Electric actuator for drive apparatus
AssigneeHydro-Gear Limited Partnership
InventorsIvan E. Fox, Austin J. Templin, Jesse L. Probst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric actuator for use with a drive apparatus is disclosed herein. An electric motor drives a reduction gear train to position a control shaft, the reduction gear train having a worm drive that motivates a spur gear reduction. A slip clutch is disposed between the worm drive and spur gear reduction to protect the components of the reduction gear train, and to also place a limit on the torque applied to the control shaft. The housing of the electric actuator features a motor chamber to accommodate the electric motor and is sealed by a cap having an electric connector.
Claims14
An electric actuator in communication with a drive controller for adjusting the rotational position of a control shaft on a drive apparatus, the electric actuator comprising:
- an actuator housing having a motor chamber and a gear chamber;
- an electric motor disposed in the motor chamber and comprising a plurality of electric contacts and a motor output shaft passing through to the gear chamber;
- a cap mounted to the actuator housing to seal the electric motor in the motor chamber, and an electric connector passing through the cap to communicate with the plurality of electric contacts;
- a worm drive disposed in the gear chamber and driven by the motor output shaft;
- a spur gear reduction disposed in the gear chamber and driven by the worm drive, wherein the spur gear reduction is engaged to the control shaft to adjust its rotational position;
- and
- a slip clutch disposed in the gear chamber between the worm drive and the spur gear reduction.
A variable drive system for a vehicle, the variable drive system comprising:
- a drive controller;
- a prime mover having an output shaft;
- a first variable drive unit for driving a first wheel of the vehicle, and comprising a first hydraulic pump controlled by a first control shaft and hydraulically connected to a first hydraulic motor, and a first electric actuator in communication with the drive controller for adjusting a rotational position of the first control shaft;
- and
- a second variable drive unit for driving a second wheel of the vehicle and comprising a second hydraulic pump controlled by a second control shaft and hydraulically connected to a second hydraulic motor, and a second electric actuator in communication with the drive controller for adjusting a rotational position of the second control shaft;
- wherein the first electric actuator and the second electric actuator each comprises:
- a main housing having a motor chamber and a gear chamber;
- an electric motor disposed in the motor chamber and comprising a motor output shaft passing through to the gear chamber;
- a worm drive disposed in the gear chamber and driven by the motor output shaft;
- a spur gear reduction disposed in the gear chamber and driven by the worm drive, wherein the spur gear reduction is engaged to its respective control shaft to adjust the rotational position of the respective control shaft;
- and
- a slip clutch disposed in the gear chamber between the worm drive and the spur gear reduction.
An electric actuator in communication with a drive controller for adjusting the rotational position of a control shaft on a drive apparatus, the electric actuator comprising:
- an actuator housing having a motor chamber and a gear chamber;
- an electric motor disposed in the motor chamber and comprising a motor output shaft passing through to the gear chamber;
- a worm drive disposed in the gear chamber and driven by the motor output shaft;
- a spur gear reduction disposed in the gear chamber and driven by the worm drive, wherein the spur gear reduction is engaged to the control shaft to adjust its rotational position;
- and
- a slip clutch disposed in the gear chamber between the worm drive and the spur gear reduction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.