Modularized parallel drivetrain
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
InventorsEdwin G. Haas, Edward V. Sullivan, Robert C. Schwarz, Martin Kesselman, Gary E. Kuhn, John M. Papazian
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Abstract
The invention resides in a module used in conjunction with other such modules in an apparatus for rapidly producing an article having a three-dimensional design comprising a base, a plurality of translating members mounted on the base and the plurality of translating members movable relative thereto, the base is an interconnectable block of parallel drivetrain elements having a single input shaft and a series of parallel output shafts at right angles to the input shaft whose power flow to the output shafts is connected/disconnected electrically via electromagnetic clutches.
Claims10
An apparatus defined by a plurality of translating members, comprising:
- a frame base plate;
- a plurality of module bases capable of being assembled as a reconfigurable tool area defined by an array of said modular bases on said base plate;
- each of said modular bases being formed with a portion capable of coacting with corresponding locating portions of said base plate;
- a plurality of translating members movably mounted to said modular bases and being movable relative thereto;
- a plurality of drive output shafts each associated for driving connection with one said plurality of translating members;
- transmission means disposed in said base modules for independent driving controllable interconnection of each of said plurality of translating members with a common rotational drive source;
- and
- control means interconnecting said transmission means and a controller with one another to effect selective energization of said transmission means to effect selective rotation of one or more of said plurality of translating members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.