US 4,142,167 AGranted

Solenoid operated, oppositely rotated actuator

AssigneeKeeler Corporation

InventorsCarl H. Little, W. Rex Deshaw

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Abstract

An actuator for converting linear motion to alternating, opposite direction, rotary motion. The actuator is electrically operated and selectively activatable to produce rotary motion in a desired direction via separately incorporated electrical circuits. Included is an electric solenoid operated plunger which reciprocates a rotatable cam. The cam both drives a rotatable pivot member in alternating, opposite directions via cam followers and completes one or the other of two electrical circuits depending on the rotational position of the pivot member. The solenoid is activatable to produce rotational motion in a desired direction only if the cam is completing the appropriate electrical circuit. The cam is supported by a housing and is positioned for re-engagement with one of the pivot member cam followers by the housing after each stroke of the solenoid.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A selectively activatable actuator for converting linear motion to alternating, opposite direction, rotary motion comprising:

operated means for reciprocating said camming member;
said camming member being rotatable about at least a portion of said electrically operated means;
a pivot member and means for rotatably mounting said pivot member;
first and second spaced, cam follower means on said pivot member for alternate engagement with said camming member as said camming member is reciprocated in one direction to rotate said pivot member in opposite directions;
said pivot member including a pair of spaced electrical conductors thereon;
first contact means adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy and for separately electrically contacting each of said electrical conductors at predetermined locations;
said camming member including second contact means for electrically contacting one of said spaced, electrical conductors when said pivot member is rotated in one direction and the other of said conductors when said pivot member is rotated in the opposite direction;
and
third contact means for electrically connecting said second contact means on said camming member to said electrically operated means whereby separate and distinct electrical circuits are provided through said camming member and pivot member for actuating rotation of said pivot member in a selected direction depending on the rotational position of said pivot member.

6 more elements

A selectively activatable actuator for converting linear motion to alternating, opposite direction, rotary motion comprising:

a pivot member having a pair of electrical contact members mounted thereon, said contact members being electrically insulated from one another;
means for rotatably mounting said pivot member for rotation in a plane between at least two rotational positions;
reciprocable camming means for alternately rotating said pivot member in opposite rotational directions, said camming means including electrical contact means for engaging one of said electrical contact members in one of said two positions of said pivot member and the other of said two contact members in the other of said two positions of said pivot member whereby two separate and distinct electrical paths are made through said camming means and pivot member depending on the rotational position of said pivot member.

An actuator for converting linear motion to alternating, opposite direction, rotary motion comprising a housing;

a plunger within said housing;
means for reciprocating said plunger between first and second positions;
a camming plate slidably supported on said housing and adjacent said plunger;
means for rotatably connecting said camming plate to said plunger, said camming plate being reciprocable with said plunger;
a pivot member spaced from said camming plate and means for rotatably mounting said pivot member with respect to said housing;
first and second cam follower means spaced apart on said pivot member for engaging said camming plate when said plunger and camming plate are reciprocated toward said second position and said pivot member;
said camming plate being rotatable by engagement with said cam follower means between a first position for engaging one of said first and second cam follower means but not the other to pivot said pivot member in one direction, and a second position for contacting the other of said cam follower means but not said one cam follower means to pivot said pivot member in a direction opposite to said one direction whereby said pivot member is rotated in opposite directions depending upon the relative positions of said first and second cam follower means;
engaging means on said housing for engaging said camming plate and rotating said camming plate to a third position when said plunger and camming plate are returned to their first position thereby enabling contact by said camming plate with either of one of said cam follower means depending upon the relative positions of said first and second cam follower means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.