Patent ID: 8186236

Claim:
An actuator which comprises: a rotatable spindle which has a forward end and a rear end, a spindle nut mounted on said spindle to move along said spindle between said forward and rear ends thereof upon rotation of said spindle, a reversible electric motor, a transmission interconnected between said motor and said rear end of said spindle to rotate said spindle, an activation rod attached to said spindle nut to extend towards and beyond said forward end of said spindle, a front mount for attachment to a movable part of an item of an apparatus, and an emergency retraction mechanism connected between the front mount and the activation rod, said emergency retraction mechanism comprising a first cylindrical part attached to the front mount, a second cylindrical part attached to the activation rod, a bearing located between said first and second cylindrical parts to enable rotative rotation therebetween, an operating handle around said first cylindrical part, and a coil spring around said first and second cylindrical parts, said coil spring having windings wrapped around and in contact with an outer periphery of said first cylindrical part, said coil spring having a first end which is bent outwardly and is attached to said operating handle and a second end which is bent inwardly and is connected to said second cylindrical part, manual rotation of said operating handle operating to expand the coil spring out of contact with said first cylindrical part to enable relative motion between the first and second cylindrical parts, and thereafter cause rotation of said spindle and retraction of said spindle nut towards said rear end of said spindle.