Releasing linear actuator
AssigneeRockwell International Corporation
InventorGordon W. Culp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is useful for quickly releasing an object which is being moved by an actuator. Generally actuators of the piezoelectric type move objects slowly. For applications where an object must be quickly moved such as when releasing brakes or reinserting a control rod in a reactor core an actuator should have a quick release feature. The invention uses a set of actuators which contact a bolt and moves the bolt with smooth walking motion. The bolt in turn is driven by the actuators such that it engages an object with smooth walking motion to move or position the object. When the object is to be released the actuators are removed from contact from the bolt thereby releasing the object.
Claims25
A releasing actuator comprising,
- a bolt for engaging and moving an object, the bolt having an end and a side,
- a pair of actuators on one side of the bolt and a pair of actuators on the opposing side of the bolt, the actuators in each pair being adjacent, for engaging and moving said bolt,
- a housing adjacent to said object, said actuators attached to said housing,
- said actuators having a lifter portion and a tangenter portion wherein, said lifter portion and said tangenter portion combine to produce a first function and a second function for moving the bolt,
- said first function having a means for controlling the tangenters and lifters to move the bolt perpendicularly with respect to the object for engaging the object,
- said second function having a means for controlling the tangenters and lifters to move the bolt tangentially with respect to the object for moving the object,
- a means for controlling the lifters to release the bolt, whereby the object is released by the bolt.
A releasing actuator assembly for disc brakes comprising,
- a bolt having a disc brake pad for engaging a disc on a disc brake,
- a pair of actuators on one side of the bolt and a pair of actuators on the opposing side of the bolt,
- the actuators in each pair being adjacent, for engaging and moving said bolt,
- the actuators attached to a housing adjacent to the disc of a disc brake,
- the housing having an arm with a second brake pad extending to the opposing side of the disc from where the bolt brake pad engages the disc,
- said actuators having a lifter portion and a tangenter portion wherein, said lifter portion and tangenter portion combine to produce a first function and a second function for moving the bolt,
- in said first function there is a means for controlling the tangenters and lifters to work in conjunction to move the bolt perpendicularly with respect to the disc of the disc brake, so the brake pads can act as calipers for engaging the disc brake,
- in said second function there is a means for the releasing of the bolt so that the brake pads can disengage from the disc on the disc brake.
A releasing actuator assembly comprising,
- a housing having opposing interior surfaces,
- at least one pair of electrodeformable biaxial walking actuators respectively affixed to said opposing interior surfaces,
- a bolt having sides and an end, the sides being proximate said actuators for engagement by the actuators, the end of the bolt extending out of the housing and proximate an object for engaging the object,
- a means of generating electrical signals for controlling the electrodeformable actuators,
- a means of connecting said electrical signals to said actuators,
- said electrical signals direct the actuators to move the bolt on one axis for engaging the object and on a second axis for moving the object,
- said electrical signals direct the actuators to disengage the bolt for releasing the object.
A releasing actuator assembly comprising,
- a housing having opposing interior surfaces,
- at least one pair of electrodeformable triaxial walking actuators respectively affixed to said opposing interior surfaces
- a bolt having sides and an end, the sides being proximate said actuators for engagement by the actuators, the end of the bolt extending out of the housing and proximate an object for engaging the object,
- a means of generating electrical signals for controlling the electrodeformable actuators,
- a means of connecting said electrical signals to said actuators,
- said electrical signals direct the actuators to move the bolt on one at least one axis for engaging the object and on at least one axis for moving the object,
- said electrical signals direct the actuators to disengage the bolt for releasing the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.