AU2015215862B2 - Actuator assembly - Google Patents
Actuator assembly Download PDFInfo
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- AU2015215862B2 AU2015215862B2 AU2015215862A AU2015215862A AU2015215862B2 AU 2015215862 B2 AU2015215862 B2 AU 2015215862B2 AU 2015215862 A AU2015215862 A AU 2015215862A AU 2015215862 A AU2015215862 A AU 2015215862A AU 2015215862 B2 AU2015215862 B2 AU 2015215862B2
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- Australia
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- guide slot
- actuator assembly
- drive member
- drive
- follower
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- Power-Operated Mechanisms For Wings (AREA)
Abstract
ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY According to a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed herein an actuator assembly (10) comprising, an elongate guide body (12) longitudinally extending about a drive axis (14). The guide body including at least one guide slot (16), a drive member (42) operatively associated with the guide body and adapted to undergo axial movement along the drive axis. The drive member including at least one guide slot follower extending transversely outwardly from the drive member, the at least one guide slot follower operatively adapted to engage the at least one guide slot and to follow the at least one guide slot as the drive member undergoes axial movement along the drive axis. An actuator (48) operatively associated with the drive member and adapted to cause the drive member to undergo axial movement along the drive axis. An elongate outer driven body longitudinally extending about the drive axis. The driven body including an engagement formation operatively associated with the at least one guide slot follower and adapted to be engaged by the at least one guide slot follower. The at least one guide slot is curved about the drive axis whereby operative axial movement of the drive member along the drive axis will cause the guide slot follower to undergo pivotal movement about the drive axis as the guide slot follower moves along the guide slot, such pivotal movement of the guide slot follower in turn causing the outer driven body to pivot about the drive axis.
Description
ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY
FIELD [0001] The invention concerns an actuator assembly. In one particular aspect the invention concerns an actuator assembly for opening and closing a wing such as a door, gate, window or ventilation flap for an air conditioning system.
BACKGROUND [0002] A door-closer is a mechanical apparatus that opens or closes a door. There are four types of interior door-closers which are classified according to the nature of their mounting. The four types are namely surface mounted, concealed-in-frame, concealed-in-floor and concealed-in-door door-closers. One type of surface-mounted door closer is attached to a door frame behind a door. Such a door-closer includes an arm that rests against the door and biasing means, typically a spring, which is deformed by a user opening a door. The door is closed when the biasing means returns to its unbiased position.
[0003] One specific drawback of a surface mounted door-closer is the fact that the surfacemounted unit requires a relative large area within which an actuator arm is required to operate. Such surface mounted door-closers are accordingly not suited for use in areas where limited installation space is available. Also, surface-mounted door-closers tend to be unsightly. Although concealed-in-frame, concealed-in-floor and concealed-in-door door-closers generally tend to address the limitations of surface-mounted door-closers, those door-closers tend to be costly to produce and install and often include unsightly actuator arms. Furthermore, actuator arms on farm gates are subject to damage, for example due to cattle standing on the arms, and contamination. Mechanical actuator arms also have pinch points which can cause serious injury.
OBJECT [0004] It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages or to provide a useful alternative.
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2015215862 19 Aug 2015
SUMMARY [0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed herein an actuator assembly comprising, an elongate guide body longitudinally extending about a drive axis, the guide body including at least one guide slot, a drive member operatively associated with the guide body and adapted to undergo axial movement along the drive axis, the drive member including at least one guide slot follower extending transversely outwardly from the drive member, the at least one guide slot follower operatively adapted to engage the at least one guide slot and to follow the at least one guide slot as the drive member undergoes axial movement along the drive axis;
an actuator operatively associated with the drive member and adapted to cause the drive member to undergo axial movement along the drive axis; and an elongate outer driven body longitudinally extending about the drive axis, the driven body including an engagement formation operatively associated with the at least one guide slot follower and adapted to be engaged by the at least one guide slot follower, wherein the at least one guide slot is curved about the drive axis whereby operative axial movement of the drive member along the drive axis will cause the guide slot follower to undergo pivotal movement about the drive axis as the guide slot follower moves along the guide slot, such pivotal movement of the guide slot follower in turn causing the outer driven body to pivot about the drive axis.
[0006] Preferably the actuator includes an elongate inner member longitudinally extending along the drive axis, the inner member being enclosed within the guide body.
[0007] Preferably the actuator includes a motor operatively associated with the inner member and adapted to impart rotational movement to the inner member.
[0008] Preferably the inner member has an outer threaded portion.
[0009] Preferably the drive member includes an internal threaded portion, the internal threaded portion being adapted to threadingly engage the outer threaded portion of the inner member.
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2015215862 19 Aug 2015 [0010] In a preferred embodiment the outer driven body comprises a square tube wherein adjacent planar surfaces of the square tube define comers, the corners defining the engagement formation adapted to be engaged by the at least one guide slot follower.
