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:
Oct. 09, 2001
Filed:
May. 06, 1999
Henry Minasian, Weymouth, MA (US);
Joseph Pollak Corporation, Boston, MA (US);
Abstract
An actuator for driving two separate gear trains having separate loads. The actuator includes: a drive motor; a drive gear attached to an output shaft of the drive motor; and first and second mating gears in meshing engagement with the drive gear. The first mating gear is axially fixed relative to the drive gear and adapted for driving the first gear train. The second mating gear is axially movable relative to the drive gear and adapted for driving the second gear train. Upon application of power to the drive motor, the first mating gear drives the first gear train, and the second mating gear drives the second drive train. The second mating gear is adapted to travel axially relative to the second gear train for disengaging therefrom when a load causes the second gear train to stall. The first mating gear may continue to drive the first gear train to stall. The actuator may be rotatable about an axis common to the drive motor to engage the first and second mating gears with the first and second drive trains, respectively, when power is applied to the motor. A spring may be provided for rotating the actuator and disengaging the first and second mating gears from the first and second drive trains when power is removed from the motor.