# US 2018/0320775 A1 · Actuator Gearbox

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- Number: US 2018/0320775 A1
- Document ID: US20180320775A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/026,453
- Filed: 2018-07-03
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-19
- Assignees: Johnson Electric S.A.
- Applicants: Johnson Electric S.A.
- Inventors: Harry Hang Fung CHANG; Wei Xing MAO; Yong Jun YANG; Ming YANG
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320775A1

## CPC

- F16H 57/039: Gearboxes for accommodating worm gears
- E05F 15/697: Motor units therefor, e.g. geared motors
- F16H 1/16: comprising worm and worm-wheel
- F16H 57/027: characterised by means for venting gearboxes, e.g. air breathers
- F16H 57/031: characterised by covers or lids for gearboxes
- F16H 2057/0213: {Support of worm gear shafts}
- F16H: GEARING
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING

## Abstract

An actuator includes a motor and a gearbox connected with the motor. The gearbox has a lower housing, a gear received in the lower housing, and a cover disposed at one end of the lower housing. The lower housing has a support shaft supporting the gear for rotation relative to the lower housing. The support shaft is hollow. A core shaft is inserted into the support shaft. The core shaft is made of a metal material and the support shaft is made of a plastic material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An actuator gearbox comprising:
a lower housing comprising a bottom end, an opened top end, and a support shaft extending up from the bottom end, the support shaft being hollow and made of a plastic material;
a gear received in the lower housing and supported by the support shaft for rotation relative to the lower housing;
a cover disposed at the top end of the lower housing, the support shaft extending through the cover out of the lower housing; and
a core shaft inserted into the support shaft, the core shaft being made of a metal material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gearbox of claim 1, wherein the support shaft and the lower housing are integrally formed by injection molding.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The gearbox of claim 1, wherein a center hole is formed in the support shaft, and the core shaft is an interference-fit in the center hole of the support shaft.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The gearbox of claim 3, wherein the center hole is a blind hole with one end closed and the other end opened.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The gearbox of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the core shaft and an inner wall surface of the center hole form a gap there between.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The gearbox of claim 5, wherein the center hole is a round hole, and said portion of the outer surface of the core shaft is formed with knurls.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The gearbox of claim 5, wherein the gap between the core shaft and the center hole is formed by a ventilation groove extending axially along the inner wall surface of the center hole.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The gearbox of claim 7, wherein a ratio of a width of an opening of the ventilation groove in the center hole and a diameter of the center hole ranges from 0.1 to 0.5.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The gearbox of claim 1, wherein the core shaft is made of steel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The gearbox of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a largest diameter of the core shaft to a smallest diameter of the support shaft ranges from 0.1 to 0.75.

### Claim 11

An actuator comprising:
a motor; and
a gearbox connected with the motor, the gearbox comprising:
a lower housing comprising a bottom end, an opened top end, and a support shaft extending up from the bottom end, the support shaft being hollow and made of a plastic material;
a gear received in the lower housing and supported on the support shaft for rotation relative to the lower housing;
a cover disposed at the top end of the lower housing, the support shaft extending through the cover out of the lower housing; and
a core shaft inserted into the support shaft, the core shaft being made of a metal material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The actuator of claim 11, wherein the gear is a worm gear driven by a worm formed on a shaft of the motor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The actuator of claim 11, wherein a center hole is formed in the support shaft, and the core shaft is an interference-fit in the center hole of the support shaft.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The actuator of claim 13, wherein the center hole is a blind hole with one end closed and the other end opened.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The actuator of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the core shaft and an inner wall surface of the center hole form a gap there between.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The actuator of claim 15, wherein the center hole is a round hole, and said portion of the outer surface of the core shaft is formed with knurls.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The actuator of claim 15, wherein the gap between the core shaft and the center hole is formed by a ventilation groove extending axially along the inner wall surface of the center hole.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The actuator of claim 17, wherein a ratio of a width of an opening of the ventilation groove in the center hole and a diameter of the center hole ranges from 0.1 to 0.5.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The actuator of claim 11, wherein a ratio of a largest diameter of the core shaft to a smallest diameter of the support shaft ranges from 0.1 to 0.75.