Electric actuators

Abstract

An electric actuator which comprises an electric motor operable to a varying degree correspondingly to cause a spring to generate on an output member an output force which varies in accordance with the varying degree of operation of the electric motor.

We claim: 
     
       1. An electric actuator comprising an output member movable from a first position to a second, force exerting position.[.,.].; spring means for exerting a variable force on said output member for transmission by said output member, when the output member is in the force exerting position thereof, .[.the degree of rotation of which is variable for varying the variable force exerted by said spring means on said output member in accordance with the varying degree of rotation of the electric motor, said spring means comprising a spring one end of which abuts the output member and the opposite end of which abuts a second member movable by the electric motor in the direction of the length of the spring.]. .Iadd.said spring means comprising a second member and a spring one end of which abuts the output member and other end of which abuts said second member; .Iaddend.and an electric motor .Iadd.means, including an electric motor having a rotatable output shaft, for causing displacement of said second member in the direction of the length of the spring by an amount determined by the number of angular degrees through which the output shaft of the motor is rotated so as to thereby vary the variable force exerted by the spring on said output member.Iaddend.. .[.2. An actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a spring and one end of the spring abuts the output member and the opposite end abuts a second member movable by the electric motor in the direction of the length of the 
     
     
        spring..]. 3. An actuator as claimed in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1, .Iaddend.wherein the second member is threadedly-engaged with a third member and relative rotation of said third member is effected by operation 
     
     
        of the electric motor. 4. An actuator as claimed in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1, .Iaddend.further comprising detecting means for detecting the force exerted on the output member, for generating a signal indicative of said force being exerted and for terminating the operation of the electric motor when the signal indicates that the force exerted is of a desired 
     
     
        value. 5. An actuator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the detection means 
     
     
        comprises a strain gauge mounted on the output member. 6. An actuator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the detection means comprises means responsive 
     
     
        to the length of the spring. 7. An actuator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the detection means comprises a first part movable with the output member 
     
     
        and a second part movable with the second member. 8. An actuator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second part of the detection means is variable positionable with respect to the second member in the direction 
     
     
        of the length of the spring. 9. An actuator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the actuator comprises a brake actuator for a vehicle and adjustment means are provided for positioning the second part of the detection means with respect to the second member in accordance with the load on the vehicle. 
     
     
          . An actuator as claimed in claim 9, wherein one of the parts of the detection means carries a plurality of switches and the other part carries 
     
     
        cam means for operating said switches. 11. An actuator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second part is threadedly-engaged with the second member and the second part and the second member relatively rotated variably to 
     
     
        position the second part with respect to the second member. 12. An actuator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a final output member to which the output force generated on the said output member can be transmitted, the electric motor initially operating to move the spring means, the output member and the final output member bodily together until further movement of the final output member is arrested whereafter continued operation of the electric motor compresses the spring means to 
     
     
        generate the output force. 13. An actuator as claimed in claim 12, further comprising means between the output member and the final output member for 
     
     
        detecting the arrest of the movement of the final output member. 14. An actuator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising limiting means for limiting the maximum value of the output force exerted by said output 
     
     
        member. 15. An actuator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising limiting means for terminating the operation of the electric motor when the value of the output force exerted by the output member reaches a maximum value. .Iadd.16. An electric actuator comprising an output member movable from a first position to a second, force exerting position; spring means for exerting a variable force on said output member for transmission by said output member when said output member is in the force exerting position thereof, and drive means operatively associated with said spring means for varying the force exerted by said spring means on said output member, said drive means including an electric motor, coupling means disposed between said spring means and said electric motor in abutment with said spring means and movable by said electric motor to vary the variable force exerted by said spring means on said output member, and means for actuating said electric motor to move said coupling means to a selected, variable end position so that said spring means exerts a corresponding force on said output member and for terminating actuation of said electric motor when said coupling means is moved to said selected end position so as to maintain the corresponding force exerted by the spring means on the output member. .Iaddend.