Door actuator
United States Patent 3919890
An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement for opening and closing doors and the like comprising a plunger rod, means for producing axial movement of the plunger in both axial directions, and camming means associated with the plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of one of the plunger rods and camming means, means for alternating the direction of the rotational movement after each cycle of axial movement of the plunger rod in both axial directions.
US Patent References:
Valve grinder
Clarke - October 1923 - 1470687
Signal device
Steiss - December 1940 - 2227328
Complex motion-generating mechanism
Brown - May 1956 - 2747417
Mechanical scanner and cam transmission therefor
Wade - August 1958 - 2849710
Valve grinder
Clarke - October 1923 - 1470687
Signal device
Steiss - December 1940 - 2227328
Complex motion-generating mechanism
Brown - May 1956 - 2747417
Mechanical scanner and cam transmission therefor
Wade - August 1958 - 2849710
Application Number:
05/466294
Publication Date:
11/18/1975
Filing Date:
05/02/1974
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Keeler Brass Company (Grand Rapids, MI)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
74/56, 335/228
International Classes:
E05F1/12; E05F1/00; F16H27/02
Field of Search:
74/89,56,57,569,567,126,25 335/228 200/156,164
Primary Examiner:
Scott, Samuel
Assistant Examiner:
Ratliff Jr., Wesley S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Price, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper
Parent Case Data:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation application of Ser. No. 352,250 filed Apr. 18, 1973 now abandoned and entitled DOOR ACTUATOR.
Claims:
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows
1. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising: a plunger rod; means for producing axial movement of said plunger in both axial directions; camming means associated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of one of said plunger rod and said camming means; and means for alternating the direction of said rotational movement of said one of said plunger rod and said camming means after each cycle of axial movement of said plunger rod.
2. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising a plunger rod; means for producing axial movement of said plunger in both axial directions; camming means associated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of said plunger rod; and means for alternating the direction of said rotational movement after each cycle of axial movement of said plunger rod in both axial directions.
3. An actuator assembly according to claim 2 wherein said camming means comprises: a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof, said plunger rod rotatably and slidably being mounted axially through said camming member; a cam follower pin extending through a transverse bore in said plunger rod; and means in response to the rotatable position of said plunger rod to shift said pin axially in said bore so as to alternately follow each of said cam surface openings in said cam member as said plunger rod is moved through said cycles of said axial movement.
4. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof; a plunger rod rotatably and slidably mounted axially through said cam member and having a transverse bore therethrough extending between said pair of cam surface openings in said cam member; a cam follower pin slidably received in said bore and having a length greater than the diameter of said plunger and less than the outside diameter of said cam member so as to be shiftable between a position where one end of said cam follower pin follows one of said cam surface openings in said cam member and a position where the other end of said cam follower pin follows the cam surface of the other of said cam surface openings in said cam member; means for producing axial movement of said plunger in one direction; and biasing means urging said plunger in the opposite axial direction; each of said cam surface openings having the same general configuration but being the mirror image of the other of said cam surface openings, each of said cam surface openings having an inclined portion for producing rotational movement of said plunger upon axial movement of said plunger in said one direction and a portion generally parallel to the axis of said plunger which produces no rotation of said plunger and which includes a pin-shifting portion which shifts said cam follower pin from one cam surface opening to the other of said cam surface openings when said pin is urged thereagainst upon axial movement of said plunger in said opposite direction produced by said biasing means.
5. An actuator according to claim 4 wherein said means for producing axial movement of said plunger in said one direction is an electromagnetic means.
6. An actuator assembly according to claim 5 wherein said electromagnetic means comprises a tubular coil form rotatably and shiftably axially receiving one end of said plunger and having spiral wound electrically conductive wire around the periphery thereof.
7. An actuator assembly according to claim 6 wherein said electromagnetic means comprises a solenoid.
8. An actuator assembly according to claim 6 wherein said biasing means is a coil spring.
9. An actuator assembly according to claim 4 wherein said means for producing axial movement of said plunger in said one direction is a vacuum motor.
10. An actuator assembly according to claim 9 wherein one end of said plunger is operably engaged with said vacuum motor.
11. An actuator assembly according to claim 4 wherein said plunger rod has means at one end thereof for slidably and anti-rotationally affixing said plunger rod to a door or the like and wherein said cam member includes means for rigidly affixing said cam member to a door jamb or the like.
12. An actuator assembly according to claim 11 wherein said door or the like includes an actuator housing along one end thereof, said end extending along the axis of rotation of said door or the like; and wherein said actuator assembly is housed within said housing.
13. An actuator assembly according to claim 12 wherein said housing includes a closure flap portion which is hinged to the remaining portion of said housing.
