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Article: Electric actuators. (Automotive Alert) (column)
- Article from:
- Paraplegia News
- Article date:
- December 1, 1990
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1990 Paralyzed Veterans of America. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Electric Actuators
A commonly used but misunderstood part of the the adaptive equipment found in many wheelchair vans is the electric linear actuator. This little device is often confused with a hydraulic cylinder but is actually a self-contained unit with a 12-volt direct-current motor, a gear box that transfers the motor's action to a ball-bearing worm screw, a clutch that prevents the motor from developing too much pressure against the worm gear, and a brake that holds the actuator's load at any given position in the operation cycle.
The linear actuator is used in any situation in which two points need to be extended away from or toward each ...