Actuator having an internal conductive path

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10458443-B2
Application number	US-201615090314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2016
Priority date	Apr 4, 2016
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

An actuator includes a piston and a housing. The piston includes a piston shaft that is configured to reciprocate within the housing. The actuator also includes a conductor coupled to the piston within the housing and configured to electrically couple the piston to the housing as the piston reciprocates within the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuator comprising:
a piston including a piston shaft;
a housing, wherein the piston is configured to reciprocate within a chamber of the housing;
a gland electrically coupled to the housing and surrounding the piston shaft;
a conductor that at least partially encircles the piston shaft, the conductor electrically coupled to the piston and the gland to electrically couple the piston to the housing via the gland as the piston reciprocates within the chamber, wherein the conductor comprises a plurality of spring fingers arranged in a ring around the piston shaft; and
a retainer coupled to the gland and surrounding the piston shaft, the retainer configured to retain the conductor in electrical contact with the gland.

2. The actuator of claim 1 , further comprising a spring element surrounding the piston shaft and positioned between the conductor and a first end of the retainer.

3. The actuator of claim 2 , further comprising a guide surrounding the piston shaft and positioned between the spring element and the conductor.

4. The actuator of claim 2 , wherein the spring element comprises an elastomer.

5. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein surfaces of at least a portion of the plurality of spring fingers are configured to contact the piston shaft.

6. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein female threading of the gland couples to male threading of the retainer to connect the gland to the retainer.

7. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the gland is configured to form a seal with the chamber of the housing to inhibit movement of a fluid from the chamber.

8. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the gland includes male threading to connect to female threading of the housing.

9. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the gland includes male threading to connect to female threading of the retainer.

10. An actuator comprising:
a piston including a piston shaft;
a housing, wherein the piston is configured to reciprocate within a chamber of the housing;
a gland electrically coupled to the housing and surrounding the piston shaft;
a conductor that at least partially encircles the piston shaft, the conductor electrically is coupled to the piston and the gland to electrically couple the piston to the housing via the gland as the piston reciprocates within the chamber, wherein the conductor comprises a split ring arranged around the piston shaft; and
a retainer coupled to the gland and surrounding the piston shaft, the retainer configured to retain the conductor in contact with the gland.

11. The actuator of claim 10 , further comprising a spring element surrounding the piston shaft and positioned between the conductor and a first end of the retainer.

12. The actuator of claim 11 , further comprising a guide surrounding the piston shaft and positioned between the spring element and the conductor.

13. The actuator of claim 10 , wherein the split ring maintains sliding contact with the piston shaft during reciprocation of the piston in the chamber.

14. The actuator of claim 10 , wherein the split ring includes a curved body defining a first end and a second end, wherein a first elongated member extends outward from the first end and a second elongated member extends outward from the second end.

15. The actuator of claim 10 , wherein the split ring includes a curved body defining a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end separated by a gap of the split ring, wherein a wall thickness of the split ring tapers toward the first end and the second end.

16. The actuator of claim 10 , wherein a first portion of the gland is configured to form a seal with the chamber of the housing to inhibit movement of a fluid from the chamber.

17. A method comprising:
coupling a gland to an actuator housing, wherein the gland surrounds a piston shaft, and wherein a piston coupled to the piston shaft is positioned in a chamber of the actuator housing;
coupling a conductor to the piston shaft such that the conductor at least partially encircles the piston shaft and is in electrical contact with the piston, wherein the conductor comprises a split ring; and
attaching a retainer to the gland to electrically couple the conductor to the gland such that the conductor maintains electrical contact with the piston and with the actuator housing via the gland during reciprocation of the piston within the chamber of the actuator housing.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising positioning a guide and a spring element around the piston shaft before attaching the retainer, the guide positioned between the spring element and the conductor.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein attaching the retainer to the gland comprises connecting male threading of the retainer to female threading of the gland.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein attaching the retainer to the gland comprises connecting female threading of the retainer to male threading of the gland.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Callahan Kevin S
• Plass Christopher E
• Moser Matthew A

Classifications

• F15B2215/305

  characterised by the use of special materials · CPC title

• B64C13/24

  Transmitting means · CPC title

• F15B15/1423 Primary

  Component parts; Constructional details · CPC title

• F15B15/1433 Primary

  End caps (F15B15/1438 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16J3/047

  Metallic bellows · CPC title