14. An actuator assembly according to claim 13 wherein said closure flap portion is hinged to said remaining housing portion by a living hinge.
15. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising a plunger rod; camming means associated with said plunger rod; means for producing axial movement of one of said plunger rod and said camming means in both axial directions; said camming means being associated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of said one of said plunger rod and said camming means; and means for alternating the direction of said rotational movement after each cycle of axial movement of said one of said plunger rod and said camming means in both axial directions.
16. An actuator assembly according to claim 15 wherein said camming means comprises a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof, said plunger rod being mounted axially through said cam member with one of said plunger rod and said cam member being rotatable and slidable with respect to the other of said plunger rod and said cam member; a cam follower pin extending through a transverse bore in said plunger rod; and means in response to the position of said plunger rod to shift said pin axially in said bore so as to alternately follow each of said cam surface openings in said cam member as said one of said plunger rod and said cam member is moved through said cycles of said axial movement.
17. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof; a plunger rod mounted axially through said cam member and having a transverse bore therethrough extending between said pair of cam surface openings in said cam member, said plunger rod and said tubular cam member being rotatable and slidable with respect to each other; a cam follower pin slidably received in said bore and having a length greater than the diameter of said plunger and less than the outside diameter of said cam member so as to be shiftable between a position where one end of said cam follower pin follows one of said cam surface openings in said cam member and a position where the other end of said cam follower pin follows the cam surface of the other of said cam surface openings in said cam member; means for producing axial movement of one of said tubular cam member and said plunger in one direction; and biasing means urging said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member in the opposite axial direction; each of said cam surface openings having the same general configuration but being the mirror image of the other of said cam surface openings, each of said cam surface openings having an inclined portion for producing rotational movement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member upon axial movement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member in said one direction and a portion generally parallel to the axis of said plunger which produces no rotation of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member and which includes a pin-shifting portion which shifts said cam follower pin from one cam surface opening to the other of said cam surface openings when said pin is urged thereagainst upon axial movement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member in said opposite axial direction produced by said biasing means.
18. An actuator according to claim 17 wherein said means for producing axial movement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member in said one direction is an electromagnetic means.
19. An actuator assembly for producing rotation of a first member with respect to a second member, said first member including an elongated housing located along the axis of rotation of said first member for housing said actuator; said actuator comprising a linear actuating means including a plunger rod keyed to one of said members; a camming means associated with said plunger rod and keyed to the other of said members; means for producing axial movement of one of said plunger rod and said camming means in both axial directions; said camming means being associated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of said first member; and means for alternating the direction of said rotational movement after each cycle of axial movement of said one of said plunger rod and said camming means in both axial directions.
20. An actuator assembly according to claim 19 wherein said camming means comprises a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof, said plunger rod being mounted axially through said cam member with one of said plunger rod and said cam member being rotatable and slidable with respect to the other of said plunger rod and said cam member; a cam follower pin extending through a transverse bore in said plunger rod; and means in response to the position of said plunger rod to shift said pin axially in said bore so as to alternately follow each of said cam surface openings in said cam member as said one of said plunger rod and said cam member is moved through said cycles of said axial movement.
21. An actuator assembly according to claim 20 wherein said plunger rod is keyed to said first member and said one of said plunger rod and said cam member is said plunger rod.
22. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising: a plunger rod; means for producing axial movement of said plunger in both axial directions; camming means associated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of one of said plunger rod and said camming means, said camming means including a cam follower pin extending transversely to said plunger rod so as to alternately engage said camming means to cause said alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of one of said plunger rod and said camming means as one of said plunger rod or camming means is moved relative to the other through said cycles of axial movement.
23. An actuator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said camming means associated with said plunger rod includes means associated therewith for producing movement thereof in both of said axial directions of said plunger rod.
24. An actuator assembly for connecting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising: a plunger rod including a transverse bore therethrough; means for producing axial movement of said plunger in both axial directions; a camming means; and a follower pin slideably mounted through said transverse bore in said plunger, said pin being capable of alternatively engaging said camming means so as to cause alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of one of said plunger rod and said camming means.
25. An actuator assembly according to claim 24 wherein said camming means when engaged by said follower pin causes rotation of said plunger rod.
1. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising: a plunger rod; means for producing axial movement of said plunger in both axial directions; camming means associated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of one of said plunger rod and said camming means; and means for alternating the direction of said rotational movement of said one of said plunger rod and said camming means after each cycle of axial movement of said plunger rod.
2. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising a plunger rod; means for producing axial movement of said plunger in both axial directions; camming means associated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of said plunger rod; and means for alternating the direction of said rotational movement after each cycle of axial movement of said plunger rod in both axial directions.
