The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 22, 1994
Filed:
Sep. 23, 1992
Don C Alfano, Rockford, IL (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
A ball screw and nut mechanism includes an elongated cylindrical screw having an outer helically threaded surface which extends through a cylindrical opening formed through a nut having a complementary helically threaded surface. A plurality of balls are disposed between the screw and the nut, each extending partially into both of the complementary threads to provide a rolling engagement between the screw and the nut. A load lock is provided to prevent the nut from moving axially relative to the screw when the balls are not present in the threads. The load lock includes a wire member which is generally helical in shape, having a pitch which is approximately equal to the pitch defined by the cooperating threads. The wire member is threaded partially through the threads, but does not normally inhibit rotation of the screw relative to the nut. The wire member is formed having a tang portion on one end thereof. The tang portion is adapted to be received within one of a plurality of recesses formed in an end face of the nut when the wire member is threaded therein. The cooperation of the tang portion with the recess functions to retain the wire member in position within the nut.