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:
Dec. 06, 2005
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2003
Sean Whitmarsh, Castaic, CA (US);
Sean Whitmarsh, Castaic, CA (US);
Ricon Corporation, Panorama City, CA (US);
Abstract
A clutch-driven limited force actuator is disclosed having a motor, a planetary gear mechanism in operative communication with the motor and a clutch plate. The clutch plate includes a contact surface selectively in frictional contact with the planetary gear mechanism to drive an actuator arm. In operation, the frictional force between the planetary gear mechanism and the clutch plate causes the actuator arm to actuate. The actuator arm can be connected to any element that requires actuation. The actuator of the present invention is preferably used in a wheelchair lift to actuate any mechanism that must have a safe limit on the amount of force applied to obstacles and that must have provision for direct manual operation.