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US 7,243,769 B2Granted
Dual motion actuator
AssigneeByTec, Inc.
InventorRandall Voelkert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator is disclosed which can be used in multiple applications, and which provides both linear and rotary outputs. The device comprises a motor driven rotor having clutch plates on both sides thereof. One clutch plate includes a gear driven output, and the other clutch plate drives a linear rack for the linear output. An electromagnet controls the engagement of the first and second clutches.
Claims45
A drive assembly, for alternate rotational and linear output, the assembly comprising:
- an input power source providing rotational input;
- a clutch assembly having a driven portion, driven by said input power source, and at least two output driving portions, a first of said output driving portions being linear output and a second of said output driving portions being rotational output;
- said driven portion of said clutch assembly is a ring gear, and said input power source drives said ring gear, and said first and second output driving portions are first and second clutch plates positioned on opposite sides of said ring gear;
- a first housing portion, and a shaft attached to said first housing portion, said ring gear and said first and second clutch plates being rotationally positioned on said shaft;
- said ring gear defines an electromagnet, to draw one of said clutch plates into driving engagement with said ring gear, such that when said magnet is energized, said one clutch plate is drawn into engagement with said ring gear and is driven by said ring gear;
- said second clutch plate is spring loaded into engagement with said ring gear, for normal driving engagement with said ring gear, when said electromagnet is not energized, and said first clutch plate, when said electromagnet is energized, comes into driving engagement with said ring gear, and said second clutch plate is disengaged;
- and wherein said second clutch plate is disengaged by the lateral movement of said first clutch plate.
4 more elements
A drive assembly, for alternate rotational and linear output, the assembly comprising:
- an input power source providing rotational input;
- a clutch assembly having a driven portion, driven by said input power source, and at least two output driving portions, a first of said output driving portions being linear output and a second of said output driving portions being rotational output, wherein said driven portion of said clutch assembly is a ring gear, and said input power source drives said ring gear, and said first and second output driving portions are first and second clutch plates positioned on opposite sides of said ring gear;
- a first housing portion, and a shaft attached to said first housing portion, said ring gear and said first and second clutch plates being rotationally positioned on said shaft;
- said ring gear defines an electromagnet, to draw one of said clutch plates into driving engagement with said ring gear, such that when said magnet is energized, said one clutch plate is drawn into engagement with said ring gear and is driven by said ring gear;
- said input power source is an electric motor, having a splined output drive to drive an exterior periphery of said ring gear, and further comprising a second housing portion, said first and second housing portions enclosing said electric motor therein;
- said ring gear is comprised of a ferromagnetic material and has a bobbin of magnetic wire windings positioned within a core of said ring gear;
- said windings terminate to contact rings on an outer diameter of said ring gear.
4 more elements
An electromagnetic clutch drive assembly, comprising:
- a central shaft;
- a ring gear assembly, rotatably mounted to said shaft and comprised of a ferromagnetic rotor member, said rotor member having an open core portion, a ring gear positioned on an external circumferential periphery of said rotor, a bobbin of magnetic wire windings positioned within said core of said ring gear, and contacts to energize said wind ings to define a magnetic field;
- a first clutch plate rotatably mounted to said shaft and positioned on a first side of said ring gear assembly, and being normally in a disengaged position with said ring gear assembly;
- a second clutch plate rotatably mounted to said shaft and positioned on an opposite side of said ring gear assembly as said first clutch plate, and being in normal contact with said ring gear assembly;
- and
- engagement members extending between said first and second clutch plates, whereby the lateral shifting of one of said clutch plates causes the lateral shifting of the other of said clutch plates out of engagement with said ring gear assembly;
- whereby, said ring gear defines an electromagnet to draw one of said clutch plates into driving engagement with said ring gear, such that when said wind ings are energized, said one clutch plate is drawn into engagement with said ring gear and is driven by said ring gear.
4 more elements
An electromagnetic clutch drive assembly, comprising:
- a housing assembly, comprised of a main housing portion and a cover portion;
- a central shaft positioned within said housing assembly;
- an input power source providing rotational input;
- an electromagnetic clutch assembly having a driven portion, driven by said input power source, and at least two output driving portions, a first of said output driving portions being linear output and a second of said output driving portions being rotational output, whereby activation of an electromagnet of said electromagnetic clutch assembly controls the output between the first and second output driving portions;
- said driven portion of said clutch assembly is a ring gear assembly and said input power source drives said ring gear assembly;
- said input power source is an electric motor, having a splined output drive to drive an exterior periphery of said ring gear assembly;
- said first and second output driving portions are first and second clutch plates positioned on opposite sides of said ring gear assembly;
- said ring gear assembly defines said electromagnet, to draw one of said clutch plates into driving engagement with said ring gear assembly, such that when said electromagnet is energized, said one clutch nlate is drawn into engagement with said ring gear assembly and is driven by said ring gear assembly;
- said ring gear assembly is comprised of ferromagnetic rotor member, said rotor member having an open core portion, a ring gear positioned on an external circumferential periphery of said rotor, a bobbin of magnetic wire windings positioned within said core of said ring gear, and contacts to energize said windings to define a magnetic field;
- and
- wherein said main housing portion and cover portion have internal surfaces proximate to said first and second clutch plates.
8 more elements
A drive assembly, for altemate rotational and linear output, comprising an input power source providing rotational input, the assembly further comprises a clutch assembly having a driven portion, driven by said input power source, and at least two output driving portions, a first of said output driving portions being linear output and a second of said output driving portions being rotational output;
- the engagement of either the first output driving portion or the second output driving portion and disengagement of the other of the first output driving portion or second output driving portion is accomplished by movement of one of the first output driving portion or the second output driving portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.