[0011] In an alternative embodiment the outer driven body is a right cylindrical tube wherein the attachment formation is secured to an inner surface of the tube.
[0012] Preferably the drive member comprises a right cylindrical tube.
[0013] Preferably the at least one guide slot follower is a first guide slot follower and the drive member includes a second guide slot follower.
[0014] Preferably the second guide slot follower is located in a position on the drive member which is diagonally opposite the first guide slot follower.
[0015] Preferably the first and second guide slot followers each includes a stem which extends outwardly from the drive member between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the drive member and the distal end being attached to a guide slot follower head.
[0016] Preferably the actuator assembly includes a first and second mount.
[0017] Preferably the outer driven body longitudinally extends between a motor end and a drive member end, wherein the motor end of the outer driven body is pivotally secured to the first mount and the drive member end is pivotally secured to the second mount.
[0018] Preferably the motor end is pivotally connected to the first mount via a first mounting assembly.
[0019] Preferably the drive member end is pivotally connected to the second mount via a second mounting assembly.
[0020] Preferably the guide body is produced from an oblong flat sheet.
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2015215862 19 Aug 2015 [0021] Preferably the flat sheet includes the at least one guide slot longitudinally extending along a guide slot axis.
[0022] Preferably the guide slot axis of the at least one guide slot is angled at 60° relative to a longitudinal end of the flat sheet.
[0023] Preferably the at least one guide slot is a first guide slot and the flat sheet includes a second guide slot, the second guide slot longitudinally extending along a second guide slot axis.
[0024] Preferably the first guide slot axis and the second guide slot axis extend longitudinally parallel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0025] A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described hereinafter, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompany drawings, wherein:
[0026] Figure lisa schematic perspective view of an embodiment actuator assembly;
[0027] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the embodiment actuator assembly;
[0028] Figure 3 is a schematic side view of an actuator and drive member of the actuator assembly of Figure 1;
[0029] Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a guide body of the actuator assembly of Figure 1; and [0030] Figure 5 shows the drive slots in the fixed tube in an embodiment of the actuator of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0031] Figure 1 and Figure 2 show an embodiment actuator assembly, generally indicated with the reference numeral 10. The actuator assembly 10 comprises a right cylindrical tube providing an elongate guide body 12 longitudinally extending about a drive axis 14. The guide body 12,
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2015215862 19 Aug 2015 shown in Figures 4 and 5, includes a first guide slot 16 and a second guide slot 18. The guide body 12 is produced from an oblong flat sheet 20, shown in Figure 5, having the first and second guide slots 16 and 18. The first guide slot 16 extends longitudinally along a first guide slot axis 22 between a first end 24 and a second end 26. The first guide slot axis 22 is angled at 60° relative to a longitudinal end 28 of the flat sheet 20. It will be understood that the guide slot could be angled at other angles.
[0032] The second guide slot 18 longitudinally extends along a second guide slot axis 30 between a first end 32 and a second end 34. The first and second guide slot axes 24 and 30 are longitudinally parallel. The first ends 24 and 32 and the second ends 26 and 34 of the first and second guide slots 16 and 18 are respectively positioned relative to one another such that when the sheet 20 is formed into the tube of the guide body 12, the first ends 24 and 32 as well as the second ends 26 and 34 of the first and second guide slots 16 and 18 are disposed at an angle of 180° relative to one another, i.e., the first ends and the second ends are thus diagonally opposed across the drive axis 14. The effect of this is that the first and second guide slots 16 and 18 are curved about the drive axis 14 for the purpose discussed below. It is also pointed out that the guide body 12 is secured in position so that it cannot undergo any rotational or translational movement. The reason for this and the manner in which it is achieved are discussed below.
[0033] The guide body 12 encloses an elongate inner member 36 which longitudinally extends along the drive axis 14. The inner member 36 has an outer threaded portion 38, shown in Figure 3, on an outer surface 40.
[0034] The actuator assembly 10 further includes a drive member 42 operatively associated with the guide body 12. The drive member 42 is adapted to undergo axial movement along the drive axis 14. The drive member 42 includes an internal threaded portion, not shown, which is adapted to threadingly engage the outer threaded portion 38 of the inner member 36.
[0035] The drive member 42 includes a first and a second guide slot follower 44 and 46. The guide slot followers 44 and 46 extend transversely outwardly from the drive member 42. The first and second guide slot followers 44 and 46 are operatively adapted to engage the first and second guide slots 16 and 18 respectively.
