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US 5,765,320 AGranted
Linear actuator
OwnerNorbert Hamyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear actuator has a drum, a stiff flexible ribbon wound on the drum, a device for rotating the drum at least to partially unwind the ribbon thereon, a guide funnel for gradually forming the ribbon into a tubular configuration as it comes off the drum, and an attachment device at a free end of the ribbon for connection to an object to be moved in a linear path. The actuator converts rotary motion to linear motion without the need for complex mechanical linkages.
Claims12
A linear actuator comprising:
- a drum;
- a stiff flexible ribbon windable onto the drum;
- drive means for rotating the drum so as to alternately wind and unwind the ribbon onto and off the drum;
- a shaped guide arrangement adjacent the drum for gradually forming the ribbon leaving the drum into a tubular configuration, and attachment means at a free end of said tubular configuration for connection to an object to be moved in a linear path, said shaped guide arrangement comprises a tapered funnel having a shallow widened portion extending up to said drum and progressively merging into a tubular portion forming an outlet for the ribbon, and said tapered funnel conforming to the ribbon as said ribbon is gradually formed into a tubular configuration;
- a spring-mounted retainer strap extending around the drum and remaining in contact with the ribbon as said ribbon is wound onto and off the drum;
- and
- attachment means at a free end of said tubular configuration for connection to an object to be moved in a linear path.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.