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US 6,250,170 B1Granted
Load directing trunnion mount for linear actuator
AssigneeEmerson Electric Co.
InventorsJason J. Hill, Mark S. Evertowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load directing trunnion mount for a linear actuator is constructed to receive all of the tensile forces exerted on the actuator shaft or lead screw of the linear actuator. In this manner, the load directing trunnion mount relieves a transmission drive element (for example, a drive gear or a sprocket or pulley) and the transmission housing enclosing the drive element from tensile forces exerted on the actuator shaft during use of the linear actuator.
Claims20
A mount for a linear actuator comprising:
- a drive shaft having a center axis and a length with opposite proximal and distal ends, a distal portion of the shaft length adjacent the shaft distal end and a proximal portion of the shaft length adjacent the shaft proximal end;
- a drive mechanism mounted on the proximal portion of the shaft with the shaft proximal end and the shaft distal end at opposite sides of the drive mechanism;
- and,
- a trunnion mounted on the proximal portion of the shaft to receive tensile forces exerted on the shaft whereby tensile forces exerted on the drive shaft are transmitted by the drive shaft through the drive mechanism directly to the trunnion thereby avoiding tensile forces exerted on the drive mechanism.
1 more element
A mount for a linear actuator comprising:
- a drive shaft having a center axis and a length with opposite proximal and distal ends, a distal portion of the shaft length adjacent the shaft distal end and a proximal portion of the shaft length adjacent the shaft proximal end;
- a drive mechanism mounted on the proximal portion of the shaft with the shaft proximal end and the shaft distal end at opposite sides of the drive mechanism;
- and,
- a trunnion mounted on the proximal portion of the shaft to receive tensile forces exerted on the shaft;
- and
- the trunnion has a base with a shaft hole passing therethrough, the proximal portion of the shaft extends through the shaft hole to the proximal end of the shaft, and a head larger than the shaft hole is positioned on the proximal portion of the shaft adjacent the shaft proximal end where the head prevents the shaft proximal end from being withdrawing through the shaft hole.
3 more elements
A mount for a linear actuator comprising:
- a drive shaft having a center axis and a length with opposite proximal and distal ends, the shaft length having a distal portion adjacent the distal end and a proximal portion adjacent the proximal end, the distal portion of the shaft length being a lead screw;
- a transmission housing having an interior volume and first and second aligned openings through the transmission housing to the interior volume, the proximal portion of the drive shaft passing through the first opening, through the interior volume and through the second opening of the transmission housing with the proximal end of the drive shaft being outside the transmission housing;
- a drive element mounted on the proximal portion of the drive shaft in the interior volume of the transmission housing for rotation of the drive element with the drive shaft;
- and,
- a trunnion mounted on the proximal portion of the drive shaft adjacent the proximal end, the trunnion being mounted on the drive shaft to receive tensile forces exerted on the drive shaft whereby tensile forces exerted on the drive shaft are transmitted by the drive shaft through the drive element directly to the trunnion thereby avoiding tensile forces exerted on the drive element.
2 more elements
A mount for a linear actuator comprising:
- a drive shaft having a center axis and a length with opposite proximal and distal ends, the shaft length having a distal portion adjacent the distal end and a proximal portion adjacent the proximal end, the distal portion of the shaft length being a lead screw;
- a transmission housing having an interior volume and first and second aligned openings through the transmission housing to the interior volume, the proximal portion of the drive shaft passing through the first opening, through the interior volume and through the second opening of the transmission housing with the proximal end of the drive shaft being outside the transmission housing;
- a drive element mounted on the proximal portion of the drive shaft in the interior volume of the transmission housing for rotation of the drive element with the drive shaft;
- a trunnion mounted on the proximal portion of the drive shaft adjacent the proximal end, the trunnion being mounted on the drive shaft to receive tensile forces exerted on the drive shaft;
- and
- the trunnion has a shaft hole passing therethrough and the proximal portion of the shaft extends from the second opening of the transmission housing and through the trunnion shaft hole to the proximal end of the shaft, and a head that is larger than the shaft hole is positioned on the proximal portion of the shaft adjacent the shaft proximal end where the head prevents the shaft proximal end from being withdrawn through the shaft hole when the shaft is subjected to a tensile force.
3 more elements
A mount for a linear actuator comprising:
- a drive shaft having a center axis and a length with opposite proximal and distal ends, the shaft length having a distal portion adjacent the distal end and a proximal portion adjacent the proximal end, the distal portion of the shaft length being a lead screw
- a transmission housing having an interior volume and first and second aligned openings through the transmission housing to the interior volume, the proximal portion of the drive shaft passing through the first opening, through the interior volume and through the second opening of the transmission housing with the proximal end of the drive shaft being outside the transmission housing;
- a drive element mounted on the proximal portion of the drive shaft in the interior volume of the transmission housing for rotation of the drive element with the drive shaft;
- a trunnion mounted on the proximal portion of the drive shaft adjacent the proximal end, the trunnion being mounted on the drive shaft to receive tensile forces exerted on the drive shaft;
- and,
- a bearing mounts the proximal portion of the shaft in the first opening of the transmission housing and a spring assembly is mounted on the proximal portion of the shaft between the bearing and the drive element.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.