Adjustable operator worm gear drive with robust bearing surfaces
A worm gear drive operator having immovable flat thrust bearing surfaces at each end of a worm gear drive for absorbing thrust forces and keeping direct mechanical rotational forces away from the cover plate and housing base during rotation of the worm gear drive. The worm gear drive operator assembly is capable of vertical adjustment of the actuator arm while providing thrust support. A threaded post about which rests a bearing for the actuator arm, and is secured in place by an adjustment screw received within a threaded post on the cover plate.
1. A casement window operator assembly comprising:
a housing base engageable with a cover plate for mounting a worm gear drive assembly;
said worm gear drive assembly including:
at least one knob at a top end for attachment to a handle crank or electric motor, said top end extending upwards from a shoulder portion of said worm gear drive;
a threaded portion for rotational engagement with an actuator arm, said threaded portion extending downwards from said shoulder portion; and
a bottom portion for translating thrust forces to said housing base;
a top thrust bearing plate attachable to one or both of the cover plate and housing base, the top thrust bearing plate having a cavity for receiving said top end of said worm gear drive assembly, said top thrust bearing plate cavity having a smaller diameter than said shoulder portion of said worm gear drive for securing said worm gear drive top end from axial movement upwards, while prohibiting rotational movement of said worm gear drive from interacting with said cover plate or said housing base, said top thrust bearing plate including a non-rotational base portion for attachment to said cover plate or said housing base or both, said non-rotational base portion entrapped by said cover plate or said housing base or both to prohibit rotation when subjected to rotational forces from said worm gear drive; and
a non-rotatable bottom thrust bearing plate in mechanical communication with said worm gear drive bottom portion, said bottom thrust bearing plate disposed between said worm gear drive bottom portion and said housing base to prohibit direct contact between said worm gear drive and said housing base during rotational movement of said worm gear drive, said bottom thrust bearing plate secured by said housing base without rotating when subjected to rotational forces from said worm gear drive.
2. A casement window operator assembly comprising:
a housing base engageable with a cover plate for mounting a worm gear drive assembly;
said worm gear drive assembly including:
at least one knob at a top end for attachment to a handle crank or electric motor, said top end extending upwards from a shoulder portion of said worm gear drive;
a threaded portion for rotational engagement with an actuator arm, said threaded portion extending downwards from said shoulder portion; and
a bottom portion for translating thrust forces to said housing base;
a top thrust bearing plate attachable to one or both of the cover plate and housing base, the top thrust bearing plate having a cavity for receiving said top end of said worm gear drive assembly, said top thrust bearing plate cavity having a smaller diameter than said shoulder portion of said worm gear drive for securing said worm gear drive top end from axial movement upwards, while prohibiting rotational movement of said worm gear drive from interacting with said cover plate or said housing base, said top thrust bearing plate including a non-rotational base portion for attachment to said cover plate or said housing base or both, said non-rotational base portion entrapped by said cover plate or said housing base or both to prohibit rotation when subjected to rotational forces from said worm gear drive;
a non-rotatable bottom thrust bearing plate in mechanical communication with said worm gear drive bottom portion, said bottom thrust bearing plate disposed between said worm gear drive bottom portion and said housing base to prohibit direct contact between said worm gear drive and said housing base during rotational movement of said worm gear drive, said bottom thrust bearing plate secured by said housing base without rotating when subjected to rotational forces from said worm gear drive; and
a vertical adjustment assembly for said actuator arm, said vertical adjustment assembly including:
an adjustment screw and bearing disc subassembly, said subassembly receivable within a cavity of said housing base;
a cylindrical bearing having an outer diameter approximately equal to, and insertable within, an aperture within an attachment portion of said actuator arm; and
a threaded post within said cover plate for threadably receiving said adjustment screw, said threaded post slidably matable within said aperture within said attachment portion of said actuator arm.
3. The casement window operator assembly of claim 2 wherein said cover plate or said housing base or both includes a formed cavity for receiving said top thrust bearing plate, securing said top thrust bearing plate in place during rotation of said worm gear drive.
4. The casement window operator assembly of claim 2 wherein said housing base includes a formed cavity for receiving said bottom thrust bearing plate, securing said bottom thrust bearing plate in place during rotation of said worm gear drive.
5. The casement window operator assembly of claim 2 wherein said adjustment screw is integral with said bearing disc.
6. The casement window operator assembly of claim 2 wherein said threaded post is attached to or integral with said cover plate.
7. The casement window operator assembly of claim 2 wherein said threaded post includes a cylindrical outer wall for insertion within said aperture within said attachment portion of said actuator arm.
8. The casement window operator assembly of claim 2 wherein said subassembly has a knurled surface to restrict rotation within said housing base cavity.
9. The casement window operator assembly of claim 2 wherein said bottom thrust bearing plate has a non-circular outer profile for attachment to said housing base, said non-circular outer profile held by said housing base without rotation when subjected to rotational forces from said worm gear drive.
10. The casement window operator assembly of claim 2 wherein said worm gear drive assembly bottom portion has a predominantly flat bottom surface for translating thrust forces to said housing base.
11. A casement window operator assembly comprising:
a housing base engageable with a cover plate for mounting a worm gear drive assembly;
said worm gear drive assembly including:
at least one knob at a top end for attachment to a handle crank or electric motor, said top end extending from a shoulder portion of said worm gear drive;
a threaded portion for rotational engagement with an actuator arm, said threaded portion extending downwards from said shoulder portion; and
a bottom portion having a predominantly flat bottom surface for translating thrust forces to said housing base;
a top thrust bearing plate having a circular cavity for receiving said top end of said worm gear drive assembly, said top thrust bearing plate circular cavity having a smaller diameter than said shoulder portion of said worm gear drive for securing said worm gear drive top end from axial movement upwards, while prohibiting rotational movement of said worm gear drive from interacting with said cover plate or said housing base, said top thrust bearing plate including a non-circular base portion for attachment to said cover plate or said housing base, said non-circular base portion entrapped by said cover plate or said housing base to prohibit rotation when subjected to rotational forces from said worm gear drive;
a bottom thrust bearing plate in mechanical contact with said worm gear drive bottom portion, said bottom thrust bearing plate disposed between said worm gear drive bottom portion and said housing base to prohibit direct contact between said worm gear drive and said housing base during rotational movement of said worm gear drive, said bottom thrust bearing plate having a non-circular outer profile for attachment to said housing base, said non-circular outer profile held by said housing base without rotation when subjected to rotational forces from said worm gear drive; and
a vertical adjustment assembly for said actuator arm, said vertical adjustment assembly including:
an adjustment screw and bearing disc subassembly, said subassembly having a knurled surface to restrict rotation within a cavity of said housing base;
a cylindrical bearing having an outer diameter approximately equal to, and insertable within, an aperture within an attachment portion of said actuator arm; and
a threaded post within said cover plate for threadably receiving said adjustment screw, said threaded post slidably matable within said aperture within said attachment portion of said actuator arm.
12. The casement window operator assembly of claim 11 wherein said cover plate or said housing base or both includes a formed cavity for receiving said top thrust bearing plate, securing said top thrust bearing plate in place during rotation of said worm gear drive; and said housing base includes a formed cavity for receiving said bottom thrust bearing plate, securing said bottom thrust bearing plate in place during rotation of said worm gear drive.
13. The casement window operator assembly of claim 11 wherein said adjustment screw is integral with said bearing disc.
14. The casement window operator assembly of claim 11 wherein said threaded post is attached to or integral with said cover plate.