Ball screw actuator locking mechanism

摘要

The present invention provides an improved standby locking mechanism (20) that is adapted to be used with a ball screw actuator. The actuator has a rotatable screw shaft (21) and has a primary nut (22) mounted on a movable member (23) and threadedly engaging the screw shaft. The standby locking mechanism (20) is also mounted on the member (23) and is operatively arranged to prevent further axial or rotative movement of the screw shaft in the event of a failure of the primary nut. The standby locking mechanism includes a sensing mechanism (30) for sensing a failure of the primary nut, and locking mechanisms (29L, 29R) responsive to the sensing mechanism for selectively locking the screw shaft to the member upon a sensed failure of the primary nut.