US3710632A - Linear actuator assembly - Google Patents

Linear actuator assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
US3710632A
US3710632A US00171932A US3710632DA US3710632A US 3710632 A US3710632 A US 3710632A US 00171932 A US00171932 A US 00171932A US 3710632D A US3710632D A US 3710632DA US 3710632 A US3710632 A US 3710632A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
shaft
threaded
centrifugal
axially
assembly
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00171932A
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English (en)
Inventor
T Tucker
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McCord Corp
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McCord Corp
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Publication date
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Publication of US3710632A publication Critical patent/US3710632A/en
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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
    • E05B81/24—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by constructional features of the actuator or the power transmission
    • E05B81/25—Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H25/00—Gearings comprising primarily only cams, cam-followers and screw-and-nut mechanisms
    • F16H25/18—Gearings comprising primarily only cams, cam-followers and screw-and-nut mechanisms for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions
    • F16H25/20—Screw mechanisms
    • F16H25/2025—Screw mechanisms with means to disengage the nut or screw from their counterpart; Means for connecting screw and nut for stopping reciprocating movement
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/19—Gearing
    • Y10T74/19642—Directly cooperating gears
    • Y10T74/19698—Spiral
    • Y10T74/19702—Screw and nut
    • Y10T74/19735—Nut disengageable from screw

