Including Operator Or Actuator Patents (Class 248/651)
  • Patent number: 11241931
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly for supplying different mixed air flows simultaneously is disclosed. The assembly includes first blend kinematics configured for allowing passage of a first air flow, second blend kinematics configured for allowing passage of a second air flow, obtaining means configured to obtain a temperature command indicating a target temperature for two different locations outside the HVAC assembly, identifying means configured to identify a pattern for the first blend kinematics and the second blend kinematics for modifying the first air flow and the second air flow based on the temperature command, and coordinating means configured to coordinate each of the first blend kinematics and the second blend kinematics simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Marshall, Darshan Parikh, Steven Hruska, Sally Dagher, Richard Sikorski
  • Patent number: 9332670
    Abstract: A system includes a floor, one or more modules, one or more pads between a base of the modules and the floor, and one or more pad compression mechanisms. The data center modules include more electrical systems coupled to the module base. The pads compress to conform to variations in the surface of the floor. The pad compression mechanisms are operable by a user to compress the pads between the modules and the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John William Eichelberg
  • Publication number: 20150108319
    Abstract: An agricultural access system is described. The system may utilize a plurality of supports, including posts, cables, beams, and so forth to displace an access component. Control systems, sensors, delivery mechanisms, and other functions may be integrated with the system or access components. Some embodiments may include multiple cells with access components configured to interact with adjacent access components. Methods of accessing an agricultural area are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: William David Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150108320
    Abstract: An agricultural access system is described. The system may utilize a plurality of supports, including posts, cables, beams, and so forth to displace an access component. Control systems, sensors, delivery mechanisms, and other functions may be integrated with the system or access components. Some embodiments may include multiple cells with access components configured to interact with adjacent access components. Methods of accessing an agricultural area are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: William David Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20130313401
    Abstract: An antenna holding device for holding test antennas includes a base, a column, a sliding block and an antenna pole. The column is mounted on the base. The sliding block is slidably attached to the column. The antenna pole is mounted to the sliding block. A shielding layer is positioned on the base for preventing electromagnetic waves from the base to be absorbed by the test antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (Shenzhen) CO., LTD
    Inventor: YONG-SHENG YANG
  • Patent number: 8246059
    Abstract: A mobile base that supports a cabinet saw is disclosed. The mobile base includes casters that support the saw when a foot pedal is depressed. The mobile base raises the saw asymmetrically to provide clearance for the legs of an extension table attached to the table of the saw. A hydraulic jack is employed to raise the saw and hold it raised while the saw is moved, and a foot-operated release lever attached to the jack lowers the saw back to the ground at an adjustable rate of descent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: SD3, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, James F. W. Wright
  • Patent number: 8220769
    Abstract: A transport system suited for transporting a turbine engine mounted to an engine docking unit is provided. The transport system is capable of adjusting the attitude of the docking unit in at least the lateral and longitudinal directions relative to the engine to facilitate the loading and unloading of the turbine engine to and from the transport system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel Mainville, Alessandro Faraci
  • Patent number: 8061678
    Abstract: When locking a medical imaging device detector in position to generate a medical image, an articulating arm includes top and bottom portions, coupled to a gantry and to a distal portion that is coupled to a detector. The top and bottom portions each include an over-the-center bell crank locking mechanism with a shank couple to a central handle. Each shank includes a pair of flanges that are coupled to a pair of actuators by both a pivot pin and a spring mechanism. Each actuator is coupled to a crank. When the handle is rotated to a locked position, a sliding lock extends to lock the articulating arm in position relative to the gantry, and a lever arm is extended to cause a shaft to rotate. Rotation of the shaft actuates a sliding pin linkage, which urges a pair of pins outward to lock the articulating arm in position relative to the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Stefan
  • Patent number: 7665709
    Abstract: A trolley and rail system for use in relation to an extension and retraction arrangement with a trolley structure retained for axial extension and retraction along a body portion of a rail arrangement comprising first and second rails disposed in substantially parallel spaced orientation. The trolley structure can have a central portion and first and second wing portions with load bearing wheels for rolling along rigid bearing surfaces of the first and second rails. The bearing surfaces and the wheels can have correspondingly contoured profiles. The trolley structure can have a ventrally disposed alcove. Constant force springs can assist in a travel of the trolley structure in relation to the rail arrangement. The trolley structure or a support arm coupled thereto can have threaded mounting holes for retaining a flat panel monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Inventor: Sava Cvek
