Stepper motor driven proportional rotary actuator
AssigneeWoodward, Inc.
InventorsMark A. Spickard, Brian K. Lawver
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stepper motor driven actuator system is provided. The system includes a stepper motor, a cam, and a gearbox system. The gearbox system operatively connects the stepper motor to the cam. The cam rotates in response to stepping of the stepper motor. The system also includes a valve having a control piston located therein. The control piston is configured to translate in response to rotation of the cam. The system further includes a rotary actuator. The rotary actuator is fluidly connected to the valve, and the rotary actuator is configured to rotate the cam in response to translation of the control piston.
Claims20
A stepper motor driven actuator system comprising:
- a stepper motor;
- a cam;
- a gearbox system including a ring gear, the gearbox system operatively connecting the stepper motor to the cam such that the cam rotates in response to stepping of the stepper motor;
- a valve having a control piston located therein, the control piston configured to translate in response to rotation of the cam;
- and
- a rotary actuator, the rotary actuator fluidly connected to the valve;
- wherein translation of the control piston of the valve directly imparts rotary motion to the rotary actuator;
- and
- wherein the rotary actuator is configured to rotate the ring gear of the gearbox system to re-center the cam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.