Powered pivot unit
AssigneeBTM Corporation
InventorsEdwin G. Sawdon, Dean J. Kruger, Andrew T. Sanders
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A positioning apparatus includes an arm, a housing having a chamber, a vane rotatably movable within the chamber and an engaging member. The engaging member is slidingly coupled to the arm. The engaging member is selectively positionable in an engaged and a disengaged position with the vane such that the arm rotates in response to rotation of the vane when the engaging member is in the engaged position.
Claims32
A positioning apparatus comprising:
- an arm;
- a housing having a chamber;
- a vane rotatably movable within said chamber;
- and
- a engaging member slidingly coupled to said arm, said engaging member being selectively positionable in an engaged and a disengaged position with said vane, wherein said arm rotates in response to rotation of said vane when said engaging member is in said engaged position.
A positioning apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a rotary actuator coupled to said frame;
- and
- a positioning bracket rotatably coupled to said frame and drivingly coupled to said rotary actuator, wherein said positioning bracket at least partially surrounds said rotary actuator.
A positioning apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a fluid powered actuator having a housing and a first member, said actuator being coupled to said frame, said first member being rotatably moveable within said housing, said first member including an aperture;
- a positioning bracket;
- an industrial tool coupled to said positioning bracket;
- a hub including a first journal, a second journal and a flange, wherein said first journal is rotatably coupled to said frame about an axis, wherein said second journal aligns said positioning bracket along said axis, and wherein said flange is coupled to said positioning bracket;
- and
- a second member slidingly coupled to said hub, said second member being positionable in an engaged position within said aperture and a disengaged position outside of said aperture.
A positioning apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- an arm pivotably coupled to said frame;
- a rotary actuator coupled to said frame, said rotary actuator being operable to rotate said arm relative to said frame, wherein said rotary actuator is removable from said positioning apparatus without disassembling said arm from said frame.
An apparatus comprising:
- a pneumatic actuator;
- an arm coupled to the actuator, the arm being rotatable from a first position to a second position;
- and
- a work piece engaging tool mounted to the arm;
- wherein the actuator provides a substantially constant torque output throughout the range of rotation of the arm.
A method of operating a powered pivot unit having an actuator, at least one arm, an industrial tool mounting surface, and a frame, the method comprising:
- (a) supplying fluid to the actuator;
- (b) rotating a portion of the actuator about an axis extending through the actuator, by direct contact with the fluid;
- (c) rotating the arm relative to the frame in response to movement of the portion of the actuator;
- and
- (d) moving the tool mounting surface in response to movement of the arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.