Linear actuator assembly

Abstract

A linear actuator assembly having a cylinder body and an actuator rod slideably disposed in the cylinder body. The actuator rod has a forward end portion exterior of the cylinder body. An end plug is connected the cylinder body and closes an end portion of the cylinder body. A first retaining member is coupled to the actuator rod and is connectable to a first mounting portion to allow the actuator rod to pivot. A second retaining member removably engages the end plug and the rear end portion of the cylinder body. The second retaining member is connectable to the second mounting portion to allow the cylinder body to pivot about the second retaining member relative to the second mounting portion. The second retaining member retains the end plug within the rear end portion of the cylinder. The end plug can be removed from the cylinder body upon disengagement of the second retaining member from the end plug.

1 . A linear actuator assembly connectable to first and second mounting portions, the first mounting portion being moveable relative to the second mounting portion, comprising:
 a cylinder body having an interior area and a rear end portion positionable adjacent to the second mounting portion;   an actuator rod slideably disposed in the cylinder body, the actuator rod having a forward end portion exterior of the cylinder body and positionable adjacent to the first mounting portion;   an end plug positioned at least partially within the rear end portion of the cylinder body, the end plug closing the rear end portion of the cylinder body;   a first retaining member coupled to the forward end portion of the actuator rod and being connectable to the first mounting portion to allow the actuator rod to pivot about the first retaining member relative to the first mounting portion; and   a second retaining member removably engaging the end plug and the rear end portion of the cylinder body, the second retaining member being connectable to the second mounting portion to allow the cylinder body to pivot about the second retaining member relative to the second mounting portion, and the second retaining member retaining the end plug within the rear end portion of the cylinder, wherein the end plug can be slideably removed from the cylinder body upon disengagement of the second retaining member from the end plug.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second retaining member extends through the end plug and the rear end portion of the cylinder body. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second retaining member is a mounting pin extending through the end plug and the rear end portion of the cylinder body. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein connection of the first retaining member to the first mounting portion and connection of the second retaining member to the second mounting portion hold the actuator rod and cylinder body together and prevent the actuator rod from sliding axially out of the cylinder. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the actuator rod is restricted from separating from the cylinder body when the first retaining member is connected to the first mounting portion and when the second retaining member is connected to the second mounting portion, and the actuator rod being free to slide out of the cylinder body when the first retaining member is disconnected from the first mounting portion and when the second retaining member is disconnected from the second mounting portion. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprises a self-aligning coupler pivotally connected to the forward end portion of the actuator rod and being pivotably moveable relative to the actuator rod in a plurality of planes, the first retaining member engaging the self-aligning coupler. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprises a self-aligning coupler pivotably connected to the forward end portion of the actuator rod and being moveable relative to the forward end portion of the actuator rod in a plurality of planes, and the first retaining member is connected to the self-aligning coupler. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the end plug has an aperture therein defined by an interior surface of the end plug, the second retaining member being removably positioned in the aperture, at least one of the second retaining member and the interior surface having a lubricious coating that provides a lubricious interface between the retaining member and the interior surface of the end plug. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the end plug has an aperture therein defined by an interior surface of the of the end plug, the second retaining member being removably positioned in the aperture, at least one of the second retaining member and the interior surface being impregnated with a lubricious coating that provides a lubricious interface between the second retaining member and the interior surface of the end plug. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first retaining member is a mounting pin extending through the forward end portion of the actuator rod. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the forward end of the actuator rod has an aperture therein defined by an interior surface, the first retaining member being removably positioned in the aperture, at least one of the first retaining member and the interior surface having a lubricious coating that provides a lubricious interface between the first retaining member and the interior surface of the actuator rod. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the forward end of the actuator rod has an aperture therein defined by an interior surface, the first retaining member being removably positioned in the aperture, at least one of the first retaining member and the interior surface being impregnated with a lubricious coating that provides a lubricious interface between the first retaining member and the interior surface of the end plug. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first retaining member and the first mounting portion has a lubricious coating that provides a lubricious interface therebetween. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the end plug contains a plurality of control valves operable to control movement of the actuator rod relative to the cylinder body. 
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cylinder body has an exterior surface, and further comprising an external shaft seal assembly connect to an exterior surface of the cylinder body and sealably engaging the actuator rod. 
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a formed-in-place seal engaging the end plug and the cylinder body. 
   
   
       17 . A linear actuator assembly connectable to first and second mounting portions, the first mounting portion being moveable relative to the second mounting portion, comprising:
 a cylinder body having an interior area and a rear end portion positionable adjacent to the second mounting portion;   an actuator rod moveably disposed in the cylinder body, the actuator rod having a forward end portion exterior of the cylinder body and positionable adjacent to the first mounting portion;   an end plug connected to the rear end portion of the cylinder body, the end plug having a weldless interface with the cylinder body and closing the rear end portion of the cylinder body;   a first retaining member coupled to the forward end portion of the actuator rod and being connectable to the first mounting portion to allow the actuator rod to pivot about the first retaining member relative to the first mounting portion; and   a second retaining member removably engaging the end plug and being connectable to the second mounting portion to allow the cylinder body to pivot about the second retaining member relative to the second mounting portion, wherein the end plug can be removed from the cylinder body.   
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the second retaining member extends through the end plug and the rear end portion of the cylinder body. 
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the second retaining member is a mounting pin extending through the end plug and the rear end portion of the cylinder body. 
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the end plug is at least partially within the rear end portion of the cylinder. 
   
