Abstract:
An actuator for use in adjusting a device by means of a Bowden cable includes a housing and an input shaft mounted in the housing and rotatable on a first axis. The shaft has an eccentric portion centered on a second axis laterally offset from the first axis, while a gear track defined by, or fixed in relation to, the housing is concentric with the first axis. A gear is rotatable on the eccentric portion and drivingly engaged with teeth of the gear track. A pulley member rotatably mounted on the input shaft is rotatable with rotation of the gear and is adapted for securing an end of a wire of a Bowden cable. With rotation of the input shaft on the first axis, the gear is caused by the eccentric to orbit around the first axis. In so orbiting the gear is caused by its engagement with the gear track to rotate on the second axis and thereby rotate the pulley member for longitudinally advancing or retracting the wire of the Bowden cable relative to the sheath of a Bowden cable.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to an actuator for actuating ergonomic devices such as lumbar supports employed in vehicle seats in aircraft, waterborne vehicles and land vehicles. While, it will be convenient to hereinafter disclose the invention in relation to its use to actuate lumbar supports, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not limited to that application. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    It is well known to provide ergonomic devices such as lumbar supports in vehicle seats. Various different forms of adjustable lumbar supports exist, comprising a large variety of different types of lumbar supports and interconnected actuators that allow a user to adjust the configuration of the lumbar support. 
         [0005]    The actuator used to adjust the lumbar support can be activated and controlled by one or more motors or by mechanical means such as levers and controls to set the lumbar support at a particular adjusted position. One type of mechanical actuator includes a rotatable knob which can be rotated clockwise or anticlockwise to extend or retract a Bowden cable operatively connected to a lumbar support. Movement of the Bowden cable sets the lumbar support in an adjusted position. It is desirable that the lumbar support remains stable at this adjusted position, particularly when a backdriving force is applied to the actuator, such as applied by a vehicle occupant sitting on the vehicle seat. 
         [0006]    Some forms of actuator include a braking mechanism for braking the actuator against any applied backdriving force. The braking mechanism is typically a biasing spring which applies a resistance force to one or more driven components of the actuator to counteract the backdriving force. 
         [0007]    However, such a braking mechanism also generally applies a resistance force which resists rotation of the knob. Therefore, to adjust the actuator, a user must apply a force which overcomes the resistance force, and also operates the actuator to perform the lumbar support adjustment. While this problem can be generally alleviated by including a gearing system between the knob and driven components within the actuator, the inclusion of the braking and gearing system tends to increase the complexity and number of parts used in the actuator, adding to production and assembly costs. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved actuator which overcomes or at least alleviates one or more of the foregoing disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    According to the present invention, there is provided an actuator, suitable for use in adjusting a device by means of a Bowden cable, wherein the actuator includes:
       (a) a housing;   (b) an input shaft mounted in the housing and rotatable on a first axis, the shaft having an eccentric portion centered on a second axis laterally offset from the first axis;   (c) a gear track defined by, or fixed in relation to, the housing and concentric with the first axis;   (d) a gear member rotatable on the eccentric portion of the input shaft and drivingly engaged with teeth of the gear track defined by, or fixed in relation to, the housing; and   (e) a pulley member rotatably mounted on the input shaft and rotatable with rotation of the gear member the pulley being adapted for securing an end of a wire of a Bowden cable;       
 
         [0015]    wherein, with rotation of the input shaft on the first axis, the gear member is caused by the eccentric to orbit around the first axis while being caused by its engagement with the gear track to rotate on the second axis and thereby rotate the pulley member for longitudinally advancing or retracting the wire of the Bowden cable relative to the sheath of a Bowden cable. 
