Mechanical positioner for reclining seat assembly
AssigneeITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
InventorTerrance E. Daul
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanical linear actuator having a tubular member that is defined by a housing for rotatably and axially supporting a circular nut, a lead screw is mated to the circular nut so that it can move axially in and out of the tubular member. A torsion spring clutch brake is wound about the circular nut to normally brake the nut and thus prevent the lead screw from moving into or out of the tubular member. An unlocking mechanism can remotely unwind the torsion spring clutch brake to sufficiently release the circular nut and thus allow the lead screw to pass in and out of the tubular member. An adjustable stop is provided for adjusting the stroke of the actuator.
Claims20
A mechanical linear actuator that includes:
- a housing having an opening that extends axially through said housing:
- an elongated lead screw that is slidably contained within said opening, said lead screw having a male threaded section upon the outer surface thereof;
- a cylindrical drive nut mounted for rotation within said housing, said cylindrical nut having an axial outer diameter and a female thread that mates with said male thread on said lead screw so that said lead screw can move axially within said opening as said cylindrical nut rotates within said housing;
- a spring clutch brake for engaging said axial outer diameter of said cylindrical drive nut when said spring clutch brake is in a first position to restrain said drive nut from rotating and for releasing said cylindrical drive nut when in a second release position wherein said cylindrical drive nut can freely rotate within said housing;
- and
- said spring clutch brake being manually movable between said first and second positions.
A mechanical linear actuator comprising:
- a housing having an opening that extends axially through said housing:
- an elongated lead screw that is slidably contained within said opening, said lead screw having a male threaded section upon the outer surface thereof;
- a cylindrical drive nut mounted for rotation within said housing, said cylindrical nut having an axial outer diameter and a female thread that mates with said male thread on said lead screw so that said lead screw can move axially within said opening as said cylindrical nut rotates within said housing;
- a spring clutch brake for engaging said axial outer diameter of said cylindrical drive nut when said spring clutch brake is in a first position to restrain said drive nut from rotating and for releasing said cylindrical drive nut when in a second release position wherein said cylindrical drive nut can freely rotate within said housing, said spring clutch brake being manually movable between said first and second positions, said spring brake clutch including a torsional spring that is wound about an axial portion of the outer diameter of said cylindrical nut wherein said torsional spring further includes an axially disposed first tab at one end of said torsional spring and a second radially disposed tab at the other end of said torsional spring, said first tab being contained within an axially aligned cutout in said housing so as to prevent said first tab from moving circumferentially within said housing and said second tab passes through a circumferential opening in said housing to permit the second tab to rotate between a first position, wherein the spring clutch brake locks said drive nut against further rotation and a second position wherein said spring clutch brake unlocks said drive nut for free rotation within said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.