Simple lift assist module
AssigneeApplied Materials, Inc.
InventorsIhioma U. Nzeadibe, Daniel M. Kujaneck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compact lifting device whose load arm is fixed to a cover of lid of a processing chamber provides, a tubular pan body with an externally easily adjustable spring counterweight type member passing through the tubular center of the pan body. The spring member is cleverly mounted between an upper and lower portion of the pan body and rotates with the pan body as the lift mechanism swings from side to side. An innovative center core mounting of the spring device allows loads from the lifted weight to be equally distributed on two side of the pan body. The rotation of the pan body is by the use of bearings which are constructed so that a flange of pan body is utilized as two races of a ball bearing further reducing the space need for mounting such a lifting device.
Claims19
A hinged weight support apparatus comprising:
- a tubular pan body fixed to a base;
- a load arm rotatably fixed to an upper tilt axis of said pan body;
- wherein a weight support portion of said load arm extends in a first direction from said upper tilt axis;
- wherein a crank arm portion of said load arm extends in a second direction, approximately opposite to said first direction, from said upper tilt axis to a crank pin axis located away from said upper tilt axis by a crankarm distance.
- a spring element having an adjustable spring tension, wherein said spring element has a bottom end rotatably fixed to a lower spring support member of said pan body, said spring element passing through a portion of said tubular pan body and having a top end rotatably fixed to a crank pin axis member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.