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US 5,957,029 AGranted
Linear thruster
AssigneeBimba Manufacturing Company
InventorsPeter W. Boyer, Steven J. Breese, Daniel L. Choisser, Kevin R. Douglas, David S. Harris, John W. Langer, Michael T. Starr, Mark A. Tichgelaar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear thruster is disclosed in which a load beam is linearly moved by fluid power relative to a guide beam and a piston. The beams are multisided in cross-section to substantially increase the linear bearing area between the bodies and, thereby, substantially increase the strength of the linear thruster against side forces as well as moments to which the linear thruster might subjected. Internal positioning of the components and energy transmission are maximized and the stroke may be variably adjusted.
Claims31
A fluid operated linear thruster comprising:
- a guide beam having an elongate passage therein defined by internal walls in said guide beam;
- a load beam positioned in said passage of said guide beam for reciprocation therein, said load beam having an outer wall which is sized and shaped so as to be supported and guided at least at two spaced locations on said internal walls of said guide beam during reciprocation of said load beam in the passage of said guide beam;
- at least one of said passages of said guide beam and said outer wall of said load beam being multisided in cross-section;
- a mounting on said load beam to mount a load thereon for movement with said reciprocating load beam;
- a piston in said load beam, said load beam being reciprocally movable relative to said piston;
- a fluid inlet for communicating a source of fluid under pressure to at least one side of said piston to urge said load beam to reciprocally move in said passage and relative to said piston, and between a first position and a second position while being supported and guided by said at least two spaced locations;
- wherein said load beam has an elongate axis, and a plurality of channels opening to at least one end of said load beam, spaced from each other, extending longitudinally of and within said load beam and substantially parallel to and radially spaced from said axis;
- wherein said plurality of channels includes at least one channel which extends the length of said load beam to said mounting on said load beam, and said at least one channel is constructed and arranged relative to said mounting to communicate at least one of fluid and electrical energy to said mounting on said load beam when said load beam is in said second position and in which it is extended from said guide beam;
- and
- a tube mounted on an end of said guide beam opposite said mounting on said load beam, said tube extending into said at least one said channel, and said load beam is also reciprocally movable relative to said tube.
7 more elements
A fluid operated linear thruster, comprising:
- a guide beam having an elongate passage therein defined by internal walls in said guide beam;
- a load beam positioned in said passage of said guide beam for reciprocation therein, said load beam having an outer wall which is sized and shaped so as to be supported and guided at least at two spaced locations on said internal walls of said guide beam during reciprocation of said load beam in the passage of said guide beam, said load beam having an elongate axis and a plurality of channels opening to at least one end of said load beam, spaced from each other, extending longitudinally of and within said load beam and substantially parallel to and radially spaced from said axis;
- at least one of said passage of said guide beam and said outer wall of said load beam being multisided in cross-section;
- a mounting on said load beam to mount a load thereon for movement with said reciprocating load beam;
- a piston in said load beam;
- a fluid inlet for communicating a source of fluid under pressure to at least one side of said piston to urge said load beam to reciprocally move in said passage between a first position and a second position while being supported and guided by said at least two spaced locations;
- wherein said plurality of channels includes at least one channel which extends the length of said load beam to said mounting on said load beam, and said at least one channel is constructed and arranged relative to said mounting to communicate at least one of fluid and electrical energy to said mounting on said load beam when said load beam is in said second position and in which it is extended from said guide beam;
- and
- a tube mounted on an end of said guide beam opposite said mounting on said load beam, said tube extending into said at least one said channel, and said load beam is also reciprocally movable relative to said tube.
6 more elements
A fluid operated linear thruster, comprising:
- a guide beam having an elongate passage therein defined by internal walls in said guide beam;
- a load beam positioned in said passage of said guide beam for reciprocation therein, said load beam having an outer wall which is sized and shaped so as to be supported and guided at least at two spaced locations on said internal walls of said guide beam during reciprocation of said load beam in the passage of said guide beam, said load beam having an elongate axis and a plurality of channels opening to at least one end of said load beam, spaced from each other, extending longitudinally of and within said load beam and substantially parallel to and radially spaced from said axis, said guide beam internal walls and said load beam outer wall being spaced from each other;
- at least one bearing member positioned in the space between said walls to support and guide said load beam at said at least two spaced locations during said reciprocation;
- at least one of said passage of said guide beam and said outer wall of said load beam being multisided in cross-section;
- a mounting on said load beam to mount a load thereon for movement with said reciprocating load beam;
- a piston in said load beam;
- a fluid inlet for communicating a source of fluid under pressure to at least one side of said piston to urge said load beam to reciprocally move in said passage between a first position and a second position while being supported and guided by said at least two spaced locations;
- wherein said plurality of channels includes at least one channel which extends the length of said load beam to said mounting on said load beam, and said at least one channel is constructed and arranged relative to said mounting to communicate at least one of fluid and electrical energy to said mounting on said load beam when said load beam is in said second position and in which it is extended from said guide beam;
- and
- a tube mounted on an end of said guide beam opposite said mounting on said load beam, said tube extending into said at least one said channel, and said load beam is also reciprocally movable relative to said tube.
