Patent ID: 8011269
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: B60N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An actuator comprising: a housing, and within the housing: wherein: the rotatable input member is coupled to the drive member such that rotation of the rotatable input member under an input load causes rotation of the drive member on a first axis, the drive member is coupled to the driven member such that rotation of the drive member causes rotation of the driven member on a second axis which is laterally offset from the first axis, and the coupling between the drive member and the driven member is arranged to provide a rotational reduction from the drive member to the driven member, the driven member is arranged for connection to a wire of a Bowden cable having a sleeve seatable in relation to the housing such that rotation of the driven member causes extension or retraction of the cable, the brake exerts a braking load on a braking surface of the actuator which is fixed relative to the housing and the brake is arranged for cooperation with the drive member, the cooperation being such that when a backdriving load is exerted through the Bowden cable wire to the driven member, tending to cause the driven member to rotate the drive member, the drive member cooperates with the brake to increase the braking load to resist rotation of the drive member, and the drive member includes a gear and is coupled to the driven member by meshing engagement between the gear and part of the periphery of the driven member which defines an arcuate gear having a centre of curvature, the driven member defines an opening at which the driven member is arranged for connection to the wire of the Bowden cable with a centre of said opening positioned at a location spaced beyond the centre of curvature of the arcuate gear by a distance greater than the radius of the arcuate gear.