3. An actuator assembly according to claim 2 wherein said camming means comprises: a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof, said plunger rod rotatably and slidably being mounted axially through said camming member; a cam follower pin extending through a transverse bore in said plunger rod; and means in response to the rotatable position of said plunger rod to shift said pin axially in said bore so as to alternately follow each of said cam surface openings in said cam member as said plunger rod is moved through said cycles of said axial movement.
4. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof; a plunger rod rotatably and slidably mounted axially through said cam member and having a transverse bore therethrough extending between said pair of cam surface openings in said cam member; a cam follower pin slidably received in said bore and having a length greater than the diameter of said plunger and less than the outside diameter of said cam member so as to be shiftable between a position where one end of said cam follower pin follows one of said cam surface openings in said cam member and a position where the other end of said cam follower pin follows the cam surface of the other of said cam surface openings in said cam member; means for producing axial movement of said plunger in one direction; and biasing means urging said plunger in the opposite axial direction; each of said cam surface openings having the same general configuration but being the mirror image of the other of said cam surface openings, each of said cam surface openings having an inclined portion for producing rotational movement of said plunger upon axial movement of said plunger in said one direction and a portion generally parallel to the axis of said plunger which produces no rotation of said plunger and which includes a pin-shifting portion which shifts said cam follower pin from one cam surface opening to the other of said cam surface openings when said pin is urged thereagainst upon axial movement of said plunger in said opposite direction produced by said biasing means.
5. An actuator according to claim 4 wherein said means for producing axial movement of said plunger in said one direction is an electromagnetic means.
6. An actuator assembly according to claim 5 wherein said electromagnetic means comprises a tubular coil form rotatably and shiftably axially receiving one end of said plunger and having spiral wound electrically conductive wire around the periphery thereof.
7. An actuator assembly according to claim 6 wherein said electromagnetic means comprises a solenoid.
8. An actuator assembly according to claim 6 wherein said biasing means is a coil spring.
9. An actuator assembly according to claim 4 wherein said means for producing axial movement of said plunger in said one direction is a vacuum motor.
10. An actuator assembly according to claim 9 wherein one end of said plunger is operably engaged with said vacuum motor.
11. An actuator assembly according to claim 4 wherein said plunger rod has means at one end thereof for slidably and anti-rotationally affixing said plunger rod to a door or the like and wherein said cam member includes means for rigidly affixing said cam member to a door jamb or the like.
12. An actuator assembly according to claim 11 wherein said door or the like includes an actuator housing along one end thereof, said end extending along the axis of rotation of said door or the like; and wherein said actuator assembly is housed within said housing.
13. An actuator assembly according to claim 12 wherein said housing includes a closure flap portion which is hinged to the remaining portion of said housing.
14. An actuator assembly according to claim 13 wherein said closure flap portion is hinged to said remaining housing portion by a living hinge.
15. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising a plunger rod; camming means associated with said plunger rod; means for producing axial movement of one of said plunger rod and said camming means in both axial directions; said camming means being associated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of said one of said plunger rod and said camming means; and means for alternating the direction of said rotational movement after each cycle of axial movement of said one of said plunger rod and said camming means in both axial directions.
16. An actuator assembly according to claim 15 wherein said camming means comprises a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof, said plunger rod being mounted axially through said cam member with one of said plunger rod and said cam member being rotatable and slidable with respect to the other of said plunger rod and said cam member; a cam follower pin extending through a transverse bore in said plunger rod; and means in response to the position of said plunger rod to shift said pin axially in said bore so as to alternately follow each of said cam surface openings in said cam member as said one of said plunger rod and said cam member is moved through said cycles of said axial movement.
17. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof; a plunger rod mounted axially through said cam member and having a transverse bore therethrough extending between said pair of cam surface openings in said cam member, said plunger rod and said tubular cam member being rotatable and slidable with respect to each other; a cam follower pin slidably received in said bore and having a length greater than the diameter of said plunger and less than the outside diameter of said cam member so as to be shiftable between a position where one end of said cam follower pin follows one of said cam surface openings in said cam member and a position where the other end of said cam follower pin follows the cam surface of the other of said cam surface openings in said cam member; means for producing axial movement of one of said tubular cam member and said plunger in one direction; and biasing means urging said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member in the opposite axial direction; each of said cam surface openings having the same general configuration but being the mirror image of the other of said cam surface openings, each of said cam surface openings having an inclined portion for producing rotational movement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member upon axial movement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member in said one direction and a portion generally parallel to the axis of said plunger which produces no rotation of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member and which includes a pin-shifting portion which shifts said cam follower pin from one cam surface opening to the other of said cam surface openings when said pin is urged thereagainst upon axial movement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member in said opposite axial direction produced by said biasing means.
18. An actuator according to claim 17 wherein said means for producing axial movement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member in said one direction is an electromagnetic means.
