Patent attributes
An actuator, preferably a linear actuator for furniture, comprises a brake spring (20) in the form of a helical spring having a plurality of windings wound around a cylindrical element (10) of plastics rotatable at least during braking, said spring being tightened around the cylindrical element for braking. The frictional heat generated hereby can cause the plastics to be deformed, which adversely affects the braking power. This is solved by providing the cylindrical element (10) consisting of plastics with an insert (12) of metal for carrying off the frictional heat preferably into other metal parts of the actuator that may serve as cooling faces. To carry off heat additionally, it is proposed to arrange a second heat-conducting element (18) in intimate contact with the outer side of the spring (20), said element being likewise connected with other metal parts of the actuator that may serve as cooling faces.