Patent US4679042A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3710632A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3710632A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Linear actuator assembly
Assignee: McCord Corp
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Filing: 1971-08-16
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Granted: 1973-01-16
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Expires: 1991-08-16
Abstract
Abstract A linear actuator assembly including an axially moveable threaded shaft disposed within a rotationally driven housing which guides axial movement of the threaded shaft. A pair of oppositely disposed centrifugal members are pivotally mounted on the rotated member for movement from one engaged position with the threaded shaft through a disengaged position, where the shaft is free to move axially, to an opposite engaged position. The centrifugal members each have spaced half nuts and one pair of half nuts engage the threaded shaft upon rotation of the housing in one direction to move the shaft axially in the first direction and the other half nuts threadedly engage the shaft and move the shaft in the opposite direction upon rotation of the housing in the opposite direction. The limits of the threaded portion of the shaft are defined by lengths of reduced cross section. These lengths of reduced cross section limit the axial movement of the shaft as the half nuts disengage the threaded portion of the shaft by moving axially into one of the lengths of reduced cross section.
Inventors
- 👤 T Tucker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:46
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B81/00; E05B81/24; E05B81/25; F; F16; F16H; F16H25/00; F16H25/18; F16H25/20; F16H25/2025; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/19698; Y10T74/19702; Y10T74/19735
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A linear actuator assembly comprising: an elongated threaded member, a rotated member rotatable about the axis of said threaded member, and at least one centrifugal member supported on said rotated member and moveable radially in response to rotation of said rotated member and including a first threaded nut portion for engaging said threaded member in response to rotation of said rotated member in one direction and a second threaded nut portion for engaging said threaded member in response to rotation of said rotated member in the opposite direction while said first threaded nut portion is disengaged from said threaded member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A linear actuator assembly comprising: an elongated threaded member, a rotated member rotatable about the axis of said threaded member, and at least one centrifugal member supported on said rotated member and moveable radially in response to rotation of said rotated member and including a first threaded nut portion for engaging said threaded member in response to rotation of said rotated member in one direction and a second threaded nut portion for engaging said threaded member in response to rotation of said rotated member in the opposite direction while said first threaded nut portion is disengaged from said threaded member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
122 words
A linear actuator assembly comprising: an axially moveable threaded member; a rotated member rotatable about the axis of said threaded member; and centrifugally actuated means movably supported on said rotated member for movement from a first engaged position in response to rotation in one direction through a disengaged position to a second engaged position in response to rotation in the opposite direction, said centrifugal means including first thread means for engaging said threaded member in said first engageD position to move said threaded member axially in one direction and second thread means for engaging said threaded member in said second engaged position to move said threaded member in the opposite direction as said first thread means is disengaged from said threaded member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
122 words
A linear actuator assembly comprising: an axially moveable threaded member; a rotated member rotatable about the axis of said threaded member; and centrifugally actuated means movably supported on said rotated member for movement from a first engaged position in response to rotation in one direction through a disengaged position to a second engaged position in response to rotation in the opposite direction, said centrifugal means including first thread means for engaging said threaded member in said first engageD position to move said threaded member axially in one direction and second thread means for engaging said threaded member in said second engaged position to move said threaded member in the opposite direction as said first thread means is disengaged from said threaded member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said threaded member comprises a shaft with a threaded portion, said shaft having a length of reduced cross section at each end of said threaded portion for limiting axial movement of said shaft as said first and second thread means disengage said threaded portion by moving axially into said lengths of reduced cross section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first and second thread means are spaced from one another axially of said shaft so that when one of said thread means is positioned to be disposed in one of said lengths of reduced cross section the other thread means is positioned to engage said threaded portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said threaded member comprises a shaft with a threaded portion and said centrifugal means includes at least one centrifugal member pivotally connected to said rotated member for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis which is transverse to said shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first thread means includes a half nut supported by said centrifugal member axially of said shaft on one side of said pivotal axis and said second thread means includes a half nut supported by said centrifugal member axially of said shaft on the other side of said pivotal axis, each of said half nuts being spaced from said shaft when in said disengaged position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said centrifugal member includes a weight spaced axially along said shaft from said half nuts, said weight being disposed alongside said shaft and said rotated member when in said disengaged position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
136 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said centrifugal means includes a second centrifugal member pivotally connected to said rotated member for pivotal movement about said pivotal axis, said first thread means further including another half nut supported by said second centrifugal member and said second thread means further including another half nut supported by said second centrifugal member, said centrifugal members being substantially similar to and oppositely disposed with said second centrifugal member having a weight disposed on the opposite side of said shaft from the weight of the first mentioned centrifugal member whereby said half nuts of said first thread means engage opposite sides of said shaft in said first engaged position and said half nuts of said second thread means engage opposite sides of said shaft in said second engaged position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said shaft includes a length of reduced cross section at each end of said threaded portion for limiting axial movement of said shaft by said thread means as the half nuts thereof axially disengage said threaded portion by moving axially into said lengths of reduced cross section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein the pair of half nuts of said first thread means are spaced axially along said shaft from the pair of said half nuts of said second thread means so that when one pair of half nuts are positioned to be disposed in one of said lengths of reduced cross section the other pair is positioned to engage said threaded portion, and vice versa.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 10 including spring means reacting between said rotated member and said centrifugal members for biasing said centrifugal members to said disengaged positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as s et forth in claim 11 wherein said rotated member includes a housing for guiding axial movement of said shaft, said shaft being axially moveable when said centrifugal means is in said disengaged position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-16 | 1976-07-17 | 1977-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-16 | 1980-07-17 | 1981-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-16 | 1984-07-17 | 1985-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |