Patent ID: 7141752

Claim:
A welding apparatus comprising: an electric actuator having an elongated housing with a longitudinal axis; a threaded rotation shaft being rotationally supported with the housing; a thrust member having a proximal end and a distal end and being axially moveable relative to said rotation shaft along said longitudinal axis, said thrust member including a nut portion near its proximal end, said thrust member and said nut portion being axially moveable and rotationally fixed relative to said housing; an electric motor operatively connected with said rotation shaft; first and second bearing members, one of said first and second bearing members fixed relative to a portion of said housing and operatively engaged with said thrust member and the other of said first and second bearing members fixed relative to a portion of said thrust member and moveable therewith relative to said housing; a welding gun attached to said electric actuator; and an actuation link between said thrust member and a portion of said welding gun.