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2015215862 19 Aug 2015 [0036] The actuator assembly 10 includes an actuator 48 which is operatively connected to the drive member 42 via the inner member 36 as shown. In this embodiment the actuator 10 comprises an electric motor adapted to impart a torque to the inner member 36 so as to cause the inner member to undergo pivotal movement about the drive axis 14. As discussed above, the inner member 36 threadingly engages the drive member 42. Accordingly, when the motor 48 imparts a torque to the inner member 36 to cause the inner member 36 to undergo pivotal movement, the outer threaded portion 38 will also undergo pivotal movement about the drive axis 14. As a result of the pivotal movement of the outer threaded portion 38, the drive member 42, which has an inner threaded portion which threadingly engages the outer threaded portion 18, will undergo axial movement along the drive axis 14. Depending on the direction of rotation imparted on the inner member 36, the drive member 42 will either undergo axial movement towards the motor 48 or away from the motor. During axial movement of the drive member 42 the first and second guide slot followers 44 and 46 will respectively be caused to move along the first and second guide slots 16 and 18.
[0037] In this embodiment, each of the first and second guide slot followers 44 and 46 includes a stem 50 which extends outwardly from the drive member 42 between a proximal end 52 and a distal end 54, wherein the proximal end 52 is attached to the drive member 42 and the distal end is attached to a guide slot follower head 56.
[0038] The actuator assembly 10 further includes an elongate outer driven body 58 provided in the form of a square tube, shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, which extends longitudinally about the drive axis 14. Adjacent planar surfaces 60 of the driven body 58 define corners 62 which define an engagement formation 64 which comprises a first engagement slot 66 at one corner and a second engagement slot 68 at a diagonally opposed corner of the driven body 58.
[0039] In use, the guide slot follower head 56 of the first guide slot follower 44 will be located in the first engagement slot 66 and the guide slot follower head 56 of the second guide slot follower 46 will be located in the second engagement slot 68. The configuration of the guide slot follower head 56 of each of the first and second guide slot followers 44 and 46 is such that the guide slot follower head can freely undergo longitudinal movement along the first and second engagement slots 66 and 68. The configuration of the guide slot follower head 56 of the first and second guide slot followers 44 and 46 is such that they cannot undergo pivotal
10379757_1 :hxa
2015215862 19 Aug 2015 movement about the drive axis 14 without also imparting pivotal movement to the outer driven body 58 about the drive axis 14. The effect of this is that when the outer driven body 58 is operatively secured to a wing to be opened and closed, such as a door, gate or window, activation of the motor 48 will impart rotation to the outer driven body 58 and in turn impart pivotal movement to the wing.
[0040] The actuator assembly 10 includes a first and second mount 70 and 72. The first and second mounts 70 and 72 are configured in such a manner that the outer driven body 58 longitudinally extends between a motor end 74 and a drive member end 76. The motor end 74 of the outer driven body 58 is pivotally secured to the first mount 70 and the drive member end 76 is pivotally secured to the second mount 72. A first mounting assembly 78 secures the motor end 74 of the driven body 58 to the first mount 70. The drive member end 76 of the outer driven body 58, in turn, is pivotally connected to the second mount 72 via a second mounting assembly 80. Each of the first and second mounting assembly 78 and 80 includes a bearing arrangement to facilitate pivotal movement of the outer driven body 58 about the drive axis 14. The first and second mounts 70 and 72 are adapted to facilitate relative adjustment of the first and second mounting assembly 78 and 80 respectively.
[0041] As shown in Figure 2, the guide body 12 is at one end held in position with the use of an end cap 82. At another end a thread portion 84 of the guide body 12 passes through a hole or slot in the second mount 72 to be secured with a lock nut 86. The mounting of the guide body 12 between the end cap 82 and the second mount 72 is such that any translational or pivotal movement of the guide body 12 is deterred.
[0042] In a non-illustrated embodiment the outer driven body is a right cylindrical tube and the attachment formation includes a track which is secured to an inner surface of the tube. It will, however, be understood that the outer driven body need not be right cylindrical but that any shape tube with longitudinal guide channels or tracks fitted internally would serve the same purpose.
[0043] In another non-illustrated embodiment each guide slot includes portions of different orientation. Such different orientations will provide different rates of axial movement for the drive member, in turn providing different rates of rotation for the outer driven body. Providing
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2015215862 19 Aug 2015 different rotation rates for the outer driven body the open and closing rate of a wing can be varied. Of course, the rate of opening and closing can also be varied by simply varying the rotation speed of the electric motor 48.
[0044] Providing an actuator assembly as discussed above does away with an actuator arm in existing surface-mounted door-openers. In particular the actuator assembly provides a compact alternative to surface-mounted door-openers where installation and operation space is limited.
[0045] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.
