There is provided an actuator comprising screw shaft and a nut assembly. The nut assembly comprises a primary nut for transmitting load through the actuator along a primary load path, and a secondary nut for transmitting load through the actuator along a secondary load path. The secondary nut comprises first and second portions movable relative to one another. As load is transmitted through the actuator along the primary load path the secondary nut does not transmit load through the actuator, wherein upon failure of the primary load path the first and second portions move relative to each other, such relative movement causing the first and second portions to engage the screw shaft and enable transmittal of load through the secondary nut of the actuator along the secondary load path.

A drive assembly of a motor vehicle for the motor-driven adjustment of a flap, in particular a side door, of the motor vehicle by means of linear drive movements, wherein the drive assembly has a drive unit for generating the linear drive movements, which is assigned a drive with at least one drive motor and a feed transmission, in particular a spindle/-spindle nut transmission, that is drivingly connected to the drive. The drive assembly has a support structure which receives the drive unit such that it can swivel about a geometric supporting swivel shaft, such that the drive unit and the support structure are connected to form a pre-assembly unit which can be mounted as such via the support structure in a mounting position on the motor vehicle, in particular on the flap or on the motor vehicle body.

A ball screw assembly for use in an actuator is provided. The ball to screw assembly may include a ball screw supported for rotation by the actuator. A ball nut may be provided around the ball screw and may be held against rotation with the ball screw by said actuator. A primary load path may be provided between the ball screw and the ball nut for operatively coupling the ball nut with the ball screw. A secondary load path may be provided between the ball screw and the ball nut, wherein the secondary load path can be disengaged during a normal operating mode of the ball screw assembly and the secondary load path can be engaged during a second operating mode of the ball screw assembly.

The invention relates to a drive assembly of a motor vehicle (2) for the motorized adjustment of a hatch (3), in particular a side door, of the motor vehicle (2) by means of linear drive movements, wherein the drive assembly (1) for generating the linear drive movements has a drive unit (4) which is assigned a drive (5) having at least one drive motor (6) and a thrust gearbox (7), in particular a spindle/spindle nut gearbox (8), that in terms of drive technology is coupled to the drive (5), It is proposed that the drive assembly (1) has a support structure (9) which receives the drive unit (4) so as to be pivotable about a geometric supporting pivot axis (10), and that the drive unit (4) and the support structure (9) are connected so as to form a preassembled unit (13) which per se, by way of the support structure (9), is able to be assembled on an assembly location (14) on the motor vehicle (2), in particular on the hatch (3), or on the motor vehicle body (15).

An electromechanical linear actuator may include: a containment structure; a pushing member designed to translate relative to the containment structure to at least partially come out of the containment structure during operation of the electromechanical linear actuator; a mechanical reduction apparatus in the containment structure and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation; motor means in the containment structure operably connected with the mechanical reduction apparatus to rotate about the axis of rotation; a shaft inserted in the mechanical reduction apparatus and connected to the pushing member, wherein the shaft is mechanically connected with the mechanical reduction apparatus so that a rotational movement of the mechanical reduction apparatus will cause the shaft to translate along the axis of rotation; and a rotation-preventing mechanism operable on the shaft to prevent the shaft from rotating about the axis of rotation.

A linear actuator includes a planetary gear system includes a sun gear, a ring gear, and a planet carrier. A linear output mechanism is coupled to the planetary gear system. A first motor is configured to drive a first input shaft, and the first input shaft is coupled to the planet carrier. A second motor is configured to drive a second input shaft, and the second input shaft is coupled to the ring gear. A first brake is coupled to the first motor and is configured to be engaged into a braked position that holds the planet carrier fixed. In the braked position, rotation of the ring gear results in rotation of the sun gear for linear displacement of the linear output mechanism.

An actuator assembly including a fail-fix system is provided. The actuator assembly includes an output shaft, an input drive assembly, and a piston assembly. The piston assembly includes a body surrounding a piston moveable within the body. The body defines a first end and a second end opposite thereof between which the piston is moveable within the body. The piston assembly includes a spring disposed at the first end between the body and the piston. The piston assembly includes a friction mechanism disposed at the second end of the piston opposite of the first end. An adjustable area is defined within the body between the second end of the piston and the input drive assembly.

A linear actuator having a free fall function. The linear actuator moves a piston-rod member back and forth using torque of a rotary motor. Here, the piston-rod member is disposed within a portion of a cylinder body to be movable back and forth. In the event of jamming in which the piston-rod member is stopped due to sticking between an operating nut and a screw member, the piston-rod member is caused to freely fall in a direction in which load is applied. This can consequently obtain the maximum stretched length of the piston-rod member, thereby providing safety in an emergency.

An upper attachment system for a trimmable horizontal stabiliser actuator (THSA) comprises: a housing, holding a yoke and a ballscrew; a nut coupled to the housing and cooperating with the ballscrew such that rotation of the ballscrew relative to the nut results in linear motion of the ballscrew; a recess formed between the yoke and the ballscrew and arranged to receive, in use, an upper part of a tie bar of the secondary load path of the actuator; and a biasing mechanism arranged such that, in use, when no axial load is applied to the tie bar, the yoke and the ballscrew are held by balanced forces from the biasing mechanism in a position within the recess.

A detection system for detecting failure in a primary load path of a flight control actuator and annunciating engagement in a secondary load path of the flight control actuator. The failure in the primary load path causes axial movement in a secondary rod of the secondary load path. The detection system includes a secondary mounting assembly that guides axial movement of the secondary rod; and a sensor that electronically detects relative axial displacement between the secondary rod and the secondary mounting assembly upon a primary load path failure and annunciates transition to engagement in the secondary load path.