BALL SCREW ROTARY ACTUATOR WITH BALL CAGE

• Main Author: MELLOR, MITCHELL LOREN RAY
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 01.04.2023
• Subjects: BLASTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GEARING; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

Ball screw rotary actuator with ball cage. In one embodiment, a ball screw rotary actuator includes an outer cylinder, a piston, and inner shaft. Outer ball bearings travel in helical groove between the outer cylinder and position to rotate the piston as it translates due to fluid pressure. The inner shaft is situated radially inward of the piston, and straight grooves are disposed between the piston and the inner shaft. Inner ball bearings travel in the straight grooves and rotate the inner shaft as the piston rotates. The ball screw rotary actuator also includes an outer ball cage to position the outer ball bearings in a spaced configuration, an outer indexing gear to control a position of the outer ball cage, an inner ball cage to position the inner ball bearings in a spaced configuration, and an inner indexing gear to control a position of the inner ball cage.