Pneumatic biasing of a linear actuator and implementations thereof
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F01B-013/00
F01B-009/00
출원번호
UP-0526362
(2006-09-25)
등록번호
US-7748308
(2010-07-26)
발명자
/ 주소
Anderson, Robb G.
McCrickard, James P.
Beck, Thomas L.
출원인 / 주소
Unico, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
4인용 특허 :
21
초록▼
An improved method and apparatus are provided for constructing and operating a linear actuator, and equipment incorporating a linear actuator, by operatively connecting a pressure biasing pneumatic arrangement between the driving member and the driven member of a mechanical linear actuator for apply
An improved method and apparatus are provided for constructing and operating a linear actuator, and equipment incorporating a linear actuator, by operatively connecting a pressure biasing pneumatic arrangement between the driving member and the driven member of a mechanical linear actuator for applying a unidirectional biasing force between the driving and driven members, along an axis of motion, regardless of the location or movement of the driving and driven elements with respect to one another along the axis of motion. The pneumatic biasing arrangement is also configured, connected and operated to reduce the force which must be exerted by the driving and driven members in extending and retracting the linear actuator. The pneumatic biasing arrangement may further be configured for preferentially aiding extension or retraction of the actuator.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A pneumatically biasable mechanical linear actuator apparatus, for exerting a bidirectional force along an axis of motion between a first structure and a second structure, wherein at least one of the structures is movable along the axis of motion, the linear actuator apparatu
What is claimed is: 1. A pneumatically biasable mechanical linear actuator apparatus, for exerting a bidirectional force along an axis of motion between a first structure and a second structure, wherein at least one of the structures is movable along the axis of motion, the linear actuator apparatus comprising, at least one pneumatically biasable linear actuator having: a driving and a driven member connected to one another in a mechanical drive arrangement for motion relative to one another along the axis of motion; and a pneumatic biasing arrangement operatively connected between the driving member and the driven member for applying a unidirectional biasing force between the driving and driven members, along the axis of motion, regardless of the location or movement of the driving and driven elements with respect to one another along the axis of motion; and a volume adjusting element movably disposed within the fluid cavity for modifying the volume available for receiving pressurized fluid in the cavity; the pneumatic biasing arrangement comprising, first and second pneumatic cylinder elements connected to one another for reciprocal movement with respect to one another along the axis of motion and collectively defining a fluid cavity therebetween defining a volume for receiving a pressurized fluid, the first cylinder element being fixedly attached to the driving member for movement therewith along the axis of motion, and the second cylinder element being fixedly attached to the driven member for movement therewith, such that relative movement of the driven and driving members with respect to one another in one direction along the axis of motion causes an increase in the volume of the cavity and movement of the driven and driving members with respect to one another in an opposite direction along the axis of motion causes a decrease in the volume of the cavity. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising, a control arrangement operatively connected to the pneumatic biasing arrangement for controlling the unidirectional biasing force. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising, a control arrangement for controlling the amount of pressurized gas in the volume. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, the control arrangement adjusts the amount of pressurized gas in the volume to maintain a desired level of unidirectional biasing force. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising, at least two linear actuators and a common control arrangement for controlling the amount of pressurized gas in the volumes of each of the at least two linear actuators. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the driving and driven members and the first and second cylinder elements are all coaxially disposed along the axis of motion. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising, an amount of pressurized gas disposed within the volume of the pneumatic biasing arrangement sufficient for generating the unidirectional biasing force between the driving and driven members. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein, application of driving force to the driving member generates a driving force in the driven member, and the amount of pressurized gas generates sufficient pressure within the cavity for maintaining the unidirectional biasing force between the driving and driven members regardless of the direction or level of the driving force. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, the first and second structures apply an operating load to the actuator, and the amount of pressurized gas in the cavity generates sufficient pressure within the cavity for maintaining the unidirectional biasing force between the driving and driven members regardless of the direction or level of the operating load on the actuator, and regardless of relative position or motion of the first and second structures with respect to one another. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising, a control arrangement for controlling the amount of pressurized gas in the volume. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, the control arrangement adjusts the amount of pressurized gas in the volume to maintain a desired level of unidirectional biasing force. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising, at least two linear actuators and a common control arrangement for controlling the amount of pressurized gas in the volumes of each of the at least two linear actuators. 13. A pneumatically biasable mechanical linear actuator apparatus, for exerting a bidirectional force along an axis of motion between a first structure and a second structure, wherein at least one of the structures is movable along the axis of motion, the linear actuator apparatus comprising, at least one pneumatically biasable linear actuator having: a driving and a driven member connected to one another in a mechanical drive arrangement for motion relative to one another along the axis of motion; and a pneumatic biasing arrangement operatively connected between the driving member and the driven member for applying a unidirectional biasing force between the driving and driven members, along the axis of motion, regardless of the location or movement of the driving and driven elements with respect to one another along the axis of motion; and the pneumatic biasing arrangement comprising, first and second pneumatic cylinder elements connected to one another for reciprocal movement with respect to one another along the axis of motion and collectively defining a fluid cavity therebetween defining a volume for receiving a pressurized fluid, the first cylinder element being fixedly attached to the driving member for movement therewith along the axis of motion, and the second cylinder element being fixedly attached to the driven member for movement therewith, such that relative movement of the driven and driving members with respect to one another in one direction along the axis of motion causes an increase in the volume of the cavity and movement of the driven and driving members with respect to one another in an opposite direction along the axis of motion causes a decrease in the volume of the cavity; the driving and driven members respectively