         [0016]    The gear member and the pulley member may inter-fit in a manner enabling the pulley member to rotate on the first axis in response to rotation of the gear member on the second axis, while enabling the gear member to orbit with respect to the first axis relative to the pulley member. The gear member and the pulley member may inter-fit by projections on one of them locating in recesses in the other of them, with the recesses being larger than the projections thereby to allow orbiting of the gear member relative to the pulley member. Alternatively, the gear member and the pulley member may move in unison so that they each rotate on the second axis while orbiting with respect to the first axis. In that alternative the pulley member and the gear member may be secured together so as to be movable in unison, or they may be parts of an integral component such as one which is integrally formed. 
         [0017]    The gear track preferably is formed integrally with a section of the housing. The gear member preferably is an externally toothed gear, while the gear track preferably is an internally toothed gear track formed integrally with a section of the housing, with the teeth of the gear and gear track in direct meshed engagement. 
         [0018]    The pulley member may be of ovoid shape to define a first part adjacent to which the gear member is located and a second part which extends laterally beyond the gear member. In that case the pulley member preferably is adapted for securing an end of the wire of the Bowden cable at a location on the second part of the pulley member spaced from the first and second axes by about twice the radius of the gear member. The pulley member preferably defines a circumferential groove, which extends from said location, in which the wire can be wound or unwound, depending on the direction of rotation of the pulley member. 
         [0019]    The input shaft may have a first end portion to which a knob or handle for rotating the shaft member can be fitted, a section adjacent to the first end portion which defines the eccentric portion and between the eccentric portion and a second end portion, a portion on which the pulley member is located. In such an arrangement, the gear member and the pulley member may move in unison so that they each rotate on the second axis while orbiting with respect to the first axis, with the portion of the input shaft on which the pulley member is located forming an eccentric continuation of the eccentric portion. 
         [0020]    The housing preferably has two releasably connected housing parts, one of the housing parts defining a skirt in which the first end portion of the input shaft is received, and the other housing part defining a recess in which the second end portion of the input shaft is rotatable. The input shaft may have a peripheral flange between the first end portion and the eccentric portion, with the one housing part defining a seat in which the flange is located. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The present invention will now be described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, which illustrates one particular preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an actuator according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the actuator shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the actuator of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  shows plan view of the actuator of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a sectional view of the actuator of  FIG. 1 , taken along line V-V of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  shows a side elevation view of the actuator of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 7(   a ) and  7 ( b ) show respective perspective views of a knob for the actuator of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 7(   a ) showing a top perspective view and  FIG. 7(   b ) showing a bottom perspective view; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ) show respective perspective views of a rotatable input member of the actuator of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 8(   a ) showing a top perspective view and  FIG. 8(   b ) showing a bottom perspective view; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 9(   a ) and  9 ( b ) show respective perspective views of a drive member of the actuator of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 9(   a ) showing a bottom perspective view and  FIG. 9(   b ) showing a top perspective view; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 10(   a ) and ( 10   b ) show respective perspective views of a driven member of the actuator of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 10(   a ) showing a bottom perspective view and  FIG. 10(   b ) showing a top perspective view; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 11(   a ) and  11 ( b ) show respective perspective views of an upper housing part of the actuator of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 11(   a ) showing a top perspective view and  FIG. 11(   b ) showing a bottom perspective view; 
           [0033]      FIGS. 12(   a ) and  12 ( b ) show respective perspective views of a lower housing part of the actuator of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 12(   a ) showing a perspective bottom view and  FIG. 12(   b ) showing a top perspective view; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 13(   a ) and  13 ( b ) respectively show a top perspective view and a side elevational view of a composite member for an actuator according to a second embodiment which otherwise may be the same as the actuator of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view taken on line XIV-XIV of  FIG. 13(   b ). 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    The following description describes the illustrated  FIGS. 1 to 12  of an actuator  10  which is described with reference to the orientation shown in  FIG. 1 . It is to be understood that terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “above”, “vertical” and “horizontal” are to be construed in light of that orientation, but that the terms do not preclude use of actuator  10  in other orientations for which other relative terms are appropriate. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show actuator  10  assembled, while  FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the actuator  10 . The actuator  10  has a housing  11  which includes an upper housing part  12  and a lower housing part  13 . The upper  12  and lower  13  housing parts connect together by snap lock location of tabs  12   a  of the upper housing part  12  into receiving tabs  13   a  of lower housing part  13 . 
