Patent Application
20210316951
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of actuated parts and, more particularly, to parts that are actuated away from a home position and that are biased back to a home position.
A part may be disposed in a home position, and may be moved from this home position to an actuated position. Thereafter, the part may be moved back from the actuated position to the home position. Having a mechanical stop to establish the home position for the part may be disadvantageous in one or more respects.
An assembly is presented herein that utilizes a magnetic field that establishes a home position for a movable part (e.g., a first part). Both the configuration of such an assembly and the operation of such an assembly are within the scope of this Summary. As the assembly includes such a movable part that is moved away from this home position (and that may be characterized as an actuation of this movable part and as will be discussed in more detail below), the assembly may also be referred to herein as an “actuation assembly”.
Various embodiments have the noted actuation assembly being for use in conjunction with a conveyor system for the transport of product or articles of any appropriate type (e.g., aircraft cargo). A first part of this actuation assembly may be a stop for this conveyor system when the first part is in a home position—such that the first part provides a mechanical stop for product/articles attempting to move in a first direction relative to the conveyor system (e.g., the home position may be characterized as a stop position or as a closed position for the first part). The first part of this actuation system may be moved to an actuated position to allow product/articles to move in a second direction relative to the conveyor system and past the first part (e.g., the actuated position may be characterized as an open position for the first part), including where the first and second directions are opposite of one another (e.g., along an axial path). Actuation of the first part to its actuated position may be provided actively (e.g., by a drive of any appropriate type that exerts a motive force on the first part). Actuation of the first part to its actuated position may also be provided passively (e.g., by a product/article on the conveyor system (and moving relative to the first part) contacting and moving the first part from its home position to its actuated position, by the product/article moving in the above-noted second direction relative to the conveyor system).
An actuation assembly may include a first part, a biasing member, and a second part. The first part may be moved between a home position and an actuated position. The biasing member may be operatively interconnected with the first part to bias the first part to its home position (e.g., to move the first part from the actuated position to/toward its home position). A magnetic field exists between the first part and the second part at least when the first part is in its home position, and is directed to bias the first part to its home position. The magnetic field establishes the home position for the first part.
The first part may move along an arcuate path proceeding between its home position and its actuated position (e.g., about a rotational axis). The first part may move along an axial path proceeding between its home position and its actuated position. Any appropriate way of actuating the first part may be utilized, for instance by interconnecting a drive of any appropriate type (e.g., a motor) with the first part, by the first part being engaged by a moving product/article (e.g., on a conveyor system), or the like.
The biasing member may be in the form of one or more springs or biasing elements. A torsion spring(s) may be used as the biasing member in the case where the first member moves along an arcuate path between its home position and its actuated position, while a compression spring(s) may be used as the biasing member in the case where the first member moves along an axial path between its home position and its actuated position.
The actuation assembly may include a magnet that is located at the home position for the first part. Various embodiments include having the second part include this magnet (e.g., a second magnet). This magnet may be maintained in a fixed position relative to the second part. The first part may include a first magnet that moves in conjunction with the first part (e.g., the first magnet may be maintained in a fixed position relative to the first part). The first magnet (first part) and the magnet (second part) may be aligned when the first part is disposed in its home position.
The first part may include a first section that is aligned with the above-noted magnet of the second part when the first part is disposed in its home position. This first section may include a material (e.g., a ferromagnetic material) that magnetically interacts with the magnet of the second part when the first part is disposed in its home position.
The biasing member may move the first part to and past the home position of the first part (e.g., an overtravel situation or condition). The magnetic field between the first part and the second part may be used to move the first part back to its home position (in the same direction that the first part moves in proceeding from its home position to its actuated position by exposure to an actuation force). The first part could oscillate for a time about its home position, but this oscillation time should be reduced by the magnetic field and which will eventually retain the first part in a stationary state at its home position. Various embodiments have an open space on each side of the home position of the first part such that the first part does not come into contact with another structure during the noted oscillation (e.g., the home position may be characterized as being located in free space). An entirety of a stopping force exerted on the first part may be provided by the magnetic field, alone or in combination with the biasing member (e.g., the biasing member may assist in stopping the first part in the case where the first part moves past the home position (while traveling in a direction that is away from the actuated position) during the noted oscillation of the first part). An entirety of the force that is exerted on the first part to retain the first part in its home position may be provided by the magnetic field.
Any feature that is addressed in this disclosure and that is intended to be limited to a “singular” context or the like will be clearly set forth herein by terms such as “only,” “single,” “limited to,” or the like. Merely introducing a feature in accordance with commonly accepted antecedent basis practice does not limit the corresponding feature to the singular (e.g., indicating that a part includes “a magnet” alone does not mean that the part includes only a single magnet). Moreover, any failure to use phrases such as “at least one” also does not limit the corresponding feature to the singular (e.g., indicating that a part includes “a magnet” alone does not mean that the part includes only a single magnet). Use of the phrase “at least generally” or the like in relation to a particular feature encompasses the corresponding characteristic and insubstantial variations thereof (e.g., indicating that two parts are at least generally aligned encompasses the parts actually being aligned). Finally, a reference of a feature in conjunction with the phrase “in one embodiment” does not limit the use of the feature to a single embodiment.
