An actuator includes a housing, a first nut in the housing, a second nut in the housing, and a threaded spindle screwed into the first nut and the second nut. The first nut exerts a first force in a first direction on the threaded spindle, and the second nut exerts a second force in a second direction on the threaded spindle, the first direction being different than the second direction.

A blind riveting apparatus (1) comprises a motor (3), and a clamp (31) for gripping the mandrel of a blind rivet, the clamp being movable substantially along the axis of the rivet. The apparatus further comprises a first transmission (51) configured to transfer rotary motion of the motor (3) to the clamp (31) when engaged; and a second transmission (52) configured to convert rotary motion of the motor (3) to linear motion of the clamp (31), and thereby retract the clamp (31) to pull on the mandrel, when engaged. A transmission control apparatus is arranged to selectively adjust the degree of engagement of at least one of the first (51) and second (52) transmissions, the transmission control apparatus comprising a variable-influence brake or clutch (58). Methods of blind riveting, and further pieces of blind riveting apparatus, are also disclosed.

An actuator with a planetary screw drive (PSD), in particular to operate a clutch of a vehicle, wherein a centric spindle having a pitch is connected non-rotatingly to a rotor of a drive and is drivable by the drive around an axis of rotation, and a plurality of planetary rollers are engaged with the spindle and mesh with a ring gear encircling the planetary rollers which has grooves in the circumferential direction, wherein both ends of the planetary rollers are positioned in a planetary roller carrier. The planetary roller carriers are supported non-rotatingly on both ends in such a way that a fixed assignment of the pitch of the spindle to an axial travel of a component that is movable axially by the PSD, which is operatively connected to an axially actuatable piston, is realized.

An actuator having a planetary screw drive (PSD), in particular for the operation of a clutch of a motor vehicle, wherein a plurality of planetary rollers which mesh with a ring gear that encircles the planetary rollers are in contact with a spindle, where the planetary rollers are positioned at both ends in a planetary roller carrier and the planet carriers are supported non-rotatingly in a sleeve that encircles the ring gear and points radially inward at both ends, wherein the sleeve and the planetary carriers supported in it are axially fixed and connected non-rotatingly to a rotor of a drive and are drivable around an axis of rotation, the spindle is supported non-rotatingly and the spindle performs an axial stroke when the rotor and the planetary carriers supported in the sleeve rotate, is provided.

A load sensor used in an electromechanical brake system is provided. The load sensor includes a flange member capable of deflecting when receiving, at a load receiving portion, a load from the axially front side; a support member capable of supporting the flange member from the axially rear side, at a support portion displaced from the load receiving portion in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction; a displacement detecting mechanism configured to detect the amount of relative movement between the flange and support members; and a variable detection sensitivity mechanism enabling the relative movement amount with respect to the change of the load applied to the flange member to be larger in a low load range in which the load is equal to or lower than a predetermined load value than in a high load range in which the load is higher than the predetermined load value.

A spot-joining apparatus comprises a motor, a punch for driving a fastener or performing a clinching or friction stir spot welding operation, a first transmission, a second transmission and a transmission control apparatus. The first transmission is configured to transfer rotary motion of the motor to the punch when engaged. The second transmission is configured to convert rotary motion of the motor to linear motion of the punch, and thereby drive the punch towards a workpiece, when engaged. The transmission control apparatus is arranged to selectively adjust the degree of engagement of at least one of the first and second transmissions. Further apparatus for spot joining, and methods of spot-joining, are also disclosed.

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.

A linear actuator comprises a roller screw mechanism guided in rotation with respect to a structure by two angular-contact ball bearings, the roller screw mechanism comprising rollers interposed between an endless screw and two tapped rings which are joined together in rotation and free in translation. Each tapped ring is secured to an inner ring of a ball bearing. The linear actuator further comprises a single preloading device capable of applying load between two outer rings of the angular-contact ball bearings respectively, thereby simultaneously allowing the loading of the roller screw mechanism and the rotational guidance of the roller screw mechanism with respect to the structure.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, the overall size reduction allows installation space to be advantageously secured, reduction in noise generated during operation improves the comfort of the driver, and the strength and stability of the connective structure between parts can be increased and power transmission can be more effective.

An actuator includes a housing, a first nut in the housing, a second nut in the housing, and a threaded spindle screwed into the first nut and the second nut. The first nut exerts a first force in a first direction on the threaded spindle, and the second nut exerts a second force in a second direction on the threaded spindle, the first direction being different than the second direction.