Patents by Inventor Charles Paul Nappen
Charles Paul Nappen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 9557371Abstract: In one aspect, a cradle system for supporting a load, the cradle system comprising a first arm with a first carriage assembly axially adjustable therealong and a second arm, opposite the first arm, with a second carriage assembly axially adjustable therealong. An actuator is associated with the first and second carriage assemblies and configured such that actuation of the actuator causes the first and second carriage assemblies to move axially in opposite directions. In another aspect, a cable support system comprising a support column and one or more tethers supported by the support column and configurable so that at least one tether is configured to move its supported cable in the same or opposite direction as the test head moves at a rate that is a constant multiplied by the test heads rate of motion where the constant may be greater than, equal to, or less than one.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: inTEST CorporationInventors: Hermann Josef Weissacher, Benoit Jean Michel Goeuriot, Wei Guan, Christopher L. West, Charles Paul Nappen
-
Patent number: 9347804Abstract: A test head manipulator system comprising a base structure, a main arm unit configured to support a test head and to be moved relative to the base structure, an actuator having a range of motion of L, and an enhancement mechanism positioned between the main arm unit and the actuator and configured such that movement of the actuator a first distance causes the main arm unit to move a second distance that is greater than the first distance. Additionally, a fluid control system for controlling a test head manipulator system. The pneumatic control system includes a regulator configured to controllably provide an output pressure to the main fluid actuator, and a second fluidly controlled actuator configured to adjust the regulator to modify the output pressure provided to the main fluid actuator. The second actuator is configured to be positively positioned in at least four operating modes with each operating mode causing the regulator to provide a different output pressure to the main fluid actuator.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: inTEST CorporationInventors: Herman Josef Weissacher, Wei Guan, Christopher L. West, Charles Paul Nappen, Steven J. Crowell
-
Patent number: 8981807Abstract: A system for positioning a load including a support column, a drive rail unit coupled to the support column, the drive rail unit moveable relative to the support column, a vertical carriage moveable along the support column, wherein the vertical carriage supports the load, an engagement member which engages the drive rail and which moves along the drive rail, and a motor which applies force to the engagement member, causing the engagement member to move along the drive rail. The motor is coupled to the vertical carriage so that, as the motor applies force to the engagement member, the vertical carriage moves relative to the drive rail unit, the vertical carriage is also moveable with the drive rail unit so that the vertical carriage and the drive rail unit move relative to the support column. A method of positioning a load is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2011Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: inTEST CorporationInventors: Christopher Leonard West, Charles Paul Nappen
-
Publication number: 20140301817Abstract: In one aspect, a cradle system for supporting a load, the cradle system comprising a first arm with a first carriage assembly axially adjustable therealong and a second arm, opposite the first arm, with a second carriage assembly axially adjustable therealong. An actuator is associated with the first and second carriage assemblies and configured such that actuation of the actuator causes the first and second carriage assemblies to move axially in opposite directions. In another aspect, a cable support system comprising a support column and one or more tethers supported by the support column and configurable so that at least one tether is configured to move its supported cable in the same or opposite direction as the test head moves at a rate that is a constant multiplied by the test heads rate of motion where the constant may be greater than, equal to, or less than one.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: Hermann Josef WEISSACHER, Benoit Jean Michel GOEURIOT, Wei GUAN, Christopher L. WEST, Charles Paul NAPPEN
-
Publication number: 20140202269Abstract: A test head manipulator system comprising a base structure, a main arm unit configured to support a test head and to be moved relative to the base structure, an actuator having a range of motion of L, and an enhancement mechanism positioned between the main arm unit and the actuator and configured such that movement of the actuator a first distance causes the main arm unit to move a second distance that is greater than the first distance. Additionally, a fluid control system for controlling a test head manipulator system. The pneumatic control system includes a regulator configured to controllably provide an output pressure to the main fluid actuator, and a second fluidly controlled actuator configured to adjust the regulator to modify the output pressure provided to the main fluid actuator. The second actuator is configured to be positively positioned in at least four operating modes with each operating mode causing the regulator to provide a different output pressure to the main fluid actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2013Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: INTEST CORPORATIONInventors: Hermann Josef WEISSACHER, Wei GUAN, Christopher L. WEST, Charles Paul NAPPEN, Steven J. CROWELL
-