19. An actuator assembly for producing rotation of a first member with respect to a second member, said first member including an elongated housing located along the axis of rotation of said first member for housing said actuator; said actuator comprising a linear actuating means including a plunger rod keyed to one of said members; a camming means associated with said plunger rod and keyed to the other of said members; means for producing axial movement of one of said plunger rod and said camming means in both axial directions; said camming means being associated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of said first member; and means for alternating the direction of said rotational movement after each cycle of axial movement of said one of said plunger rod and said camming means in both axial directions.
20. An actuator assembly according to claim 19 wherein said camming means comprises a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof, said plunger rod being mounted axially through said cam member with one of said plunger rod and said cam member being rotatable and slidable with respect to the other of said plunger rod and said cam member; a cam follower pin extending through a transverse bore in said plunger rod; and means in response to the position of said plunger rod to shift said pin axially in said bore so as to alternately follow each of said cam surface openings in said cam member as said one of said plunger rod and said cam member is moved through said cycles of said axial movement.
21. An actuator assembly according to claim 20 wherein said plunger rod is keyed to said first member and said one of said plunger rod and said cam member is said plunger rod.
22. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising: a plunger rod; means for producing axial movement of said plunger in both axial directions; camming means associated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of one of said plunger rod and said camming means, said camming means including a cam follower pin extending transversely to said plunger rod so as to alternately engage said camming means to cause said alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of one of said plunger rod and said camming means as one of said plunger rod or camming means is moved relative to the other through said cycles of axial movement.
23. An actuator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said camming means associated with said plunger rod includes means associated therewith for producing movement thereof in both of said axial directions of said plunger rod.
24. An actuator assembly for connecting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising: a plunger rod including a transverse bore therethrough; means for producing axial movement of said plunger in both axial directions; a camming means; and a follower pin slideably mounted through said transverse bore in said plunger, said pin being capable of alternatively engaging said camming means so as to cause alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of one of said plunger rod and said camming means.
25. An actuator assembly according to claim 24 wherein said camming means when engaged by said follower pin causes rotation of said plunger rod.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an actuator assembly and more particularly, to an actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement.
A wide variety of actuators for converting linear movement to rotational movement have been developed and utilized in the past, typically for opening various doors and the like, e.g., furnace doors, automobile vent windows, automobile heating and air conditioning duct doors, etc. These actuators generally include some type of linear motive means such as a vacuum motor and some type of gear arrangement, e.g., a worm gear assembly to convert the linear movement of the vacuum motor to a rotational movement which acts upon the door or the like which is to be moved through an arc. Clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement is generally accomplished by changing the direction of linear movement caused by the vacuum motor, i.e., reversing the motor. Although some of these actuators have been generally satisfactory, they have some disadvantages such as bulkiness, complicated linkages, unreliability, and high cost of manufacture. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for improved actuators to eliminate the above disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided an actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement which is compact, reliable, and inexpensive to manufacture. The actuator assembly comprises a plunger rod and means for producing axial movement of the plunger rod in both axial directions, preferably a combination solenoid or vacuum motor and spring means. Camming means are associated with the plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of one of the plunger and camming means with the direction of the rotational movement alternating after each cycle of axial movement of the plunger rod in both axial directions. Preferably, the camming means is a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof with the plunger rod being rotatably and slidably mounted axially through the cam member. The plunger rod has a transverse bore therethrough extending between the pair of cam surface openings in the cam member with a cam follower pin being slidably received in the bore and having a length greater than the diameter of the plunger and less than the outside diameter of the cam member so as to be shiftable between a first position where one end of the cam follower pin follows one of the cam surface openings in the cam member and a second position where the other end of the cam follower pin follows the cam surface of the other of the cam surface openings in the cam member. Also, preferably, a solenoid or a vacuum motor is used to produce axial movement of the plunger rod in one direction and a biasing means such as a coil spring is employed to urge the plunger in the opposite axial direction. Each of the cam surface openings in the cam member has the same general configuration but is the mirror image of the other of the cam surface openings.
