Patent ID: 7721858
Filing Date: 2010-05-25
Classification: B62K,F16D

Abstract:
1. A clutch actuator comprising: a motor including a motor shaft, the motor shaft being arranged to rotate about a first axis; a worm shaft including a threaded section, the worm shaft being arranged to rotate about a second axis, the first and second axes being substantially coaxial; a worm wheel engaged with the threaded section of the worm shaft; an output rod including an elongated axis, the elongated axis defining an axial direction, the output rod being arranged to disengage and engage a multi-plate friction clutch through movement of the output rod in the axial direction; and a crank shaft arranged to be driven by the worm wheel and connected to the output rod such that that crank shaft converts rotational motion of the worm wheel to reciprocating motion of the output rod; wherein the motor shaft and the worm shaft are splined together with spline teeth that are positioned on the motor shaft and a spline hole that meshes with the motor shaft spline teeth is positioned in the worm shaft, and a length of the spline teeth along a longitudinal direction of the motor shaft is greater than a depth of the spline hole of the worm shaft.