  • Publication number: 20090224133
    Abstract: A mobile base that supports a cabinet saw is disclosed. The mobile base includes casters that support the saw when a foot pedal is depressed. The mobile base raises the saw asymmetrically to provide clearance for the legs of an extension table attached to the table of the saw. A hydraulic jack is employed to raise the saw and hold it raised while the saw is moved, and a foot-operated release lever attached to the jack lowers the saw back to the ground at an adjustable rate of descent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, James F.W. Wright
  • Publication number: 20090206230
    Abstract: A method and system for repositioning a pump jack installed atop a generally planar supporting surface to pump fluid from a wellbore uses at least three lift jacks arranged for movement along the supporting surface and for lifting upward relative thereto. The lift jacks are used to lift the pump jack upward from the supporting surface to be carried on the lift jacks and a force is applied to the pump jack in a predetermined direction along the supporting surface to move the lift jacks and the pump jack carried thereon along the supporting surface to a new position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Gerard Dauvin
  • Publication number: 20090072117
    Abstract: An actuation device driven by the adjusting motion of a first carriage is provided and, because of the adjusting motion of the first carriage from the first position into the second position, the adjusting motion of a second carriage can be driven from the measurement point to the rest position, and because of the adjusting motion of the first carriage from the second position into the first position, the adjusting motion of the second carriage can be driven from the rest position to the measurement point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventor: Uwe Gampe
  • Patent number: 7487576
    Abstract: A drill assembly, for example for drilling or coring concrete, has a drill column formed from a composite material. A track for a wall saw or for supporting other structures for movement along the track is formed from a composite material. A composite column, rail or other longitudinally extending composite structure having a hollow interior portion includes an internal support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Husqvarna Outdoor Products Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Baratta, Luciano Cuevas
  • Patent number: 7431248
    Abstract: An attitude adjustment system for supporting an object and allowing an adjustment of the attitude thereof. The system includes a distributor defining a distributor chamber therewithin. The distributor also has a distributor external surface. The distributor further defines a plurality of distributor apertures extending from the external surface to the distributor chamber. A valve is provided, at least in part, within the distributor chamber for selectively interconnecting the distributor apertures and isolating the distributor apertures from each other. The system further includes a plurality of supports for supporting the object. Each support includes a sleeve defining a support chamber therewithin, and having a support external surface. The sleeve further defines first and second sleeve apertures extending from the support external surface to the support chamber. Each support further includes a piston extending through, and obstructing the first sleeve aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Inventors: Steeve Coumoyer, Marcel Cormier, Eric Mailloux
  • Publication number: 20080151386
    Abstract: A system if used to compensate for guide flatness errors and/or shifting of a support. The system comprises one or more of the supports, an actuating system, the guide, a fluid or magnetic bearing, and a compensation system. The one or more support devices have one or more openings. The support devices are coupled to the actuating system, which is configured to move the support devices. The guide passes through respective ones of the openings. The fluid or magnetic bearings are configured to guide the respective support devices along the guides. The compensation system is coupled to respective ones of the support devices adjacent each of the fluid or magnetic bearings. The compensation system is configured to compensate for any non-straight areas of the guides or shifting (e.g., thermal shifting) of the support devices, which is done through moving of the support devices with respect to the guides during movement of the support devices along the guides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Roberto B. Wiener, Santiago E. DEL PUERTO
  • Patent number: 7311338
    Abstract: A modular chemical handling apparatus has a first component coupled to a second component. The first component is retained proximate to the second component by a locking mechanism. Fluid conduit connection devices and/or electrical connection devices in the first component are coupled to corresponding conduit connection devices and/or electrical connection devices in the second component by couplers. At least one laterally sliding lock shaft is employed for coupling the first module to the second module and for decoupling the first module from the second module. In one embodiment, counterweights are used to maintain the sliding lock shaft and each of the connection devices in the fully coupled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Parsons Corporation
    Inventor: James Osterloh
  • Patent number: 7214007
