Linear actuator

Abstract: A linear actuator comprises a driven spindle with a nut, preferably a circulating ball spindle (2) and nut (4) connected to the push rod of the actuator. A safe indication of a worn-out circulating ball nut while protecting against damage to the construction is obtained by providing a safety nut on one side of the circulating ball nut with an intermediate plastic driving washer (8) carrying projections on either face fitting into corresponding holes in the respective nuts. When the circulating ball nut is worn out the safety nut takes over the load and the push rod is only able to reach the position of maximum retraction.

Description: The invention relates to a linear actuator according to the preamble of claim 1 with a driven spindle and a nut, in particular a circulating ball-nut spindle drive, connected to the push rod of the actuator. From US-A-4,984,657 a vehicle lift apparatus including such a linear actuator is known. An actuator with circulating ball spindle and nut (also known as a ball screw with nut) is advantageous, inter alia because of the small friction. It is desirable in such a construction of an actuator that there is a precise indication of a worn-out nut in order that the actuator may be serviced in time and at the same time in order that the remaining construction is protected against consequent damage. When the circulating ball nut wears out, the balls typically are lost, and the transfer of power is disabled. This typically happens during a heavy load on the actuator whereby the push rod almost instantaneously moves to one extreme. Actuators of this kind are e.g. used in hospital beds for adjusting the parts in various positions. It would obviously create catastrophic consequences if a bed collapses under a patient without warning. The above mentioned problem is solved by a linear actuator according to the characterising part of claim 1. In such a linear actuator a safety nut is disposed against the nut, and an intermediate plastic driving washer is disposed between the two nuts, the driving washer being supplied with projections which fit into holes in the respective nuts. When the nut is worn out the safety nut takes over the load and because of the greater friction of the safety nut against the cut thread, the nut will get stuck on the the spindle and participate in its rotation. The projections of the plastic driving washer will be cut by the force of rotation so that the connection between the two nuts is broken. During load the plastic washer will act as a sliding bearing between the two nuts. The actuator will, however, be able to return to its retracted position because the friction between the safety nut and the spindle is reduced when the spindle is reversed. The plastic driving washer is preferably supplied with two projections diametrically disposed but staggered on either side, preferably on diameters at right angles to each other. The holes in the nuts and the projections have a tight fit in order that the safety nut is securely retained at its predetermined distance from the nut. Furthermore the result of a worn out nut is a clean cut against the edges of the holes. The projections must at the same time have sufficient rigidity and be fairly easy to cut which is obtained by means of tubular projections. The projections engaging the nut are solid while the projections engaging the safety nut are hollow, whereby the plastic washer remains in fixed relationship to the worn-down nut when the projections engaging the safety nut are cut. The invention will be explained in detail in the following with reference to the attached drawing which shows an embodiment of the actuator according to the invention in which preferably a drive of the circulating ball-nut spindle type is used. The drawing shows in Fig. 1 a longitudinal section through the actuator, and in Fig. 2 a section of the circulating ball spindle with the nut, plastic driving washer and safety nut in an exploded view. In Fig. 1 of the drawing is shown a linear actuator with a usual circulating ball spindle 2 with the cooperating nut 4, a safety nut 6 an a plastic driving washer 8. The circulating ball spindle is driven by a reversible electric motor 16 via a gear train 14. By the rotation of the spindle the circulating ball nut will move back and forth on the spindle dependent of its direction of rotation. The push rod 18 of the actuator is fitted to the circulating ball nut 4. The safety nut 6 is disposed on the lower side of the circulating ball nut 4, i.e. the side facing the gear train 14. Between the two nuts 4 and 6 is disposed the plastic driving washer 8 which is a thin plastic ring carrying two solid projections 10 on one side which are fitted into corresponding holes in the circulating ball nut 4 and equally carrying two hollow projections 12 on the other side which are fitted into two corresponding holes in the safety nut 6. When the actuator is in good repair the safety nut 6 will simply follow the circulating ball nut 4 at a fixed distance provided by the driving washer such that the safety nut does not touch the thread of the spindle. During an outward push by the push rod the circulating ball nut carries the load on the push rod while the safety nut is unloaded, and during a return movement the safety nut is equally unloaded. When the circulating ball nut is worn out, i.e. when the force from the spindle can no longer be transmitted through balls to the nut, the safety nut engages the thread and takes over the load. The circulating ball nut will always fail during a maximum load, i.e. during an outward movement or at maximum extension or retraction. The safety nut will then be loaded by its engagement with the spindle. During this load the friction between the spindle and the nut will be so great that the nut participates in the rotation of the spindle, whereby the projections of the driving washer will break whereby the link between the two nuts is broken. The safety nut which due to the load and the ensuing friction is momentarily fixed to the spindle will only participate in its rotation while sliding on the plastic washer which acts as a bearing. Further attempts at activating the actuator to push will remain without result. The visible sign to the operator will be that things do not move. A natural reaction would be to attempt a return movement which will be successful because the engagement of the safety nut with the spindle is eased, allowing the safety nut to retract with the push rod. Further attempts at an outward movement will not succeed as before. If the push rod is fully retracted no further movement will be possible. By means of this construction simple, efficient means provide a visible sign for a need for servicing the actuator, without overloading the remaining construction or causing injury to the load.

Claims: A linear actuator comprising a driven spindle (2) with a nut (4), preferably a circulating ball-nut spindle drive, connected to the the push of the actuator, wherein a safety nut (6) is disposed against the nut (4), and wherein an intermediate shear pin means (10, 12) is disposed between the two nuts, said shear pin means fits into holes in the respective nuts and connects the two nuts so that said safety nut (6) can follow the axial movement of the actuator as long as the nut (4) and spindle (2) are in good repair, whereby said shear pin means will fracture when said nut (4) and spindle (2) are in bad repair, characterized in that a plastic washer (8) is disposed between the two nuts, said plastic washer (8) is supplied with projections (10) on one side fitted into holes of the nut (4) and with projections (12) on the other side fitted into holes of the safety nut (6) and forming said shear pin means. An actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that the driving washer (8) has two projections disposed diametrically opposed on either side and staggered, preferably at diameters which are at right angles to each other. An actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the projections engaging the safety nut (6) are tubular.

Inventors: JENSEN BENT, JENSEN, BENT
Applicants: LINAK AS, LINAK A/S
Application year: 1993
Main classification: F16H25
IPC codes: F16H25