U.S. patent application number 13/654966 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-14 for counterbalance for a system for providing cyclic motion.
This patent application is currently assigned to BLOEMER, MEISER & WESTERKAMP, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Bloemer, Meiser & Westerkamp, LLC. Invention is credited to Daniel Meiser, Edward Westerkamp.
Application Number | 20130037681 13/654966 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39328393 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130037681 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Westerkamp; Edward ; et
al. |
February 14, 2013 |
Counterbalance For A System For Providing Cyclic Motion
Abstract
In one embodiment, a system for providing cyclic motion includes
a magnetic drive having an electrically conductive coil defining a
bore and a magnetic member movable through the bore. A control
provides current to the coil and selectively reverses the direction
of the current to move the magnetic member through the bore. In
another embodiment, the system includes a counterbalance. The
counterbalance includes a biasing member for reacting against a
load applied to a support, and a lever arm coupled to the biasing
member for varying a preload of the biasing member. In another
embodiment, the magnetic drive and the counterbalance may be
incorporated into an apparatus for reciprocating a person.
Inventors: |
Westerkamp; Edward; (West
Chester, OH) ; Meiser; Daniel; (Circleville,
KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bloemer, Meiser & Westerkamp, LLC; |
West Chester |
OH |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
BLOEMER, MEISER & WESTERKAMP,
LLC
West Chester
OH
|
Family ID: |
39328393 |
Appl. No.: |
13/654966 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13107111 |
May 13, 2011 |
8294308 |
|
|
13654966 |
|
|
|
|
11877364 |
Oct 23, 2007 |
7958579 |
|
|
13107111 |
|
|
|
|
60862914 |
Oct 25, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/364 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 74/20582 20150115;
H02K 33/16 20130101; H02K 33/10 20130101; A47D 9/02 20130101; H02K
7/116 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/364 |
International
Class: |
F16M 11/16 20060101
F16M011/16 |
Claims
1. A counterbalance, comprising: a biasing member adapted to be
coupled to a load support for reacting against a load applied to
the load support; and a lever arm operatively coupled to said
biasing member and selectively positionable relative to said
biasing member to vary a preload of said biasing member.
2. The counterbalance of claim 1, further comprising a pivot
selectively positionable with respect to said lever arm and
cooperating with said lever arm to vary said preload of said
biasing member.
3. The counterbalance of claim 1, wherein said biasing member is a
spiral torsion spring.
4. The counterbalance of claim 1, wherein said biasing member and
said lever arm cooperate to maintain a constant resonant frequency
with respect to the load applied to the load support.
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/107,111, filed May 13, 2011 (pending), which claims
priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/877,364, filed Oct.
23, 2007, (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,958,579 on Jun. 14, 2011),
which claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application
Ser. No. 60/862,914, filed Oct. 25, 2006 (expired), the disclosures
of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to machinery and
mechanisms that operate in a cyclical manner, and more particularly
to a counterbalance for devices that facilitate cyclically
operating such machinery and mechanisms.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Many machines and mechanisms operate in a cyclical manner.
For example, rotating machinery such as turbines rotors, and
reciprocating mechanisms such as paint shakers, exhibit cyclical
motion. In use, these machines and mechanisms may be exposed to
varying load conditions. However, many cyclically-operated machines
and mechanisms are not able to accommodate varying loads while
maintaining desired performance without substantial increases in
power consumed. A need therefore exists for a simple, efficient
system for driving cyclical machines and mechanisms, and for
accommodating varying load conditions.
SUMMARY
[0004] A magnetic drive in accordance with the one aspect of the
present disclosure overcomes the foregoing and other shortcomings
of the prior systems for driving cyclical machines and mechanisms.
In one embodiment, the magnetic drive includes an electrically
conductive coil defining a bore and having first and second
oppositely disposed ends. A magnetic member is movable from a first
position outside the bore and adjacent the first end of the coil,
through the bore to a second position outside the bore and adjacent
the second end of the coil. The magnetic drive further includes a
control that provides current to the coil to generate a magnetic
field that interacts with the magnetic member. The control is able
to reverse the direction of current through the coil and thereby
act on the magnetic member as desired.
[0005] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a
counterbalance mechanism is provided for offsetting a load applied
to a supporting structure. In one embodiment, the counterbalance
includes a biasing member that is adapted to be coupled to a load
support for reacting against a load applied to the load support.
The counterbalance further includes a lever arm coupled to the
biasing member. The lever arm is selectively positionable relative
to the biasing member to vary a preload of the biasing member. The
counterbalance may further include a pivot that cooperates with the
lever arm and which is selectively positionable relative to the
lever arm to vary the preload of the biasing member.
