Vibration actuator
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
InventorKodai Suzuki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vibrator (3) is sandwiched between a base block (1) and a stator (2), and a substantially lower half of a substantially spherical rotor (6) is received in a recess (5) of the stator (2). A support member (7) is placed on an upper portion of the stator (2). A preload portion (10) is supported at an end of an angle portion (9) of the support member (7). A spherical member (11) rotatable about multiple axes of the preload portion (10) abuts against a top portion of the rotor (6) to apply a preload to the rotor (6). Driving the vibrator (3) rotates the rotor (6), whereby an output shaft (12) is moved between the preload portion (10) and an annular portion (8) of the support member (7) as a movable range.
Claims13
A vibration actuator, comprising:
- a stator;
- a rotor of a substantially spherical shape which is disposed on the stator;
- preload means for bringing the rotor into pressure contact with the stator;
- and
- vibrating means for generating ultrasonic vibrations in the stator so as to rotate the rotor, wherein:
- the rotor comprises a functional component;
- the preload means comprises a preload portion that abuts against a top portion of the rotor and preloads the top portion;
- and
- the functional component of the rotor is moved between the preload portion and the stator as a movable range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.