Patent ID: 11925996
Assignee: TOLOMATIC, INC.
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  F  H | IPC B  F  H

Claim 0:
1. A linear actuator system comprising:
an actuator housing;
a thrust tube extending from a proximal end disposed at least partially within the actuator housing to a distal end disposed at least partially outside the housing;
a motor configured to move the thrust tube in reciprocating motion along a longitudinal axis thereof;
a guide assembly coupled to the actuator housing, the guide assembly comprising a guide shaft configured for coordinated reciprocating motion with the thrust tube from a first retracted position to a second extended position, adjacent the longitudinal axis, and a guide housing coupled with the actuator housing, with the guide shaft disposed at least partially within the guide housing, parallel to the thrust tube; and
a coupling between the guide shaft and the thrust tube, wherein the guide shaft and coupling are configured to provide positional stability to the distal end of the thrust tube, in the reciprocating motion along the longitudinal axis;
wherein the guide shaft extends from a first end positioned within the guide housing to a second end positioned outside the guide housing, and wherein the guide housing substantially covers the guide shaft in the first retracted position;
a coupling structure connected to the thrust tube at or adjacent the distal end and having a section that extends along the longitudinal axis beyond the coupling between the guide shaft and the thrust tube, wherein the coupling structure defines an interface configured to engage a machine tool; and
an electrode assembly coupled with the thrust tube at the distal end, the electrode assembly comprising a resistive bushing coupled to the distal end of the thrust tube and a weld electrode coupled to the resistive bushing, wherein the weld electrode is electrically isolated from the thrust tube.