A biopsy system driver includes a motor having a rotatable output shaft, a support structure, a drive shaft, an elongate lead screw and a biopsy instrument drive member. The drive shaft is rotatably coupled to the support structure and includes or is otherwise operatively connected to the motor output shaft such that activation of the motor rotates the drive shaft. The elongate lead screw is coupled to the drive shaft such that rotation of the drive shaft rotates the lead screw about an axis of the lead screw. The lead screw is axially translatable relative to the drive shaft and to the support structure. The biopsy instrument drive member is threadably coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes axial translation of one of the lead screw and biopsy instrument drive member relative to the other one and to the support structure.

An electric actuator having a hand-screw release device, including: housing, drive motor, transmission assembly, rotary screw rod and driving nut, and further including: clutch device configured to engage or disengage power transmission between the transmission assembly and the rotary screw rod; a self-locking device configured to produce a friction resistance against the rotary screw rod when the rotary screw rod rotates reversely; and a hand-screw release device including a release rotary knob, the first driving member being connected to the clutch device, the second driving member being configured to connect the self-locking device, and the release rotary knob being turned to present an initial state and a completely released state, wherein in the course of switching from the initial state to the completely released state, the first driving member activates the clutch device to disengage the power connection, and the second driving member activates the release torsion spring to release.

Linear actuator (8) comprising a quick release (27) for disengagement of an adjustment element (23) from an electric motor (19) and the part of a transmission (20) extending from the electric motor (19) to the quick release (27), such that the spindle (21) of the linear actuator is rotated under the load on the adjustment element (23). Further, the linear actuator comprises brake means (28) connected to the spindle (21) for controlling the speed of the adjustment element (23), when the quick release (27) is activated. A coupling (34;52,53,54) connected the brake means (28) is configured to set the brake means (28) in an active state, when the coupling (34; 52,53,54) is engaged, or in an inactive state, when the coupling (34;52,53,54) is slipping or disengaged.

Linear actuator comprising an electric motor (2) which through a transmission (3) drives a spindle unit, where the spindle unit comprises at least one spindle (4) with a spindle nut (5), where the spindle (4) is equipped with a bearing (8). In connection with the spindle unit there is an adjustment element (6), typically tubular. In order to retain the adjustment element (6) in a given position when the power supply for the electric motor (2) is interrupted, a brake (11) comprising a spring (15) and a cylindrical element (12) is provided. The cylindrical element (12) has a threaded pin (12a) on which a nut (13) is arranged, and where the spring (15) is positioned around the cylindrical element (12) between one side of the nut (12) and a stop (14) on the cylindrical element (12) such that the spring (15) presses the nut (13) with its other side against a contact surface (16). The brake power is thus generated by the nut rubbing against the contact surface with its one side. It is thus an alternative brake construction having a simple construction and where the spring only exerts a compressive force. The brake power can be adjusted to the spring power, and the friction between the nut and the contact surface and finally the thread pitch on the nut.

In a ball screw apparatus, a ball train including a plurality of main balls is housed in a raceway between a ball track of a ball nut and a ball track of a ball screw shaft. A coil spring housed in the raceway includes a first end that engages with an end of the ball train and a second end supported by a stopper (a first recessed portion, a protruding portion, or the like) of the ball nut. A stopper ball having a diameter larger than the diameter of the main ball is interposed between the stopper and the second end of the coil spring.

A friction brake assembly includes a brake housing; an input coupling element; an output coupling element; and a torsion spring. The input coupling element has an axial protrusion forming a partial cylinder wall with an angular gap over a defined angular range. The output coupling element has a projection protruding into the at least one angular gap, wherein the projection has an angular width smaller than the angular gap; wherein the torsion spring is a coil spring with coil ends forming two radially inward pins protruding into the angular gap in the input coupling element between the partial cylinder wall and the projection so that the projection is between the two inward pins. The torsion spring has a diameter that expands to form a friction lock with a surrounding cylindrical wall when the projection of the output coupling element engages and moves either one of the inward pins.

A biopsy system driver includes a motor having a rotatable output shaft, a support structure, a drive shaft, an elongate lead screw and a biopsy instrument drive member. The drive shaft is rotatably coupled to the support structure and includes or is otherwise operatively connected to the motor output shaft such that activation of the motor rotates the drive shaft. The elongate lead screw is coupled to the drive shaft such that rotation of the drive shaft rotates the lead screw about an axis of the lead screw. The lead screw is axially translatable relative to the drive shaft and to the support structure. The biopsy instrument drive member is threadably coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes axial translation of one of the lead screw and biopsy instrument drive member relative to the other one and to the support structure.

In a ball screw apparatus, a ball train including a plurality of main balls is housed in a raceway between a ball track of a ball nut and a ball track of a ball screw shaft. A coil spring housed in the raceway includes a first end that engages with an end of the ball train and a second end supported by a stopper (a first recessed portion, a protruding portion, or the like) of the ball nut. A stopper ball having a diameter larger than the diameter of the main ball is interposed between the stopper and the second end of the coil spring.

An electromechanical strut and method of moving a closure member of a vehicle between an open position and a closed position is provided. The electromechanical strut includes a power drive unit including a motor, a leadscrew, a planetary gearset operably connecting the motor to the leadscrew, and an electromechanical brake assembly. The electromechanical strut further includes a telescoping unit including an extensible tube and a drive nut for converting rotary motion of the leadscrew into linear motion of the telescoping unit. The electromechanical brake assembly is selectively moveable between an engaged state, wherein the leadscrew is prevented from rotating to prevent relative axial movement between the power drive unit and the telescoping unit, and a disengaged state, wherein the leadscrew is permitted to rotate to allow relative axial movement between the power drive unit and the telescoping unit.

Linear actuator comprising an electric motor (2) which through a transmission (3) drives a spindle unit, where the spindle unit comprises at least one spindle (4) with a spindle nut (5), where the spindle (4) is equipped with a bearing (8). In connection with the spindle unit there is an adjustment element (6), typically tubular. In order to retain the adjustment element (6) in a given position when the power supply for the electric motor (2) is interrupted, a brake (11) comprising a spring (15) and a cylindrical element (12) is provided. The cylindrical element (12) has a threaded pin (12a) on which a nut (13) is arranged, and where the spring (15) is positioned around the cylindrical element (12) between one side of the nut (12) and a stop (14) on the cylindrical element (12) such that the spring (15) presses the nut (13) with its other side against a contact surface (16). The brake power is thus generated by the nut rubbing against the contact surface with its one side. It is thus an alternative brake construction having a simple construction and where the spring only exerts a compressive force. The brake power can be adjusted to the spring power, and the friction between the nut and the contact surface and finally the thread pitch on the nut.