Roll control actuator

Abstract

A roll control actuator (34) for installation between first and second axially aligned parts (14,16) of a torsion bar comprises a first cylindrical housing (36) connectable at one end (38) to the first part of the torsion bar and having a cylindrical wall (44) with an inner surface (68) and a second cylindrical housing (40) connectable at one end (42) to the second part of the torsion bar and having a cylindrical wall (46) with an inner surface (50,72). The cylindrical wall of the first housing is coaxial with, rotatable relative to, and axially fixed relative to, the cylindrical wall of the second housing. A shaft (62) positioned inside the first and second housings is capable of moving in the axial direction relative to the first and second housings. A first tripot joint (76) is mounted on the shaft and has rollers (80) positioned in helically extending grooves (70) formed in the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the first housing. A second tripot joint (76) is mounted on the shaft and has rollers (80) positioned in helically extending grooves (74) formed in the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the second housing. The grooves in the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the first housing have an opposite rotational direction about the axis (A) to the grooves in the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the second housing. Fluid chambers (58,60) are associated with the shaft and the first and second housings to control the relative rotational movement therebetween.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.