Linear actuator

Abstract

The linear actuator has a motor housing (1) of tubular stainless steel with an end cap (2), a motor (4) and epicyclic gearbox (6). The actuator has a telescopic arm (11), having an outer tube (12) and an inner tube (13) of stainless steel. The outer tube is removably attached to the motor housing. An extension screw (16) is provided in the arm with a driven end (16) journalled at the motor housing end (17) of the outer tube. At its inner end, the inner tube has threaded into it a plastics material nut (18), in which the screw engages. The end of the screw (16) has a clevis (23), open (24) axially away from the screw. The output shaft (7) from the gear box has a cross pin (31) through it. On each side of the shaft, the pin carries a respective roller (32), sized to fit in the clevis (23). The clevis and rollers form a dog clutch for transfer of drive from the gearbox to the extension screw. The telescopic arm is readily dismounted from the motor housing by unscrewing the disc (21) and axially withdrawing the clevis from the rollers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.