Brian L Roth

US Patent:

7105801, Sep 12, 2006

Filed:

Apr 2, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/817080

Inventors:

Andrew Daniel Campany - Valencia CA, US
Brian John Roth - Pasadena CA, US
David Brian Welch - Santa Clarita CA, US

Assignee:

ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

G01D 5/34

US Classification:

25023113, 250233, 341 13

Abstract:

An actuator comprising a motor for rotating a shaft connected via a gear train to an output device; an interrupter vane connected to the output device and adapted to travel in a path corresponding to the movement of the output device; and at least two interrupter switches, such as opto-interrupter switches, spaced apart from one another along the path of the interrupter vane at locations corresponding to travel limits of the output device. A controller energizes the motor in response to a command signal and de-energizes the motor in response to an indication from one of the interrupter switches that the output device is at or approaching one of the travel limits. The actuator may be a rotary or linear actuator, and may be particularly well-suited for avionics applications.