Linear actuator

A linear actuator includes a controlling module, a driving module and a transmission module. The controlling module includes a circuit board, two micro switches and a socket. The two micro switches are electrically connected to the circuit board. A first end of the socket is electrically connected to the circuit board, and a second end of the socket has a plurality of first connecting parts. The driving module is electrically connected to the controlling module and includes a motor and a connecting mount. The connecting mount is electrically connected to the motor and has a plurality of second connecting parts. The second connecting parts are detachably connected to the first connecting parts so as to electrically connect the connecting mount to the socket. The transmission module is connected to the motor and driven by the motor.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to China Application Serial Number 202120061849.5, filed Jan. 11, 2021, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a linear actuator. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a linear actuator with a motor.

Description of Related Art

In general, the electronic components inside the linear actuator are electrically connected to the circuit board through wires. However, with the development of linear actuators, amount of the internal electronic components is increasing, and crossed wires also make the structure of linear actuator more complex, so that the structure of the linear actuator becomes more complicated, and the assembly of the linear actuator also becomes more complicated. Not only is the assembly time increased but also the cost of manufacturing is substantially increased.

Therefore, the development of a linear actuator which can be quickly assembled has become the goal of the relevant industries.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a linear actuator includes a controlling module, a driving module and a transmission module. The controlling module includes a circuit board, two micro switches and a socket. The two micro switches are electrically connected to the circuit board. A first end of the socket is electrically connected to the circuit board, and a second end of the socket has a plurality of first connecting parts. The driving module is electrically connected to the controlling module and includes a motor and a connecting mount. The connecting mount is electrically connected to the motor and has a plurality of second connecting parts. The second connecting parts are detachably connected to the first connecting parts so as to electrically connect the connecting mount to the socket. The transmission module is connected to the motor and driven by the motor.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiment will be described with the drawings. For clarity, some practical details will be described below. However, it should be noted that the present disclosure should not be limited by the practical details, that is, in some embodiment, the practical details is unnecessary. In addition, for simplifying the drawings, some conventional structures and elements will be simply illustrated, and repeated elements may be represented by the same labels.

It will be understood that when an element (or device) is referred to as being “connected to” another element, it can be directly connected to other elements, or it can be indirectly connected to the other element, that is, intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected to” another element, there are no intervening elements present. In addition, the terms first, second, third, etc. are used herein to describe various elements or components, and these elements or components should not be limited by these terms. Consequently, a first element or component discussed below could be termed a second element or component.

Please refer toFIGS.1,2,3and4.FIG.1is a three-dimensional schematic view of a linear actuator100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.2shows a three-dimensional schematic view of a part of the linear actuator100according to the embodiment inFIG.1.FIG.3shows a three-dimensional schematic view of another part of the linear actuator100according to the embodiment inFIG.1.FIG.4shows a partial exploded view of the controlling module110according to the embodiment inFIG.1. The linear actuator100includes a controlling module110, a driving module120and a transmission module130. The driving module120is electrically connected to the controlling module110, and the transmission module130is connected to and driven by the driving module120.

In detail, the controlling module110includes a circuit board111, two micro switches112and a socket113. The micro switches112are electrically connected to the circuit board111. The micro switches112are triggered by a distance transmission gear116, and the distance transmission gear116is connected to the transmission module130. A first end of the socket113is electrically connected to the circuit board111, and a second end of the socket113has a plurality of first connecting parts114.

The driving module120includes a motor121and a connecting mount122. The connecting mount122is electrically connected to the motor121. The connecting mount122has a plurality of second connecting parts123. The second connecting parts123are detachably connected to the first connecting parts114of the socket113so as to electrically connect the connecting mount122to the socket113. The driving module120can further include at least one wire125. In the embodiment ofFIG.1, the number of the wires125is three. One of two ends of each wire125is electrically connected to the first end of the connecting mount122, and the other one of the two ends of each wire125is electrically connected to the motor121. The transmission module130is connected to the motor121and includes a threaded rod131, and the transmission module130is driven by the motor121.

