Seed lifting and rotating system for use in crystal growth
AssigneeLinton Crystal Technologies Corp.
InventorsJohn A. Reese, Joel C. Stefl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lift assembly includes a lift housing, a drum with a helical groove about its exterior surface, and a drive shaft coupled to the drum to cause the drum to rotate. A roller guide mounted to the lift housing engages the helical groove of the drum such that rotation of the drum causes the drum to translate due to the engagement of the helical groove of the drum with the roller guide. The roller guide can be part of a roller guide assembly that includes a mounting plate and a shaft.
Claims18
A lift assembly for use in lifting a seed coupled to a cable, the assembly comprising:
- a lift housing forming a cable exit port therein;
- a drum positioned within the lift housing, the drum forming a helical groove about an exterior surface of the drum, the drum extending from a first end to a second opposing end, the drum being rotatable around a central axis and translatable along the central axis;
- a roller guide mounted to the lift housing and rotatable about a roller guide axis, wherein the roller guide engages at least a portion of the helical groove of the drum, the roller guide axis being parallel to and offset from the central axis, the roller guide being fixed from translating along the central axis;
- and
- a drive shaft coupled to the drum and configured to cause the drum to rotate, wherein rotation of the drum causes the drum to translate via an engagement of the helical groove of the drum with the roller guide.
A method for lifting a seed coupled to a cable, the method comprising:
- providing a lift assembly, the lift assembly including:
- a lift housing forming a cable exit port therein;
- a drum positioned within the lift housing, the drum forming a helical groove about an exterior surface of the drum, the drum extending from a first end to a second opposing end, the drum being rotatable around a central axis and translatable along the central axis;
- a roller guide mounted to the lift housing and rotatable about a roller guide axis, wherein the roller guide engages at least a portion of the helical groove of the drum, the roller guide axis being parallel to and offset from the central axis, the roller guide being fixed from translating along the central axis;
- and
- a drive shaft coupled to the drum;
- and
- rotating the drive shaft, wherein rotation of the drive shaft causes the drum to rotate, and wherein rotation of the drum causes the drum to translate via an engagement of the helical groove of the drum with the roller guide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.