# US 7,770,860 B1 · Medical service system on articulating arm with electromagnetic brakes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,770,860 B1 - Document ID: US7770860B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 11/534,398 - Filed: 2006-09-22 - Granted: 2010-08-10 - Earliest claimed: 2005-11-10 - Assignees: Modular Services Company - Inventors: Taylor C. Culpepper; Travis W. Webb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7770860B1 ## CPC - A61G 12/004: {mounted on the ceiling} - A61G 12/002: {Supply appliances, e.g. columns for gas, fluid, electricity supply (vertical ducts or channels for receiving utility lines E04F17/08; installations of electric cables or lines, wall trunking H02G3/0431; structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles F21V33/0068; stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles F16M11/00; buildings for public purposes E04H3/08)} - A61G 13/107: {Supply appliances (supply appliances for dental machines A61C1/0007)} - F16M 11/048: {adapted to forward-backward translation movement} - F16M 11/2014: {around a vertical axis (F16M11/2035 takes precedence)} - F16M 13/027: {Ceiling supports} - F16M 2200/024: by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections - F16M 2200/048: for balancing translational movement of the undercarriage - F16M 2200/065: with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS ## Abstract A modular ceiling-mounted medical services system including a vertical column supported by an articulating arm assembly. Rotational joints connect the column to the lower arm, the lower arm to the upper arm, and the upper arm to the ceiling mount. Rotational movement at each of the joints is controlled by an electrically-released electromagnetic brake, and all of the brakes may be controlled by a switch panel on the column. Thus, the entire assembly is held in place until the switch is activated. Slight hand pressure is sufficient to operate the switch while simultaneously pushing or pulling the column into the desired position. The service lines that supply the outlets in the column all pass through large central openings in the brakes. In this way, the brake mechanism is stronger and more reliable, and the profile and footprint of the entire assembly can be minimized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A service system for use in a structure having a support surface, the system comprising: a mounting assembly comprising: a mounting member connectable to the support surface; a first rotor mounted for rotation relative to the mounting member and having a central bore therethrough; a first electromagnetic brake assembly adapted to control rotation of the first rotor, the first brake assembly comprising a first permanent magnet having a central bore therethrough and being magnetically engageable with the first rotor and a first coil having a central bore therethrough for selectively controlling the magnetic engagement between the first permanent magnet and the first rotor, wherein the first permanent magnet and the first coil are positioned coaxially with the first rotor so that the central bores are aligned, and so that when the first coil is not energized attraction of the first permanent magnet for the first rotor causes the first rotor to resist rotation and when the first coil is energized attraction of the first permanent magnet for the first rotor is neutralized releasing the first rotor to rotate freely; and a first coupler supported on the first rotor for rotation therewith; an arm assembly having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end engageable with the first coupler, the arm assembly further comprising: a second rotor mounted on the distal end of the arm assembly for rotation relative thereto, the second rotor having a central bore therethrough; a second electromagnetic brake assembly adapted to control rotation of the second rotor, the second brake assembly comprising a second permanent magnet having a central bore therethrough and being magnetically engageable with the second rotor and a second coil having a central bore therethrough for selectively controlling the magnetic engagement between the brake member and the rotor, wherein the second permanent magnet and the second coil are positioned coaxially with the second rotor so that the central bores are aligned, and so that when the second coil is not energized attraction of the second permanent magnet for the second rotor causes the second rotor to resist rotation and when the second coil is energized attraction of the second permanent magnet for the second rotor is neutralized releasing the second rotor to rotate freely; and a second coupler supported on the second rotor for rotation therewith; a service unit having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end engageable with the second coupler for rotation therewith, and including at least one service outlet supported thereon; at least one conduit for supplying a service to the at least one service outlet on the service unit, the conduit extending from beyond the support surface through the central bores of the first and second rotor assemblies, the first and second permanent magnets, and the first and second coils, and into the service unit to connect to the outlet; and a control assembly for operating the brake assemblies, the control assembly comprising: a circuit for connecting the brake assemblies to a power source; and a switch in the circuit for energizing the brake assemblies. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The services system of claim 1 wherein the arm assembly comprises first and second arms, each arm having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the second arm being the proximal end of the arm assembly, the distal end of the first arm being the distal end of the arm assembly, the arm assembly further comprising: a third rotor mounted on the distal end of the second arm for rotation relative thereto, the third rotor having a central bore therethrough; a third electromagnetic brake assembly adapted to control rotation of the third rotor, the third brake assembly comprising a third permanent magnet magnetically engageable with the second rotor and a third coil for selectively controlling the magnetic engagement between the third permanent magnet and the third rotor, each of the third coil and the third permanent brake member having a central bore therethrough, wherein the third permanent magnet and the third coil are positioned coaxially with the third rotor so that the central bores are aligned, and so that when the third coil is not energized attraction of the third permanent magnet for the third rotor causes the third rotor to resist rotation and when the third coil is energized attraction of the third permanent magnet for the third rotor is neutralized releasing the third rotor to rotate freely; and a third coupler supported on the third rotor for rotation therewith. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The service system of claim 2 wherein the control assembly comprises a switch having a plurality of switch positions including a stop position, in which all the rotors in the system are braked, and at least one release position, in which the second brake assembly is released. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The service system of claim 3 wherein the at least one release position comprises first, second and third release positions, wherein the first release position releases the first and second brake assemblies, wherein the second release position releases the second and third brake assemblies, and wherein the third release position releases the first, second and third brake assemblies. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The service system of claim 4 wherein all the rotors and all the permanent magnets are ring-shaped. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The service system of claim 1 wherein the switch of the control assembly has a plurality of switch positions including a stop position, in which all the rotors in the system are braked, and at least one release position, in which the second brake assembly is released. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The service system of claim 6 wherein the at least one release position comprises first and second release positions, wherein the first release position releases the second brake assembly, and wherein the second release position releases the first and second brake assemblies. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The service system of claim 1 wherein the switch is positioned on the service unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The service system of claim 8 further comprising a handle for gripping the service unit to reposition the system, and wherein the switch is incorporated in the handle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The service system of claim 1 wherein the first and second permanent magnets each comprises a plurality of arc-shaped sections that together form a ring, each section having a polarity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The service system of claim 10 wherein each section of the each of the permanent magnets is provided with a polarity indicator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The service system of claim 11 wherein each polarity indicator is visually perceptible. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The service unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one service outlet comprises a plurality of service outlets and wherein the at least one conduit comprise a plurality of conduits. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The services system of claim 1 wherein the service unit is a vertical column, and wherein the arm assembly is generally horizontal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The services system of claim 14 wherein the mounting member is configured to attached to a ceiling as the support structure.