Patent ID: 8402854
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: A61G,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A linear actuator comprising a housing supporting a shaft with a male screw section to allow free rotation, a female screw member that is coupled by a screw to the male screw section and advances or retreats by the forward rotation of the shaft with the male screw section and advances or retreats by the reverse rotation of the shaft with the male screw section, a moving cylinder that is fixed to the female screw member and advances and retreats relative to the housing, an input shaft for transmitting the rotation of a motor to the shaft with the male screw section, a clutch for engaging and disengaging the input shaft and the shaft with the male screw section, an operating member fitted on an outer circumference of the housing, a cam hole formed in the housing, a pin provided in the operating member and inserted into the cam hole, and a function ring having a ring groove for inserting the pin on the outer circumference and being capable of shifting along the axis by a movement of the operating member; wherein the clutch includes a sleeve fitted to slide freely on the input shaft by an axial movement of the function ring, engaging male sections respectively formed at positions apart from each other along the circumference on the end surface of the input shaft, and engaging female sections respectively formed at positions apart from each other along the circumference on the end surface of the shaft with the male screw section to engage and disengage the engaging male sections.