Appeal No. 2004-1599
Application No. 09/784,466
APPEALED SUBJECT MATTER
Claims 1 and 21 are representative of the subject matter on
appeal and read as follows:
1. An actuator assembly comprising:
an actuator drivingly connected by a transmission path to an
output member, said actuator being operable to apply a force in a
first direction to drive said output member in the first direction
from a rest condition to an actuated condition, and also being
operable to apply a force in a second direction to drive said
output member in the second direction from said actuated condition
to said rest condition; and
an energy storing member, in which movement of said output
member by said actuator in said first direction is assisted by said
energy storing member and movement of said output member by said
actuator in said second direction stores energy in said energy
storing member.
21. A method of operating an actuator assembly having an
actuator, an output member, and an energy storing member,
comprising:
driving the actuator to apply a force in a first direction to
drive the output member in the first direction from a rest
condition to an actuated condition;
applying a stored energy force from the energy storing member
in the first direction to assist the actuator in driving the output
member in the first direction;
driving the actuator to apply a force in a second direction to
drive the output member in the second direction from the actuated
condition to the rest condition; and
storing energy in the energy storing member when the actuator
applies the force in the second direction.
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