   
       21 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the end plug directly engages the inside surface of the cylinder. 
   
   
       22 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein connection of the first retaining member to the first mounting portion and connection of the second retaining member to the second mounting portion hold the actuator rod and cylinder body together and prevent the actuator rod from sliding axially out of the cylinder. 
   
   
       23 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the actuator rod is restricted from separating from the cylinder body when the first retaining member is connected to the first mounting portion and when the second retaining member is connected to the second mounting portion, and the actuator rod being free to slide out of the cylinder body when the first retaining member is disconnected from the first mounting portion and when the second retaining member is disconnected from the second mounting portion. 
   
   
       24 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the end plug has an aperture therein defined by an interior surface of the of the end plug, the second retaining member being removably positioned in the aperture, at least one of the second retaining member and the interior surface having a lubricious coating that provides a lubricious interface between the retaining member and the interior surface of the end plug. 
   
   
       25 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the end plug includes a plurality of control valves operable to control movement of the actuator rod relative to the cylinder body. 
   
   
       26 . An articulatable assembly, comprising:
 first and second members articulatable relative to each other, the first member having a first mounting portion and the second member having a second mounting portion; and   an actuator assembly connected to the first and second members, the actuator assembly comprising:
 a cylinder body having an interior area; 
 a shaft disposed in the cylinder body, the shaft having a free end portion exterior of the cylinder body; 
 an end plug removably connected to the cylinder body and closing a portion of the interior area; 
 a first retaining member coupled to the free end portion of the shaft and connected to the first mounting portion and configured to allow the shaft to pivot relative to the first mounting portion about a longitudinal axis of the first retaining member; and 
 a second retaining member removably retaining the end plug in the portion of the cylinder body, the second retaining member being connected to the second mounting portion and configured to allow the cylinder body to pivot relative to the second mounting portion about a longitudinal axis of the second retaining member, wherein the end plug can be removed from the portion of the cylinder body upon disengaging the second retaining member from the end plug. 
   
   
   
       27 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the second retaining member extends through the end plug and the portion of the cylinder body. 
   
   
       28 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the end plug has a first aperture and the cylinder body has a second aperture coaxially aligned with the first aperture when the end plug is in the portion of the cylinder body, and the second retaining member extends through the first and second apertures to releasably lock the end plug in the portion of the cylinder body. 
   
   
       29 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the second retaining member is a mounting pin extending through the end plug and through the portion of the cylinder body. 
   
   
       30 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein a connection of the first retaining member to the first mounting portion and a connection of the second retaining member to the second mounting portion hold the shaft and cylinder body together and prevent the shaft from sliding axially out of the cylinder. 
   
   
       31 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the shaft is restricted from separating from the cylinder body when the first retaining member is connected to the first mounting portion and when the second retaining member is connected to the second mounting portion, and the shaft being separable from the cylinder body when the first retaining member is disconnected from the first mounting portion or when the second retaining member is disconnected from the second mounting portion. 
   
   
       32 . The assembly of  claim 26 , further comprises a self-aligning coupler pivotally connected to the free end portion of the shaft and being pivotably moveable relative to the shaft in a plurality of planes. 
   
   
       33 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the end plug has an aperture therein defined by an interior surface of the of the end plug, the second retaining member being removably positioned in the aperture, at least one of the second retaining member and the interior surface having a lubricious coating that provides a lubricious interface between the retaining member and the interior surface. 
   
   
       34 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the first retaining member is a mounting pin extending through the free end portion of the shaft. 
   
   
       35 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the free end of the shaft has an aperture therein defined by an interior surface, the first retaining member being removably positioned in the aperture, at least one of the first retaining member and the interior surface having a lubricious coating that provides a lubricious interface between the first retaining member and the interior surface. 
   
   
       36 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the end plug contains a plurality of control valves operable to control movement of the shaft relative to the cylinder body. 
   
   
       37 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the end plug contains a plurality of control valves operable to control movement of the shaft relative to the cylinder body, the end plug and the control valves are removable from the cylinder body as a unit. 
   
   
       38 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the cylinder body has an exterior surface, and further comprising an external shaft seal assembly connect to an exterior surface of the cylinder body and sealably engaging the shaft. 
   
   
       39 . The assembly of  claim 26 , further comprising a formed-in-place seal engaging the end plug and the cylinder body. 
   
   
       40 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body;   first and second members coupled to the vehicle body and being articulatable relative to each other, the first member having a first mounting portion and the second member having a second mounting portion; and   an actuator assembly connected to the first and second members, the actuator assembly comprising:
 a cylinder body having an interior area; 
 a shaft disposed in the cylinder body, the shaft having a free end portion exterior of the cylinder body; 
 an end plug removably connected to the cylinder body and closing a portion of the interior area; 
 a first retaining member coupled to the free end portion of the shaft and connected to the first mounting portion and configured to allow the shaft to pivot relative to the first mounting portion about a longitudinal axis of the first retaining member; and 
 a second retaining member removably retaining the end plug in the portion of the cylinder body, the second retaining member being connected to the second mounting portion and configured to allow the cylinder body to pivot relative to the second mounting portion about a longitudinal axis of the second retaining member, wherein the end plug can be removed from the portion of the cylinder body upon disengaging the second retaining member from the end plug.