LINEAR DUAL ACTUATOR

Abstract

Linear dual actuator for lying or sitting furniture having at least two sections (2,3), which with one end is rotatably embedded in the article of furniture and where each section (2,3) with an arm (5,7) secured to a pivot shaft (4,6) can be adjusted. The dual actuator comprises a housing (8) with a recess (10) in each end for each of the pivot shafts (4,6) on the article of furniture and where the arms (5,7) on the pivot shafts (4,6) after the dual actuator has been mounted on the article of furniture reach into the housing (8). Each end of the housing is furnished with a drive comprising an electric motor (11), which through a transmission (12) drives a spindle (13a) with a thrust element (18) having one end in engagement with the arm (5,7) for 'adjusting the sections (2,3). The electric motors (11) are located axis-aligned with the respective spindles (13a). Thus, the housing (8) can be constructed as a flat box with a relatively low height, as the only thing which should be considered in terms of the height is the thickness of the electric motors and not their length. As the housing (8) can be constructed as a flat box without bulges and indentations the mould is thus also relatively uncomplicated.

Claims

1. A linear dual actuator dedicated for lying or sitting furniture of the type comprising at least one section (2,3), which with one end is rotatably embedded around an axis in the article of furniture, and where the section (2,3) can be adjusted by means of a pivot shaft (4,6) directly or indirectly connected to the section (2,3), and where an arm (5,7) is secured to the pivot shaft (4,6) by which the pivot shaft (4,6) is brought to rotate and thus adjust the section (2,3), said dual actuator comprises a housing (8) with a recess (10) in each end for each of the pivot shafts (4,6) on the article of furniture, and where the arms (5,7) on the pivot shafts (4,6), after the dual actuator has been mounted, reach into the housing (8), and where each end of the housing (8) is furnished with a drive comprising an electric motor (11) a transmission (12) in driving connection with the electric motor (11), a spindle unit (13) in driving connection with the transmission (12), which spindle unit (13) comprises a spindle (13a) and a spindle nut (13c) as well as a thrust element (18) in connection with the spindle unit (13), and where the thrust element (18) is guided in the housing (8) secured against rotation, and which can be brought into engagement with the arm (5,7) for adjusting the section (2,3), wherein the electric motors (11) are located inside the housing parallel with the respective spindles (13a).

2. The linear dual actuator according to claim 1, wherein the electric motors (11) are located at a level above the spindles (13a).

3. The linear dual actuator according to claim 1, wherein the transmission (12) in at least one of the drives comprises a worm gear (15) with a first worm (15a) arranged in continuation of the motor shaft, and a first worm wheel (15b) located horizontally on an upper end of a first shaft (16), which extends down to the spindle (13a), as well as a second worm gear (17) with a second worm (17a) on the other end of the shaft (16) and a second worm wheel (17b) on the spindle (13a), where the second worm (17a) is in engagement with the second worm wheel (17b).

4. The linear dual actuator according to claim 3, wherein both drives comprises a transmission.

5. The linear dual actuator according to claim 3, wherein the transmission comprises a second shaft (16a) with a third worm wheel (15b′) in engagement with the first worm opposite the first worm wheel (15a) and a third worm (17a′) in engagement with the second worm wheel (17b) opposite the second worm (17a).

6. The linear dual actuator according to claim 3, wherein the worm (15a), designed as an extension of the motor shaft, with a front end is guided in a recess designed as a plain bearing (8b) in a transversal wall (8a) in the housing.

7. The linear dual actuator according to claim 4, wherein the worm wheel (15b) in engagement with the worm (15a) in connection with the motor shaft and the worm (17a) in engagement with the worm wheel (17b) on the spindle (13a), is provided in opposite ends of a length of pipe and that the shaft (16) runs axially 5 through the worm wheel (15b), the length of pipe and the worm (17a).

8. An article of lying and/or sitting furniture comprising at least one section (2,3), which with one end is rotatably embedded around an axis in the article of furniture, and where the section (2,3) can be adjusted by means of a pivot shaft (4,6) directly or indirectly connected to the section (2,3), and where an arm (5,7) is secured to the pivot shaft (4,6) by which the pivot shaft (4,6) can be brought to rotate and thus adjust the section (2,3), and a linear dual actuator according to claim 1 mounted on the pivot shafts (4,6) such that the arm (5,7) on the pivot shaft (4,6) is in or can be brought into engagement with the thrust element (18) in the dual actuator.

9. An article of lying and/or sitting furniture according to claim 8, includes two adjustable sections (2,3), where each section (2,3) with one end is rotatably embedded around an axis in the article of furniture, and where each section (2,3) can be adjusted by means of the respective pivot shaft (4,6) directly or indirectly connected to the section (2,3), and where an arm (5,7) is secured to each pivot shaft (4,6) by which the pivot shaft (4,6) can be brought to rotate and thus adjust the respective sections (2,3).

Description

[0011] FIG. 1, a slatted frame shown with raised back and leg rest section,

[0012] FIG. 2, a dual actuator seen directly from the side,

[0013] FIG. 3, a longitudinal section through the dual actuator,

[0014] FIG. 4, a drive for the leg rest section and a portion of the transversal shaft of this with the arm,

[0015] FIG. 5, a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of the dual actuator according to the invention.

[0016] FIG. 6 an enlarged cross section on the part of the actuator, which operates the leg rest section of the slatted frame, and

[0017] FIG. 7 an outline of a further development of the transmission shown in FIG. 3-6.