Definitions

  • a linear actuator assembly including an axially moveable threaded shaft disposed within a rotationally driven housing which guides axial movement of the threaded shaft.
  • a pair of oppositely disposed centrifugal members are pivotally mounted on the rotated member for movement from one engaged position with the threaded shaft through a disengaged position, where the shaft is free to move axially, to an opposite engaged position.
  • the centrifugal members each have spaced half nuts and one pair of half nuts engage the threaded shaft upon rotation of the housing in one direction to move the shaft axially in the first direction and the other half nuts threadedly engage the shaft and move the shaft in the opposite direction upon rotation of the housing in the opposite direction.
  • the limits of the threaded portion of the shaft are defined by lengths of reduced cross section. These lengths of reduced cross section limit the axial movement of the shaft as the half nuts disengage the threaded portion of the shaft by moving axially into one of the lengths of reduced cross section.
  • Automobile doors are locked by pushing a button, which is located on the windowsill, downwardly to prevent the automotive door from being opened from the exterior.
  • a recent innovation utilized with such door locking assemblies is a single switch on the dashboard of the automobile which may be actuated to simultaneously lock or unlock all of the doors in the vehicle by moving the buttons associated with the various doors in unison.
  • One of the requirements of any system wherein the doorlock buttons may be simultaneously moved between locked and unlocked positions is that the door buttons may be individually manually moveable independently of other components of the system.
  • the weights move outwardly to move the half nuts into threaded engagement with the shaft and depending upon the direction of rotation the shaft moves axially up or down.
  • the axial movement of the shaft is limited in that the shaft includes lengths of reduced cross section at either end of a threaded portion whereby the half nuts move out of threaded engagement with the threaded portion of the shaft by being disposed in one of the lengths of reduced cross section.
  • a linear actuator assembly including an axially moveable threaded member disposed within a rotatable member rotatable about the axis of the threaded member and centrifugally actuated means movably supported on the rotated member for movement from a first engaged position in response to rotation in one direction through a disengaged position to a second engaged position in response to rotation in the opposite direction with the centrifugal means including first thread means for engaging the threaded member in the first engaged position to move the threaded member axially in one direction and second thread means for engaging the threaded member in the second engaged position to move the threaded member in the opposite direction with the first and second thread means being alternatively engageable with the threaded member.
  • the threaded member comprises a shaft with a threaded portion and a length of reduced cross section at each end of the threaded portion for limiting axial movement of the shaft as the first and second thread means disengage the threaded portion by moving axially into the lengths of reduced cross section.
  • first and second thread means are spaced from one another axially of the shaft so that when one of the thread means is positioned to be disposed in one of the lengths of reduced cross section the other thread means is positioned to engage the threaded portion, and vice versa.
  • FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an au tomobile body showing the instant invention utilized inthe door latch mechanism;
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention shown in the disengaged position where the shaft may be moved manually so as to manually position the lock button;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the assembly in one of the engaged positions for moving the shaft'axially;
  • FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 1 discloses an au tomotive door assembly 10.
  • Door assembly 10 includes the well known lock button 12 which is pushed downwardly for locking the door and is raised upwardly for unlocking the door.
  • the locking button 12 is integral with or is attached to and disposed at the upper end of a shaft 14.
  • the shaft 14 is connected through the lever 16 and rod 18 to a door latching or locking mechanism which is in turn biased, as by an over center spring, to the locked or unlocked position whereby the shaft 14 and the button 12 are maintained in the locked and unlocked positions respectively when moved thereto.
  • a latching or locking mechanism which is in turn biased, as by an over center spring, to the locked or unlocked position whereby the shaft 14 and the button 12 are maintained in the locked and unlocked positions respectively when moved thereto.
  • a linear actuator assembly constructed in accordance with the instant invention is generally shown at 20.
  • the actuator-assembly is driven by an electric motor 22, the latter having a drive shaft 24 extending therefrom.
  • the linear actuator assembly includes an axially moveable threaded member which is defined by the elongated shaft 14.
  • the shaft 14 includes a threaded portion 26 with lengths of reduced cross section 28 and 30 at each end of the threaded portion 26.
  • the assembly also includes a rotated or drive member or housing 32 which is rotatable about the axis of the shaft 14.
  • the housing 32 has a splined connection 34 with the motor shaft 24 so as to be rotated thereby.
  • the rotated member or housing 32 guides the axial movement of the shaft 26 and includes flanges 36 at its upper end for coaction with the springs 38, the purpose of which will become more clear hereinafter.
  • the shaft 14, which is integral with or rotatably attached to the bottom of the lock button 12, is prevented from rotating by its connection to the lever 16. It will be understood that other suitable means may be utilized to prevent the shaft 14 from rotating within the housing 32.
  • the actuator assembly 20 also includes centrifugally actuated means moveably supported on the rotated housing member 32 for movement from a first engaged position (as illustrated in FIG. 4) in response to rotation in one direction through a disengaged position (shown in FIG. 2) to a second engaged position (not shown) in response to rotation in the opposite direction.
  • the centrifugal means includes first thread means, comprising the half or split nuts 44, for engaging the threaded shaft 14 in the first engaged position, as shown in FIG. 4, to move the shaft 14 axially in one direction, i.e., downwardly.
  • the centrifugal means also includes second thread means including the half or split nuts 46 for engaging the threaded shaft 14 in the second engaged position (not shown) to move the threaded member or shaft 14 in the opposite upward direction, the split nuts 44 and 46 being alternatively engageable with threaded shaft 14.
  • the centrifugal means includes centrifugal members 48 and 50. Each centrifugal member is connected to the rotated housing member 32 by pins 52 for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis (the axis of the pins 52) which is transverse to the shaft 14.
  • the centrifugal member 48 defines a V-shaped support platform 54 and the centrifugal member 50 defines a similar V-shaped support platform 56.
  • One side of the centrifugal member 48 extends downwardly to define the depending leg 58 which is disposed on one side of the support housing 32 and includes the boomerang shaped car 60 disposed on the opposite side of the housing 32.
  • the centrifugal member 50 has a depending leg 62 on one side of the housing 32 and a boomerangshaped ear 64 on the opposite side of the housing 32.
  • the legs 58 and 62 are disposed opposite to one another and boomerang-shaped flanges 60 and 64 are disposed opposite to one another.
  • the depending legs 58' and 62 have weights 66 disposed at the bottoms thereof. Flanges 68 extend along the legs 58 and 62. Each centrifugal member also has an upwardly extending projection 70 which is attached to a spring 38. The springs 38 define biasing means biasing the centrifugal members 48 and 50 to the disengaged position shown in H0. 2.
