Load counterbalancing system with a constant load displacement force
AssigneeLTX Corporation
InventorsAnatoly Pikovsky, Andrew Roemer, Roger Plante
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A load counterbalancing system with a constant load displacement force includes a load element, a position transducer and an actuator element. An environmental force acting upon the load element is counterbalanced by a support force provided by the actuator element. The environmental force is assumed to be a predetermined function of the position of the load element, and the actuator element applies the support force to the load element as defined by the predetermined function. The invention allows an operator to move the load element through its entire range of motion with a constant applied force, and to place the load element statically at any position in the range of motion.
Claims25
A load counterbalancing system, comprising:
- A. a load element movable along a reference axis with respect to a base member, and being subject to an environmental force along the axis toward the base member, the environmental force being a predetermined function of the position of the load element along the axis;
- B. a position transducer including means for generating a signal representative of the position of the load element along the axis;
- C. an actuator including means responsive to the signal for applying a support force to the load element along the axis, substantially equal and opposite to the environmental force.
A method of counterbalancing a load, comprising the steps of:
- A. providing a load element movable along a reference axis with respect to a base member, and being subject to an environmental force along the axis toward the base member, the environmental force being a predetermined function of the position of the load element along the axis;
- B. generating a signal representative of the position of the load element along the axis;
- C. in response to said signal, applying a support force to the load element along the axis, substantially equal and opposite to the environmental force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.