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:
Sep. 08, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 29, 1996
Jason J Raasch, Wheeling, IL (US);
Andrey E Frolov, Glenview, IL (US);
Midwest Air Technologies, Inc., Lincolnshire, IL (US);
Abstract
A variable force clutch for use with a linear actuator power screw assembly including a threaded drive screw with a stop member secured at each end, the screw assembly used in an application apparatus having at least one cable provided with a barreled end for engaging the assembly. The clutch includes a nut configured for engagement in the bore and having a threaded interior surface for engaging the threads of the drive screw, a grooved exterior surface, upper and lower ends each having a stop lug, the nut being vertically movable resulting from axial rotation of the screw. At least one variable force clutch dog has a grooved formation for slidingly engaging the grooves on the nut, and a cable end retainer configured for securely retaining a barreled cable end. Upon a load placed upon the cable, the dog exerts a frictional force upon the nut to be moveable with the nut until the stop lug engages the stop member to stop the linear movement of the nut, the dog is configured to exert a variable clamping force on the nut, the force corresponding to the load on the cable.