         [0038]    The actuator  10  includes a manually rotatable handle or knob  14 , and within housing  11 , a rotatable input member in the form of a multi-section shaft  16 , an externally toothed gear  17  and a pulley member  18 . The upper housing part  12  integrally incorporates an annular internally toothed track  19 , best shown in  FIG. 12(   a ). Upper and lower perspective views of each of the knob  14 , rotatable shaft  16 , the gear  17 , the pulley member  18 , the upper housing part  12 , and the lower housing part  13  are illustrated in  FIGS. 7 to 12 , respectively. 
         [0039]    From  FIG. 1 , it can be observed that the upper housing part  12  includes an upstanding annular skirt  20 . A hollow, upper cylindrical part  21  of the rotatable shaft  16  is accommodated in skirt  20 . The part  21  of the shaft  16  is spaced from the internal surface  22  of the skirt  20  to allow the shaft  16  to rotate. 
         [0040]    However, the part  21  of shaft  16  has longitudinal ribs  21   a  on its external surface which slide against or are closely adjacent to surface  22  of skirt  20  to centralise part  21  in skirt  20 . Also, part  21  is internally splined within its bore  24 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the knob  14  consists of a generally star shaped hand grip portion  14   a  from which extends an annular skirt  15  ( FIG. 7(   b )). Within skirt  15 , knob  14  includes an externally splined hub  23  which extends from portion  14   a . As shown in  FIG. 3 , hub  23  can be inserted into the cooperatively configured splined bore  24  of part  21  of shaft  16  to enable shaft  16  to be rotated by rotation of knob  14 . With hub  23  received in bore  24 , skirt  15  is received concentrically over skirt  20 . The knob is secured by a bead  15   a  around the inner surface of skirt  15  being a snap fit over projections  20   a  on the outer surface of skirt  20 . As best shown in  FIG. 5 , the knob  14  and upper part  21  of the shaft  16  are centred and rotatable about a first axis X-X. Thus, manual rotation of knob  14  rotates shaft  16  about the axis X-X. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , the shaft  16  has a stepped structure. Shaft  16  has a flange  25  which projects radially outwardly around the lower end of part  21 . The flange  25  is able to be positioned in a corresponding shaped circular seat  60  ( FIG. 12(   a )) in the interior of the upper housing part  12 . Spaced from part  21  by flange  25 , shaft  16  has an eccentric  26  defined by a cylindrical portion centred about a second axis Y-Y, which is laterally offset from the X-X axis, such by about 1 to 2 mm. The eccentric  26  is of a size enabling it to be neatly received into a circular bore  27  of the gear  17 . During assembly of the actuator  10 , the gear  17  is inserted until the upper surface  29  of the gear  17  abuts the lower surface  28  of circumferential ledge  25 . The gear  17  can therefore rotate about the eccentric  26  which is centred on the Y-Y axis. 
         [0043]    Extending longitudinally from the face of eccentric  26 , remote from surface  28 , the shaft  16  has a cylindrical part  30 . The part  30  is centred on the X-X axis and is of a size enabling it to be neatly received into a circular bore  31  of the pulley member  18 . When so received, pulley member  18  can be rotated on axis X-X. 
