Anti-Rotation Apparatus for Linear Actuator

摘要

A linear actuator has a housing with a bore therethrough, thus defining an axis. A shaft is in sliding engagement with a portion of the bore and a piston is coupled to the shaft. An anti-rotation apparatus has an elongate slot defined in the housing which extends parallel to the axis. The elongate slot has opposing sidewalls that are non-parallel to one another and offset from a plane perpendicular to the axis by a respective predetermined angle ranging between zero and fifteen degrees. A bearing block has opposing sides and a hole therethrough, wherein an attachment member extends through the hole, coupling the bearing block to the shaft. The opposing sides of the bearing block are parallel to the respective opposing sidewalls of the elongate slot. The attachment member provides a selective engagement force between the opposing sides of the bearing block and the opposing sidewalls of the elongate slot. The opposing sides of the bearing block respectively slidingly engage the opposing sidewalls of the elongate slot, therein generally preventing a rotation of the shaft about the axis.

主权项

1. A linear actuator, comprising:
a housing having a bore therethrough, therein defining an axis; a shaft in sliding engagement with at least a first portion of the bore; a piston coupled to the shaft, wherein the piston is in sliding engagement with a second portion of the bore; and an anti-rotation apparatus, wherein the anti-rotation apparatus comprises:
an elongate slot defined in the housing, wherein opposing sidewalls of the elongate slot extend parallel to the axis, and wherein the opposing sidewalls are generally V-shaped when viewed along the axis;an attachment member; anda bearing block coupled to the shaft via the attachment member, wherein opposing sides of the bearing block are generally V-shaped when viewed along the axis, and wherein the opposing sides of the bearing block respectively slidingly engage the opposing sidewalls of the elongate slot, therein generally preventing a rotation of the shaft about the axis.