Each of the cam surface openings preferably has an inclined portion for producing rotational movement of the plunger and a portion generally parallel to the axis of the plunger which produces no rotation of the plunger and which includes a pin-shifting portion which shifts the cam follower pin from one cam surface opening to the other cam surface opening when the pin is urged thereagainst upon axial movement of the plunger produced by the coil spring. It is especially preferred that the actuator assembly be mounted along the side edge of the door or the like to be actuated, with means for slidably and anti-rotationally affixing one end of the plunger rod to the door and means for rigidly affixing the cam member to the door jamb or the like with the door being free to rotate about the cam member and the axial motive means when it is opened or closed by the plunger rod rotation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical door and door jamb with the actuator assembly of the present invention being operably mounted thereto;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door and door jamb of FIG. 1 with the door removed from the door jamb and the door hinge being opened to expose the actuator assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side, cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of the present invention taken along the line III--III of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a top, cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of the present invention taken along the line IV--IV of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the cam member and a portion of the plunger rod of the actuator assembly showing successive positions of the cam follower pin during rotational movement of the plunger rod;
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the cam member and a portion of the plunger rod of the actuator assembly showing successive positions of the cam follower pin during axial movement of the plunger rod with no rotational movement;
FIGS.7-11 are cross-sectional views of the cam member of FIG. 5 taken along the lines VII--VII, VIII--VIII, IX--IX, X--X, and XI--XI of FIG. 5, respectively;
FIGS. 12-15 are cross-sectional views of the cam member of FIG. 6 taken along the lines XII--XII, XIII--XIII, XIV--XIV, and XV--XV of FIG. 6, respectively;
FIG. 16 is the same view as FIG. 2 only with an alternate axial motive power means being employed in the actuator assembly;
FIG. 17 is a side, cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of FIG. 16 taken along the line XVII--XVII of FIG. 16; and
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the cam member employed in the actuator assembly of FIGS. 16 and 17.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a typical door 10 and door jamb 11 of, for example, an automobile heating or air conditioning outlet duct is shown. Along one edge of door 10 is a housing 12 which houses an actuator assembly 20 of the present invention. Actuator assembly 20 and the manner in which it is housed in housing 12 is more clearly shown in FIG. 2 wherein door 10 has been raised from door jamb 11 and housing 12 opened to expose actuator assembly 20. Housing 12 includes a closure flap portion 13 which is integrally hinged at 14 by a so-called living hinge. Recesses 15 and 16 are provided in door 10 and in flap 13 respectively to provide a cylindrical housing 12 for actuator assembly 20 when flap 13 is in the closed position. Extending from one end of recess 15 is the dowel extension 16a which is rotatably mounted in door jamb 11 to provide rotation for door 10 at that end.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the actuator 20 assembly includes a tubular coil form or stator 21, a coil 22, and a plunger rod which comprises an armature 30.
The stator includes a coil-receiving portion 21a about which the coil 22 is wound and a cam-receiving portion 21b for receiving a cam member 50. Cam member 50 is secured within cam-receiving portion 21b by suitable set screws 51 or the like. The stator 21 is keyed to the door jamb 11 by a flat end portion 23 extending from the end of the stator adjacent one end of the portion 21a and received in the recess 17 of the door jamb. End portion 23 is held in place in recess 17 by means of a suitable retaining plate member 18 or the like. Between the flat end portion 23 and coil-receiving portion 21a is a bearing portion 24 about which the housing 12 of door 10 is rotatably mounted. Thus, the housing 12 and the entire door 10 is rotatably mounted by means of bearing portion 24 and the dowel extension 16a to provide the means for opening and closing the door.
The stator 21 has a central bore 25 slidably receiving the armature 30 for movement therein in response to flux created by coil 22.
Armature 30 is a cylindrical member at one end 33 having a cross-sectional size approximating the size of bore 25 and at the other end 32 is flat in cross section. Between the two ends 32 and 33 is a disc-shaped portion 31 providing a shoulder for a spring 40 located between the portion 31 of the armature 30 and the cam-receiving portion 21b of the stator 21. Thus, the armature is biased by spring 40 in a direction outwardly away from the stator, the bias being overcome by the magnetic pull on the armature 30 when the coil 22 is energized.
The sliding movement of the armature 30 in bore 25 is translated into rotatable movement by means of the cam member 50 which includes opposing cam surface openings 52 and 53 cut out of the cylindrical wall of the cam member 50, and a cam follower pin 60 slidably mounted transversely of the axis of armature 30 within the bore 61. The pin 60 is of a length that it will extend through bore 61 and into only one or other of the cam surface openings 52 or 53. Thus, it is shiftable through bore 61 to a position where only the one of the ends extends out of bore 61 to follow one of the cam surface openings in cam member 50 or a position where only the other end extends out of the opposite side of bore 61 to follow the opposite cam surface opening in cam member 50 (as explained below). Preferably, the pin is a cylindrical member formed from a resilient but lubricious material such as nylon and has a central slit 62 to increase its transverse resilience so that a wedge but shiftable fit of pin 60 in bore 61 is achieved.
The rotational movement of the armature 30 is transmitted to rotational movement of door 10 by means of keying the flat end 32 of armature 30 to the housing 12 of the door. This is accomplished by slidably securing the end 32 between two walls or plates 19a and 19b which are integral with the door.
