Spring return worm gear drive actuator and method

摘要

A worm gear drive actuator having an output gear for controlling movement of a component between a default position and an activation position. The actuator includes a spring return connected to a return gear mounted in meshing engagement with a spur gear coaxially mounted to one end of the worm. As the worm is driven by a motor to rotate the output gear and thus the component to the activation direction, the spring turns and accumulates a torsional load. When the motor is deactivated, the spring releases its torsional load which rotates the return gear, spur gear, worm and output gear in the opposite direction which returns the component to its default position.