being a rotatable screw member and a roller nut member of a roller screw apparatus, with the screw having a rotational centerline thereof substantially defining the axis of motion and first and second axial ends thereof spaced axially from one another along the axis of motion, and the roller screw nut member having rotating inner members for engaging the screw, with the rotating inner members being operatively attached to and disposed within a non-rotating roller screw nut housing; the first cylinder element of the pneumatic biasing arrangement being disposed about the axis of motion and having the screw member operatively attached thereto in a manner allowing rotation of the screw with respect to the first cylinder member about the axis of rotation and axially restraining the screw against axial movement of the screw with respect to the first cylinder member; the first cylinder element, further having first and second axial ends thereof, with the first axial end of the first cylinder member being disposed adjacent the first axial end of the screw and the second axial end of the first cylinder member being disposed adjacent the second axial end of the screw, the second axial end of the first cylinder member also being configured as a closed surface to form a stationary piston having an outer sealing periphery thereof; the second cylindrical element, in the form of an axially movable cylinder, having a wall thereof sealingly and slidingly engaging the sealing periphery of the stationary piston of the first cylinder member such that the wall of the movable cylinder in conjunction with the stationary piston of the first cylinder member form the cavity and define the volume for receiving the pressurized gas; the second cylindrical element, in the form of the axially movable cylinder, being operatively attached to the first cylindrical element, in a manner allowing the second cylindrical element to move axially with respect to the first cylindrical element, but not rotate with respect to the first cylindrical element or the axis of motion; the second cylindrical element, in the form of the axially movable cylinder, also having first and second axial ends thereof, with the first axial end overlapping the first cylinder member and having the roller screw housing fixedly attached thereto in such a manner that the roller screw nut moves axially with the movable cylinder, and the second axial end of the movable cylinder being closed; the first cylindrical element being adapted for operatively bearing against a stationary one of the first and second structures and the second cylindrical element being adapted for operatively bearing against the movable one of the first and second structures. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising, a guide extending from the first cylindrical element along the axis of motion and disposed about a portion of the second cylindrical member for guiding and supporting the second cylindrical element axially about the axis of motion. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising, a drive motor operatively attached to the first end of the screw for rotating the screw about the axis of rotation. 16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising, a brake for selectively restraining the screw from rotating about the axis of rotation. 17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein, the axis of motion extends substantially vertically between the first and second structures. 18. A material forming machine comprising: a first structure and a second structure, wherein at least one of the structures is movable along an axis of motion; and at least one pneumatically biasable linear actuator apparatus operatively connecting the first and second structures for exerting a bidirectional force along the axis of motion between the first structure and a second structure; the linear actuator having a driving and a driven member connected to one another in a mechanical drive arrangement for motion relative to one another long the axis of motion; the linear actuator further having a pneumatic biasing arrangement operatively connected between the driving member and the driven member for applying a unidirectional biasing force between the driving and driven members, along the axis of motion, regardless of the location or movement of the driving and driven elements with respect to one another along the axis of motion; the pneumatic biasing arrangement having, first and second pneumatic cylinder elements connected to one another for reciprocal movement with respect to one another along the axis of motion and collectively defining a fluid cavity therebetween defining a volume for receiving a pressurized fluid, the first cylinder element being fixedly attached to the driving member for movement therewith along the axis of motion, and the second cylinder element being fixedly attached to the driven member for movement therewith, such that relative movement of the driven and driving members with respect to one another in one direction along the axis of motion causes an increase in the volume of the cavity and movement of the driven and driving members with respect to one another in an opposite direction along the axis of motion causes a decrease in the volume of the cavity; the driving and driven member being respectively a rotatable screw member and a roller nut member of a roller screw apparatus, with the screw having a rotational centerline thereof substantially defining the axis of motion and first and second axial ends thereof spaced axially from one another along the axis of motion, and the roller screw nut member having rotating inner members for engaging the screw, with the rotating inner members being operatively attached to and disposed within a non-rotating roller screw nut housing; the first cylinder element of the pneumatic biasing arrangement being disposed about the axis of motion and having the screw member operatively attached thereto in a manner allowing rotation of the screw with respect to the first cylinder member about the axis of rotation and axially restraining the screw against axial movement of the screw with respect to the first cylinder member; the first cylinder element, further having first and second axial ends thereof, with the first axial end of the first cylinder member being disposed adjacent the first axial end of the screw and the second axial end of the first cylinder member being disposed adjacent the second axial end of the screw, the second axial end of the first cylinder member also being configured as a closed surface to form a stationary piston having an outer sealing periphery thereof; the second cylindrical element, in the form of an axially movable cylinder, having a wall thereof sealingly and slidingly engaging the sealing periphery of the stationary piston of the first cylinder member such that the wall of the movable cylinder in conjunction with the stationary piston of the first cylinder member form the cavity and define the volume for receiving the pressurized gas; the second cylindrical element, in the form of the axially movable cylinder, is operatively attached to the first cylindrical element, in a manner allowing the second cylindrical element to move axially with respect to the first cylindrical element, but not rotate with respect to the first cylindrical element or the axis of motion; the second cylindrical element, in the form of the axially movable cylinder, also having first and second axial ends thereof, with the first axial end overlapping the first cylinder member and having the roller screw housing fixedly attached thereto in such a manner that the roller screw nut moves axially with the movable cylinder, and the second axial end of the movable cylinder being closed; the first cylindrical element being adapted for operatively bearing against a stationary one of the first and second structures and the second cylindrical element being adapted for operatively bearing against the movable one of the first and second structures.
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