[0006] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, an
apparatus for reciprocating a person includes a frame and a support
platform that is constrained to move in a substantially vertical
direction relative to the frame. The apparatus includes a
counterbalance, as described above, with a biasing member coupled
to the support platform and a lever arm coupled to the biasing
member and the frame. The lever arm is selectively adjustable to
vary a preload applied by the biasing member on the support
platform.
[0007] While various embodiments are discussed in detail herein, it
will be understood that the invention is not limited to these
embodiments. On the contrary, the invention includes all
alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included
within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary
embodiments of the invention and, together with a general
description of the invention given above, and the detailed
description given below, serve to explain the invention in
sufficient detail to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to
which the invention pertains to make and use the invention.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting an exemplary
apparatus for reciprocating an infant support, with a cover of the
housing shown in phantom.
[0010] FIG. 2 is perspective view of the interior components of the
apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3A is a left-side elevation view of the apparatus of
FIG. 1, with the support platform depicted in a raised
position.
[0012] FIG. 3B is a left-side elevation view of the apparatus of
FIG. 1, with the support platform depicted in a vertically centered
position.
[0013] FIG. 3C is a left-side elevation view of the apparatus of
FIG. 1, with the support platform depicted in a lowered
position.
[0014] FIGS. 4A-4F are cross-sectional elevation views of a
magnetic drive used with the apparatus of FIG. 1, depicting various
positions of a magnetic member.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of
FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary cyclically operated apparatus 10
including an exemplary magnetic drive 12 and a load off-setting, or
counterbalancing, device 14 in accordance with the principles of
the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the apparatus 10 is
configured for reciprocating an infant so as to soothe the infant
in a manner similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,082,
assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety. It will be understood,
however, that the drive and load off-setting devices 12, 14
described herein may alternatively be used in various other
mechanisms, or may be used independently of one another.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the apparatus 10 includes a
frame 16 having first and second spaced frame members 18, 20
interconnected by transverse beam members 22, 24. In the embodiment
shown, the frame members 18, 20 comprise substantially parallel,
vertically-extending sidewalls 26, 28. The frame 16 may include
adjustable feet or casters 30 to support the frame 16 above a floor
surface, and the frame 16, as well as other components of the
apparatus 10 may be enclosed in a housing 32. As shown in FIGS. 3A,
3B, and 3C, housing 32 may comprise a removable upper cover 32a and
a lower base portion 32b.
[0018] The apparatus 10 further includes a pair of spaced, parallel
upper control arms 34, 36 and a pair of spaced, parallel lower
control arms 38, 40 (see FIGS. 3C and 5) disposed between the
vertically extending sidewalls 26, 28 of the frame 16. Respective
first ends 34a, 36a of the upper control arms 34, 36 and first ends
38a, 40a of the lower control arms 38, 40 are pivotally coupled to
the frame 16 by pinned connections 42, 44. The respective second
ends 34b, 36b of the upper control arms 34, 36 (see FIGS. 3A and 5)
and first ends 38b, 40b of the lower control arms 38, 40 are
pivotally coupled to a support platform 46 by pinned connections
48, 50, whereby the upper control arms 34, 36 and lower control
arms 38, 40 are movable with the support platform 46 to constrain
movement of the support platform 46 in a substantially vertical
direction.
[0019] A seat mount 52 may be secured to the support platform 46 to
facilitate coupling an infant support 54 to the support platform
46, whereby the infant support 54 will be constrained for movement
with the support platform 46 in a substantially vertical direction.
Travel limiting stops, such as a lower limit bumper 56 (FIG. 5)
extending downwardly from support platform 46, and an upper limit
bumper (not shown) disposed between the lower control arms 38, 40
and frame members 18, 20, may be provided to control the limits of
travel of the support platform 46. While the travel stops are shown
and described herein as bumpers, it will be recognized that various
other devices and methods may be used to limit the travel of
platform 46. While this embodiment is described as being configured
to accommodate an infant support 54, it will be recognized that the
apparatus may alternatively be used to reciprocate a support for a
range of persons, from youths to adults, in a manner similar to
that described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/257,877,
assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0020] In the embodiment shown, the frame members 18, 20, the upper
control arms 34, 36, lower control arms 38, 40, and support
platform 46 are formed from sheet metal that has been stamped or
otherwise worked or machined to form the respective components of
the apparatus. It will be recognized, however, that various other
methods for forming the frame members 18, 20, upper control arms
34, 36, lower control arms 38, 40 and support platform 46 may
alternatively be used. For example, and not as limitation, the
frame members 18, 20, upper control arms 34, 36, lower control arms
38, 40 and support platform 46 may be formed by molding, casting,
machining, or various other methods suitable for fabricating the
respective components.
