Patent ID: 8181546

Claim:
A linear actuator comprising an outer housing having a reversible electric motor which, via a transmission with at least one gear wheel, drives a spindle with a shaft end, a bearing on the shaft end for the mounting of the spindle, a spindle nut on the spindle and which fixed against rotation is moved in and out of the spindle depending on the direction of rotation of the motor, an activating element connected with the spindle nut, a quick release unit disposed in the transmission between the activating element and the reversible electric motor for disengaging the activating element from the electric motor and the part of the transmission which is disposed from the motor to the quick release unit, said quick release unit comprising two cylindrical coupling parts, said quick release unit being adapted to be activated by a release mechanism, wherein the quick release unit is disposed at the gear wheel, and the two cylindrical coupling parts are provided with axially-extending and mutually-engaged, torque-transferring means, and the two coupling parts are mutually axially displaceable, and including a spring which is coaxially positioned relative to said two coupling parts to cause said two coupling parts to be engaged, said release mechanism when activated pushing the two coupling parts towards one another to disengage the torque-transferring means therebetween.