Fault tolerant linear actuator
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorDelbert Tesar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In varying embodiments, the fault tolerant linear actuator of the present invention is a new and improved linear actuator with fault tolerance and positional control that may incorporate velocity summing, force summing, or a combination of the two. In one embodiment, the invention offers a velocity summing arrangement with a differential gear between two prime movers driving a cage, which then drives a linear spindle screw transmission. Other embodiments feature two prime movers driving separate linear spindle screw transmissions, one internal and one external, in a totally concentric and compact integrated module.
Claims20
A linear actuator comprising:
- a substantially-cylindrical actuator frame having a principal axis, an electromagnetic field therein, and an internal surface having a thread disposed thereon;
- a linear output screw having threads disposed thereon, the linear output screw disposed at least partly within the actuator frame along the principal axis;
- a first armature disposed within the actuator frame about the principal axis;
- a first planetary spindle screw set, having threads mated to the threads of the linear output screw, disposed in a first carrier radially-fixed to the first armature about the linear output screw;
- a second armature disposed within the actuator frame about the principal axis;
- and
- a second planetary spindle screw set, having threads mated to the internal threads of the actuator frame, disposed in a second carrier radially-fixed to the second armature.
A linear actuator comprising:
- a substantially-cylindrical actuator frame having a principal axis, an electromagnetic field therein, and an internal surface having a thread disposed thereon;
- a screw shaft having threads disposed thereon, the screw shaft disposed at least partly within the actuator frame along the principal axis and radially-fixed to a clutch plate;
- an output cylinder;
- an inner clutch having a first portion radially-fixed to the clutch plate and a second portion radially-fixed to the output cylinder;
- an outer clutch having a first portion radially-fixed to the output cylinder and a second portion radially-fixed to the actuator frame;
- a first armature disposed within the actuator frame about the principal axis;
- a first spindle screw set, having threads mated to the threads of the screw shaft, disposed in a carrier rotatably fixed to the first armature about the screw shaft;
- a second armature disposed within the actuator frame about the principal axis;
- and
- a second spindle screw set, having threads mated to the internal threads of the actuator frame, disposed in a carrier rotatably fixed to the second armature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.