US 12,247,676 B2
Use of a ball screw, and actuating drive assembly
Benjamin Hofmann, Heitersheim (DE); and Holger Graf, Freital (DE)
Assigned to AUMA Riester GmbH & Co. KG, Müllheim (DE)
Appl. No. 17/927,032
Filed by AUMA Riester GmbH & Co. KG, Müllheim (DE)
PCT Filed May 20, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/063532
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 22, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/234116, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 25, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 102020113849.0 (DE), filed on May 22, 2020; and application No. 102020120064.1 (DE), filed on Jul. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0204125 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. F16K 31/50 (2006.01); F16K 31/04 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 31/508 (2013.01) [F16K 31/047 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for activating a self-closing, linearly activated fitting (4) using a ball screw drive (3), the method comprising:
providing an actuating drive (2) for driving the ball screw drive (3) the ball screw drive (3) comprises a nut (5) and a spindle (6) which is at least indirectly connectable or connected to the fitting (4), the actuating drive further including a restoring unit (7) configured to provide a linear restoring movement which acts on the spindle (6) in a closing direction of the fitting (4), a brake unit (13) including a centrifugal brake (15), and a releasable interface (18) that is openable during at least one of closing or opening the fitting (4) and is configured between the ball screw drive (3) and the restoring unit (7);
driving the nut (5) of the ball screw drive (3) for opening the fitting (4) via an electric motor to translationally move the spindle (6) of the ball screw drive (4) in an opening direction of the fitting (4) to open the fitting (4);
for closing the fitting (4), transmitting the linear restoring movement from the restoring unit (7) to the spindle (6);
at the end of the restoring movement, continuing to run the spindle (6) and axially releasing the spindle (6) from a connection to the fitting (4); and
at least partially dissipating a restoring force that has been introduced into the spindle (6) by the restoring movement, in a direction of force, behind the ball screw drive (3) by the actuating drive (2) connected to the ball screw drive (3).