LEAD SCREW ACTUATOR HAVING AXIALLY MOVABLE PLUNGER WITH COMPLIANCE IN BOTH AXIAL DIRECTIONS

摘要

An actuator can include a coil spring, a plunger, and a rotating member. The coil spring can include a plurality of coils disposed about an axis. The plunger can include a body and a follower. The follower can be fixedly coupled to the body. The body can be disposed about the axis. The follower can be received between adjacent ones of the coils. The rotating member can be rotatable about the axis and drivingly coupled to one of the coil spring and the plunger to rotate the one of the coil spring and the plunger about the axis. Rotation of the rotatable member can effect translation of the plunger, compression of the coil spring, or both translation of the plunger and compression of the coil spring.

主权项

1. An actuator comprising:
a coil spring, a plunger, and a rotating member, the coil spring including a plurality of coils disposed about an axis, the plunger including a plunger body and a follower member fixedly coupled to the plunger body, the plunger body being disposed about the axis, the follower member being received between adjacent ones of the plurality of coils, the rotating member being rotatable about the axis and coupled to one of the coil spring and the plunger to rotate the one of the coil spring and the plunger about the axis; wherein rotation of the rotatable member effects either translation of the plunger, compression of the coil spring, or both translation of the plunger and compression of the coil spring.