COMBINATION LINEAR AND ROTARY ACTUATOR

An combination linear and rotating actuator consists of a pair of compact cam plates (38, 40) with compound straight (42, 44) and semicircular (46, 48) toothed racks that engage a single circular gear (24) turned by a single motor. As the gear (24) turns in one direction, the cam plates (38, 40) are pulled toward one another in a guided straight line until they engage and lock around the gear. Continued turning of the gear rotates the locked cam plates (38, 40) with the gear (24). The motion is reversed as the gear (24) reverses.