Patent ID: 7100465

Claim:
An actuator, which includes: an inner tube; an outer tube disposed over said inner tube in a manner such that said tubes reciprocate with respect to one another; a removably operably disposed ball screw having a ball nut thereon extending through said tubes, said ball screw having an outer diameter which is less than an inner diameter of said tubes such that an annular space exists between said screw and said tubes; a brake assembly operably disposed within one of said tubes; and means for readily enabling removal of at least a part of said brake assembly, said ball screw and said ball nut from said tubes without causing damage thereto from said actuator when in an assembled condition, wherein said enabling means includes an annular pilot bearing washer disposed in a first end of said inner tube having an outer surface in contact with an inner surface of said inner tube and having an inner bearing surface which permits insertion and removal of a first end of said ball screw, wherein said annular pilot bearing washer aids in maintaining said first end of said ball screw from contacting said inner tube.