LOCKING ARRANGEMENT FOR AN ACTUATOR

摘要

A lock arrangement for capturing an axially movable member such as the output rod of a linear stroke actuator. The exemplary embodiment consists of a vehicle door actuator. The actuator output rod passes through a lock housing attached to an actuator mounting bracket. Within the housing the output member passes between a pair of pawls which are arranged to pivot in one direction only to allow a collar fixed to the member to pass between them in said one direction. The pawls engage the collar and capture the member preventing its return movement until released. The housing consists of two sections which can be separated slightly to allow the pawls to slide radially outwards and thereby to release the collar. The actuator cylinder is coupled to one of the housing sections and has a limited lost motion relative to the mounting bracket so that when the actuator is energised for release the lock housing sections are separated to free the pawls.