Motion control device
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsGerald Ronald Gough, James Robert Kitchen, Jay K. Osborn, Stephen David Sparkes, Sean Conor Wrycraft
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is described a motion control device for preventing free-fall of electronics modules during vertical movement into or out of a supporting structure. The system comprises a rotatable element on the module or structure engageable with surface on the structure or module, respectively, for rolling movement therealong. The rotatable element is provided with a clutch or brake to provide resistance to rotation at least when the module is moving downward relative to the structure. The rotatable element may be a gear engageable with a toothed rack, or a friction roller engageable with a friction surface.
Claims44
A modular assembly for housing an electronic circuit, comprising a supporting structure having vertically extending guides, and at least one circuit module engageable with the guides for movement in a vertical direction between a mounted position and a dismounted position, the assembly further comprising a motion control device having a first component provided on the module and a second component provided on the supporting structure, and wherein the first and second components of the motion control device are cooperable to resist downward movement of the module relative to the supporting structure in engagement with the guides.
A motion control device for a modular assembly comprising a supporting structure and at least one module movable relative to the supporting structure in a movement direction into and out of a mounted position, the motion control device comprising:
- a component providing an elongate engagement surface on one of the supporting structure and the module to extend in said movement direction;
- a rotatable element mountable to the other of the supporting structure and the module to engage the engagement surface for rolling movement therealong;
- and
- a retarding device operable to resist rotation of the rotatable element in at least one rotation direction.
A component for a motion control device, comprising:
- a mounting plate;
- a swinging arm pivotally attached at one of its ends to the mounting plate for swinging movement towards and away from the mounting plate;
- a rotatable element mounted to a second end of the swinging arm;
- and
- a friction clutch or brake operable between the swinging arm and the rotatable element to resist rotation of the rotatable element in at least one rotation direction.
A supporting structure to which a number of modules are mountable to form a modular assembly, comprising:
- guides for receiving respective modules for vertical movement relative to the supporting structure;
- a motion control device component cooperable with a complementary motion control device component associated with one of the modules to resist vertically downward movement of the module relative to the supporting structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.