US 12,281,691 B2
Shock absorbing actuator end stop
Seth E. Gitnes, Snohomish, WA (US)
Assigned to Moog Inc., East Aurora, NY (US)
Appl. No. 17/913,667
Filed by Moog Inc., East Aurora, NY (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 24, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/023814
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 22, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/195168, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/994,894, filed on Mar. 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0115404 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. F16H 25/20 (2006.01); F16H 25/22 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 25/2015 (2013.01) [F16H 25/2204 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A linear actuator comprising:
a shaft orientated about a center axis;
a nut in engagement with said shaft such that said nut translates within a linear range of motion axially on said center axis relative to said shaft in response to relative rotation between said nut and said shaft about said center axis;
a stop positioned at a travel limiting position of said range of motion between said shaft and said nut;
said stop having a rotational input portion and an axial output portion;
said rotational input portion configured to rotate about said center axis relative to said shaft and having a torsional output stop configured to rotationally engage a torsional input stop of said nut at said travel limiting position such that said rotational input portion of said stop rotates about said center axis relative to said shaft with rotation of said nut about said center axis relative to said shaft when said torsional input stop of said nut rotationally engages said torsional output stop of said rotational input portion of said stop at said travel limiting position;
said axial output portion constrained from rotating about said center axis relative to said shaft and configured to translate axially on said center axis relative to said rotational input portion and said shaft in response to relative rotation between said axial output portion and said rotational input portion about said center axis; and
an axially compliant member configured to bias said axial output portion axially on said center axis towards said travel limiting position.