Patent ID: 7082809
Filing Date: 2006-08-01
Classification: B30B,F16H

Abstract:
1. A drive arrangement for exerting a bidirectional substantially axial force between first and second structures, the drive arrangement comprising: a ball screw arrangement including an internally threaded nut and an externally threaded screw shaft, the externally threaded screw shaft having a longitudinal axis and being threadedly engaged with the internally threaded nut; a first coupling connected to the externally threaded screw shaft and configured to connect the externally threaded screw shaft and one of the first and second structures; a second coupling connected to the internally threaded nut and configured to connect the internally threaded nut and the other of the first and second structures, a selected one of said first and second couplings being configured to accommodate transaxial displacement of the ball screw arrangement; a rotatory drive arrangement for applying a torque to the ball screw arrangement for effecting rotatory displacement between the internally threaded nut and the externally threaded screw shaft, the magnitude of the bidirectional substantially axial force being responsive to the magnitude of the torque applied by the rotatory drive arrangement, and the direction of the bidirectional substantially axial force being responsive to the direction of the torque applied by the rotatory drive arrangement, wherein transaxial loading of the ball screw arrangement is accommodated by the selected one of the first and second couplings; and a plurality of recirculating load bearing balls arranged in sequence and interposed between the internally threaded nut and the externally threaded screw shaft, said plurality of recirculating load bearing balls being arranged in plural recirculating load bearing ball circuits.