  • Each half or split nut 44 is supported by the V- shaped platform of each centrifugal member axially of the shaft 14 on one side of the pivotal axis of the pins 52, i.e., upwardly of the pivotal axis defined by the pin 52, and the half nuts 46 are supported by the centrifugal members axially downwardly of the shaft 14 on the other side of the pivotal axis defined by the pins 52.
  • the half or split nuts 44 are disposed upwardly of the pins 52 whereas thehalf or split nuts 46 are disposed downwardly of the pins 52.
  • the V-shaped supporting platform of the centrifugal members 48 and 50 allow both pairs of half nuts 44 and 46 to be spaced from the shaft 14 when in the disengaged position illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • the disengaged position is one wherein the motor 22 is not rotating and the shaft 14 is free to move axially up and down within the housing 32.
  • the housing 32 has an opening extending therethrough and the half nuts 44 and 46 move into the opening 53 to engage
  • Each of the centrifugal members include the weights 66 at the lower ends thereof with the weights being disposed alongside of and on opposite sides of the housing 32.
  • the weights 66 are disposed alongside of the shaft 14 and alongside of the rotated housing member 32 when in the disengaged position illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • the centrifugal members 48 and 50 are substantially similar to one another but are oppositely disposed with the second centrifugal member 50 having its weight 66 disposed on the opposite side of the shaft 14 from the weight 66 of the first centrifugal member 48.
  • the half nuts or split nuts 44 which define first thread means, engage opposite sides of the threaded portion 26 of the shaft 14 when in the first engaged position illustrated in FIG. 4 to move the shaft 14 axially downwardly.
  • the half or split nuts 46 may be moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 into engagement with opposite sides of the threaded portion 26 of the shaft 14 in a second engaged position to move the shaft 14 axially upwardly.
  • the pair of half nuts 44 are spaced axially along the shaft 14 from the pair of half nuts 46 so that when the half nuts of one pair are positioned to be disposed in one of the lengths 28 or 30 of reduced cross section the other pair of half nuts is positioned to engage the threaded portion 26, and vice versa.
  • FIG. 2 The assembly is shown in FIG. 2 at the at rest or disengaged position where the shaft 14 may be freely moved axially independently of actuation of the motor 22. lf it is desired to actuate all of the door lock mechanisms in an automobile a master switch isthrown to energize the motor 22 to affect its rotation to-rotate the output shaft 24.
  • the shaft 14 In the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the shaft 14 is at its lower position where the .door locking mechanism is in the locked position.
  • the weights 66 Upon rotating the rotated housing member 32 in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, the weights 66 effect pivotal movement of the centrifugal members 48 and 50 so as to engage the half or split nuts 46 with the threaded portion 26 of the shaft 14.
  • the motor 22 is rotatedin the opposite or counterclockwise direction to move the centrifugal members 48 and 50 to the position shown in FIG. 4 where the half or split nuts 44 threadedly engage the threaded portion 26 of the shaft 14.
  • the half nuts 44 engage the threaded portion 26. of the shaft 14 midway therealong so as to positively threadedly. engage the shaft 14v regardless of the fact that the half or split nuts 46 cannot threadedly engage the threaded portion 26 due to the length of reduced cross section 30.
  • the shaft 14 moves downwardly until the half orsplit nuts 44' are disposed in the lengths of reduced cross section 28.
  • the lengths 28/ and 30 0f reduced cross section of the shaft 14 at each end of the threaded portion 26 limits axial movement of the shaft 14as the half nuts 44- and 46 disengage the threaded portion 26. by moving axially into lengths28-and 3:0 ofreduced cross section.
  • The, weights 66 on the. centrifugal members 48 and 50. cause the centrifugal members 48 and 50. to rotate in one of two opposite directions depending upon initial rotation of the. motor.
  • the housing 32. rotates tending. to leave the weights 66 in position, i.e. rotation of the shaft or rotation of the housing- 32 precedes movement of the weights 66 thereby allowing, the weights 66 to move under centrifugal force further upwardly as the motor continues to rotate.
  • initial rotation of the motor effects the lag in movement of the centrifugal members soas to determine. inwhich direction they move radially outwardly dueto centrifugal force.
  • a linear actuator assembly comprising: an elongated threaded member, a rotated member rotatable about the axis of said threaded member, and at least one centrifugal member supported on said rotated member and moveable radially in response to rotation of said rotated member and including a first threaded nut portion for engaging said threaded member in response to rotation of said rotated member in one direction and a second threaded nut portion for engaging said threaded member in response to rotation of said rotated member in the opposite direction while said first threaded nut portion is disengaged from said threaded member.
  • a linear actuator assembly comprising: an axially moveable threaded member; a rotated member rotatable about the axis of said threaded member; and centrifugally actuated means movably supported on said rotated member for movement from a first engaged position in response to rotation in one direction through a disengaged position to a second engaged position in response to rotation in the opposite direction, said centrifugal'means including first thread means for engaging said threaded member in said first engaged position to move said threaded member axially in one direction and second thread means for engaging said threaded member in said second engaged position to move said threaded member in the opposite direction as said first thread means is disengaged from said threaded member.
  • said threaded member comprises a shaft with a threaded portion, said shaft having a length of reduced cross section at each end of said threaded portion for limiting axial movement of said shaft as said first and second thread means disengage said threaded portion by moving axially into said lengths of reduced cross section.
  • said threaded member comprises a shaft with a threaded portion and said centrifugal means includes at least one centrifugal member pivotally connected to said rotated member for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis which is transverse to said shaft.
  • said first thread means includes a half nut supported by said centrifugal member axially of said shaft on one side of said pivotal axis and said second thread means includes a half nut supported by said centrifugal member axially of said shaft on the other side of said pivotal axis, each of said half nuts being spaced from said shaft when in said disengaged position.
  • centrifugal member includes a weight spaced axially along said shaft from said half nuts, said weight being disposed alongside said shaft and said rotated member when in said disengaged position.
  • said centrifugal means includes a second centrifugal member pivotally connected to said rotated member for pivotal movement about said pivotal axis, said first thread means further including another half nut supported by said second centrifugal member and said second thread means further including another half nut supported by said second centrifugal member, said centrifugal members being substantially similar to and oppositely disposed with said second centrifugal member having a weight disposed on the opposite side of said shaft from the weight of the first mentioned centrifugal member whereby said half nuts of said first thread means engage opposite sides of said shaft in said first engaged position and said half nuts of said second thread means engage opposite sides of said shaft in said second engaged position.
  • An assembly as set forth in claim 10 including spring means reacting between said rotated member and said centrifugal members for biasing said centrifugal members to said disengaged positions.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
US00171932A 1971-08-16 1971-08-16 Linear actuator assembly Expired - Lifetime US3710632A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US17193271A 1971-08-16 1971-08-16

