Vacuum nozzle
AssigneeDelaware Capital Formation, Inc.
InventorJamie A. Hoyt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vacuum nozzle includes a nozzle body and a nozzle tip joined to allow relative motion therebetween. A proximal portion of the nozzle tip is adapted to slidably engage in the axial direction a surface of the nozzle body. The proximal portion has at least one flexible arm and an interfacing element disposed thereon that can cooperatively engage with a receiving element associated with the nozzle body. By forming the vacuum nozzle in at least the two parts, the unsprung mass of the vacuum nozzle is reduced with an attendant reduction in force transferred to a component when contacted by the nozzle tip. A compliant element is positioned between the nozzle body and the nozzle tip and also contributes to reduce impact forces. A method of using a vacuum nozzle with a vacuum transfer system are also provided.
Claims32
A vacuum nozzle, comprising:
- a nozzle body with a body passage extending axially therethrough from a first end to a second end;
- and
- a nozzle tip with a tip passage extending axially therethrough, the tip passage in operative communication with the body passage to port a vacuum to a distal end of the nozzle tip;
- wherein a proximal portion of the nozzle tip is adapted to slidably engage in the axial direction a surface of the nozzle body and the nozzle tip and the nozzle body are joined to allow relative movement therebetween.
A vacuum nozzle for a vacuum transferring system, the nozzle comprising:
- a nozzle body with a body passage extending axially therethrough from a proximal end to a distal end;
- a nozzle tip with a tip passage extending axially therethrough, the tip passage in operative communication with the body passage to port a vacuum to a distal portion of the nozzle tip, and a proximal portion of the nozzle tip adapted to slidably engage in the axial direction a surface of the nozzle body, the distal portion separated from the proximal portion by a seating surface;
- and
- a compliant element disposed between the seating surface of the nozzle tip and the distal end of the nozzle body.
A vacuum nozzle for a vacuum transfer system, the vacuum nozzle comprising:
- a nozzle body with a body passage extending axially therethrough from a first end to a second end;
- and
- a nozzle tip with a tip passage extending axially therethrough, the tip passage in operative communication with the body passage to port a vacuum to a distal end of the nozzle tip;
- and
- means for connecting the nozzle body to the nozzle tip so that a momentum of the vacuum nozzle is substantially based on only a mass of the nozzle tip.
A vacuum nozzle for a vacuum transfer system, the vacuum nozzle comprising:
- a nozzle body with a body passage extending axially therethrough from a first end to a second end;
- a nozzle tip with a tip passage extending axially therethrough, the tip passage in operative communication with the body passage to port a vacuum to a distal portion of the nozzle tip;
- and
- means for joining the nozzle tip to the nozzle body such that the nozzle tip is movable with respect to the nozzle body during operation of the vacuum transfer system.
A method of manipulating an object with a vacuum transfer system, the method comprising:
- positioning a vacuum nozzle with respect to the object, the vacuum nozzle comprising a nozzle body and a nozzle tip joined to the nozzle body to allow relative movement therebetween;
- contacting the object with the nozzle tip so that a force of impact between the nozzle tip and the object is substantially based only on momentum arising from a mass of the nozzle tip;
- and
- manipulating the object.
A method of using a vacuum nozzle with a vacuum transfer system to manipulate a component and to reduce impact forces thereon, the method comprising:
- placing a vacuum nozzle in fluid communication with a supply line in a vacuum transfer system;
- maneuvering the vacuum transfer system to engage the vacuum nozzle with a component to be manipulated;
- and
- manipulating the component;
- wherein the vacuum nozzle comprises at least a first part comprising a nozzle body adapted to attach to the supply line of the vacuum transfer system and a second part comprising a nozzle tip adapted to contact the component to be manipulated, wherein the second part slidably engages the first part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.