US 12,331,823 B2
Rotary actuator
Craig Hooker, Indian Land, SC (US); Brad Derry, Rock Hill, SC (US); Peter Bartell, Fort mill, SC (US); Josiah Bailey, Charlotte, NC (US); and Bartholomew Briggs, Fort Mill, SC (US)
Assigned to Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed by Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed on Dec. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/073,633.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/346,356, filed on May 27, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0383820 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. F16H 57/023 (2012.01); B63B 39/06 (2006.01); F16H 1/10 (2006.01); F16H 19/08 (2006.01); F16H 49/00 (2006.01); F16H 55/08 (2006.01); F16H 55/17 (2006.01); F16H 57/02 (2012.01); F16H 57/029 (2012.01); G01D 5/245 (2006.01); H02G 15/04 (2006.01); H02K 5/10 (2006.01); H05K 7/14 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 57/023 (2013.01) [F16H 1/10 (2013.01); F16H 19/08 (2013.01); F16H 55/0833 (2013.01); F16H 55/17 (2013.01); F16H 57/02 (2013.01); F16H 57/029 (2013.01); B63B 39/06 (2013.01); F16H 49/001 (2013.01); F16H 2055/176 (2013.01); F16H 2057/02008 (2013.01); F16H 2057/02034 (2013.01); F16H 2057/02082 (2013.01); G01D 5/245 (2013.01); H02G 15/046 (2013.01); H02K 5/10 (2013.01); H05K 7/1427 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotary actuator, comprising:
a hollow housing including a first end and a second end spaced from the first end along an axis, the hollow housing defining a cavity extending from the first end to the second end;
an output shaft arranged coaxially with the axis and extending outwardly from the cavity through the first end;
a drive system disposed in the cavity and drivably connected to the output shaft;
a gearbox disposed in the cavity and arranged axially between the output shaft and the drive system, the gearbox drivably connected to the drive system and the output shaft;
an idler shaft arranged coaxially with the axis, the idler shaft extending outwardly from the cavity through the second end;
a rotational controller disposed in the cavity between the drive system and the idler shaft, the rotational controller:
configured to actuate the drive system to adjust an angular position of the output shaft; and
comprising: i) a first sensor configured to detect an angular position of a rotor shaft of an electric motor, and ii) a second sensor configured to detect an angular position of the idler shaft, the first and second sensors being axially spaced from one another.