis.