Actuator unit
AssigneeNabtesco Corporation
InventorKoji ITO
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator unit includes first and second link mechanisms. The first link mechanism has first and second arms that extend in first and second directions when viewed in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation. The first arm is connected at a first connection point to a power source for powering the first link mechanism. The second arm is connected at a second connection point to the second link mechanism. The second link mechanism is connected at a third connection point to a locking collar. The locking collar is configured to reciprocate as the first link mechanism rotates in a reciprocating manner. The distance from the first connection point to the axis of rotation is greater than the distance from the second connection point to the axis of rotation.
Claims6
An actuator unit comprising:
- a main rod movable in an axial direction;
- a lock mechanism configured to restrict the main rod from moving;
- a first link mechanism rotatable on an axis of rotation;
- and
- a second link mechanism connected to the first link mechanism and the lock mechanism,
- wherein the locking mechanism includes:
- a tubular locking member into which the main rod is inserted, the locking member having an outer surface that is sloped such that a distance between a central axis of the main rod and the outer surface decreases toward one side in the axial direction;
- and
- a tubular locking collar into which the main rod and the locking member are inserted, the locking collar having an inner surface that is sloped such that a distance between the central axis of the main rod and the inner surface decreases toward one side in the axial direction,
- wherein the first link mechanism includes:
- a first arm extending from the axis of rotation in a first direction when viewed in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation;
- and
- a second arm extending from the axis of rotation in a second direction different than the first direction when viewed in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation,
- wherein the first arm is connected at a first connection point to a power source for applying power to the first link mechanism,
- wherein the second arm is connected at a second connection point to the second link mechanism,
- wherein the second link mechanism is connected at a third connection point to the locking collar,
- wherein the locking collar is configured to reciprocate in the axial direction as the first link mechanism rotates in a reciprocating manner, and
- wherein, when viewed in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, a distance from the first connection point to the axis of rotation is greater than a distance from the second connection point to the axis of rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.