         [0044]    Extending longitudinally from part  30 , shaft  16  has an end part  33 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , this part  33  extends co-axially along axis X-X with part  30  and part  33  is of a size enabling it to be neatly received into a cooperating guide hole  34  formed in a base portion  35  of the lower housing part  13 . The insertion of part  33  into guide hole  34  holds the rotatable shaft  16  in alignment with axis X-X and thereby substantially perpendicular to the base  35 . When the actuator  10  is assembled, the shaft  16  extends through each of the gear  17  and pulley member  18 , with gear  17  and pulley member  18  axially nested and in abutting engagement. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 9 , gear  17  is of flat, annular form, and has a uniform array of teeth  37  spaced about its outer circumference. Also, gear  17  has an array of projections  40  on its lower surface  38 . The projections  40  are uniformly spaced around gear  17 , between the teeth  37  and the bore  27 , and extend parallel to axis X-X. The projections are of a form and size enabling them to be loosely received into corresponding recesses  42  formed in the pulley member  18 , around bore  31 . When the actuator  10  is assembled, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the upper surface  43  of the pulley member  18  abuts the lower surface  38  of the gear  17 , with each projection  40  being received within a respective recess  42  of the pulley member  18 . Thus, the pulley member  18  is axially coupled with the gear  17 . 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 12(   a ), when the actuator  10  is assembled, the gear  17  is seated within internally toothed track  19  in the upper housing part  12 . The track  19  is co-axial with the skirt  20  of housing part  12  and, hence, centered on the X-X axis. Referring to  FIG. 5 , it can be seen that the radius RT of the track  19  is equal to the sum of the outer radius RG of the gear  17  and the radial offset  0  between the X-X and Y-Y axes. This results in the track  19  defining a comfortably larger diameter than the diameter of the gear  17 . 
         [0047]    From  FIG. 12(   a ) it can be seen that the track  19  has circumferentially spaced teeth  45  around its perimeter  46 . The teeth  45  are configured to mesh with the teeth  37  of the gear  17 . The arrangement is such that gear  17  can be driven around track  19  by orbiting relative to the X-X axis. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 3 and 10  show that the pulley member  18  has two axially offset sections. A upper coupling section  44  of member  18  (best seen in  FIG. 10(   b )) has the form of a generally circular shaped plate and includes the circumferentially spaced recesses  42  and bore  31 . A lower coupling section  44   a  (best illustrated in  FIG. 10(   a )) has the form of a generally ovoid shaped plate. The upper section  44  is used to axially couple the pulley member  18  to the gear  17 . For this, each of the recesses  42  axially receives a respective one of the projections  40  of the gear  17 . As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , recesses  42  are significantly wider than the projections  40 . This difference is such as to allow orbital movement of the gear  17  about the X-X axis as a consequence of gear  17  being carried on eccentric  26  of shaft  16 . During operation of the actuator  10  the gear  17  is able to orbit around the toothed track  19  about the X-X axis in a first direction, causing the gear  17  to rotate about the Y-Y axis in the opposite direction. Due to the axial offset between the first axes, gear  17  orbits relative to the pulley member  18  when the gear  17  is driven about the axis X-X. 
         [0049]    The ovoid shape of lower section  44   a  of pulley member  18  is such that section  44   a  extends laterally beyond one side of the upper coupling section  44 . The section  44   a  has a slotted key-hole opening  50  on its outer circumference at a location beyond that one side, with opening  50  able to receive a cylindrical barrel affixed to the end of an actuating wire of a Bowden cable. The lower section  44   a  further defines a cable groove  54  which extends either side of the opening  50 , to enable the wire to extend in a selected direction. To enable a Bowden cable wire to be secured to section  44   a , pulley member  18  is rotated to align opening with a selected one of key-hole openings  51  in the upper housing part  12 . From the selected opening  51 , the Bowden cable is drawn circumferentially to locate its wire in the respective groove  54 , and the sheath of the Bowden cable then is secured in a slotted receiving recess  55  configured to tightly receive and hold the cable sheath of the Bowden cable. A flanged portion at the end of the cable sheath is provided for insertion within the slot  56  of the slotted recess  55 . The upper housing  12  also includes an opening  58  proximate to the slotted recess  55 , through which the wire of the Bowden cable can be advanced or retracted when connected to the pulley member  18  and the actuator  10  is in operation. 
