Vibration type actuator

Details Vibration type actuator Vibration type actuator

2001-05-25

2004-04-13

Ramirez, Nestor (Department: 2834)

Electrical generator or motor structure

Non-dynamoelectric

Piezoelectric elements and devices

C310S323010, C310S323020, C310S325000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06720707

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vibration wave (type) driving apparatus having an output shaft.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, several types of vibration motors are known as vibration wave driving apparatus having an output shaft. For example, as shown in
FIG. 11
, there is a known motor as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-38170.
This motor has a vibration member
140
constructed in such structure that piezoelectric elements
142
and
144
are placed between metal blocks
150
and
152
as elastic members of hollow cylinder shape and that the two metal blocks are coupled by a coupling bolt
154
of cylindrical shape placed on the inner periphery side of these metal blocks
150
,
152
.
On the other hand, a motor housing (outer case) has a case body
170
and a lid
171
arranged at an opening end of the case body and provided with a motor support
171
a
of cylindrical shape located in a motor center region. This motor support
171
a
constitutes a motor supporting portion and a bearing
172
is placed on the motor support
171
a
and journals an output shaft
134
. Further, a collar
175
of ring shape provided on a cylinder bore portion of the coupling bolt
152
is fixed to the motor support
171
a
to support the vibration member
140
.
A rotating body (rotor portion)
130
as a contact body is placed on one side of the vibration member
140
. This rotor portion
130
keeps a rotor body
132
of disc shape in press contact with an end face of the metal block
152
by spring force of spring
133
. The spring
133
is placed between rotor body
132
and support plate
136
and the rotor body
132
is coupled to the output shaft
134
.
In the above prior art example, however, since the bearing
172
is positioned by inserting it from one end of the motor support
171
a
of the lid
171
making the case, it is necessary to fix the bearing to the case by bonding or the like, in order to avoid slipping-off of the vibration member.
Accordingly, the vibration wave driving apparatus seems susceptible to further improvement in structure toward simpler fixing of the bearing for the output shaft and higher reliability without use of bonding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of this invention is a vibration wave driving apparatus in which a bearing member journaling an output shaft is provided so as to be located between an inner periphery portion of an elastic member with a shaft center portion thereof being formed in hollow shape along an axial direction and a fastening member fastening this elastic member to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, wherein the shaft center of the elastic member is determined by the output shaft journaled on the bearing member and wherein the bearing member is interposed between the elastic member and the fastening member, whereby the bearing member can be fixed more easily and surely without use of an adhesive or the like.
Another aspect of this invention is a vibration wave driving apparatus in which a bearing member journaling an output shaft is provided on an inner periphery portion of an elastic member with a shaft center portion being formed in hollow shape along an axial direction and near a distal end of a fastening member fastening the elastic member to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, wherein the shaft center of the elastic member is determined by the output shaft journaled on the bearing member, whereby the fixing of the bearing member becomes much easier and higher in reliability.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3885172 (1975-05-01), Miller
patent: 5122700 (1992-06-01), Tamai et al.
patent: 5124611 (1992-06-01), Tamai et al.
patent: 5231325 (1993-07-01), Tamai et al.
patent: 5319278 (1994-06-01), Myohga et al.
patent: 5506462 (1996-04-01), Tamai et al.
patent: 5574326 (1996-11-01), Chiba et al.
patent: 5594291 (1997-01-01), Tamai et al.
patent: 5600196 (1997-02-01), Tamai
patent: 5684353 (1997-11-01), Fujimoto et al.
patent: 5739623 (1998-04-01), Kanazawa et al.
patent: 5760529 (1998-06-01), Tamai et al.
patent: 5949178 (1999-09-01), Tamai et al.
patent: 6037702 (2000-03-01), Tamai
patent: 6084335 (2000-07-01), Tamai
patent: 6107724 (2000-08-01), Tamai et al.
patent: 6107725 (2000-08-01), Tamai
patent: 6140741 (2000-10-01), Tamai et al.
patent: 6150749 (2000-11-01), Tamai et al.
patent: 3-11981 (1991-01-01), None
patent: 5-38170 (1993-02-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Vibration type actuator does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Vibration type actuator, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vibration type actuator will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3220750