Claims (20)
- CLAIMS:1. An actuator assembly comprising, an elongate guide body longitudinally extending about a drive axis, the guide body including at least one guide slot, a drive member operatively associated with the guide body and adapted to undergo axial movement along the drive axis, the drive member including at least one guide slot follower extending transversely outwardly from the drive member, the at least one guide slot follower operatively adapted to engage the at least one guide slot and to follow the at least one guide slot as the drive member undergoes axial movement along the drive axis;an actuator operatively associated with the drive member and adapted to cause the drive member to undergo axial movement along the drive axis; and an elongate outer driven body longitudinally extending about the drive axis, the driven body including an engagement formation operatively associated with the at least one guide slot follower and adapted to be engaged by the at least one guide slot follower, wherein the at least one guide slot is curved about the drive axis whereby operative axial movement of the drive member along the drive axis will cause the guide slot follower to undergo pivotal movement about the drive axis as the guide slot follower moves along the guide slot, such pivotal movement of the guide slot follower in turn causing the outer driven body to pivot about the drive axis.
- 2. The actuator assembly of claim 1, including an elongate inner member longitudinally extending along the drive axis, the inner member being enclosed within the guide body.
- 3. The actuator assembly of claim 2, including a motor operatively associated with the inner member and adapted to impart rotational movement to the inner member.
- 4. The actuator assembly of claim 2, wherein the inner member has an outer threaded portion.
- 5. The actuator assembly of claim 2, wherein the drive member includes an internal threaded portion, the internal threaded portion being adapted to threadingly engage the outer threaded portion of the inner member.10379757_1:hxa2015215862 19 Aug 2015
- 6. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer driven body comprises a square tube wherein adjacent planar surfaces of the square tube define comers, the comers defining the engagement formation adapted to be engaged by the at least one guide slot follower.
- 7. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer driven body is a right cylindrical tube wherein the attachment formation is secured to an inner surface of the tube.
- 8. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive member comprises a right cylindrical tube.
- 9. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one guide slot follower is a first guide slot follower and the drive member includes a second guide slot follower.
- 10. The actuator assembly of claim 9, wherein the second guide slot follower is located in a position on the drive member which is diagonally opposite the first guide slot follower.
- 11. The actuator assembly of claim 9, wherein the first and second guide slot followers each includes a stem which extends outwardly from the drive member between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the drive member and the distal end being attached to a guide slot follower head.
- 12. The actuator assembly of claim 1, including a first and second mount.
- 13. The actuator assembly of claim 12, wherein the outer driven body longitudinally extends between a motor end and a drive member end, wherein the motor end of the outer driven body is pivotally secured to the first mount and the drive member end is pivotally secured to the second mount.
- 14. The actuator assembly of claim 13, wherein the motor end is pivotally connected to the first mount via a first mounting assembly.
- 15. The actuator assembly of claim 13, wherein the drive member end is pivotally connected to the second mount via a second mounting assembly.10379757_1:hxa2015215862 19 Aug 2015
- 16. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the guide body is produced from an oblong flat sheet.
- 17. The actuator assembly of claim 16, wherein the flat sheet includes the at least one guide slot longitudinally extending along a guide slot axis.
- 18. The actuator assembly of claim 17, wherein the guide slot axis of the at least one guide slot is angled at 60° relative to a longitudinal end of the flat sheet.
- 19. The actuator assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one guide slot is a first guide slot and the flat sheet includes a second guide slot, the second guide slot longitudinally extending along a second guide slot axis.
- 20. The actuator assembly of claim 19, wherein the first guide slot axis and the second guide slot axis extend longitudinally parallel.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2015215862A AU2015215862B2 (en) | 2014-08-22 | 2015-08-19 | Actuator assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2014903310A AU2014903310A0 (en) | 2014-08-22 | Actuator assembly | |
| AU2014903310 | 2014-08-22 | ||
| AU2015215862A AU2015215862B2 (en) | 2014-08-22 | 2015-08-19 | Actuator assembly |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2015215862A1 AU2015215862A1 (en) | 2016-03-10 |
| AU2015215862B2 true AU2015215862B2 (en) | 2019-11-28 |
Family
ID=55484055
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2015215862A Active AU2015215862B2 (en) | 2014-08-22 | 2015-08-19 | Actuator assembly |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2015215862B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108731226A (en) * | 2018-06-07 | 2018-11-02 | 苏州赛易特环保科技有限公司 | A kind of air guide barrel of window |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1995011394A1 (en) * | 1993-10-22 | 1995-04-27 | Norbert Hamy | Linear actuator with a tubular extensible element |
| US20020174604A1 (en) * | 2001-04-20 | 2002-11-28 | Stabilus Gmbh | Actuating system for a hatch or similar hinged structure |
-
2015
- 2015-08-19 AU AU2015215862A patent/AU2015215862B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1995011394A1 (en) * | 1993-10-22 | 1995-04-27 | Norbert Hamy | Linear actuator with a tubular extensible element |
| US20020174604A1 (en) * | 2001-04-20 | 2002-11-28 | Stabilus Gmbh | Actuating system for a hatch or similar hinged structure |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU2015215862A1 (en) | 2016-03-10 |
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| FGA | Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent) |