    Abstract: A drill assembly, for example for drilling or coring concrete, has a drill column formed from a composite material. A track for a wall saw or for supporting other structures for movement along the track is formed from a composite material. A composite column, rail or other longitudinally extending composite structure having a hollow interior portion includes an internal support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Husqvarna Outdoor Products Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Baratta
  • Patent number: 7114693
    Abstract: A stable platform supports a cell, the stable platform comprises a lower mainframe, an upper mainframe, and a dampener system. The upper mainframe includes a plurality of recesses. Each recess is configured to receive a cell. The dampener system connects the lower mainframe to the upper mainframe. In one embodiment, the dampener system comprises a dampener element, such as sand, to dampen vibrations between the lower mainframe and the lower mainframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. K. Olgado, Timothy J. Franklin, Avi Tepman
  • Publication number: 20040227534
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a load includes pneumatic units and couplers coupled to opposite sides of the load. The couplers move the load parallel to a first axis responsive to actuation of the pneumatic units. At least one of the couplers rotate the load about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The load is compliant along the first axis and about the second axis At least one of the pneumatic units provides compliance along the first axis and about the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: Christian Mueller
  • Publication number: 20030052238
    Abstract: Motor adjustable support device for the upholstery of a seat and/or of reclining furniture, especially suited for a bed mattress, including a base body having rails, and one adjustable support element adjustable relative to the base body. An adjusting device for the adjustment of the support device relative to the base body may be provided. One of the rails may be hollow or open on one side for receiving part of the adjusting device. The one adjustable element can be adjusted between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position and that interacts with the support element, and that is received in the first adjustment position in a rail, or as viewed in a side view, for example, within the bounds of the rail, and that protrudes in the second adjustment position over the rail toward the support side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Johannes Schneider, Eckhart Dewert
  • Patent number: 6196081
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein include hexapod systems, Stewart platform systems and other mechanical movement systems, in which a set of independently moveable trucks support legs that couple to a working surface capable of holding a machine tool or other end-effector, and preferably wherein the trucks travel across a reference surface, such as around the circumference of a circle or along some other pre-defined geometrical pattern or track. For example, as described herein, the systems include Stewart platform machines that have six supportive legs each of which connects to a truck that can travel independently along a track. By coordinating the movement of these six trucks, the working surface can be moved in three dimensional space and can be oriented about three axes, providing control of roll, pitch and yaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hexel Corporation
    Inventor: Chi Lam Yau
  • Patent number: 6062541
    Abstract: A apparatus and method for moving and aligning objects such as machine components includes a plate positionable beneath and engageable with an object to be moved, a block engageable with the plate, and a bolt extending through a bore in the block. The bolt includes an end which is positionable adjacent to the object to be moved and which is rotatable within the bore to cause axial movement of the bolt. Such axial movement of the bolt causes the end of the bolt to push against the object to be moved and to thereby move the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Bryan D. Hampton
  • Patent number: 5975480
    Abstract: A motor mount for a motor having an elongate drive shaft. The motor mount includes a base having a generally planar surface. At least one elongate rail is disposed at the surface of the base. A motor carriage plate has a generally planar bottom surface disposed approximate to and generally parallel to the surface of the base. The motor carriage plate has at least one rail engaging surface disposed at an angle to the bottom surface. The motor mount includes a motor carriage fastener for fastening the motor to the motor carriage plate. A fastener is provided for attaching the motor carriage plate to the base plate such that the rail engaging surface engages the elongate rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Millennium Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Schaefer, Michael Dietsch
  • Patent number: 5971348
    Abstract: An adjustable stand is disclosed for raising and lowering a cantilevered load while reducing friction and preventing binding in the raising and lowering mechanism. A carriage for a cantilever arm, carrying the cantilevered load, rolls along a pair of parallel linear shafts by means of ball bearing bushings thus providing linear non-binding rolling motion therealong. In addition, an air clamp is provided for lockably positioning the cantilevered load in a desired rotational orientation with respect to the cantilever arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Roy D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5890523
    Abstract: A workstation is provided with a curved tool rail suspended above a work surface. The curved tool rail has a tool trolley slidably coupled thereto for movably supporting a tool or part above the work surface. In a preferred embodiment, the work surface is part of a work bench. Preferably, the curved tool rail is suspended above the work surface by an adjustable frame which provides four-way adjustability of the curved tool rail. The curved tool rail keeps the tool or part suspended therefrom in reach of the worker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: James W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5800015
