A drive system includes a linear actuator with a drive shaft and having an actuation axis extending along a length of the linear actuator. A motor assembly of the drive system couples to drive shaft and is configured to rotate the drive shaft about the actuation axis of the linear actuator. The drive system further includes a nut attached to the drive shaft and a carrier housing the nut. A linkage system of the drive system extends from a proximal end away from the motor assembly to a distal end. The proximal end of the linkage system rotatably attaches to the carrier at a first proximal attachment location where the first proximal attachment location offset is from the actuation axis. The drive system also includes an output link rotatably coupled to the distal end of the linkage system where the output link is offset from the actuation axis.

A prime mover includes a stator fixed to a housing, and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator. The prime mover outputs torque from the rotor by being supplied with electric power. A speed reducer reduces the torque of the prime mover and outputs the reduced torque. The speed reducer includes a sun gear to which the torque from the rotor is input, and a planetary gear that revolves in a circumferential direction of the sun gear while rotating in a state of meshing with the sun gear. The rotor and the sun gear are formed separately, and are disposed coaxially so as to be integrally rotatable.

Torque of a prime mover is input into a sun gear. A planetary gear revolves in a circumferential direction of the sun gear while rotating and meshing with the sun gear. A carrier has an annular shape, rotatably supports the planetary gear, and is rotatable relative to the sun gear. A first ring gear is fixed to a housing, and meshes with the planetary gear. A second ring gear meshes with the planetary gear, is different from the first ring gear in number of teeth of a tooth portion, and outputs torque to a rotation portion. At least a part of the sun gear in an axial direction is located radially inward of the carrier. At least a part of the first ring gear and at least a part of the second ring gear in the axial direction are located radially outward of the carrier.

A sun gear of a speed reducer is provided coaxially with and integrally rotatably with a rotor of a prime mover. Multiple planetary gears are disposed in a circumferential direction of the sun gear, and are capable of revolving in the circumferential direction of the sun gear while rotating in a state of meshing with the sun gear. A carrier rotatably supports the planetary gears, and is rotatable relative to the sun gear. A first ring gear is fixed to a housing, and has a first ring gear tooth portion capable of meshing with the planetary gears. A second ring gear is rotatable integrally with a rotation portion, and has a second ring gear tooth portion capable of meshing with the planetary gears. The second ring gear tooth portion is different in number of teeth from the first ring gear tooth portion.

A rotational translation unit includes a rotation portion that rotates relative to a housing upon receiving an input of torque output from a speed reducer, and a translation portion that moves relative to the housing in an axial direction according to rotation of the rotation portion relative to the housing. A clutch is provided between a first transmission portion and a second transmission portion that are rotatable relative to the housing, and the clutch allows transmission of the torque between the first transmission portion and the second transmission portion in an engaged state of the clutch, and interrupts the transmission of the torque between the first transmission portion and the second transmission portion in a disengaged state of the clutch. A return spring is capable of urging the rotational translation unit in a direction away from the clutch relative to the housing.

An axial-rotation locking-mechanism assembly includes a handle, a locking assembly, and a shaft. The locking assembly includes a locking element and a cam mechanism. The shaft is operatively connected to the handle and the locking assembly. When the handle is rotated in a first direction, the shaft is rotated in a first direction and drives the cam mechanism to move the locking element in a first axial direction. When the handle is rotated in a second direction, the shaft is rotated in a second direction and drives the cam mechanism to move the locking element in a second axial direction. The second direction is the opposite of the first direction. The first axial direction is the opposite of the second direction.

The present invention relates to a linear drive (1), comprising a drive shaft (10) arranged along a longitudinal axis (X), at least two propulsion teeth (20), and at least one rack (30) having a plurality of teeth (31), wherein the propulsion teeth (20) can move in a stroke transversely to the longitudinal axis (X) and are drivingly coupled to the drive shaft (10) in such a manner that the at least two propulsion teeth (20) perform at least one cyclical stroke movement (21) in the course of one rotation (φ) of the drive shaft (10) and enter and exit the at least one rack (30) to generate a propulsion in the longitudinal axis (X), and wherein the cyclical stroke movement (21) of the at least two propulsion teeth (20) takes place with a phase shift (4). In addition, the present invention relates to a longitudinal adjustment unit and to a motor vehicle having such a longitudinal adjustment unit.

The present invention relates to a linear drive (1) having a drive shaft (10) along a longitudinal axis (X), at least two propelling teeth (20), and at least one gear rack (30) comprising a plurality of teeth (31), wherein the propelling teeth (20) are reciprocatingly movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (X) and are drivingly connected to the drive shaft (10) such that said at least two propelling teeth (20) carry out at least one cyclical reciprocating movement (21) during the course of one rotation (φ) of the drive shaft (10), dipping into and out of the at least one gear rack (30) in order to produce propelling motion along the longitudinal axis (X), and wherein the cyclical reciprocating movement (21) of the at least two propelling teeth (20) have phase shifts (Δφ). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a longitudinal-adjustment unit as well as to a motor vehicle coprising such a longitudinal-adjustment unit.

A surgical tool includes a drive housing that houses a plurality of drive cable capstans, an elongate shaft that extends from the drive housing, and an end effector operatively coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft. A plurality of drive cables extend between the drive housing and the end effector, wherein each drive cable is associated with a corresponding drive cable capstan and rotation of the drive cable capstans correspondingly moves the drive cables to articulate the end effector. A manual release assembly is coupled to the drive housing and includes a release switch that is manually movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. When the release switch is manually moved to the engaged position, the drive cable capstans are rotated to move the drive cables and thereby manually articulate the end effector.

A surgical tool includes a drive housing that houses a plurality of drive cable capstans, an elongate shaft that extends from the drive housing, and an end effector operatively coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft. A plurality of drive cables extend between the drive housing and the end effector, wherein each drive cable is associated with a corresponding drive cable capstan and rotation of the drive cable capstans correspondingly moves the drive cables to articulate the end effector. A manual release assembly is coupled to the drive housing and includes a release switch that is manually movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. When the release switch is manually moved to the engaged position, the drive cable capstans are rotated to move the drive cables and thereby manually articulate the end effector.