Various aspects are also addressed by the following paragraphs and in the noted combinations:
a first part;
a biasing member operatively interconnected with said first part;
a second part;
a magnetic field between said first part and said second part when said first part is in a home position, wherein said first part is actuatable from said home position to an actuated position, wherein said biasing member biases said first part to said home position, and wherein said magnetic field establishes said home position.
executing a first moving comprising moving said first part from a home position to an actuated position;
removing a force used for said first moving;
exerting a biasing force on said first part;
executing a second moving after said removing, wherein said second moving moves said first part from said actuated position back to said home position using said biasing force; and
retaining said first part in said home position and comprising exerting a magnetic force on said first part that establishes said home position.
An actuation assembly is illustrated in
Another component of the actuation assembly 10 is a second part 50. This second part 50 may be maintained in a stationary position, may be rotatably connected with the first part 30, or both (e.g., a shaft about which the first part 30 rotates may be rotatably supported by the second part 50). In any case, the first part 30 moves relative to the second part 50. A second magnet 52 (e.g., a permanent magnet) is appropriately mounted/secured to the second part 50. Various embodiments have the position of the second magnet 52 being fixed relative the second part 50.
A variation of the actuator assembly 10 of
An actuation assembly is illustrated in
Another component of the actuation assembly 110 is a second part 150. This second part 150 may be maintained in a stationary position, may be rotatably connected with the first part 130 (e.g., a shaft about which the first part 130 rotates may be rotatably supported by the second part 150), or both. In any case, the first part 130 moves relative to the second part 150. A second magnet 152 (e.g., a permanent magnet) is appropriately mounted/secured to the second part 150. Various embodiments have the position of the second magnet 152 being fixed relative the second part 150.
It should be appreciated that the first part 130 of the actuation assembly 110 could be configured to include a first magnet, and the second part 150 of the actuation assembly 110 could be configured to a second section in accordance with the above-described first section 134.
An actuation assembly is illustrated in
Another component of the actuation assembly 210 is a second part 250. This second part 250 may be maintained in a stationary position. In any case, the first part 230 moves (e.g., axially) relative to the second part 250 (whether by the exertion of an actuation force on the first part 230 or by the biasing member 240 exerting a biasing force on the first part 230). A second magnet 252 (e.g., a permanent magnet) is appropriately mounted/secured to the second part 250. Various embodiments have the position of the second magnet 252 being fixed relative the second part 250.
It should be appreciated that the first part 230 of the actuation assembly 210 could be configured to include a first magnet, and the second part 250 of the actuation assembly 210 could be configured to a second section in accordance with the above-described first section 234.
Actuated movement of the first parts 30, 30′, 130, and 230 of the actuation assemblies 10, 10′, 110, 210 may provide any appropriate function or combination of functions. Various embodiments have the noted actuation assembly being for use in conjunction with a conveyor system for the transport of product or articles of any appropriate type (e.g., aircraft cargo). The first part of the actuation assemblies 10, 10′, 110, 210 may be a stop for this conveyor system when the first part is in its home position—such that the first part provides a mechanical stop for product/articles attempting to move in a first direction relative to the conveyor system (e.g., the home position may also be referred to as a stop position or a closed position for the first part). The first part of the actuation assemblies 10, 10′, 110, 210 may be moved from the noted home position to the noted actuated position (e.g., the actuated position may also be referred to as an open position for the first part) to allow product/articles to move in a second direction relative to the conveyor system, including where the first and second directions are opposite of one another (e.g., along an axial path). Any appropriate actuation may be utilized. Actuation of the first part of the actuation assemblies 10, 10′, 110, 210 to its actuated position may be provided actively (by a drive of any appropriate type that exerts a motive force on the first part). Actuation of the first part to its actuated position may also be provided passively (by a product/article on the conveyor system contacting and moving the first part from its home position to its actuated position when the product/article is moving in the above-noted second direction relative to the conveyor system).
The biasing member, in the case of each the actuation assemblies 10, 10′, 110, 210, may move the first part to and past the home position of the first part (e.g., an overtravel situation). The magnetic field between the first part and the second part, in the case of each the actuation assemblies 10, 10′, 110, 210, may be used to move the first part back to its home position (in the same direction that the first part from its home position to its actuated position). The first part could oscillate for a time about its home position in the case of each the actuation assemblies 10, 10′, 110, 210, but this oscillation time should be reduced by the magnetic field and which will eventually retain the first part in a stationary state at its home position. Various embodiments have an open space on each side of the home position of the first part such that the first part does not come into contact with another structure during the noted oscillation (e.g., the home position may be characterized as being located in free space). An entirety of a stopping force exerted on the first part may be provided by the magnetic field, alone or in combination with the biasing member (e.g., the biasing member may assist in stopping the first part in the case where the first part moves past the home position (while traveling in a direction that is away from the actuated position) during the noted oscillation of the first part). An entirety of the force that is exerted on the first part to retain the first part in its home position may be provided by the magnetic field.
The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present disclosure. Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Different cross-hatching is used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials.
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments.
Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Finally, it should be understood that any of the above described concepts can be used alone or in combination with any or all of the other above described concepts. Although various embodiments have been disclosed and described, one of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, the description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the principles described or illustrated herein to any precise form. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.
This patent application is a non-provisional patent application of, and claims the benefit of, pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/007,468, that is entitled “MAGNETIZED HOME POSITION FOR ACTUATED PART,” that was filed on 9 Apr. 2020, and the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63007468 | Apr 2020 | US |
