JP3256924B2 - Linear actuator and interlocking linear actuator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for operating an actuated body linearly using an external driving force.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pinion rack mechanism is known as a mechanism for linearly operating an actuated body, and an operating machine having this mechanism integrated is called a rack-type jack, for example as shown in FIG. It is commercialized as shown in the example and is widely used.

[0003] On the other hand, as another mechanism for linearly operating an actuated body, a method using a screw and a nut has been widely used. This utilizes a mechanism in which a screw shaft is reciprocated along the axial direction by rotating the screw shaft forward and reverse. In such a screw nut mechanism, when the screw shaft axis and the drive shaft axis are arranged vertically, a worm jack using a worm gear and a bevel jack using a bevel gear shown in FIG. 5 are widely used. ing.

[0004]

However, in the case of using the above-described actuator to perform a linear operation while tilting the object to be operated, the former pinion rack mechanism has the following problems.
Since the pinion gear and the rack need to mesh with each other, the centerline of the pinion shaft is located at a point eccentric from the centerline of the rack shaft, so that the pinion support shaft and the drive source are tilted together with the device body. In addition to this, the drive source also needs to be configured integrally with the apparatus main body. In particular, to raise and lower a wide plate and the like evenly,
When it is desired to use a plurality of single actuators in conjunction with each other (for example, as shown in FIG. 4), in the pinion rack type, not only the drive source but also the interlocking shaft bearing between the devices must be tilted together with the device body. Not only that, the mechanism becomes complicated, but also the centering work in shaft installation (to maintain parallelism,
Even in a normal mode in which the tilting is not performed, it takes a considerable amount of time), which requires much time and labor.

On the other hand, in the latter screw nut method,
By using the above-described bevel jack, the screw shaft axis and the drive shaft axis can be arranged orthogonally, so that the drive source can be arranged outside the device main body, and the drive source does not need to be tilted together with the device. However, the device mechanism is not so complicated. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-50 which has already been proposed by the present inventors.
No. 351 is shown in FIG. 6, which comprises an input / output shaft 16 rotated by a drive source 15 and a screw shaft 18 to which a nut 17 is screwed.
And an actuation rod connected to the nut 17
Numeral 20 moves in the axial direction by the rotation of the screw shaft 18, which rotatably supports the bearing portion 22 of the input / output shaft 16 in the actuator main body 21, and is provided outside the device main body 21. The device main body 21 can be tilted by the rotating operation of the bearing unit 22 while the drive source 15 is arranged in the apparatus. In addition, in this device, since the drive source 15 is disposed outside the main body, it is possible to easily link a plurality of them as shown in FIG. In connection with this device, there is also a mode in which a fluid pressure or the like is used as a drive source and the operating rod is directly operated by using the fluid pressure or the like. For this reason, the inventor of the present invention has developed an actuator shown in FIG.
No. 5104.

However, there is no problem with an actuating machine using a screw nut mechanism. In such a mechanism, if the screw itself plays a role as a speed reduction mechanism, it is necessary to operate the thrust generator at a high speed. However, it is necessary to rotate the screw shaft at a considerably high speed, so that there is a problem that the screw shaft cannot be used for a high speed application as the former pinion rack mechanism. Further, when applied as a tuning machine as shown in FIG. 7, in addition to the above problems, there are problems such as a large resistance ratio at the screw portion and a large power loss.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is sufficiently applicable to a tilting operation and a high-speed operation of an actuated body, and is also applicable as a synchronization mechanism between operating machines. It relates to technology related to linear operation.

[0008]

The linear actuator according to the present invention has the following configuration.

An operating rod having teeth forming a rack;
A first gear meshing with the tooth portion of the operating rod, a first rotating shaft supporting both a separate second gear and a second rotating shaft supporting a gear meshing with the second gear; A support portion for supporting the operating rod reciprocally in the axial direction thereof, and an apparatus main body formed of a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft. A linear actuator, wherein the second rotating shaft is arranged so that their axis center lines are orthogonal to each other.

In the case where a plurality of single actuators are used in conjunction with each other, if a plurality of linear actuators according to the first aspect are arranged and their second rotary shaft ends are connected to each other, perfect synchronization can be easily achieved. The device configuration can be performed.

[0011]

In the linear actuator according to the present invention, the external force of the rotation to the second rotating shaft is transmitted through the output gear and the second gear meshing with the output gear.
The first gear, which is coaxial with the first gear, is rotated to cause a reciprocating motion of the operating rod, which acts as a rack thrust.

