| Linear actuator having a clutch for an airline seat -> Monitor Keywords |
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Linear actuator having a clutch for an airline seatLinear actuator having a clutch for an airline seat description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070145806, Linear actuator having a clutch for an airline seat. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present application generally relates to actuators, and more particularly, to a linear actuator having a clutch for an airline seat. BACKGROUND [0002] Linear actuators can convert rotational input from a drive source to a linear output for driving an object along a linear path or rotating an object about a pivot. A typical linear actuator includes a drive sleeve with an axial bore, which operatively couples with a correspondingly sized actuation member. The actuation member and the axial bore can be threaded to engage so that rotation of the drive sleeve causes the movement of the actuation member along the axis of the bore. The drive sleeve may include a drive gear on the outer diameter thereof that can engage a drive gear of a motor either directly or through one or more intervening gears of a transmission. The transmission may function to reduce the speed of the motor and increase the drive torque of the drive sleeve. Thus, the motor can rotationally drive the drive sleeve, which in turn linearly actuates the actuation member. [0003] The actuation member is typically coupled to an object that it pushes or pulls to actuate. In actuating the object, the actuation member may encounter a variety of loads associated with the object. For example, the actuation member may be lifting an object when actuated. Therefore, the load experienced by the actuation member is the weight of the object. However, an actuator is typically designed considering the typical loads it may experience during operation. Accordingly, actuators can endure predictable abuses they may encounter during operation. When the actuation member experiences excessive axial loads, it transfers the loads to the drive sleeve through the threaded coupling between itself and the axial bore of the sleeve. Additionally, the loads may be transferred to the bearings that rotationally support the sleeve or the motor that drives the actuator. [0004] An example of a device that uses a linear actuator is a powered reclining seat, such as those used in premium seating sections of commercial passenger aircraft. Powered reclining seats typically recline from a seating configuration to a flat configuration. On long flights, a passenger can recline the seat to a variety of configurations between an upright configuration to a flat configuration. The seat may include a seat back, a seat bottom and a leg rest. The leg rest may be coupled to a linear actuator, that when powered, can move the leg rest to change the configuration of the seat. The passenger may have access to a controller located on the seat handle to recline the seat with the actuator. The controller is connected to the actuator and can operate the actuator. The actuator is typically designed for operational loads encountered by the seat, such as the passengers leg being on the leg rest, the passenger leaning on the leg rest to reposition himself on the seat, or even the passenger pressing on the leg rest as leverage to dismount from the seat. However, if the passenger presses on the leg rest with his foot by a force that exceeds the loads for which the actuator is designed, the actuator may be damaged. The damage to the actuator may lock the seat in one position, hence rendering the reconfiguration function of the seat inoperable. [0005] In view of the above, there is a need for a linear actuator that can withstand large unexpected or unforeseen forces while reducing any damage from such loads. The present invention satisfies these and other needs and provides further related advantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the disclosure. [0007] A linear actuator constructed in accordance to the teachings of the present disclosure includes a first sleeve that is rotatable about an actuation axis and a second sleeve rotatable about the actuation axis and moveable along the actuation axis between an operative position and an inoperative position. In the operative position, the second sleeve is rotationally coupled to the first sleeve, while in the inoperative position, the second sleeve is decoupled from the first sleeve. The linear actuator further includes an actuation member that is disposed along the actuation axis and operatively coupled to the second sleeve to axially move with rotation of the second sleeve about the actuation axis. The second sleeve is biased toward the operative position. [0008] A seat constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure includes a first seat section and at least a second seat section that is pivotable relative to the first seat section. The seat further includes a linear actuator that is operatively coupled to any one of the first seat section and the second seat section to pivot the first seat section and the second seat section relative to each other. The actuator includes a first sleeve that is rotatable about an actuation axis and a second sleeve rotatable about the actuation axis and moveable along the actuation axis between an operative position and an inoperative position. In the operative position, the second sleeve is rotationally coupled to the first sleeve, while in the inoperative position, the second sleeve is decoupled from the first sleeve. The linear actuator further includes an actuation member that is disposed along the actuation axis and operatively coupled to the second sleeve to axially move with rotation of the second sleeve about the actuation axis. The second sleeve is biased toward the operative position. [0009] A linear actuator constructed in accordance to the teachings of the present disclosure includes a first sleeve that is rotatable about an actuation axis, and a second sleeve that is at least partially disposed in the first sleeve. The second sleeve is rotatable about the actuation axis and axially moveable along the actuation axis relative to the first sleeve. The actuator further includes a clutch disposed between the first sleeve and the second sleeve. The second sleeve is moveable along the actuation axis between an operative position rotationally coupled to the first sleeve with the clutch and an inoperative position decoupled from the first sleeve. The actuator also includes a spring that is coupled to the second sleeve and configured to maintain the second sleeve in the operative position. An actuation member of the actuator that is at least partially disposed in the second sleeve is operatively coupled to the second sleeve. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a linear actuator constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. [0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the actuator of FIG. 1 shown in the operative position. [0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the actuator of FIG. 1 shown in the inoperative position. [0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a reclining aircraft seat having a linear actuator constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an actuator 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure is shown. The actuator 10 includes a first sleeve 12 that is rotatable about an actuation axis 14. The actuator 10 also includes a second sleeve 16 that is rotatable about the actuation axis 14 and is moveable along the actuation axis 14 relative to the first sleeve 12 between an operative position of the actuator 10 (shown in FIG. 2) and an inoperative position of the actuator 10 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3). The actuator 10 further includes an actuation member 18 that is operatively coupled to the second sleeve 16. In the operative position, the second sleeve 16 is operatively coupled to the first sleeve 12 and can rotate with the first sleeve 12. Therefore, in the operative position, rotation of the first sleeve 12 rotates the second sleeve 16, which moves the actuation member 18 along the actuation axis 14. The second sleeve 16 is biased toward being operatively coupled to the first sleeve 12 by a biasing force 19. In the inoperative position, the second sleeve 16 is decoupled from the first sleeve 12 so that rotation of the first sleeve 12 does not rotate the second sleeve 16, which does not move the actuation member 18 along the actuation axis 14. [0015] When the actuator 10 is in use, it typically remains in the operative position as long as the biasing force 19 can maintain the operative coupling between the first sleeve 12 and the second sleeve 16 against any opposite loads 20 that may be exerted on the actuation member 18. However, when the load 20 is greater than the biasing force 19, the load 20 moves the second sleeve 16 away from the first sleeve 12 to decouple the second sleeve 16 from the first sleeve 12. Therefore, the actuator 10 provides a safety mechanism by which damage to the actuator 10 is prevented or minimized if the load 20 exceeds the biasing force 19. [0016] The actuator 10 may include a motor (not shown) that can drive the first sleeve 12 with a drive gear 34. The drive gear 34 may be defined by a toothed outer diameter of the first sleeve 12 or may be a separate gear that is mounted over the first sleeve 12, or other methods known in the art to convey the drive force from the motor to the first sleeve 12. The actuator 10 may also include support bearings 36, by which the first sleeve 12 is allowed to rotate about the actuation axis 14, while prevented from any axial movement along the actuation axis 14. The support bearing 36 is fixedly supported by a housing 61 (shown in FIG. 4) of the actuator 10. [0017] The second sleeve 16 includes a first portion 40 and a second portion 42. The first portion 40 has an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the first sleeve 12. Accordingly, the first portion 40 can be disposed inside the first sleeve 12 and be freely rotatable about and movable along the actuation axis 14 inside the first sleeve 12. The actuator 10 includes a radial bearing 39 and an axial bearing 41 between the first portion 40 of the second sleeve 16 and the first sleeve 12. The radial bearing 39 permits rotation of the first portion 40 relative inside the first sleeve 12, and the axial bearing 41permits axial translation of the second sleeve 16 relative to the first sleeve 12. The second portion 42 has an outer diameter that is generally larger than the inner diameter of the first sleeve 12. The difference in the outer diameters of the first portion 40 and the second portion 42 defines a circumferential face 43. Accordingly, the second portion 42 cannot be inserted in the first sleeve 12 beyond the circumferential face 43. [0018] The first sleeve 12 also includes a circumferential face 45 that is axially opposed to the circumferential face 43 of the second sleeve 12. The first sleeve 12 includes first clutch coupling 44 mounted on the circumferential face 45. Similarly, the second sleeve 16 includes a second clutch coupling 46 mounted on the circumferential face 43. The first clutch coupling 44 and the second clutch coupling 46 define a clutch 47, by which the second sleeve 16 can rotationally engage with and disengage from the first sleeve 12. In the operative position of the actuator 10, the clutch couplings 44 and 46 are engaged with each other. Accordingly, any rotation of the first sleeve 12 is transferred to the second sleeve 16. [0019] When the clutch couplings 44 and 46 are disengaged, however, as a result of the second sleeve 16 moving away from the first sleeve 12 along the actuation axis 14, any rotation of the first sleeve 12 does not rotate the second sleeve 16. When the second sleeve 16 is in the inoperative position, however, the second sleeve 16 can rotate about the actuation axis 14. Therefore, the actuation member 18 can move along the actuation axis 14 when the second sleeve 16 is in the inoperative position. [0020] To keep the actuator 10 in the operative position, the actuator 10 includes a biasing member 50 that biases the second sleeve 16 toward the first sleeve 12 so that the first clutch coupling 44 and the second clutch coupling 46 remain engaged to each other in the absence of a load 20 that is greater that the biasing force 19 of the biasing member 50. The biasing member 50 is supported by or fixed to a housing 61 (shown in FIG. 4) of the actuator 10. The biasing member 50 may be a spring. In the example shown, the spring 50 is a Bellville spring that is mounted over the second portion 42 of the second sleeve 16 and is supported by an annular plate 51 and a support bearing 53. The support bearing 53 is fixedly supported by the housing 61 of the actuator 10 Accordingly, the spring 50 cannot move axially relative to the second sleeve 16, but can only be compressed or decompressed along the actuation axis 14 in accordance with the axial movements of the second sleeve 16. Although the biasing member 50 is shown herein as a spring, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the biasing member 50 may be any type of device that biases the second sleeve 16 toward the first sleeve 12. Continue reading about Linear actuator having a clutch for an airline seat... Full patent description for Linear actuator having a clutch for an airline seat Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Linear actuator having a clutch for an airline seat patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Linear actuator having a clutch for an airline seat or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Adjustable operator interface Next Patent Application: Vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Linear actuator having a clutch for an airline seat patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.15659 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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