A gear actuator uses a worm gear to create motion and is preferred when manual power is used or when power cannot travel backward. It can power various devices and amplify human power. The motion is unidirectional, preventing energy from traveling backward.
An actuator is any device that creates movement in a system. A gear actuator is a specific type of actuator that typically creates motion using a basic worm gear. This type of gear consists of a threaded screw and a common toothed gear. When the screw turns, it rotates the gear. This type of actuator is preferred in two circumstances: when manual power is used to operate the device or when the system cannot cause power to travel backward through the actuator.
The basis of almost all gear actuators is a worm gear. These devices are extremely simple, being a combination of two of the first simple human machines. A threaded rod, the screw, turns against a toothed gear. As the screw pushes against the gear teeth, it moves in the direction of the screw threads. The screw does not move, as one wire moves away from the gear teeth another takes its place. This rotation allows the screw to stay put but creates movement in the gear.
This spin can power almost any device with the right configuration, from turning a wheel to powering a radio. In its simplest form, the shift actuator is attached directly to an axle that turns as part of a larger machine. This turning motion is often directly transformed into usable force by moving a car or influencing an object.
A good example of a gear actuator in action is a simple car jack. When a person pumps the handle on the jack, he spins a threaded rod. The rotating rod moves a gear, which is usually around a second threaded rod. The spin gear pushes the rod up, which will lift a heavy object. This also shows the two common reasons for using a geared actuator: manual and non-inverted power.
Screws have the ability to amplify power by creating a large moving surface relative to the size of the screw. Consequently, these systems are useful for amplifying human power into a much greater force. This allows an unassisted person to do things they normally couldn’t do, such as lift a car to change a tire.
Along with power magnification, motion in a worm gear is unidirectional. The screw can turn the gear, but the gear cannot move the screw. This restriction prevents energy from traveling in either direction through the shift actuator. In the example above, the person can lift the car but the car cannot cause the jack to push the person back.
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