7 more elements
A fluid operated linear thruster, comprising:
- a guide beam having an elongate passage therein defined by internal walls in said guide beam;
- a load beam positioned in said passage of said guide beam for reciprocation therein, said load beam having an outer wall which is sized and shaped so as to be supported and guided at least at two spaced locations on said internal walls of said guide beam during reciprocation of said load beam in the passage of said guide beam;
- at least one of said passage of said guide beam and said outer wall of said load beam being multisided in cross-section;
- a mounting on said load beam to mount a load thereon for movement with said reciprocating load beam;
- a piston in said load beam, said load beam being reciprocally moveable relative to said piston;
- a fluid inlet for communicating a source of fluid under pressure to at least one side of said piston to urge said load beam to reciprocally move in said passage and relative to said piston, and between a first position and a second position while being supported and guided by said at least two spaced locations;
- wherein at least one of said guide beam internal walls and said load beam outer wall is coated with a low friction solid polymer substance;
- wherein said plurality of channels includes at least one channel which extends the length of said load beam to said mounting on said load beam, and said at least one channel is constructed and arranged relative to said mounting to communicate at least one of fluid and electrical energy to said mounting on said load beam when said load beam is in said second position and in which it is extended from said guide beam;
- and
- a tube mounted on an end of said guide beam opposite said mounting on said load beam, said tube extending into said at least one said channel, and said load beam is also reciprocally movable relative to said tube.
7 more elements
A fluid operated linear thruster comprising:
- a guide beam having an elongate passage therein defined by internal walls in said guide beam;
- a load beam positioned in said passage of said guide beam for reciprocation therein, said load beam having an outer wall which is sized and shaped so as to be supported and guided at least at two spaced locations on said internal walls of said guide beam;
- at least one of said passage of said guide beam and said outer wall of said load beam being multisided in cross-section;
- a mounting on said load beam to mount a load thereon for movement with said reciprocating load beam;
- a piston in said load beam, said load beam being reciprocally movable relative to said piston;
- a fluid inlet for communicating a source of fluid under pressure to at least one side of said piston to urge said load beam to reciprocally move in said passage and relative to said piston, and between a first position and a second position while being supported and guided by said at least two spaced locations;
- wherein said guide beam internal walls and said load beam outer wall are spaced from each other, and at least one bearing member which is formed of a solid, low friction polymer is positioned in the space between said walls to support and guide said load beam at said at least two spaced locations during its reciprocation;
- a rib and a groove, said rib being positioned on either said bearing member or on a complementary one of said walls, and said groove being positioned on the other of either said bearing member or complementary one of said walls, and said rib being positioned in said groove to prevent said bearing member from moving relative to the complementary one of said walls;
- wherein said plurality of channels includes at least one channel which extends the length of said load beam to said mounting on said load beam, and said at least one channel is constructed and arranged relative to said mounting to communicate at least one of fluid and electrical energy to said mounting on said load beam when said load beam is in said second position and in which it is extended from said guide beam;
- and
- a tube mounted on an end of said guide beam opposite said mounting on said load beam, said tube extending into said at least one said channel, and said load beam is also reciprocally movable relative to said tube.
8 more elements
A fluid operated linear thruster, comprising:
- a guide beam having an elongate passage therein defined by internal walls in said guide beam;
- a load beam positioned in said passage of said guide beam for reciprocation therein, said load beam having an outer wall which is sized and shaped so as to be supported and guided at least at two spaced locations on said internal walls of said guide beam during reciprocation of said load beam in the passage of said guide beam;
- at least one of said passages of said guide beam and said outer wall of said load beam being multisided in cross-section;
- a mounting on said load beam to mount a load thereon for movement with said reciprocating load beam;
- a piston in said load beam, said load beam being reciprocally movable relative to said piston;
- a fluid inlet for communicating a source of fluid under pressure to at least one side of said piston to urge said load beam to reciprocally move in said passage and relative to said piston, and between a first position and a second position while being supported and guided by said at least two spaced locations;
- and
- wherein said guide beam includes a vent to vent said passage of said guide beam to the exterior of said guide beam, and wherein said vent is a vacuum line;
- wherein said plurality of channels includes at least one channel which extends the length of said load beam to said mounting on said load beam, and said at least one channel is constructed and arranged relative to said mounting to communicate at least one of fluid and electrical energy to said mounting on said load beam when said load beam is in said second position and in which it is extended from said guide beam;
- and
- a tube mounted on an end of said guide beam opposite said mounting on said load beam, said tube extending into said at least one said channel, and said load beam is also reciprocally movable relative to said tube.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.