Fail safe actuator
AssigneeSundstrand Corporation
InventorDuane H. Grimm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator including a motor having a rotary output, an actuating arm mounted for reciprocating movement, and a mechanism, interconnecting the output and the arm to convert rotary motion to reciprocating motion. The mechanism includes a rotary element. A brake is provided including a friction plate and first and second reaction plates. A solenoid and spring are operable to move the reaction plate into or out of engagement with the friction plate and cams associated with the rotary element are operable to move the reaction plate into engagement with the friction plate.
Claims14
An actuator comprising:
- a motor having a rotary output;
- an actuating arm mounted for reciprocating movement along a path;
- a mechanism, including a rotary element, interconnecting said output and said arm and operable to convert rotary motion to reciprocating motion and the reverse;
- a friction plate rotatable in response to rotation of said output;
- first and second brake reaction plates mounted for independent movement into and out of engagement with said friction plate and held against rotation;
- selectively operable control means for moving said first reaction plate into or out of engagement with said friction plate;
- and
- means including a cam driven by said rotary element, for moving said second reaction plate into and out of engagement with said friction plate at at least one predetermined position of said arm along said path.
An actuator comprising:
- a motor having a rotary output;
- an actuating element mounted for movement through a path;
- a gear reduction mechanism, including a rotary element, interconnecting said output and said arm element and operable to move said arm element through said path;
- a friction brake element rotatable in response to rotation of said output;
- first and second brake reaction elements mounted for independent movement into and out of engagement with said friction brake element and held against rotation;
- selectively operable control means for moving said first reaction element into or out of engagement with said friction brake element;
- and
- means including a cam associated with said rotary element, for moving said second reaction element into and out of engagement with said friction brake element at at least one predetermined position of said actuating element along said path.
An fail safe actuator comprising:
- a motor having a rotary output;
- an actuating element mounted for reciprocating movement through a path;
- a gear reduction mechanism, including a rotary element, interconnecting said output and said arm element and operable to move said element through said path;
- a friction plate rotatable in response to rotation of said output;
- first and second brake reaction plates mounted for independent axial movement into and out of engagement with said friction plate and held against rotation;
- selectively operable control means for moving said first reaction plate into or out of engagement with said friction plate including a spring biasing said first plate toward said friction plate and a motor for moving said first plate out of engagement with said friction plate;
- means including a cam associated with said rotary element, for moving said second reaction plate into engagement with said friction plate at at least one predetermined position of said arm along said path;
- and
- a further spring for biasing said second plate away from said further plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.