ELECTRICAL ACTUATOR INCORPORATING A FREE PLAY MECHANISM TO ELIMINATE FORCE FIGHTING

摘要

An actuator is described which is operable in response to one of an electrical and an electro-mechanical input signal. The actuator includes an outer casing defined about a central axis, an output shaft disposed within the casing, the output shaft being axially moveable over a stroke length. Further, the actuator also includes a drive mechanism cooperable with the output shaft to drive the output shaft along a part of the stroke length, wherein the actuator is operable such that the output shaft is drivable along all or part of the remainder of the stroke length by external loading whilst being unconstrained by the drive mechanism. The actuator enables operation in conjunction with one or more other actuators without requiring precise synchronisation of operation of the actuator with the one or more other actuators and reducing/eliminating unnecessary stresses on the actuator due to force fighting between the actuator and the one or more other actuators.