The cooperation of cam follower pin 60 with cam member 50 is most clearly shown in FIGS. 5-15. Referring first to FIG. 5, a side view of cam member 50 with the portion of armature or plunger rod 30 passing therethrough is shown. Cam member 50 has a pair of opposing cam surface openings 52 and 53. Cam surface openings 52 and 53 have the same configuration except they are mirror images of one another. Each opening has an inclined portion 54 and a portion 55 which is generally parallel to the axis of plunger rod 30. Toward the end of portion 55 remote from the junction of portion 54 and portion 55 a detent portion 56 is provided which slopes progressively inwardly radially as shown in FIGS. 8 and 7 forming a pin-shifting portion.
In operation, actuation of the solenoid will move armature 30 axially in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 5), and cam follower pin 60 will follow inclined cam surface 54 through the various positions 60a-60e to produce a counterclockwise rotation of armature 30 to thereby open door 10. FIGS. 7-11 more clearly show the successive positions 60a-60e of cam follower pin 60, the counterclockwise rotation of armature 30, and opening movement of door 10.
Referring to FIG. 6 and FIGS. 12-15, when the solenoid motive force is discontinued, biasing spring 40 will urge armature 30 in the reverse axial direction as shown by the arrow. Cam follower pin 60 will then follow cam surface portion 55 through positions 60f-60i with no rotation of armature 30 being produced.
As armature 30 is moved axially by biasing spring 40, the end of cam follower pin 60 will abut detent portion 56 which will shift pin 60 through the transverse bore 61 in armature 30 as shown in FIGS. 14 and 16 to position the other end of pin 60 in contact with the inclined cam surface portion of the opposite cam surface opening in cam member 50 as shown in FIG. 15. Thus, the next time actuation of the solenoid produces axial movement of armature 30, a clockwise rotation of armature 30 to close door 10 will be produced since cam follower pin 60 will follow the inclined portion of the opposite cam surface opening. Therefore, repeated actuation of the solenoid motive means will produce alternative opening and closing rotation of armature 30.
While a solenoid motive means has been described and illustrated in the above embodiment to produce axial movement of armature 30 in one direction, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that any motive means which produces axial movement of armature 30 can be employed in the actuator assembly. Thus, in FIGS. 16-18, the solenoid motive means has been replaced with a vacuum motor which includes a vacuum housing 121. To minimize cost, housing 121 comprises section 152 and section 150a, section 150a being an integral extension of cam member 50. The periphery of a rubber or other suitable diaphragm 156 is mounted at the interface of section 152 and section 150a of housing 121 to form a vacuum chamber 155. The end of armature 30 is secured to the central portion of diaphragm 156 by a suitable screw means 157. At the end of vacuum chamber 155, a suitable conduit 153 is provided to permit a vacuum to be drawn on chamber 155 at 154. Thus, as a vacuum is drawn on chamber 155, armature 30 is caused to move in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 17 to produce the same counterclockwise rotational movement of armature 30 as described above. As air is returned to chamber 155 through 154, biasing means 40 will move armature 30 in the opposite axial direction as explained above to cause the cam follower pin to shift to the opposite cam surface opening in cam member 150.
Thus, the present invention provides an actuator assembly which is simple and reliable in operation and which produces alternating rotation of a plunger rod or armature to yield alternating opening and closing movement for a variety of doors, windows, and the like. While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described and illustrated with some modifications, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that additional modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is deemed to be limited only by the appended claims.
This invention relates to an actuator assembly and more particularly, to an actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement.
A wide variety of actuators for converting linear movement to rotational movement have been developed and utilized in the past, typically for opening various doors and the like, e.g., furnace doors, automobile vent windows, automobile heating and air conditioning duct doors, etc. These actuators generally include some type of linear motive means such as a vacuum motor and some type of gear arrangement, e.g., a worm gear assembly to convert the linear movement of the vacuum motor to a rotational movement which acts upon the door or the like which is to be moved through an arc. Clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement is generally accomplished by changing the direction of linear movement caused by the vacuum motor, i.e., reversing the motor. Although some of these actuators have been generally satisfactory, they have some disadvantages such as bulkiness, complicated linkages, unreliability, and high cost of manufacture. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for improved actuators to eliminate the above disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided an actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement which is compact, reliable, and inexpensive to manufacture. The actuator assembly comprises a plunger rod and means for producing axial movement of the plunger rod in both axial directions, preferably a combination solenoid or vacuum motor and spring means. Camming means are associated with the plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of one of the plunger and camming means with the direction of the rotational movement alternating after each cycle of axial movement of the plunger rod in both axial directions. Preferably, the camming means is a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof with the plunger rod being rotatably and slidably mounted axially through the cam member. The plunger rod has a transverse bore therethrough extending between the pair of cam surface openings in the cam member with a cam follower pin being slidably received in the bore and having a length greater than the diameter of the plunger and less than the outside diameter of the cam member so as to be shiftable between a first position where one end of the cam follower pin follows one of the cam surface openings in the cam member and a second position where the other end of the cam follower pin follows the cam surface of the other of the cam surface openings in the cam member. Also, preferably, a solenoid or a vacuum motor is used to produce axial movement of the plunger rod in one direction and a biasing means such as a coil spring is employed to urge the plunger in the opposite axial direction. Each of the cam surface openings in the cam member has the same general configuration but is the mirror image of the other of the cam surface openings.
