US 12,326,176 B2
Ball screw assembly with integral force measurement
Justin Brubaker, Greenville, SC (US); and Robert Lukasiewicz, Simpsonville, SC (US)
Assigned to JTEKT Bearings North America LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed by JTEKT Bearings North America LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed on May 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/742,756.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/188,546, filed on May 14, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0364618 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. F16D 65/18 (2006.01); F16H 25/22 (2006.01); F16D 121/24 (2012.01); F16D 125/40 (2012.01)
CPC F16D 65/183 (2013.01) [F16H 25/2214 (2013.01); F16D 2121/24 (2013.01); F16D 2125/40 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A screw-type actuator comprising:
a support structure;
a screw shaft having an outer surface, the screw shaft being retained against axial movement by the support structure but rotatable with respect to the support structure;
a nut including a first end, a second end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a central bore in which the screw shaft is received;
the outer surface of the screw shaft and the inner surface of the nut being engaged with one another such that rotation of the screw shaft causes axial movement of the nut; and
a sensing element affixed to the nut, the sensing element providing an electrical output of a sensed parameter,
wherein the nut defines a groove defined on the outer surface of the nut in which the sensing element is disposed, the groove being disposed in a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal center axis of the nut, the groove having an arcuate configuration and extending about at least a portion of a circumference of the nut.