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US3710632A true US3710632A (en) 1973-01-16

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US00171932A Expired - Lifetime US3710632A (en) 1971-08-16 1971-08-16 Linear actuator assembly

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US (1) US3710632A (fr)
JP (1) JPS5143248B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA951939A (fr)
DE (1) DE2239766A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR2149774A5 (fr)
GB (1) GB1361582A (fr)
IT (1) IT965797B (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4269440A (en) * 1975-11-08 1981-05-26 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Electrically energized operating mechanism for the door of a vehicle and the like, and drive arrangement for the mechanism
US4352300A (en) * 1980-08-21 1982-10-05 Vitafin N.V. Combined linear and circular drive mechanism
US4669283A (en) * 1984-11-28 1987-06-02 Kiekert Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft Central locking device for automobile doors
US4708378A (en) * 1984-11-28 1987-11-24 Kiekert Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft Electrically controlled central locking device for automobile doors
US4723454A (en) * 1985-07-22 1988-02-09 Compagnie Industrielle De Mecanismes En Abrege C.I.M. Locking actuator for a latch of a vehicle door
US4893704A (en) * 1989-03-27 1990-01-16 General Motors Corporation Power door lock actuator

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS518588A (en) * 1974-07-10 1976-01-23 Yazaki Corp Hirensajotanshio densennirenzokuatsuchakusuruhoho
IT1091053B (it) * 1975-12-01 1985-06-26 Kiekert Soehne Arn Dispositivo di bloccaggio centrale per porte di veicoli
DE2553901C2 (de) * 1975-12-01 1982-12-30 Kiekert GmbH & Co KG, 5628 Heiligenhaus Zentrale Verriegelungseinrichtung für Fahrzeugtüren
DE3146804A1 (de) * 1981-11-26 1983-06-01 Fichtel & Sachs Ag, 8720 Schweinfurt Betaetigungselement fuer eine zentralverriegelung an kraftfahrzeugtueren
DE102018205362B4 (de) * 2018-04-10 2020-03-26 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Spindelantrieb, Aktuator mit einem Spindelantrieb und Verwendung

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR661917A (fr) * 1928-10-09 1929-07-31 Mécanisme d'embrayage automatique
US2346728A (en) * 1941-10-20 1944-04-18 Carlson Emil Power driven operating means for extensible and retractable aerials
US2694320A (en) * 1952-12-09 1954-11-16 Philadelphia Gear Works Inc Valve control
US2777688A (en) * 1951-06-15 1957-01-15 Louis B Ehrlich Window operating mechanism

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR661917A (fr) * 1928-10-09 1929-07-31 Mécanisme d'embrayage automatique
US2346728A (en) * 1941-10-20 1944-04-18 Carlson Emil Power driven operating means for extensible and retractable aerials
US2777688A (en) * 1951-06-15 1957-01-15 Louis B Ehrlich Window operating mechanism
US2694320A (en) * 1952-12-09 1954-11-16 Philadelphia Gear Works Inc Valve control

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4269440A (en) * 1975-11-08 1981-05-26 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Electrically energized operating mechanism for the door of a vehicle and the like, and drive arrangement for the mechanism
US4352300A (en) * 1980-08-21 1982-10-05 Vitafin N.V. Combined linear and circular drive mechanism
US4669283A (en) * 1984-11-28 1987-06-02 Kiekert Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft Central locking device for automobile doors
US4708378A (en) * 1984-11-28 1987-11-24 Kiekert Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft Electrically controlled central locking device for automobile doors
US4723454A (en) * 1985-07-22 1988-02-09 Compagnie Industrielle De Mecanismes En Abrege C.I.M. Locking actuator for a latch of a vehicle door
US4893704A (en) * 1989-03-27 1990-01-16 General Motors Corporation Power door lock actuator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4829117A (fr) 1973-04-18
DE2239766A1 (de) 1973-03-01
GB1361582A (en) 1974-07-30
IT965797B (it) 1974-02-11
FR2149774A5 (fr) 1973-03-30
JPS5143248B2 (fr) 1976-11-20
CA951939A (en) 1974-07-30

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