In the present invention, the operating rod and the second rotating shaft are arranged such that their axis center lines are orthogonal to each other. This is because the rotation of the first gear, whose center line axis must be eccentric to the rack, is not directly transmitted and received as input / output, but via an output gear that meshes with the second gear on the same axis as the first gear. To transmit the rotation operation of the second rotary shaft as input / output. In other words, a configuration in which the axial center lines of the operating rod and the second rotary shaft are orthogonal to each other is achieved by the transmission mechanism of the first rotary shaft, the first gear, the second gear, the second rotary shaft, and the output gear. It is possible.

Therefore, in the configuration of the present invention, when it is desired to operate the object while tilting it, the input / output shaft can be rotatably supported around the bearing portion of the second rotary shaft in the apparatus main body. The second rotating shaft does not tilt, and the drive source does not need to be tilted together, so that it is not integrated with the apparatus main body. In particular, in the present invention, the thrust to the operating rod is based on the rack opinion mechanism, and is adapted to operate the operated body at a higher speed than that of the screw nut mechanism shown in FIG.

Further, in the operating machine of the present invention, the external force of the reciprocating motion to the operating rod is output as a rotating force to the second rotating shaft. If this is used, it can be used as a tuning machine when a plurality of single actuators are used in conjunction with each other, as in the case shown in FIG.

If the second rotation shafts are connected to each other,
As described above, in the present invention, since the reciprocating operation of the operating rod is based on the rack and pinion mechanism, the power loss is small as compared with the screw nut mechanism as shown in FIG. 7, and sufficient tuning can be obtained. Moreover, since it is a rack and pinion mechanism, it is sufficiently applicable to high-speed operation, and it is not necessary to tilt the drive source or the like when tilting movement is performed, as in the case of the above-described actuator.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1A and 1B show a linear actuator, FIG. 1A is a partial cross-sectional plan view, FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the device configuration of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a partial cross-sectional side view.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an operating rod having teeth forming a rack, the end of which is connected to an actuated body (for example, 9 shown in FIG. 2). Reference numeral 2 denotes a first gear that meshes with the teeth of the operating rod 1, and the operating rod 1 and the first gear 2 form a rack and pinion mechanism. Reference numeral 3 denotes a housing which forms the main body of the apparatus, in which the operating rod 1, the first rotary shaft 4 and the second rotary shaft 5 are inserted. In the housing 3, a support cylinder 30 serving as a support portion of the second rotary shaft 5 projects left and right.

The operating rod 1 is reciprocally inserted into the housing 3 in the axial direction thereof using a pair of left and right operating rod bearings 31 as guides. As described above, the operating rod 1 is provided with teeth forming a rack, and the first gear 2 meshes with the teeth. The first rotating shaft 4 serving as a support shaft of the first gear 2 also supports second gears 6 disposed on the left and right of the first gear 2 respectively.
The left and right second gears 6 are integrally formed via bolts 19 while sandwiching the first gear 2 in the central recess. Both ends of the first rotary shaft 4 supporting the gears 2 and 6 are rotatably supported by the housing 3 via bearings 32.

A bearing in which a second rotating shaft 5 is disposed in the left and right support cylinders 30 in parallel with the first rotating shaft 4 in the housing 3.
It is rotatably supported via 33. Second rotating shaft 5
Is a support shaft of the output gear 7 that meshes with the second gear 6, and has an end extending through the support cylinder 30 to the outside, and one end connected to a drive source (for example, the motor 8 shown in FIG. 2). ).

As described above, the external force of the rotation to the second rotating shaft 5 rotates the coaxial first gear 2 via the output gear 7 and the second gear 6 meshing with the output gear 7, thereby causing the reciprocating motion of the operating rod 1. It acts as a rack thrust. Conversely, the external force of the reciprocating motion on the operating rod 1 is output as a rotational force on the second rotating shaft 5.

The operating rod 1 and the second rotary shaft 5 are arranged so that their axis center lines are orthogonal to each other. This does not mean that the rotation of the first gear 2 itself, whose center line axis must be eccentric to the rack, is directly transmitted as input / output.
This is based on a configuration in which the rotation operation of the second rotating shaft 5 is transmitted as input and output via an output gear 7 meshing with the second gear 6 coaxial with the first gear 2. In other words, the operating rod 1 and the second rotating shaft 5 are transmitted by the transmission mechanism of the first rotating shaft 4, the first gear 2, the second gear 6, the second rotating shaft 5, and the output gear 7.
And a configuration in which their axis center lines are orthogonal to each other.