[0021] With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and referring
further to FIG. 5, the apparatus 10 may further include a tunable
load-offsetting, or counterbalance, mechanism 14 for accommodating
varying loads that may be applied to the support platform 46. In
the embodiment shown, the counterbalance mechanism 14 comprises a
biasing member 60 disposed between the support platform 46 and the
frame 16. In this embodiment, the biasing member 60 is a spiral
torsion spring having a first end 62 operatively coupled to the
support platform 46, and a second end 64 coupled to a spring lever
66 for selectively adjusting the preload, or initial deflection, of
the spiral torsion spring 60 to correspond to a given load applied
to the support platform 46. The spring lever 66 comprises an
elongate member having a first end 68 pivotally coupled to the
support platform 46, and a second end 70 cantilevered outwardly
from the support platform 46 in a direction between the upper
control arms 34, 36, the lower control arms 38, 40, and the
vertically extending sidewalls 26, 28 of the frame 16. The second
end 70 of the spring lever 66 is biased in a direction toward the
lower control arms 38, 40 by the spiral torsion spring 60.
[0022] The spiral torsion spring 60 is coupled to the support
platform 46 by a pair of semi-circular disks 72 that are pivotally
coupled to the support platform 46 by an arbor 74 around which the
spiral torsion spring 60 is wound. With the first end 62 of the
spiral torsion spring 60 connected to the disks 72, an initial,
constant preload of the spiral torsion spring 60 may be selectively
adjusted by rotating the disks 72 relative to the support platform
46 and then securing the disks 72 at a desired angular position
relative to the support platform 46. In the embodiment shown, a
plurality of apertures 74 spaced radially from the arbor are
provided around the periphery of the disks 72 and the disks are
secured to the support platform 46 by inserting a pin (not shown)
through at least one of the apertures 74 and through a
corresponding aperture 76 formed in the support platform 46.
[0023] The counterbalance mechanism 14 further includes an
adjustable pivot, or fulcrum 80, that is selectively positionable
along the length of the spring lever 66 to thereby vary a preload
of the platform without changing the initial deflection of the
spiral torsion spring 60. With the platform deflection
substantially constant for all preloads, the system resonant
frequency will also remain constant. In the embodiment shown, the
fulcrum 80 comprises a roller supported on a shaft 82 extending
between the vertical walls 26, 28 of the first and second frame
members 18, 20. The shaft 82 is received in corresponding slots 84,
86 formed in the vertical walls 26, 28 of the frame members 18, 20
whereby the roller 80 may be maneuvered to various positions along
the spring lever 66 by moving the shaft 82 along the slots 84, 86.
To facilitate positioning the shaft 82 and roller 80 at a desired
location along the slots 84, 86, pinion gears 88 are provided on
the shaft 82 and are rotationally fixed to the shaft 82 at
respective ends 90 of the shaft 82 that extend outwardly from the
vertical walls 26, 28, as shown in FIG. 2. The pinion gears 88
intermesh with corresponding rack gears 92 provided on the vertical
walls 26, 28 of the frame members 18, 20, whereby the position of
the shaft 82 and roller 80 may be selected by turning the shaft 82
to cause the pinion gears 88 to move along the rack gears 92 to a
desired location. Knobs 94 may be provided on the respective ends
90 of the shaft 82 to facilitate turning the shaft 82 and pinion
gears 88.
[0024] With the spiral torsion spring 60 connected between the
support platform 46 and the spring lever 66, and with the spring
lever 66 being pivoted about the arbor 74 of the spiral torsion
spring 60, a load applied to the support platform 46 is supported
as a sprung mass by the spiral torsion spring 60. Moreover, the
static vertical position of the platform 46 and supported load
relative to the frame 16 may be selectively adjusted by
manipulating the shaft 82 to cause the roller 80 to move along the
spring lever 66, as described above. The support platform 46 and
load, together with the spiral torsion spring 60, therefore
comprise a spring-mass system that exhibits a particular natural
frequency. The support platform 46 and supported load may thus be
moved upwardly and downwardly, supported on the spiral torsion
spring 60, while the upper control arms 34, 36 and lower control
arms 38, 40 constrain the upward and downward movement in a
substantially vertical direction. The natural frequency of the
spring-mass system is related to the static deflection of the
supported load upon the spiral torsion spring 60. Accordingly, by
adjusting the static vertical height of the support platform 46
relative to the frame 16, using the roller 80 and spring lever 66,
the apparatus 10 may be adjusted or tuned to accommodate a range of
loads supported on the support platform 46 while maintaining the
natural frequency of the spring-mass system. Alternatively, the
apparatus 10 may be adjusted with a given load to tune the
spring-mass system to a desired natural frequency.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2, 5, and 4A-4F, in another aspect, the
apparatus 10 may include a magnetic drive 12 mounted to the frame
16 and operatively coupled to the support platform 46 to move the
support platform 46 upwardly and downwardly in a cyclical fashion.
