To provide a linear actuator having two adjacent members to be rotated at different speeds by driving a motor and a relative structural element for producing linear operation.
The differential driving actuator comprises a first gear or a circular member having a plurality of first teeth and a second gear or a circular member arranged adjacent to the first circular member and having a plurality of second teeth having a different number from the plurality of first teeth. The circular members are commonly driven via a pinion gear. Because of a difference number of teeth, two circular members are rotated at slightly different speeds. The circular members having complementary cam faces, cam recesses and balls, cams and cam followers or members with screws are moved in parallel or separated from each other in the axial direction during different speed rotation. The axial parallel movement permits the operation or movement of a valve, a damper, a plate, a clutch, a steering mechanism, a shutter, and various devices to be controlled or adjusted with linear operation.
Tadashi Masui
Yasushi Kobayashi
Akio Chiba
Hiroyuki Tomita
Hiroyuki Uchida