    Abstract: A long slide rail device for vehicle seat, which includes a temporary lock mechanism for temporarily locking an upper rail member fixed to the seat, at a predetermined temporary lock point, relative to a long lower rail member fixed in a floor of vehicle, so that the seat may be temporarily locked at that point, allowing its seat cushion to be folded upright to its seat back, before being displaced to a storage lock position. The temporary lock mechanism includes a female lock element (or female lock hole) provided in the lower rail member at the temporary lock point, and a male lock element so arranged at the upper rail element as to lie generally within the long lower rail member and movable for engagement with and disengagement from the female lock element. Thus, the structure of long slide rail device is simplified in structure and made small in sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Tsuchiya, Tamotsu Shirai, Akira Nemoto
  • Patent number: 5779216
    Abstract: An improved power tool torque and weight balancing apparatus for use in in-line assembly processes that require power tools, such as in the assembly of automotive engines. The power tool and weight balancing apparatus consists of a pivoting mounting frame, either suspended from a rail or fixedly mounted on a four-roller trolley, attached to a balancer frame that holds an air or spring powered balancer mechanism. The balancer mechanism has a cable with a swivel connector attachment which travels inside a set of telescoping tube members and attaches to a mechanism for holding a power tool. The mechanism for holding a power tool may hold a horizontally or vertically mounted power tool and is pivotable 360 degrees for operator convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Ohio Tool Systems, Inc
    Inventors: Gregory J. Grace, David A. Lemaster
  • Patent number: 5709362
    Abstract: The present invention relates to semi-trailer support legs. In order to avoid damage to trailer support legs by failure to raise the legs when the trailer is coupled to a towing unit for movement, the present invention provides a pivotal foot at the end of the support leg and an actuator for controlling pivotal movement of the foot between a raised position providing sufficient clearance for normal operation and a deployed position for supporting the trailer on uncoupling of the towing unit. More particularly raising and lowering of the pivotal foot is controlled automatically on coupling and uncoupling respectively of the towing unit and trailer.A particularly convenient arrangement results where actuation of the foot is responsive to the connection and disconnection of a control line between the towing and trailer units. More particularly still, the control line is the emergency brake line which would be connected as a matter of course. The actuator is supplied from a branch off said emergency brake line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Pandoro Limited
    Inventors: Martin Robert Clarke, Philip Pye, Norman Zoltan Wignall
  • Patent number: 5677741
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus of this invention has an ordinary displaying mode and a hue conversion mode to change hues in correspondence with a user. In the ordinary displaying mode, input image data is displayed on a display, and in the hue conversion mode, an image for hue conversion is displayed on the display. The hues are converted in accordance with an instruction of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Yui
  • Patent number: 5224682
    Abstract: An air drill holding mechanism has a support member, a workpiece mount, a drill mount, and a guide and feed means. The support member is mounted to a bracket for mounting the support to a work piece, and supports an air drill in position for drilling into a work piece. The drill mount is mounted to the support member and clamps an air drill to the mechanism. The guide and feed means is also mounted to the support member and functions to feed and guide the drill into the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: James A. Baughman
  • Patent number: 5148716
    Abstract: In a plane motion mechanism, a table is mounted on a top planar surface of a base for movement thereon in plane motion. One end portions of respective first, second and third power transmitting elements adjacent respectively to one ends thereof are wound about an outer peripheral side surface of the table. At least two, first and second, drive units are provided, to which the other ends of the respective first and second power transmitting elements are connected respectively, for applying tension forces respectively to the first and second power transmitting elements. A tension-applying unit, to which the other end of the third power transmitting unit is connected, is provided for applying a tension force to the third power transmitting element. The table may be circular in cross-section and having an outer peripheral side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignees: Nippon Connecticut Saw Co., Una Data Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroharu Suda
  • Patent number: 4863569
    Abstract: A device for cleaning the doors of battery-arranged coke furnaces is provided. The device is suspended at four points from steel cables which pass along a pulley and are joined at its other end to a counter-weight. The cable is joined to the counter-weight in a resilient manner by compression actuated springs. The door to be cleaned is correctly positioned by the presence of sliders incorporated into the device and due to the floating arrangement of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Empresa Nacional Siderugica, S.A.