         [0050]    When the actuator  10  is assembled, the pulley member  18  is seated in a guide recess area  62  ( FIG. 12(   a )) formed in the interior surface of the upper housing part  12 . The recess guide  62  includes two oppositely spaced stop projections  64  each of which engage a side of the pulley member  18  when the pulley member is at respective extreme positions of its movement about the X-X axis. In the illustrated embodiment, the driven member is able to move approximately 120°. 
         [0051]    For assembly of actuator  10 , the part  21  of the shaft  16  is inserted into skirt  20  until the flange  25  locates within seat  60  of the upper housing part  12 . The gear  17  then is received onto eccentric  26  of shaft  16 , against flange  25 , and thereby located in track  19  with the teeth  37  of gear  17  meshing with the teeth  45  of track  19 . The pulley member  18  is then received onto part  30  of shaft  16  and into abutting engagement with gear  17 , with each of the recesses  42  receiving a respective one of the projections  40  to rotationally couple the gear  17  and pulley member  18  together. When so received, pulley member  18  is received onto shaft  16  with part  30  of the shaft  16  within the bore  31  of the pulley member  18 . The lower housing part  13  then is fitted to the upper housing part  12  using the snap connectors  12   a  and  13   a , ensuring that end part  33  of shaft  16  locates in guide hole  34  of the lower housing part  13 . The knob  14  then is fitted, with its skirt  15  received concentrically over skirt  20  of upper housing part  12 , until bead  15   a  of skirt  15  is forced over and beyond projections  20   a  of skirt  20 . For this fitting of knob  14 , its hub  23  is received into the bore  24  of part  21  of shaft  16 , to interfit the splines of hub  23  and bore  24  and rotationally couple knob  14  and shaft  16 . 
         [0052]    When it is required to secure a Bowden cable to the actuator  10 , it is first appropriate to determine to which of the opposite sides of the actuator  10  the Bowden cable is to extend. Assuming the pulley member  18  is to be rotated clockwise, as viewed from above in  FIG. 3 , in order to tension the wire of a Bowden cable, the cable of course extends anti-clockwise from its connection to the member  18 . To make that connection the pulley member is rotated anti-clockwise towards one of its limiting positions by rotating knob  14  and shaft  16  clockwise. The anti-clockwise rotation of pulley member  18  is continued so as to bring the opening  50  of member  18  into register with the one of key-hole openings  51  in upper housing part  12  (the nearer opening  51  in  FIG. 3 ). A retaining cylinder, ball or slug at the end of the wire of a Bowden cable then is able to be inserted through the round part of keyhole opening  51 , into the corresponding part of opening  50  for which it is sized to be a neat fit. The wire of the cable then is dropped through the stem portion of opening  51  so as to project laterally from the stem portion of opening  50 . The Bowden cable then is drawn to extend longitudinally in an anti-clockwise direction away from opening  50 , so that its wire is able to pass laterally through slot  53  defined between parts  12  and  13  of housing  11 . With the Bowden cable drawn anti-clockwise away from the opening  50 , its wire is able to locate in the groove  54  of member  18 , and the sheath of the Bowden cable is able to be secured in slotted recess  55 . The pulley member  18  then is able to be rotated clockwise by anti-clockwise rotation of knob  14  and shaft  16 , to advance the wire out from the sheath, after which anti-clockwise rotation of member  18  causes retraction of the cable back into the sheath. Rotation of the pulley member  18  either advances or retracts the wire of a Bowden cable lengthwise relative to the sheath of the cable, depending on the direction of rotation of member  18  by knob  14  and shaft  16 . 
         [0053]    It will be appreciated that the actuator  10  is able to receive a Bowden cable from either of two directions, avoiding the need for the actuator  10  to be produced in right hand and left hand versions. Thus, the upper housing part  12  has a slotted receiving recess  55  and opening  58  symmetrically disposed on both left and right hand sides of the housing  12 , and the Bowden cable is able to be connected to the actuator  10  via either of these receiving recesses  55  and openings  58 . 
