# US 11,305,950 B2 · Noncontact support platform with blockage detection

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- Number: US 11,305,950 B2
- Document ID: US11305950B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/490,903
- Filed: 2017-12-20
- Published: 2019-12-19
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-20
- Assignees: Core Flow Ltd.
- Applicants: Core Flow Ltd.
- Inventors: Boaz Nishri; Ronen Lautman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305950B2

## CPC

- B65G 51/03: over a flat surface or in troughs
- B25B 11/005: {Vacuum work holders}
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A noncontact support platform includes a plurality of pressure nozzles on an outer surface of a PV stage of the noncontact support platform. The pressure nozzles connected to a pressure source for creating an outflow of fluid through the pressure nozzles. A plurality of vacuum nozzles are interspersed with the pressure nozzles on the outer surface and are connected to a vacuum manifold via one or a plurality of hoses to create an inflow of the fluid through the vacuum nozzles. At least one flowmeter is configured to generate a signal that is indicative of a measured inflow via at least one hose of the hoses. A controller is configured to analyze the signal to determine whether the measured inflow is indicative of blockage of a vacuum nozzle and to generate a response when blockage is indicated.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A noncontact support platform comprising:
a plurality of pressure nozzles on an outer surface of a PV stage of the noncontact support platform, the pressure nozzles connected to a pressure source for creating an outflow of fluid through the pressure nozzles;
a plurality of vacuum nozzles that are interspersed with the pressure nozzles on the outer surface and that are connected to a vacuum manifold via one or a plurality of hoses to create an inflow of the fluid through the vacuum nozzles,
at least one flowmeter comprising a constriction and a pressure transducer, wherein the at least one flowmeter is configured to generate a signal that is indicative of a measured inflow via at least one hose of said one or a plurality of hoses, and wherein the pressure transducer is configured to generate a signal that is indicative of difference between fluid pressure upstream of the constriction and fluid pressure downstream of the constriction;
a reference conduit with a constriction substantially identical to the constriction of the at least one flowmeter, and wherein the pressure transducer is alternatively connectable to said at least one hose of said one or a plurality of hoses and to the reference conduit; and
a controller that is configured to analyze the signal to determine whether the measured inflow is indicative of blockage of a vacuum nozzle of said plurality of vacuum nozzles and to generate a response when the blockage is indicated.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The noncontact support platform of claim 1, further comprising a conduit to which the pressure transducer is connectable and which is configured to provide a zero pressure differential to the pressure transducer.

### Claim 3

A method for detecting blockage of one or a plurality of vacuum nozzles of a noncontact support platform, the method comprising:
obtaining a signal that is generated by a flowmeter, the flowmeter included in a hose that connects at least one vacuum nozzle of said one or a plurality of vacuum nozzles on an outer surface of the PV stage to a vacuum manifold, the signal being indicative of a measured inflow via the hose, wherein the flowmeter comprises a pressure transducer for measuring a pressure differential between two sides of a constriction in the hose;
using the pressure transducer to measure a pressure differential between two sides of a constriction in a reference conduit;
analyzing the signal to determine whether the measured inflow is indicative of blockage of a vacuum nozzle of said plurality of vacuum nozzles; and
generating a response when the blockage is indicated.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein analyzing the signal comprises comparing the measured pressure differential in the hose with the measured pressure differential in the reference conduit.