Counter-rotating motors with linear output
AssigneeBose Corporation
InventorsDavid G. Oteman, Steven N. Brown, Dariusz Antoni Bushko, Wade P. Torress
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator includes a first rotary motor, a second rotary motor, and a transmission coupled to the first and second rotary motors. The transmission converts rotation of the first rotary motor in a first direction and simultaneous rotation of the second rotary motor in a second direction to linear motion of an output shaft in a single direction. The actuator is usable in an active automobile suspension.
Claims12
A suspension apparatus for coupling between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass of a vehicle comprising:
- an active suspension apparatus comprising:
- a first rotary motor coupled to a support structure;
- a second rotary motor coupled to the support structure, and;
- a rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism having an output shaft, the rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism coupled to the first and second rotary motors;
- wherein the rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism converts simultaneous rotation of the first rotary motor in a first direction and of the second rotary motor in a second direction which is opposite the first direction, to linear motion of the output shaft, wherein a resultant reaction torque applied by the pair of oppositely rotating rotary motors to the support structure is reduced compared to a reaction torque applied to the support structure by at least one of the first or second rotary motors rotating alone.
A method for reducing reaction torque applied to a support structure of an active vehicle suspension apparatus, comprising:
- a) coupling a first rotary motor to the support structure;
- b) coupling a second rotary motor to the support structure;
- c) coupling a rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism to the first and second rotary motors;
- d) causing the first and second rotary motors to simultaneously rotate in opposite directions, and;
- e) converting the simultaneous rotation of the first and second rotary motors to linear motion of an output shaft of the rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism;
- wherein a resultant reaction torque applied by the pair of oppositely rotating rotary motors to the support structure is reduced compared to a reaction torque applied to the support structure by at least one of the first or second rotary motors rotating alone.
An active suspension apparatus coupled between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass of a vehicle comprising:
- a first rotary motor coupled to a support structure;
- a second rotary motor coupled to the support structure;
- a back drivable rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism having an output shaft, the back drivable rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism coupled to the first and second rotary motors;
- wherein the back drivable rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism converts linear motion of the output shaft resulting from a change in displacement between the sprung and unsprung masses of the vehicle into simultaneous rotation of the first and second rotary motors in opposite directions.
An active suspension apparatus coupled between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass of a vehicle comprising:
- a first rotary motor coupled to a support structure;
- a second rotary motor coupled to the support structure;
- a back drivable rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism having an output shaft, the back drivable rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism coupled to the first and second rotary motors;
- wherein the back drivable rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism converts simultaneous rotation of the first and second rotary motors in opposite directions into linear motion of the output shaft to modify the displacement between the sprung and unsprung masses of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.