APPLIANCE LOCK USING A MOTOR DRIVEN LINEAR ACTUATOR WITH HELICAL SPRING DRIVE
An electrical linear actuator (44) employs a reversible motor (46) driving a helical wire spring (52). The coils of the spring engage a follower (44, 46) that moves along the axis (42) of the spring with rotation of the motor (46) to provide linear motion. This actuator (44) may be used as a linear drive in an appliance lock.