Actuator and lift system for a camper trailer
View Patent ↗An actuator for a lift system for a roof of a camper trailer and a lift system and a camper trailer including the actuator. The actuator has a linear guide; a rotatable threaded shaft that extends in alignment with the guide; and a slider, located in the guide, and threadably mounted to the shaft. The slider is prohibited from substantial rotation within the guide, about an elongate axis thereof, such that, on rotation of the shaft, the slider moves along the shaft.
1 . An actuator assembly suitable for use in a lift system for a roof of a camper trailer, the actuator assembly comprising:
a linear guide tube portion;
a rotatable threaded shaft that extends within and in alignment with the linear guide tube portion; and
a motor which when installed is coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft;
a slider located in the linear guide tube portion, and threadably mounted to the shaft,
the slider prohibited from substantial rotation within the linear guide tube portion about an elongate axis thereof, such that, on rotation of the shaft, the slider moves along the shaft; and
a flexible push rod configured to sleeve the shaft when installed, wherein one end of the flexible push rod is arranged for contacting engagement with a distal end of the slider, and the other end of the flexible push rod is operatively engageable with a roof support when in use.
2 . The actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tube has a rectangular cross section.
3 . The actuator assembly of claim 2 , wherein the slider engages with an internal portion of the guide to prohibit substantial rotation therein.
4 . The actuator assembly of claim 3 , wherein the slider is substantially block shaped.
5 . The actuator assembly of claim 4 , wherein the slider is substantially rectangular prism shaped.
6 . The actuator assembly of claim 5 , wherein the ratio of slider length to shaft length is 1:X, where X is in the range of 13 to 14 inclusive.
7 . The actuator assembly of claim 5 , wherein threaded engagement between the slider and shaft is self-locking, such that, in the absence of rotation of the shaft, the slider maintains its position along the length of the guide.
8 . The actuator assembly of claim 7 , wherein the shaft thread is a trapezoidal thread.
9 . The actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible pushrod is a helical spring which sleeves the shaft.
10 . The actuator assembly of claim 1 , including a curved guide extending from a distal end of the linear guide, the flexible pushrod extending therein.
11 . The actuator assembly of claim 9 , wherein the motor includes a motor axle operatively connected to the shaft, the motor axle and the shaft being axially aligned.
12 . The actuator assembly of claim 11 , including a flexible coupler operatively connected between the motor axle and the shaft.