Therefore, in the present embodiment having the above structure, when it is desired to operate the object while tilting the object, for example, the support cylinder 30 of the housing 3 may be replaced with a support fitting (for example, the bracket 10 shown in FIG. 2). In this case, the second rotary shaft 5 serving as the input / output shaft does not tilt and the drive source does not need to be tilted together. Nor. In particular, as a configuration in which a plurality of single actuators are used in conjunction with each other, as shown in FIG. 2, a motor 8 is connected to one end of a second rotating shaft 5 of one actuator 3a, and the other end is connected to the other actuator 3b. Can be connected to one end of the second rotating shaft 5 by a coupling 11 and a connecting shaft 12, and the connecting shaft 12 can be supported by a bearing portion 13. In such an interlocking configuration, the actuated body 9 When it is desired to tilt the support 11, the support tube 30 of the housing 3 may be rotatably supported by using the bracket 10 or the like, as in the case of the above-described single unit. The shaft 12 and the bearing 13 may be fixed. Therefore, as compared with the case where the second rotating shaft 5, the connecting shaft 12 and the like are tilted, the apparatus configuration is extremely simple, and the centering operation for keeping the working machines parallel to each other is facilitated. In particular, in the present embodiment, the thrust to the operating rod 1 is based on the rack opinion mechanism, and is sufficiently adapted to operate the mechanism operated body 1 at a high speed as compared with the screw nut mechanism shown in FIG. ing. Another advantage is that no torque is generated in the output rod portion unlike the screw mechanism.

This embodiment can also be used as a tuning machine when a plurality of operating machines are used in conjunction. For example, FIG. 3 shows that, when a plurality of air cylinders 14 (two in FIG. 3) are used to operate the actuated body 9, the actuators 3a and 3b shown in FIG. Configuration (however, the motor 8 is deleted).
3a and 3b function as tuning machines, and can be operated while the operated body 9 is kept horizontal. Also, as shown
Even when the cylinder 14 can be tilted freely through the bracket 10, the actuators 3a and 3b acting as tilting synchronizers have the coupling 11, the connecting shaft 12, and the bearing portion as described above.
13 can be fixed, the mechanism is simple, and the centering work is easy. Further, since it is based on the rack and pinion mechanism, the resistance is low and the power loss is smaller than that of the screw and nut mechanism shown in FIG.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An extremely simple mechanism is sufficient for tilting the actuated body, and the actuated body operates at high speed despite the use of a rack and pinion mechanism for reciprocating the operating rod. It is something that can be done. That is, the present invention can be sufficiently applied to the tilting operation and the high-speed operation of the operated body without any problem.

Therefore, it is extremely useful to use it as a synchronizing machine between operating machines. That is, as a tuning machine, it can be sufficiently applied to the tilting operation and the high-speed operation of the operated body,
Further, an effect that power loss is small as compared with the screw nut mechanism shown in FIG. 7 can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B show a linear actuator according to the present embodiment, wherein FIG. 1A is a partial cross-sectional plan view, FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the device configuration of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a line AA in FIG. It is the partial cross-section side view which made the cross section.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration in which a plurality of actuators of the present embodiment are used in conjunction with each other.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the present embodiment is used as a tuning machine.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing an example of a conventional linear actuator interlocking mechanism using a plurality of rack and pinion mechanisms.

FIG. 5 is an external view showing an example of a linear actuator using a conventional worm gear mechanism.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a linear actuator disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-50351, wherein FIG. 6A is a vertical sectional front view, and FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional front view showing a tuning machine disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-115104.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 operating rod 2 first gear 3 housing 4 first rotating shaft 5 second rotating shaft 6 second gear 7 output gear 8 motor 9 actuated body

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A first rotating shaft supporting both an operating rod having teeth forming a rack, a first gear meshing with the teeth of the operating rod, and a second gear separate from the operating gear; A second rotating shaft that supports a gear that meshes with the second gear; a supporting portion that supports the operating rod so as to reciprocate in the axial direction thereof; and the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft that are rotatable. A linear actuator, comprising: a device main body formed of a supporting bearing portion, wherein the operating rod and the second rotating shaft are arranged so that their axis center lines are orthogonal to each other. 2. An interlocking linear operation mechanism comprising a plurality of single linear actuators arranged therein, wherein the plurality of linear actuators according to claim 1 are arranged and their second rotary shaft ends are connected to each other. Interlocking linear actuation mechanism that is the feature.