In the embodiment shown, the magnetic drive 12 includes an electric
coil 100 comprising conductive wire wound to define a cylindrical
barrel 102 having a central bore 104 with oppositely disposed first
and second ends 106, 108. A magnetic member 110 is sized to be
received within the bore 104 of the electric coil 100 whereby the
magnetic member 110 may be moved from a first position outside the
bore 104 and spaced from the first end 106 of the bore 104 (see
FIG. 4A), through the bore 104, to a second position outside the
bore 104 and spaced from the second end 108 of the bore 104 (see
FIG. 4E). In the embodiment shown, the magnetic member 110
comprises a stack of individual magnets 112, however, it will be
recognized that magnetic member 110 may alternatively comprise a
single, unitary magnet. In another embodiment, all components of
the drive 12, except the magnetic member 110, comprise non-ferrous
materials
[0026] When electric current is passed through the coil 100, a
magnetic field is generated that interacts with the magnetic member
110. Depending upon the direction of current through the coil 100,
the magnetic field generated by the coil 100 may attract the
magnetic member 110, thereby pulling the magnetic member 110 in a
direction into the bore 104, or the generated magnetic field may
repel the magnetic member 110, effectively pushing the magnetic
member 110 out from the bore 104. When the magnetic member 110 is
coupled to a moveable portion of a machine or device, the electric
coil 100 can be selectively operated to impart motion to the
device. To this end, the drive 12 may include a control 114 (see
FIG. 1) operable to selectively provide current to the coil 100 and
to selectively change the direction of the current, as needed, to
move the magnetic member 110 through the bore 104 and thereby
impart corresponding motion to the device.
[0027] The magnetic drive 12 is particularly useful when the motion
of the device to be moved is cyclical, such as the cyclical
reciprocation of the apparatus 10 shown and described herein. In
the embodiment shown, the magnetic member 110 is supported on a rod
116 extending downwardly from the support platform 46 and is
positioned to be received through the bore 104 of the electric coil
100 as the support platform 46 is reciprocated in a substantially
vertical direction as discussed above. In one embodiment, as the
magnetic member 110 moves downwardly with the support platform 46
from a raised position (see FIG. 3A) and approaches the first end
106 of the bore 104 (see FIG. 4A), no current flows through the
coil 100 and no magnetic forces cooperate with the magnetic field
of the magnetic member 110 to induce or hinder motion of the
magnetic member 110. As the lower edge 118 of the magnetic member
110 enters the first end 106 bore of the bore 104 (FIG. 4B),
current is provided to the coil 100 in a manner that generates a
magnetic field that attracts the magnetic member 110, causing the
magnetic member 110 to be drawn into the bore 104 through the
interaction of the magnetic fields of the magnetic member 110 and
the coil 100. The coil 100 remains energized as the magnetic member
110 moves into the bore 104. Just before the lower edge 118 of the
magnetic member 110 exits the second end 108 of the bore 104 (FIG.
4C), the coil 100 is de-energized to allow the magnetic member 110
to continue moving in a downward direction without the influence of
any magnetic field from the coil 100.
