Patent ID: 8408518

Claim:
An electric actuator having an internal load apparatus comprising: a drive system having a drive gear that includes a threaded aperture; a drive shaft operatively coupled to the drive system, the drive shaft defines a body having a threaded portion and a longitudinal opening extending through an entire length of the drive shaft between a first end of the drive shaft and a second end of the drive shaft, the threaded portion to threadably engage the threaded aperture of the drive gear, wherein rotation of the drive system in a first rotational direction causes the drive shaft to move in a first rectilinear direction and rotation of the drive system in a second rotational direction causes the drive shaft to move in a second rectilinear direction opposite the first rectilinear direction; a valve stem slidably received through the longitudinal opening of the drive shaft; and a biasing element operatively coupled to the drive shaft, at least a portion of the drive system to move axially toward the biasing element to deflect the biasing element when the drive shaft reaches an end of stroke position to provide a load to the drive shaft when electric power to the electric actuator is removed.