Electric actuator for a scissor lift

Abstract

An electric linear actuator for a lift assembly of a scissor lift includes a housing having a first end defining an aperture and a second end opposite the first end, an extending member received within the aperture and slidably coupled to the housing, a screw coupled to the housing, and an electric motor coupled to the housing and configured to drive rotation of the screw to control movement of the extending member along an axis of extension. The housing includes a mount configured to pivotally couple the housing to the lift assembly of the scissor lift. The mount is offset from the second end of the housing along the axis of extension such that the mount is positioned between the first end and the second end of the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric linear actuator for a lift assembly of a scissor lift, the electric linear actuator comprising:
 a housing having a first end defining an aperture and a second end opposite the first end, the housing including a mount configured to pivotally couple the housing to the lift assembly of the scissor lift;   an extending member received within the aperture and slidably coupled to the housing;   a screw coupled to the housing; and   an electric motor coupled to the housing and configured to drive rotation of the screw to control movement of the extending member along an axis of extension,   wherein the mount is offset from the second end of the housing along the axis of extension such that the mount is positioned between the first end and the second end of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an elongated member defining the aperture and a gearbox coupling the electric motor to the screw, and wherein the mount is positioned between the gearbox and the elongated member. 
     
     
         3 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 2 , wherein the electric motor is offset from the axis of extension. 
     
     
         4 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 3 , wherein the electric motor and the elongated member both extend away from the gearbox in a first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 4 , further comprising a brake configured to selectively limit movement of the extending member relative to the housing, wherein the electric motor is positioned between the gearbox and the brake. 
     
     
         6 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a handle;   a cable coupled to the handle and the brake and configured to transfer a force applied by a user on the handle to the brake to control engagement of the brake; and   a bracket coupling the cable to the electric motor.   
     
     
         7 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an elongated member defining the aperture, wherein the elongated member and the extending member are substantially centered about the axis of extension, and wherein the mount includes a protrusion that extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of extension. 
     
     
         8 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 7 , wherein the protrusion is a pin. 
     
     
         9 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 7 , wherein the protrusion is a first protrusion, and wherein the mount further includes a second protrusion extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of extension. 
     
     
         10 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 9 , wherein the first protrusion extends away from the elongated member in a first direction, and wherein the second protrusion extends away from the elongated member in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 10 , wherein the mount is a first mount, and wherein the extending member includes a second mount configured to pivotally couple the housing to the lift assembly of the scissor lift, wherein the second mount defines a mount aperture that extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of extension. 
     
     
         12 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 11 , wherein the mount aperture extends laterally through the first mount from a first side of the first mount to an opposing second side of the first mount. 
     
     
         13 . The scissor lift of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an outer tube defining the aperture, and wherein the extending member is push tube that receives the screw such that the push tube extends between the screw and the outer tube in at least one position of the push tube. 
     
     
         14 . The scissor lift of  claim 13 , further comprising a nut coupled to the push tube and engaging the screw. 
     
     
         15 . An electric linear actuator for a lift device, the electric linear actuator comprising:
 a housing including an elongated portion defining an aperture and a second portion extending substantially perpendicular to the elongated portion;   an extending member received within the aperture and slidably coupled to the housing;   a screw received within the elongated portion of the housing;   an electric motor coupled to the second portion of the housing and configured to drive rotation of the screw to control extension of the electric linear actuator;   a brake configured to selectively prevent movement of the electric motor;   a handle; and   a cable coupling the handle to the brake and configured to disengage the brake to permit movement of the electric motor in response to a user interaction with the handle.   
     
     
         16 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 15 , wherein the cable is configured to apply a force onto the brake to disengage the brake in response to a user pulling the handle. 
     
     
         17 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 16 , wherein the cable includes a first end coupled to the handle and a second end coupled to the brake, and wherein the handle includes a receiving portion that receives the first end of the cable and an interface portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the receiving portion. 
     
     
         18 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 15 , further comprising a bracket coupling the cable to the electric motor, wherein the electric motor extends between the second portion of the housing and the brake. 
     
     
         19 . The electric linear actuator of  claim 15 , wherein the elongated portion and the electric motor extend away from the second portion of the housing in a first direction, and wherein the brake is offset from the second portion of the housing in the first direction. 
     
     
         20 . An electric linear actuator for a lift assembly of a scissor lift, the electric linear actuator comprising:
 a housing having a first end defining an aperture and a second end opposite the first end, the housing including:
 an elongated member defining the aperture; 
 a gearbox extending substantially perpendicular to the elongated member; and 
 a first mount positioned between the gearbox and the elongated member, the first mount including a pair of protrusions extending outward along a first lateral axis; 
   an extending member received within the aperture and movable relative to the housing along a longitudinal axis, the extending member including a second mount defining a passage that extends along a second lateral axis;   a screw coupled to the housing;   an electric motor coupled to the gearbox and configured to drive rotation of the screw to control movement of the extending member along the longitudinal axis, wherein the elongated member and the electric motor both extend away from the gearbox in a first direction a brake coupled to the electric motor such that the electric motor extends between the brake and the gearbox, wherein the brake is configured to selectively limit rotation of the screw;   a cable coupled to a handle and the brake, wherein the cable is configured to impart a force on the brake in response to a user pulling the handle; and   a bracket coupling the cable to the electric motor.