Patent number: 8763962Abstract: In one aspect, a cradle system for supporting a load, the cradle system comprising a first arm with a first carriage assembly axially adjustable therealong and a second arm, opposite the first arm, with a second carriage assembly axially adjustable therealong. An actuator is associated with the first and second carriage assemblies and configured such that actuation of the actuator causes the first and second carriage assemblies to move axially in opposite directions. In another aspect, a cable support system comprising a support column and one or more tethers supported by the support column and configurable so that at least one tether is configured to move its supported cable in the same or opposite direction as the test head moves at a rate that is a constant multiplied by the test heads rate of motion where the constant may be greater than, equal to, or less than one.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2008Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: inTEST CorporationInventors: Hermann Josef Weissacher, Benoit Jean Michel Goeuriot, Wei Guan, Christopher L. West, Charles Paul Nappen
-
Patent number: 8618822Abstract: A test head manipulator system comprising a base structure, a main arm unit configured to support a test head and to be moved relative to the base structure, an actuator having a range of motion of L, and an enhancement mechanism positioned between the main arm unit and the actuator and configured such that movement of the actuator a first distance causes the main arm unit to move a second distance that is greater than the first distance. Additionally, a fluid control system for controlling a test head manipulator system. The pneumatic control system includes a regulator configured to controllably provide an output pressure to the main fluid actuator, and a second fluidly controlled actuator configured to adjust the regulator to modify the output pressure provided to the main fluid actuator. The second actuator is configured to be positively positioned in at least four operating modes with each operating mode causing the regulator to provide a different output pressure to the main fluid actuator.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2008Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: inTEST CorporationInventors: Hermann Josef Weissacher, Wei Guan, Christopher L. West, Charles Paul Nappen, Steven J. Crowell
-
Publication number: 20120048656Abstract: A system for positioning a load including a support column, a drive rail unit coupled to the support column, the drive rail unit moveable relative to the support column, a vertical carriage moveable along the support column, wherein the vertical carriage supports the load, an engagement member which engages the drive rail and which moves along the drive rail, and a motor which applies force to the engagement member, causing the engagement member to move along the drive rail. The motor is coupled to the vertical carriage so that, as the motor applies force to the engagement member, the vertical carriage moves relative to the drive rail unit, the vertical carriage is also moveable with the drive rail unit so that the vertical carriage and the drive rail unit move relative to the support column. A method of positioning a load is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: inTEST CORPORATIONInventors: CHRISTOPHER LEONARD WEST, CHARLES PAUL NAPPEN
-
Publication number: 20110174098Abstract: In one aspect, a cradle system for supporting a load, the cradle system comprising a first arm with a first carriage assembly axially adjustable therealong and a second arm, opposite the first arm, with a second carriage assembly axially adjustable therealong. An actuator is associated with the first and second carriage assemblies and configured such that actuation of the actuator causes the first and second carriage assemblies to move axially in opposite directions. In another aspect, a cable support system comprising a support column and one or more tethers supported by the support column and configurable so that at least one tether is configured to move its supported cable in the same or opposite direction as the test head moves at a rate that is a constant multiplied by the test heads rate of motion where the constant may be greater than, equal to, or less than one.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2008Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: inTEST CorporationInventors: Hermann Josef Weissacher, Benoit Jean Michel Goeuriot, Wei Guan, Christopher L. West, Charles Paul Nappen
-
Publication number: 20110057674Abstract: A test head manipulator system comprising a base structure, a main arm unit configured to support a test head and to be moved relative to the base structure, an actuator having a range of motion of L, and an enhancement mechanism positioned between the main arm unit and the actuator and configured such that movement of the actuator a first distance causes the main arm unit to move a second distance that is greater than the first distance. Additionally, a fluid control system for controlling a test head manipulator system. The pneumatic control system includes a regulator configured to controllably provide an output pressure to the main fluid actuator, and a second fluidly controlled actuator configured to adjust the regulator to modify the output pressure provided to the main fluid actuator. The second actuator is configured to be positively positioned in at least four operating modes with each operating mode causing the regulator to provide a different output pressure to the main fluid actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2008Publication date: March 10, 2011Applicant: inTEST CorporationInventors: Hermann Josef Weissacher, Wei Guan, Christopher L. West, Charles Paul Nappen, Steven J. Crowell