[0018] The slatted frame shown in FIG. 1 comprises a frame 1 in which a back rest section 2 and an articulated leg rest section 3 are rotatably embedded around an axis. For the back rest section 2 a transversal shaft 4 is embedded in the frame, on which shaft an arm 5 is secured. On each end of the shaft a rod connected to the back rest section is mounted, which with the end towards the middle of the frame 1 is rotatably embedded in this. In a corresponding manner there is a transversal shaft 6 with an arm 7 for the leg rest section 3, which likewise with the end towards the middle of the frame 1 is rotatably embedded in this. Correspondingly, a rod on the ends of the shaft 6 is connected to the leg rest section 3.

[0019] The movement of the back rest and leg rest section 2,3 is caused by a dual actuator as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The dual actuator comprises a housing 8 with a drive and an opening cover at each end. With reference to the end of the dual actuator which operates the leg rest section, the cover 9 gives access to a recess 10 in the side walls of the housing for the transversal shaft 6 for the leg rest section 3. As mentioned, a drive comprising an electric motor 11 is located in connection with the recess 10. Through a transmission 12 this electric motor drives a spindle unit 13 comprising a spindle 13a, which with a shaft end 13b is embedded with a ball bearing 14 in the housing, just as the spindle unit comprises a spindle nut 13c. As it appears the electric motor 11 is located horizontally at a level over and parallel with the spindle 13a. The transmission 12 comprises a first worm gear 15, where the worm 15a is provided in continuation of the motor shaft. The worm 15a is with its front end guided in a recess designed as a plain bearing 8b in a transversal wall 8a in the housing. The worm 15a is in engagement with a worm wheel 15b located next to the worm 15a. This worm wheel 15b is mounted on a vertical shaft 16 embedded in the housing. The transmission further comprises a second worm gear 17, where the worm 17a is mounted in the opposite end of the shaft 16 as the worm wheel 15b. The worm 17a is in engagement with a worm wheel 17b, mounted on a shaft end 13b of the spindle 13a. The worm wheel 15b and the worm 17a are with an intermediate length of pipe cast as one unit with the shaft 16 as a through-going steel shaft, which strengthens the unit. A thrust element 18 is arranged on the spindle 13a. The thrust element 18 has a longitudinal channel 19 for receiving the spindle 13a and in the channel the spindle nut 13c is provided. The thrust element 18, which has a square cross section is guided in a guideway 20 in the housing 8 and is thus secured against rotation. When the spindle 13a is rotated the thrust element 18 thus moves back and forth depending on the direction of rotation of the spindle. The front end 18a of the thrust element 18 is designed as a contact surface for the arm 7 on the shaft 4 of the leg rest section 3. With the end 7a the arm 7 loosely engages the end 18a of the thrust element 18. When the thrust element 18 is moved towards the end of the housing the front end 18a of this pushes against the arm 7 on the shaft 6 such that the leg rest section 3 is raised. Correspondingly, when the thrust element 18 is rotated towards the middle of the housing the leg rest section 3 will be lowered as the load from the leg rest section 3 will press the end of the arm 7a against the front end 18a of the thrust element 18.

[0020] The drive and the end of the housing in the other end of the dual actuator are constructed in a corresponding manner and operate the back rest section.

[0021] The actuator is mounted on the slatted frame by pulling the covers 9 outwards and leading the actuator up until the shafts 4,6 rest in the recesses 10 and the arms 5,7 on the shafts reach down in front of the thrust elements 18. The covers 9 are closed again, by which the actuator is suspended on the shafts 4,6.

[0022] The dual actuator shown in FIGS. 5-6 of the drawing solely differs from the dual actuator described above by the inverse function of the spindle unit 13, i.e. in that the spindle nut 13c is arranged in the worm wheel 17b and that this worm wheel 17b with a ball bearing 14 is embedded in the housing 8. The thrust element 18 is secured to the end of the spindle, which faces towards the arm 7 on the pivot shaft 4 of the leg rest section 3. When the spindle nut 13c is rotated the spindle 13a with the thrust element 18 will be displaced axially in one or the other direction depending on the direction of rotation of the spindle nut 13c. In the drawing the same reference numerals are used for the same components as above.

[0023] FIG. 7 of the drawing shows a further development of the transmission between motor and the spindle. This further development consists therein that located symmetrically to the shaft 16 with the worm wheel 15b and the worm 17a is a further second shaft 16′ with a worm wheel 15b′ in engagement with the worm 15a on the motor shaft and a further worm 17a′ in engagement with the worm wheel 17b at the end of the spindle 13. As the worm 15a on the motor shaft is in engagement with two diametrically located worm wheels 15b,15b′ located opposite each other, considerably larger forces can be transferred, partly because there are two worm wheels and partly because the worm is stabilized between the two worm wheels. Correspondingly, the worm wheel 17b on the end of the spindle is in engagement with two worms 17a,17a′ located opposite each other and is thus also able to transfer large forces. All things considered a strong and stable construction.

[0024] It is noted that in the construction of the slatted frame shown in FIG. 1 the back rest section 2 and the leg rest section 3 are indirectly connected to the respective pivot shafts 4,6. It is however understood that the respective pivot shafts can constitute the axis around which the back rest section and the leg rest section 3, respectively can rotate. The invention thus provides a dual actuator with a box-shaped housing, the height and shape of which is not dictated by the size of the electric motors.