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US 11,499,599 B2Granted
Electromechanical spring system
AssigneeBarnes Group Inc.
InventorsJack W. Adoline, Adrian A. Vine, David D. Johnson, Phillip A. McConnell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring system that includes an adjustable spring system that is operated by a motor.
Claims12
A strut system comprising:
- a top sleeve having an internal chamber;
- a bottom sleeve having an internal chamber and arranged for sliding displacement relative to said top sleeve, said top and bottom sleeves slidably engaged with one another;
- a top rod positioned at least partially in said internal chamber of said top sleeve, said top rod including an internal cavity and a bottom rod connector, said bottom rod connector including an opening, a longitudinal length of said top rod is greater than a longitudinal length of said internal chamber of said top sleeve;
- a bottom rod positioned at least partially in said internal chamber of said bottom sleeve, said bottom rod connected to said top rod, a top portion of said bottom rod configured to move within said internal cavity of said top rod when said top sleeve moves between extended and retracted positions, a longitudinal length of said bottom rod is less than a longitudinal length of said internal chamber of said bottom sleeve;
- a mechanical spring positioned at least partially in said internal chamber of said bottom sleeve and/or said internal chamber of said top sleeve, a free length of said mechanical spring greater than a longitudinal length of said internal chamber of said top sleeve and/or said bottom sleeve;
- and,
- a drive system, said drive system including a motor, a motor housing, a gear drive system, and a drive motor release, said gear drive system interconnecting said motor to said bottom rod to enable said motor to cause rotation of said bottom rod, said gear drive system including one or more gears selected from the group consisting of a motor gear connected to said motor, an intermediate gear, and a rod gear connected to said bottom rod, said drive motor release including a release arrangement to be used by a user to terminate said motor from driving rotation of said bottom rod when said release arrangement is used by the user, said release arrangement configured to cause one or more gears of said gear drive system to be repositioned from its engagement position when said release arrangement is used by said user, said release arrangement including a pull tab positioned on an outer surface of said motor housing and a cable that is connected between said pull tab and said gear drive system;
- wherein rotation of said bottom rod in a first direction causes said top rod to move in a direction that causes said top sleeve to move to an extended position, and wherein rotation of said bottom rod in a direction opposite said first direction causes said top rod to move in a direction that causes said top sleeve to move to a retracted position;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of said release arrangement is located on an exterior of said motor housing.
7 more elements
A strut system comprising:
- a top sleeve having an internal chamber;
- a bottom sleeve having an internal chamber and arranged for sliding displacement relative to said top sleeve, said top and bottom sleeves slidably engaged with one another;
- a top rod positioned at least partially in said internal chamber of said top sleeve, said top rod connected to said top sleeve such that said top rod does not rotate relative to said top sleeve, said top rod including an internal cavity and a bottom rod connector secured in said internal cavity, said bottom rod connector including a threaded opening;
- a bottom rod positioned at least partially in said internal chamber of said bottom sleeve, said bottom rod rotatably and threadedly connected to said top rod, a top portion of said bottom rod extending into said internal cavity of said top rod and configured to move within said internal cavity when said top sleeve moves between extended and retracted positions, said bottom rod not connected to said top sleeve;
- a spring arrangement positioned at least partially in said internal chamber of said bottom sleeve and/or said internal chamber of said top sleeve, said spring arrangement not connected at either end to said top sleeve or said bottom sleeve;
- and,
- a drive system, said drive system including a motor, a motor housing, a gear drive system, and a drive motor release, said gear drive system interconnecting said motor to said bottom rod enabling said motor to cause rotation of said bottom rod, said gear drive system including one or more gears selected from the group consisting of a motor gear connected to said motor, an intermediate gear, and a rod gear connected to said bottom rod, said drive motor release including a release arrangement to be used by a user to terminate said motor from driving rotation of said bottom rod when said release arrangement is used by the user, said release arrangement configured to cause one or more gears of said gear drive system to be repositioned from its engagement position when said release arrangement is used by said user, said release arrangement including a pull tab positioned on an outer surface of said motor housing and a cable connected between said pull tab and said gear drive system;
- and wherein said bottom sleeve continues to be slidably displaceable relative to said top sleeve after said user causes said motor to be disengaged from said gear drive system;
- and wherein rotation of said bottom rod in a first direction causes said top rod to move in a direction that causes said top sleeve to move to an extended position, and wherein rotation of said bottom rod in a direction opposite said first direction causes said top rod to move in a direction that causes said top sleeve to move to a retracted position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.