[0028] Just after the lower end 118 of the magnetic member 110
exits the second end 108 of the bore 104 (FIG. 4D), the coil 100 is
energized with current in a direction to generate a repulsing
magnetic field in the coil 100 that pushes the magnetic member 110
further outside of the second end 108 of the bore 104. Just as the
upper end 120 of the magnetic member 110 exits the second end 108
of the bore 104, the coil 100 is again de-energized and the
magnetic member 110 is allowed to continue moving in a downward
direction with no magnetic forces applied by the coil 100. As the
magnetic member 110 continues moving in a downward direction, the
spiral torsion spring 60 is deflected by the corresponding downward
movement of the support platform 46 until the spring force created
by deflecting the spiral torsion spring 60 balances and gradually
overcomes the downward inertial force of the loaded platform 46,
and the platform 46 begins to move in the opposite direction,
upwardly away from the ground surface. Now, as the upper end 120 of
the magnetic member 110 approaches the second end 108 of the bore
104 (FIG. 4E), no current is flowing through the coil 100 to create
magnetic field lines that cooperate with the magnetic field lines
of the magnetic member 110. As the upper end 120 of the magnetic
member 110 enters the second end 108 of the bore 104 (FIG. 4F), the
coil 100 is energized to generate an attractive magnetic force that
interacts with the magnetic field of the magnetic member 110 to
thereby draw the magnetic member 110 into the bore 104. The
magnetic member 110 continues moving in an upward direction. Just
prior to the upper end 120 of the magnetic member 110 exiting the
first end 106 of the bore 104, the coil 100 is de-energized to
permit the magnetic member 110 to move upwardly, unhindered by any
magnetic field generated by the coil 100. Just after the upper end
120 of the magnetic member 110 exits the first end 106 of the bore
104, the coil 100 is energized with current flowing in a direction
that generates a repulsive force that interacts with the magnetic
field of the magnetic member 110, thereby pushing the magnetic
member 110 further outside the first end 106 of the bore 104. Just
prior to the lower end 118 of the magnetic member 110 exiting the
first end 106 of the bore 104, the coil 100 is de-energized so that
the magnetic field generated by the coil 100 is ceased. The
magnetic member 110 continues to move in an upward direction with
the support platform 46 until the forces acting on the support
platform 46 due to inertia, gravity, spiral torsion spring 60, and
the load carried by the support platform 60 balance out, whereafter
the support platform 46 and magnetic member 110 will begin to move
downwardly toward the magnetic coil 100. The control 114
continuously cycles current through the magnetic coil 100 in the
manner described above and the motion described above is repeated
so that the vertical reciprocating motion of the loaded platform 46
is maintained.
[0029] The magnetic drive 12 described above is particularly useful
when the driven system operates at its natural frequency because a
minimum amount of force is needed to be generated by the magnetic
drive 12 (to overcome friction losses, for example) whereby the
cyclical motion may be maintained with the minimum force applied by
the drive 12. In the embodiment shown, the natural frequency of the
loaded support platform 46 may be selectively adjusted by
manipulating the roller 80 along the spring lever 66. As the
support platform 46 moves upwardly and downwardly in a
reciprocating fashion at the system's natural frequency the
magnetic member 110 will be caused to move into and out of the coil
100 as described above, whereby the magnetic drive 12 will maintain
the substantially vertical reciprocating motion.
[0030] Energization of the coil 100 can be automatically adjusted
by the control 114 to accommodate variations in natural frequency.
In the embodiment shown, the magnetic drive 12 includes a sensor
120 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 5) that detects the position of the magnetic
member 110 relative to the electric coil 100 and provides signals
to the control 114 to energize and de-energize the electric coil
100 in the manner described above. In this embodiment, the sensor
120 comprises an optical position sensor 122 operatively coupled to
the frame 16, and a position indicating member 124 coupled to the
support platform 46 (see FIG. 5). As the support platform 46 is
reciprocated in a substantially vertical direction, the position
indicating member 124 is caused to pass by the optical position
sensor 122. When the optical position sensor 122 senses the
presence of the position indicating member 124, signals are
provided to the control 114 and the control 114 responds by
energizing and de-energizing the electric coil 100 to operate in
the manner described above.
[0031] The control 114 may also be configured to automatically turn
the apparatus on and off, by selectively energizing and
de-energizing the electric coil 100. For example, the control 114
may be configured to discontinue energization of the electric coil
100 after a predetermined period of continuous operation, or
alternatively after a continuous period of non-use. The control 114
may also be configured such that energization of the electric coil
100 is ceased if no signal is received from the sensor 120. With
such a configuration, the vertical reciprocating motion of the
support platform may be stopped simply by holding the platform at a
fixed position, either near the uppermost point of travel, or the
lowermost point of travel, to thereby prevent the sensor 120 from
sending a signal to the control 114. In a similar fashion, the
control 114 may be configured to automatically energize the
electric coil 100 at the instant the control receives a signal from
the sensor 120 after a period of continuous non-use. When the
magnetic drive 12 is used with a system that is configured to
operate at its resonance frequency, such as the apparatus 10
described above, and the system further includes a control 114 as
described above, a minimum amount of power is required to maintain
operation of the system. Moreover, power is conserved by the
ability of the control 114 to automatically turn the drive 12 on
and off as needed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus 10 for
reciprocating an infant support 54 may be powered by six D-cell
batteries and may operate continuously for more than approximately
120 hours.
[0032] While the present invention has been illustrated by the
description of an embodiment thereof, and while the embodiment has
been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to
restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to
such detail. The various features discussed herein may be used
alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and
modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The
invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the
specific details, representative apparatus and method and
illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures
may be made from such details without departing from the scope or
spirit of the general inventive concept.
* * * * *