         [0054]    In operation, a user rotates the knob  14  in a selected direction to adjust the position of a seat lumbar support apparatus (not illustrated) connected to the Bowden cable. Rotation of the knob  14  in either direction directly rotates the shaft  16  about the X-X axis in the same direction. As eccentric  26  is part of shaft  16 , and as eccentric  26  is centred about the Y-Y axis, the Y-Y axis is caused to orbit around the X-X axis in the direction of rotation as shaft  16 . With orbiting of the Y-Y axis, gear  17  orbits similarly. However, as teeth  37  of gear  17  are meshed with teeth  45  of track  19 , gear  17  is caused to rotate on the Y-Y axis, but with the direction of rotation of gear  17  being in the opposite direction to that in which gear  17  orbits and shaft  16  rotates. As gear  17  is coupled to the pulley member  18  by the location of projections  40  in recesses  42 , the pulley is drawn by gear  17  to rotate on the X-X axis, in the direction of rotation of gear  17  and opposite to the direction of rotation of shaft  16 . As pulley member  18  is rotatable on the X-X axis, the loose fitting of projections  40  in recesses  42  needs to be sufficient to allow for the orbital movement of gear  17 . Rotation of pulley member  18  rotates its opening  50  and advances or retracts (ie pulls or pushes) the wire of a Bowden cable which is operatively connected as described above. 
         [0055]    Assuming the other end of a Bowden cable is connected to a lumbar support, movement of the wire of the cable adjusts the position of the lumbar support. Once a desired adjustment has been made to the lumbar support of a seat, the actuator  10  is able to resist a backdriving load applied through the Bowden cable wire  52 . A backdriving load may occur simply because of pressure applied by a person sitting in the seat. The tendency under a backdriving load is for the pulley member  18  to rotate and cause the cable wire  52  to shift from its position after the desired adjustment and enable the lumbar support to be adjusted unintentionally. However, the actuator  10  generally prevents rotation of the driven member  18  under a backdriving load up to a limit beyond loads encountered in normal use of a lumbar support. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a backdriving force applied through a Bowden cable can apply a substantially tangential force to the driven member  18  at the slot  50  about the X-X axis. That force, via the coupling between the pulley member  18  and gear  17  applies a rotational force to the gear  17  about the Y-Y axis. This cannot actuate rotation of the gear  17  about the X-X axis because movement of gear  17  about the Y-Y axis is restrained by the meshing engagement of the teeth  37  of the gear  17  with teeth  45  of the track  19 . The gear  17  can only move about the X-X axis when the shaft  16  rotates to cause the Y-Y axis to orbit about the X-X axis. Consequently, a backdriving force able to move the gear  17  about the Y-Y axis, would need to be very substantial and would be well in excess of forces normally encountered. 
         [0057]    Actuator  10  provides a geared reduction between the gear  17  and the pulley member  18 , so that the input load is multiplied through the pulley member  18 . The gear ratio is the ratio of the offset between the X-X and Y-Y axes and the radius of gear  17 . The gearing is provided by the eccentric arrangement between the part  26  of shaft  16  and the pulley member  18 , and can be arranged so that only about five turns of the shaft  16  enable full rotational travel of the pulley member  18 . This compares favourable with other actuators. 
         [0058]    A gear ratio of between 10:1 to 18:1 between the shaft  16  and the gear  17  assists in enabling about 5 turns of the shaft  16  to achieve rotational travel of the pulley member  18  sufficient to provide a required range of relative longitudinal movement between the wire and sheath of a Bowden cable. The form of the pulley member  18  assists with this since, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the slotted opening  50  on the lower section  44   a  of the pulley member  18  is spaced from the axis of the bore  31  by an amount greater than the radius of gear  17  to provide a required level of longitudinal movement between the wire and the sleeve of the Bowden cable, for a given rotation of the pulley member  18 . The opening  50  may be spaced from the axis of bore  31  by from about 1.8 to 2.2 times, preferably about 2 times, the radius of gear  17 . 