    Inventors: Gerardo A. Marin, Enrique E. Alonso, Juan-Francisco S. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 4792110
    Abstract: A tooling support apparatus in which a linear tooling boom has one end adapted to support a tooling member and its opposite end connected to a scissors-lift apparatus for adjusting the height and horizontal position of the tooling boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Inventor: Irvin D. Bond
  • Patent number: 4790507
    Abstract: A tool for the controlled, precise movement in the horizontal plane, for machines such as electric motors, gear boxes, compressors and the like, for the purpose of achieving an accurate alignment between two or more machines.The tool, comprising of a body (1) having a rotatable circular member (2) engaged in a hole (6) in said body (1). Said body (1) having a lip (3) to contact a machine foot, and being adjustable by a screw (4).Said circular member (2) having an off set fulcrum (8), rotation of said circular member (2) around said off set fulcrum, causes longitudinal movement of said body (1) being in contact with a machine, moves said machine a longitudinal amount as a ratio of rotational movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Inventor: Brian J. Morrissey
  • Patent number: 4690520
    Abstract: A slide mechanism for use in transporting a stereoscope along a horizontal support arm of a photogrammetric instrument includes a member slidably mounted to a pair of support tracks cantilevered to the support arm. A clamping mechanism is used to lock the slide member in a first predetermined position on the support tracks and is unlockable to enable the slide mechanism to be moved along the support tracks to a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventors: Alfred L. Shawcross, Donn E. Stevens, Robert E. Jones
  • Patent number: 4604027
    Abstract: Apparatus (11), which includes two adjacent wafer treating facilities (21 and 22), features an overhead positioning mechanism (20), the operation of which is controlled by a control module (48) to handle articles, such as semiconductor wafers (16), in a plurality of sequential plating operations. The vertical movement of a manipulator extension (46) is controlled with a relatively greater degree of precision to protect the wafers from becoming damaged. In the horizontal direction, a traveling frame (106) steadies a lead screw (59) spanning an extended distance between the two facilities (21 and 22) to support a precise movement of the manipulator extension (46) with respect to both of the facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: AT&T Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Becker, Richard A. McCorkle, Robert A. Miller, Gary J. Plessl
  • Patent number: 4344598
    Abstract: In a motor support having a slidable carriage on which a motor with a pulley, carrying a belt connected to a pulley on a piece of machinery, is mounted, springs engage the carriage to provide a spring loading for the carriage and a fluid pressure arrangement is provided for moving the carriage initially to tighten the belt and then to compress the springs to the point that the force exerted by the springs on the carriage will be in equilibrium with the tension in the belt between the pulleys with such state of equilibrium being maintained solely by further compression of the springs under belt induced movement of the carriage as the load on the machinery may be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1982
    Assignees: Joseph File, Seth A. Hubbard
    Inventor: Jerome J. Sloyan
  • Patent number: 4320887
    Abstract: A core drill stand for orienting and holding a core drilling apparatus for sampling concrete pilings, comprising an elongated column having a support collar fixed at right angles to the elongated column for engagement with the top of a concrete piling, gripping standoffs between the column and piling, a tightening collar to tighten the apparatus to the piling and a movable carriage means supported by the column, the carriage means being adjustable to fit closely about the column and having a pinion drive means engaging a rack on the column for moving the carriage along the column. The carriage is adapted to receive a pneumatic drilling device, other tools or additional columns. Columns are equipped with interfitting end hardware so that a plurality of columns may be joined endwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Inventor: Allen L. Destree
  • Patent number: 4234155
    Abstract: A tool stand for orienting and holding a tool such as a core drilling apparatus for sampling concrete or earth formations, comprising a base, an elongated column projecting from said base, a carriage means supported by enclosing the column, the carriage means being adjustable to fit closely about the column and having a rack on said column with interengaging pinion means in the carriage for translation of the carriage along the column. The carriage is adapted to receive a pneumatic drilling device or additional columns, the additional columns being positioned at right angles to the first column. Columns are equipped with interfitting end hardware so that a plurality of columns may be joined endwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1980
    Inventor: Allen L. Destree
  • Patent number: 4234275
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning a boring machine relative to an engine block or the like has a base plate suitable for arrangement upon a deck surface of the block, the plate being formed with openings above each of the cylindrical bores as well as in alignment with threaded passages in the block. Preferably, bolts are threaded into the block to secure the base plate so that, during reboring, the bolts distort the block about the bores in a similar manner as during engine operation. Also preferably, adjustable means are arranged between the base plate and the deck surface of the engine block in order to position the base plate in precise alignment with the main bearing axis of the engine block so that the bores are formed perpendicularly to the main bearing axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1980
    Inventor: Michael H. Clement
  • Patent number: 4226191
    Abstract: A remotely controlled tri-level roller platform assembly including a base portion, an intermediate portion and a top support portion. The intermediate portion is reciprocally operable in a first linear plane, atop and independently of the base member, by means of a first reversible electric motor, with the top support portion disposed thereatop for movement therewith. The top support portion is reciprocally operable in a second linear plane, independent of the intermediate portion, at right angles to the first plane, by means of a second reversible electric motor. Remote control electric switches are provided for the first and second motors whereby the motors may be selectively operated for universal planar positioning of any desired point within a predetermined area of the top surface of the top support portion relative to the lens of a single camera in a visual aid system, including a TV monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1980
    Assignee: University of Miami
    Inventor: Guillermo A. Espana
  • Patent number: 4182506
    Abstract: A base characterized by a substantially horizontally oriented plate adapted to receive a load, a vertically oriented post disposed beneath the central portion of the plate supporting the plate for pivotal motion about a plurality of horizontally oriented axes lying in the plane of the plate, and a pair of jack screws spaced ninety degrees apart and connected to peripheral portions of the plate, and a power train for selectively driving the jack screw, each independently of the other, for tilting the plate to achieve a leveling of a load supported thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Clark-Way Leveling Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Clark E. Boveia