Each of the cam surface openings preferably has an inclined portion for producing rotational movement of the plunger and a portion generally parallel to the axis of the plunger which produces no rotation of the plunger and which includes a pin-shifting portion which shifts the cam follower pin from one cam surface opening to the other cam surface opening when the pin is urged thereagainst upon axial movement of the plunger produced by the coil spring. It is especially preferred that the actuator assembly be mounted along the side edge of the door or the like to be actuated, with means for slidably and anti-rotationally affixing one end of the plunger rod to the door and means for rigidly affixing the cam member to the door jamb or the like with the door being free to rotate about the cam member and the axial motive means when it is opened or closed by the plunger rod rotation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical door and door jamb with the actuator assembly of the present invention being operably mounted thereto;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door and door jamb of FIG. 1 with the door removed from the door jamb and the door hinge being opened to expose the actuator assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side, cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of the present invention taken along the line III--III of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a top, cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of the present invention taken along the line IV--IV of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the cam member and a portion of the plunger rod of the actuator assembly showing successive positions of the cam follower pin during rotational movement of the plunger rod;
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the cam member and a portion of the plunger rod of the actuator assembly showing successive positions of the cam follower pin during axial movement of the plunger rod with no rotational movement;
FIGS.7-11 are cross-sectional views of the cam member of FIG. 5 taken along the lines VII--VII, VIII--VIII, IX--IX, X--X, and XI--XI of FIG. 5, respectively;
FIGS. 12-15 are cross-sectional views of the cam member of FIG. 6 taken along the lines XII--XII, XIII--XIII, XIV--XIV, and XV--XV of FIG. 6, respectively;
FIG. 16 is the same view as FIG. 2 only with an alternate axial motive power means being employed in the actuator assembly;
FIG. 17 is a side, cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of FIG. 16 taken along the line XVII--XVII of FIG. 16; and
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the cam member employed in the actuator assembly of FIGS. 16 and 17.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a typical door 10 and door jamb 11 of, for example, an automobile heating or air conditioning outlet duct is shown. Along one edge of door 10 is a housing 12 which houses an actuator assembly 20 of the present invention. Actuator assembly 20 and the manner in which it is housed in housing 12 is more clearly shown in FIG. 2 wherein door 10 has been raised from door jamb 11 and housing 12 opened to expose actuator assembly 20. Housing 12 includes a closure flap portion 13 which is integrally hinged at 14 by a so-called living hinge. Recesses 15 and 16 are provided in door 10 and in flap 13 respectively to provide a cylindrical housing 12 for actuator assembly 20 when flap 13 is in the closed position. Extending from one end of recess 15 is the dowel extension 16a which is rotatably mounted in door jamb 11 to provide rotation for door 10 at that end.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the actuator 20 assembly includes a tubular coil form or stator 21, a coil 22, and a plunger rod which comprises an armature 30.
The stator includes a coil-receiving portion 21a about which the coil 22 is wound and a cam-receiving portion 21b for receiving a cam member 50. Cam member 50 is secured within cam-receiving portion 21b by suitable set screws 51 or the like. The stator 21 is keyed to the door jamb 11 by a flat end portion 23 extending from the end of the stator adjacent one end of the portion 21a and received in the recess 17 of the door jamb. End portion 23 is held in place in recess 17 by means of a suitable retaining plate member 18 or the like. Between the flat end portion 23 and coil-receiving portion 21a is a bearing portion 24 about which the housing 12 of door 10 is rotatably mounted. Thus, the housing 12 and the entire door 10 is rotatably mounted by means of bearing portion 24 and the dowel extension 16a to provide the means for opening and closing the door.
The stator 21 has a central bore 25 slidably receiving the armature 30 for movement therein in response to flux created by coil 22.
Armature 30 is a cylindrical member at one end 33 having a cross-sectional size approximating the size of bore 25 and at the other end 32 is flat in cross section. Between the two ends 32 and 33 is a disc-shaped portion 31 providing a shoulder for a spring 40 located between the portion 31 of the armature 30 and the cam-receiving portion 21b of the stator 21. Thus, the armature is biased by spring 40 in a direction outwardly away from the stator, the bias being overcome by the magnetic pull on the armature 30 when the coil 22 is energized.
