Patent ID: 7699151

Claim:
A clutch actuator for actuating a multi-plate friction clutch, the clutch actuator comprising: a motor including a motor shaft arranged to rotate about a first axis; a worm shaft including a threaded portion and being arranged to rotate about the first axis; a worm wheel in engagement with the threaded portion of the worm shaft; an output rod having an elongated axis defining an axial direction, the output rod arranged to move in the axial direction to engage and disengage the multi-plate friction clutch; and a crankshaft arranged to connect the worm wheel to the output rod such that a rotary motion of the worm wheel is transformed to a reciprocating motion of the output rod; wherein the worm wheel is axially spaced from the output rod along an axial direction of the crankshaft; the threaded portion of the worm shaft includes three or more threads.