Direct attachment electric motor operated ball nut and screw linear actuator
AssigneeThomson Saginaw Ball Screw Company, Inc.
InventorJames A. Babinski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear actuator comprises a ball screw carrying an axially restrained rotatable ball nut driven by an electrically energized motor. An enclosing motor housing has front and rear walls with axially aligned openings for passing the ball screw. The motor has a radially inner hollow stator assembly and a generally concentric radially outer rotor assembly. A can member is integrated with the rotor assembly to rotate therewith and has a radial end wall connected to the nut.
Claims9
A linear actuator with a ball screw carrying a nut driven by an electrically energized motor, there being helical grooves and lands formed in said nut and screw to provide a helical ball raceway in which balls circulate, said actuator comprising:
- a. an enclosing motor housing with front and rear walls having axially aligned openings for freely passing the ball screw to extend in both directions;
- b. an outside spin electric motor integrated with said housing and including a radially inner hollow stator assembly and a generally concentric radially outer rotor assembly;
- c. a ball nut carried within said motor housing on said screw in a manner to prevent its axial travel while permitting its rotation;
- and
- d. a can member enclosure integrated with the rotor assembly to rotate therewith having a radially inwardly extending wall connected to the nut.
A method of constructing a linear actuator with a ball screw carrying a nut driven by an electrically energized motor, there being helical grooves and lands formed in said nut and screw to provide a ball raceway in which balls circulate, the method comprising:
- a. providing an enclosing motor housing with front and rear walls having axially aligned openings for passing the ball screw;
- b. providing an outside spin electric motor including a radially inner stator assembly and a generally concentric radially outer rotor assembly;
- c. mounting a ball nut within said motor housing on said screw in a manner to prevent its axial travel while permitting its rotation;
- d. passing said ball screw through one of said housing walls and threading it through said nut and on out the opening in the other housing wall;
- e. providing a can member enclosure having a radial end wall integrated with the motor assembly to rotate therewith;
- and
- f. connecting said radial end wall with the nut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.