The sliding movement of the armature 30 in bore 25 is translated into rotatable movement by means of the cam member 50 which includes opposing cam surface openings 52 and 53 cut out of the cylindrical wall of the cam member 50, and a cam follower pin 60 slidably mounted transversely of the axis of armature 30 within the bore 61. The pin 60 is of a length that it will extend through bore 61 and into only one or other of the cam surface openings 52 or 53. Thus, it is shiftable through bore 61 to a position where only the one of the ends extends out of bore 61 to follow one of the cam surface openings in cam member 50 or a position where only the other end extends out of the opposite side of bore 61 to follow the opposite cam surface opening in cam member 50 (as explained below). Preferably, the pin is a cylindrical member formed from a resilient but lubricious material such as nylon and has a central slit 62 to increase its transverse resilience so that a wedge but shiftable fit of pin 60 in bore 61 is achieved.
The rotational movement of the armature 30 is transmitted to rotational movement of door 10 by means of keying the flat end 32 of armature 30 to the housing 12 of the door. This is accomplished by slidably securing the end 32 between two walls or plates 19a and 19b which are integral with the door.
The cooperation of cam follower pin 60 with cam member 50 is most clearly shown in FIGS. 5-15. Referring first to FIG. 5, a side view of cam member 50 with the portion of armature or plunger rod 30 passing therethrough is shown. Cam member 50 has a pair of opposing cam surface openings 52 and 53. Cam surface openings 52 and 53 have the same configuration except they are mirror images of one another. Each opening has an inclined portion 54 and a portion 55 which is generally parallel to the axis of plunger rod 30. Toward the end of portion 55 remote from the junction of portion 54 and portion 55 a detent portion 56 is provided which slopes progressively inwardly radially as shown in FIGS. 8 and 7 forming a pin-shifting portion.
In operation, actuation of the solenoid will move armature 30 axially in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 5), and cam follower pin 60 will follow inclined cam surface 54 through the various positions 60a-60e to produce a counterclockwise rotation of armature 30 to thereby open door 10. FIGS. 7-11 more clearly show the successive positions 60a-60e of cam follower pin 60, the counterclockwise rotation of armature 30, and opening movement of door 10.
Referring to FIG. 6 and FIGS. 12-15, when the solenoid motive force is discontinued, biasing spring 40 will urge armature 30 in the reverse axial direction as shown by the arrow. Cam follower pin 60 will then follow cam surface portion 55 through positions 60f-60i with no rotation of armature 30 being produced.
As armature 30 is moved axially by biasing spring 40, the end of cam follower pin 60 will abut detent portion 56 which will shift pin 60 through the transverse bore 61 in armature 30 as shown in FIGS. 14 and 16 to position the other end of pin 60 in contact with the inclined cam surface portion of the opposite cam surface opening in cam member 50 as shown in FIG. 15. Thus, the next time actuation of the solenoid produces axial movement of armature 30, a clockwise rotation of armature 30 to close door 10 will be produced since cam follower pin 60 will follow the inclined portion of the opposite cam surface opening. Therefore, repeated actuation of the solenoid motive means will produce alternative opening and closing rotation of armature 30.
While a solenoid motive means has been described and illustrated in the above embodiment to produce axial movement of armature 30 in one direction, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that any motive means which produces axial movement of armature 30 can be employed in the actuator assembly. Thus, in FIGS. 16-18, the solenoid motive means has been replaced with a vacuum motor which includes a vacuum housing 121. To minimize cost, housing 121 comprises section 152 and section 150a, section 150a being an integral extension of cam member 50. The periphery of a rubber or other suitable diaphragm 156 is mounted at the interface of section 152 and section 150a of housing 121 to form a vacuum chamber 155. The end of armature 30 is secured to the central portion of diaphragm 156 by a suitable screw means 157. At the end of vacuum chamber 155, a suitable conduit 153 is provided to permit a vacuum to be drawn on chamber 155 at 154. Thus, as a vacuum is drawn on chamber 155, armature 30 is caused to move in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 17 to produce the same counterclockwise rotational movement of armature 30 as described above. As air is returned to chamber 155 through 154, biasing means 40 will move armature 30 in the opposite axial direction as explained above to cause the cam follower pin to shift to the opposite cam surface opening in cam member 150.
Thus, the present invention provides an actuator assembly which is simple and reliable in operation and which produces alternating rotation of a plunger rod or armature to yield alternating opening and closing movement for a variety of doors, windows, and the like. While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described and illustrated with some modifications, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that additional modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is deemed to be limited only by the appended claims.