Linear actuator with buffering mechanism
A linear actuator ( 1 ) with a buffering mechanism includes an actuator main body ( 10 ), a quick release mechanism ( 30 ) and a buffering member ( 50 ). The actuator main body ( 10 ) includes a housing base ( 11 ), an outer tube ( 14 ) connected to the housing base ( 11 ) and an extendable tube ( 15 ) penetrating into the outer tube ( 14 ). The quick release mechanism ( 30 ) is installed on the actuator main body ( 10 ). The buffering member ( 50 ) is arranged at one side of the outer tube ( 14 ). One end of the buffering member ( 50 ) is connected to the outer tube ( 14 ) or the housing base ( 11 ), and another end of the buffering member ( 50 ) is connected to the extendable tube ( 15 ). Accordingly, the impact force generated during the rapid retraction of the extendable tube can be reduced.
1. A linear actuator with a buffering mechanism, installed on a nursing bed, the nursing bed ( 9 ) having a first end ( 91 ), a second end ( 92 ) and a bed frame arranged between the first end ( 91 ) and the second end ( 92 ), the bed frame ( 93 ) having an adjustable portion ( 94 ), the linear actuator ( 1 ) comprising:
an actuator main body ( 10 ) comprising a housing base ( 11 ), a driving mechanism and a transmission mechanism; the driving mechanism arranged inside the housing base ( 11 ), the transmission mechanism comprising an outer tube ( 14 ) connected to the housing base ( 11 ) and an extendable tube ( 15 ) inserted into the outer tube ( 14 ); the driving mechanism driving the transmission mechanism to allow the extendable tube ( 15 ) to perform extension and retraction movements relative to the outer tube ( 14 );
a quick release mechanism ( 30 ) installed on the actuator main body ( 10 ); the quick release mechanism ( 30 ) comprising a positioning wheel ( 31 ) and a clutch wheel ( 32 ); the clutch wheel ( 32 ) having a plurality of key receiving slots ( 321 ) arranged on one side thereof; the positioning wheel ( 31 ) having a plurality of protruding keys ( 311 ) arranged at an outer perimeter thereof; each one of the protruding keys ( 311 ) configured to be inserted into each one of the key receiving slots ( 321 ), thereby allowing the clutch wheel ( 32 ) to be operably disengaged from or engaged with the positioning wheel ( 31 ) correspondingly; and
a buffering member ( 50 ) arranged at one side of the outer tube ( 14 ); one end of the buffering member ( 50 ) connected to outer tube ( 14 ), and the other end thereof connected extendable tube ( 15 ).
2. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the buffering member ( 50 ) is arranged on an outer portion of the outer tube ( 14 ), and the buffering member ( 50 ) includes a cylindrical unit ( 51 ) and a shaft ( 52 ) penetrating into the cylindrical unit ( 51 ); one end of the cylindrical unit ( 51 ) away from the shaft ( 52 ) is secured onto the outer tube ( 14 ), and one end of the shaft ( 52 ) away from the cylindrical unit ( 51 ) is connected to the extendable tube ( 15 ).
3. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical unit ( 51 ) is secured onto the outer tube ( 14 ) via a mounting ring ( 53 ), and the shaft ( 52 ) is connected to the extendable tube ( 15 ) via a connecting assembly ( 55 ).
4. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein one end of the outer tube ( 14 ) adjacent to the housing base ( 11 ) includes a positioning slot ( 141 ) formed thereon, and the mounting ring ( 53 ) is inserted into the positioning slot ( 141 ) and penetrates through an end portion of the cylindrical unit ( 51 ) via a bolt ( 54 ) and fastening the mounting ring ( 53 ) in order to achieve the securement thereof.
5. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein the connecting assembly ( 55 ) includes an elongated portion ( 551 ) and a fixation rod ( 553 ); the elongated portion ( 551 ) is connected to an end portion of the shaft ( 52 ); the extendable tube ( 15 ) includes a through hole ( 152 ) formed thereon; one end of the fixation rod ( 553 ) penetrates into and is secured inside the through hole ( 152 ).
6. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 5 , wherein the elongated portion ( 551 ) includes a groove ( 552 ), another end of the fixation rod ( 553 ) is received inside the groove ( 552 ), and a length of the groove ( 552 ) is greater than an outer diameter of the another end of the fixation rod ( 553 ).
7. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical unit ( 51 ) is secured onto the outer tube ( 14 ) via a welding method; the shaft ( 52 ) is connected onto the extendable tube ( 15 ) via a connecting assembly ( 55 ).
8. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission mechanism further comprises a lead screw ( 13 ), the extendable tube ( 15 ) includes a nut ( 151 ); one end of the lead screw ( 13 ) is mounted and supported inside the housing base ( 11 ) via front bearing ( 16 ) and a rear bearing ( 17 ); another end of the lead screw ( 13 ) extends into the outer tube ( 14 ) in order to engage with the nut ( 151 ) for transmission.
9. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 8 , wherein the positioning wheel ( 31 ) is mounted onto the lead screw ( 13 ) and is secured thereon in order to allow the positioning wheel ( 31 ) to rotate along with the lead screw ( 13 ); the clutch wheel ( 32 ) is mounted onto the lead screw ( 13 ) via a guiding unit ( 33 ) and is formed on one side of the positioning wheel ( 31 ), and the clutch wheel ( 32 ) is configured to move on the guiding unit ( 33 ) in order to allow the clutch wheel ( 32 ) to disengage or engage with the positioning wheel ( 31 ) relatively.
10. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein the quick release mechanism ( 30 ) further comprises a retaining and pushing assembly ( 34 ); the retaining and pushing assembly ( 34 ) comprises a disk ( 341 ) and a torsion spring ( 345 ); the disk ( 341 ) includes a protruding column ( 342 ) connected thereto and a plurality of spacers ( 343 ) formed thereon; the torsion spring ( 345 ) is arranged on the disk ( 341 ), and the torsion spring ( 345 ) is arranged on the disk ( 341 ); the torsion spring ( 345 ) includes a torsion arm ( 346 ) and a second torsion arm ( 347 ); and an end portion of the first torsion arm ( 346 ) is secured onto the housing base ( 11 ), and the second torsion arm ( 347 ) is arranged between any two of the spacers ( 343 ).
11. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 10 , wherein the quick release mechanism ( 30 ) further comprises a dialing assembly ( 35 ); the dialing assembly ( 35 ) comprises a dialer ( 351 ), a connecting rod ( 352 ) and a pulling string ( 353 ); one end of the dialer ( 351 ) is pivotally attached onto an outer portion of the housing base ( 11 ) and is connected to another end of the connecting rod ( 352 ) via a bolt penetrating therethrough; another end of the connecting rod ( 352 ) is connected onto the disk ( 341 ); the pulling string ( 353 ) is connected to another end of the dialer ( 351 ).
12. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the buffering member ( 50 ) is a variable damping pneumatic cylinder.
13. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the outer tube ( 14 ) includes a guiding tube ( 142 ) and a connecting base ( 143 ) extended therefrom; the buffering member ( 50 ) is received inside the guiding tube ( 142 ), and one end of the buffering member ( 50 ) is connected to the connecting base ( 143 ) via an elastic locking assembly ( 144 ).
14. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 13 , wherein the buffering member ( 50 ) includes an end portion ( 50 A), and the end portion ( 50 A) includes a locking hole ( 50 B); the connecting base ( 143 ) include a cut-out slot ( 1431 ) and connecting hole ( 1432 ) fluidly connected to the cut-out slot ( 1431 ); the end portion ( 50 A) is received in the cut-out slot ( 1431 ); the elastic locking assembly ( 144 ) comprises a penetrating latch ( 1443 ) received inside the connecting hole ( 1432 ) and exposed at the cut-out slot ( 1431 ); the penetrating latch ( 1443 ) penetrates into the locking hole ( 50 B) correspondingly.
15. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 14 , wherein the elastic locking assembly ( 144 ) further comprises a fastener ( 1441 ) and an elastic member ( 1442 ); the elastic member ( 1442 ) is received inside the connecting hole ( 1432 ) and is elastically clamped between the fastener ( 1441 ) and the penetrating latch ( 1443 ).
16. The linear actuator with a buffering mechanism according to claim 14 , wherein the penetrating latch ( 1443 ) includes a guiding slanted surface ( 1444 ) formed at an end portion of the cut-out slot ( 1431 ).
17. A linear actuator ( 1 A) with a buffering mechanism comprising:
an actuator main body ( 10 ), comprising a housing base ( 11 ), an outer tube ( 14 ) connected to the housing base ( 11 ) and an extendable tube ( 15 ) penetrating into the outer tube ( 14 ) and capable of moving relative to the outer tube ( 14 );
a quick release mechanism ( 30 ) installed on the actuator main body ( 10 ); and
a buffering member ( 50 ) arranged on one side of the outer tube ( 14 ); one end of the buffering mechanism ( 50 ) connected to the housing baes ( 11 ), and another end of the buffering member ( 50 ) connected to the extendable tube ( 15 ).
18. The linear actuator ( 1 A) with a buffering mechanism according to claim 17 , wherein the buffering member ( 50 ) is arranged on an outer portion of the outer tube ( 14 ), and the buffering member ( 50 ) includes a cylindrical unit ( 51 ) and a shaft ( 52 ) penetrating into the cylindrical unit ( 51 ); one end of the cylindrical unit ( 51 ) away from the shaft ( 52 ) is secured onto the housing base ( 11 ) via a bolt ( 54 ), and one end of the shaft ( 52 ) away from the cylindrical unit ( 51 ) is connected to the extendable tube ( 15 ).
19. The linear actuator ( 1 A) with a buffering mechanism according to claim 18 , wherein the shaft ( 52 ) is connected to the extendable tube ( 15 ) via a connecting assembly ( 55 ); the connecting assembly ( 53 ) includes an elongated portion ( 551 ) and a fixation rod ( 553 ); the elongated portion ( 551 ) is connected to an end portion of the shaft ( 52 ); the extendable tube ( 15 ) includes a through hole ( 152 ) formed thereon; one end of the fixation rod ( 553 ) penetrates into and is secured inside the through hole ( 152 ).
20. The linear actuator ( 1 A) with a buffering mechanism according to claim 19 , wherein the elongated portion ( 551 ) includes a groove ( 552 ), another end of the fixation rod ( 553 ) is received inside the groove ( 552 ), and a length of the groove ( 552 ) is greater than an outer diameter of the another end of the fixation rod ( 553 ).