System and method for improved fixation of flats sequencing system linear actuator
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorsDongliang Yang, Matthew G. Good, Leung M. Shiu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system of mitigating force in a mechanical system, the system comprising a frame member, a first rail connected to the frame member, a second rail connected to the frame member and extending along the frame member in parallel to the first rail, an assembly movably engaging the first and second rails, and a first bracket located between the first and second rails, with at least one first bracket attachment secured to the frame member, the first bracket sharing an upper edge with a lower edge of the first rail, such that a downward force applied on the first rail is distributed to the first bracket and the frame member via the at least one first bracket attachment.
Claims17
A system of mitigating force in a mechanical system, the system comprising:
- a frame member having a vertical face oriented in a direction of gravity applied to the frame member, the vertical face comprising a first channel that extends along a length of the vertical face in a horizontal direction and forms a lip along the length of the vertical face, the lip extending into the frame member in a direction substantially orthogonal to a force of gravity and the vertical face;
- and
- a first bracket fixedly secured to the vertical face of the frame member, the first bracket having an upper edge in contact with a guide rail such that a portion of a shear force exerted on the guide rail in the direction of gravity is distributed, at least in part, to the first bracket;
- wherein the first bracket comprises a protrusion configured to rest on the lip of the first channel that extends along the length of the vertical face and distribute, to the frame member, a first quantity of the portion of the shear force when the protrusion contacts at least one horizontal surface of the lip of the first channel when the first bracket is fixedly secured to the vertical face of the frame member, and
- wherein the first bracket reduces an amount of the shear force exerted on the guide rail.
A method of mitigating force in a mechanical system, comprising:
- fixedly securing a first bracket to a vertical face of a frame member, the vertical face oriented in a direction of gravity as applied to the frame member and comprising a first channel that extends along a length of the vertical face in a horizontal direction and forms a lip along the length of the vertical face, the lip extending into the frame member in a direction substantially orthogonal to the vertical face,
- distributing a portion of a shear force exerted on a first guide rail, secured to the vertical face of the frame member, to the first bracket located below and in contact with a lower edge of the first guide rail and fixedly secured to the vertical face of the frame member;
- and
- distributing a first quantity of the portion of the shear force to the frame member via a protrusion of the first bracket that rests on the lip of the first channel that extends along the length of the vertical face,
- wherein the first bracket reduces an amount of the shear force exerted on the first guide rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.