Specifically, when the motor121rotates, the distance transmission gear116is linked to trigger the micro switches112, and the rotation status of the motor121can be obtained to be converted into the distance of the threaded rod131. When the threaded rod131reaches the preset position, the motor121can be controlled to stop. The micro switches112, the distance transmission gear116and the motor121are conventional and are not the key factors of present disclosure, and the details thereof will not be mentioned.

The conventional micro switch is not disposed on the circuit board, and there are no sockets and connecting mounts. Instead, the conventional micro switch is connected by many wires for electrical connecting. With the above structural configuration, the motor121can be electrically connected to the circuit board111through the socket113and the connecting mount122. Components such as the motor121and the micro switches112can be electrically connected to a controller (not shown) through another socket (not shown) on the circuit board111. Therefore, the amount of wires can be reduced, and the assembly of the linear actuator100can be more convenient and faster, and also the reliability thereof can be increased.

Specifically, the micro switches112and the socket113can be electrically connected to the circuit board111, so as to make the controlling module110be assembled into a semi-finished product first, and then the first connecting parts114of the socket113are aligned with the second connecting parts123of the connecting mount122to complete the assembly. Therefore, it not only reduces the complexity of the internal structure of the linear actuator100, but also facilitates modular assembly, and the linear actuator100can be more suitable for automatic production.

In the embodiment ofFIG.1, each of the first connecting parts114can have a pin structure, and each of the second connecting parts123can have a slot structure. Therefore, the number of the wire and the manual soldering process can be reduced. In the other embodiment, each of the first connecting parts can have a slot structure, and each of the second connecting parts can have a pin structure. The relative positions of the slot structure and the pin structure can be configured according to the needs of use, and the present disclosure will not be limited thereto.

As shown inFIG.2, the socket113can include a fixing unit115for detachably abutting against the connecting mount122. The connecting mount122can include a fixing part124protruding from a body of the connecting mount122, and the fixing unit115of the socket113detachably abuts against the fixing part124. Therefore, the strength of the connection between the socket113and the connecting mount122can be increased, and the socket113and the connecting mount122are less likely to separate due to the operation of the linear actuator100.

As shown inFIG.4, the controlling module110can further include a case140. The case140has an accommodating space141, and the circuit board111is disposed in the accommodating space141. The case140can further include an accommodating groove142, and the circuit board111is fixed in the accommodating groove142. InFIG.4, the circuit board111can be inserted in the accommodating groove142, and thus the accommodating groove142can limit the position of the circuit board111. When the motor121operates, the circuit board111would not be affected by shaking, and the circuit board111can be electrically connected to the micro switches112and the socket113stably. Therefore, the stability of the overall structure of the linear actuator100can be effectively increased.

The linear actuator100can further include a housing150. The housing150is detachably connected to the case140and has a first inner space151and a second inner space152. The motor121is disposed in the first inner space151, the transmission module130is disposed in the second inner space152, and the connecting mount122is disposed on an outer surface153of the housing150(shown inFIG.5).

Please refer toFIGS.4and5.FIG.5shows a partial exploded view of the linear actuator100according to the embodiment inFIG.1. As shown inFIGS.4and5, the housing150can further include an inserting groove154, and the case140can further include an inserting flange143. The inserting groove154is used for inserting the inserting flange143. When the inserting flange143of the case140is abutted against the housing150and slidably inserted into the inserting groove154, the position of the connecting mount122can be aligned with the position of the socket113. With the structural configuration of the sliding insertion of the case140and the housing150, the manual calibration can be omitted, so that the connecting mount122and the socket113can be positioned more quickly. Further, the stability of the connection between the connecting mount122and the socket113can also be increased.

In summary, the linear actuator of the present disclosure has the following advantages. First, the internal structure of the linear actuator can be simplified by the arrangement of the socket and the connecting mount, and it facilitates modular assembly, so that the assembly of the linear actuator can be more convenient and faster. Second, the wires can be reduced by the arrangement of the pin structure and the slot structure, and the manual soldering process can be reduced. Third, with the structural configuration of the case and the housing, the positioning effect of the socket and the connecting mount can be increased, and the assembly of the linear actuator can be more convenient.