         [0059]      FIGS. 13(   a ) and  13 ( b ) show a member  80  which, in an actuator otherwise corresponding to actuator  10  of  FIGS. 1 to 6 , replaces the gear  17  and pulley member  18  of actuator  10 . The member  80  has an upper gear portion  117  and a lower pulley portion  118 . Features of portions  117  and  118  of member  80  which correspond to features of gear  17  and pulley member  18  have the same reference numeral, plus 100. Also, the following description principally is limited to matters of difference between member  80  and the corresponding arrangement in actuator  10  of  FIGS. 1 to 6 . 
         [0060]    One important difference is that member  80  is in one piece. That is, portions  117  and  118  are not unintentionally separable and, while they may be releasably secured together by screws or the like, they preferably are formed integrally, or made integral such as by bonding. Thus, portion  117  is not able to orbit around an axis relative to portion  118 . Also, while a line  82  is shown as separating the bore  127  in gear portion  117  and bore  131  in pulley portion  118 , those bores are co-axial and preferably are of the same diameter, in which case line  82  simply separates respective portions of the one bore through member  80 . 
         [0061]    The member  80  necessitates a modified form of shaft since portions  117  and  118  must be on a common axis and orbiting of gear portion  117  will necessitate member  80  orbiting as a whole. Thus, relative to shaft  16  for actuator  10  of  FIGS. 1 to 6 , part  30  of shaft  16  would need to be co-axial with eccentric  26  or of a modified form which did not impede rotation of member  80  on eccentric  26 , and which also simply carried part  33  of shaft  16 . Preferably part  30  would be co-axial with eccentric  26  and of the same radius as eccentric  26 . 
         [0062]    In use of member  80 , with a suitable modified shaft, operation is similar to operation with actuator  10  of  FIGS. 1 to 6 . A Bowden cable is able to be connected in the same way. Also, the wire of the cable is able to be advanced or retracted by rotating the knob to rotate the shaft in the same direction, and to achieve rotation of the connection between the Bowden cable wire and member  80  in the opposite direction. What is different is that, relative to the X-X and Y-Y axes of  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the gear portion  117  and the pulley portion  118  move in unison, given that they are parts of the one component comprising member  80 . Thus, portions  117  and  118  together orbit around the X-X axis in one direction while rotating on the Y-Y axis in the opposite direction, due to the teeth  137  of gear portion  117  remaining meshed with the internal teeth of a gear track defined by the actuator housing and corresponding to teeth  45  of track  19  of actuator  10  of  FIGS. 1 to 6 . 
         [0063]    With actuator  10  of  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the interior of the housing  11  needs to allow for rotation of pulley member on the X-X axis. In the case of an actuator, having member  80  needs to allow for rotation of pulley portion  118  on the Y-Y axis, simultaneously with orbiting of portion  118  around the X-X axis. However, as indicated above, the offset between these axes is small, and likely to be less than about 2 mm, such as about 1.2 mm. 
         [0064]      FIG. 14  shows member  80  on the sectional line XIV-XIV of  FIG. 13 . However, in addition to showing further detail of member  80 ,  FIG. 14  also shows an end portion of a Bowden cable  84 . The cable  84  has a wire  86  movable longitudinally relative to a sheath  88 . For this, a cylinder, slug or ball  90  secured at one end of the wire  86  is located in opening  150  of member  80 . From opening  150 , the wire  86  extends around a groove  154  extending around the periphery of member  80  to a location at which sheath  88  is secured by its terminal flange  88   a  against movement relative to a housing in which member  80  is used 
         [0065]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope.