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US 7,607,624 B1Granted
Valve tester suspension assembly
AssigneeHurco Technologies, Inc.
InventorLyndon J. Hurley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve tester suspension assembly for allowing one person to perform the tasks necessary to test underground valves includes an articulated arm attached to a mobile base such as a vehicle. The articulated arm may be biased such that the biasing assists in supporting the weight of a rotating assembly positioned at a distal end of the articulated arm. The articulated arm is pivoted to permit positioning of the rotating device in a substantially horizontal orientation at a desired position within a three dimensional space adjacent to the base to which the articulated arm is attached. A method of use is also described.
Claims12
A valve tester suspension assembly comprising:
- an articulated arm assembly adapted for coupling to a vehicle;
- a rotating assembly coupled to said arm assembly to pivot around a substantially horizontal axis such that said rotating assembly is positionable in a substantially horizontal orientation at a selectable position in a three dimensional space adjacent the vehicle;
- and
- a shaft having a first end operationally couplable to said rotating assembly for rotating said shaft;
- a torque adjustment means operationally coupled to said rotating assembly for permitting adjustment of a torque exerted by said rotating assembly to turn said shaft;
- said arm assembly including a first arm portion for coupling to the vehicle;
- said arm assembly including a second arm portion pivotally coupled to said first arm portion;
- said arm assembly including a third arm portion pivotally coupled to a distal portion of said second arm portion;
- a first biasing assembly coupled between said second arm portion and said third arm portion;
- and
- a biasing assembly coupled between said third arm portion and said rotating assembly;
- said second biasing assembly comprising at least one spring member.
9 more elements
A valve tester suspension assembly comprising:
- an articulated arm assembly adapted for coupling to a vehicle;
- a rotating assembly coupled to said arm assembly to pivot around a substantially horizontal axis such that said rotating assembly is positionable in a substantially horizontal orientation at a selectable position in a three dimensional space adjacent the vehicle;
- and
- a shaft having a first end operationally couplable to said rotating assembly for rotating said shaft;
- a torque adjustment means operationally coupled to said rotating assembly for permitting adjustment of a torque exerted by said rotating assembly to turn said shaft;
- said arm assembly including a first arm portion adapted for coupling to the vehicle;
- said arm assembly including a second arm portion pivotally and rotatably coupled to said first arm portion;
- a first biasing assembly coupled between said first arm portion and said second arm portion;
- said arm assembly including a third arm portion pivotally coupled to a distal portion of said second arm portion;
- a second biasing assembly coupled between said second arm portion and said third arm portion;
- and
- a third biasing assembly coupled between said third arm portion and said rotating assembly;
- said second biasing assembly comprising a pair of second biasing assembly spring members;
- each of said second pair of second biasing assembly spring members being coupled between a distal end of an extension portion of said second arm portion and a medial portion of said third arm portion.
11 more elements
The valve tester suspension assembly comprising:
- an articulated arm assembly adapted for coupling to a vehicle;
- a rotating assembly coupled to said arm assembly to pivot around a substantially horizontal axis such that said rotating assembly is positionable in a substantially horizontal orientation at a selectable position in a three dimensional space adjacent the vehicle;
- and
- a shaft having a first end operationally couplable to said rotating assembly for rotating said shaft;
- a torque adjustment means operationally coupled to said rotating assembly for permitting adjustment of a torque exerted by said rotating assembly to turn said shaft;
- said arm assembly including a first arm portion adapted for coupling to the vehicle;
- said arm assembly including a second arm portion pivotally coupled to said first arm portion;
- a first biasing assembly coupled between said first arm portion and said second arm portion;
- said arm assembly including a third arm portion pivotally coupled to a distal portion of said second arm portion;
- a second biasing assembly coupled between said second arm portion and said third arm portion;
- and
- a third biasing assembly coupled between said third arm portion and said rotating assembly;
- said third biasing assembly comprising a spring member.
10 more elements
A valve tester suspension assembly comprising:
- an articulated arm assembly adapted for coupling to a vehicle;
- a rotating assembly coupled to said arm assembly to pivot around a substantially horizontal axis such that said rotating assembly is positionable in a substantially horizontal orientation at a selectable position in a three dimensional space adjacent the vehicle;
- and
- a shaft having a first end operationally couplable to said rotating assembly for rotating said shaft;
- said arm assembly including a first arm portion adapted for coupling to the vehicle;
- said arm assembly including a second arm portion pivotally coupled to said first arm portion;
- a first locking means for locking a second arm portion from rotating relative to a first arm portion;
- and
- a second locking means for locking said second arm portion from pivoting relative to said first arm portion.
6 more elements
A valve tester suspension assembly comprising:
- an articulated arm assembly adapted for coupling to a vehicle;
- a rotating assembly coupled to said arm assembly to pivot around a substantially horizontal axis such that said rotating assembly is positionable in a substantially horizontal orientation at a selectable position in a three dimensional space adjacent the vehicle;
- and
- a shaft having a first end operationally couplable to said rotating assembly for rotating said shaft;
- a torque adjustment means operationally coupled to said rotating assembly for permitting adjustment of a torque exerted by said rotating assembly to turn said shaft;
- said arm assembly including a first arm portion adapted for coupling to the vehicle, said first arm portion having a main portion and a connection portion pivotally coupled to said main portion;
- said arm assembly including a second arm portion pivotally coupled to said connection portion of said first arm portion;
- said connection portion including an extension portion extending back adjacent to said main portion of said first arm portion when said main portion and said connection portion are positioned in alignment with each other;
- and
- a first biasing assembly coupled between said extension portion of said connection portion and said second arm portion.
7 more elements
A valve tester suspension assembly comprising:
- an articulated arm assembly adapted for coupling to a vehicle;
- a rotating assembly coupled to said arm assembly to pivot around a substantially horizontal axis such that said rotating assembly is positionable in a substantially horizontal orientation at a selectable position in a three dimensional space adjacent the vehicle;
- and
- a shaft having a first end operationally couplable to said rotating assembly for rotating said shaft;
- said rotating assembly being coupled to said articulated arm assembly such that said rotating assembly is pivotable around a second horizontal axis to permit alignment of said rotating assembly with said shaft when said shaft is in a non-vertical position;
- said rotating assembly including a post extending from said rotating assembly;
- a rotating assembly connection member having a bearing portion secured to said post to permit pivoting of said rotating assembly around said second horizontal axis.
4 more elements
A valve tester suspension assembly comprising:
- an articulated arm assembly adapted for coupling to a vehicle;
- a rotating assembly coupled to said arm assembly to pivot around a substantially horizontal axis such that said rotating assembly is positionable in a substantially horizontal orientation at a selectable position in a three dimensional space adjacent the vehicle;
- and
- a shaft having a first end operationally couplable to said rotating assembly for rotating said shaft;
- said rotating assembly being coupled to said articulated arm assembly such that said rotating assembly is pivotable around a second horizontal axis to permit alignment of said rotating assembly with said shaft when said shaft is in a non-vertical position;
- wherein said second horizontal axis is orthogonal to said first horizontal axis.
3 more elements
A valve tester suspension assembly comprising:
- an articulated arm assembly adapted for coupling to a vehicle;
- a rotating assembly coupled to said arm assembly to pivot around a substantially horizontal axis such that said rotating assembly is positionable in a substantially horizontal orientation at a selectable position in a three dimensional space adjacent the vehicle;
- and
- a shaft having a first end operationally couplable to said rotating assembly for rotating said shaft;
- a torque adjustment means operationally coupled to said rotating assembly for permitting adjustment of a torque exerted by said rotating assembly to turn said shaft;
- said rotating assembly including a protrusion, said protrusion being adapted for operationally coupling to a fire hydrant valve for permitting testing of the fire hydrant valve.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.