Movement assistance system for a storage bin
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMark LeQuesne Cloud, Christopher Lyle Schwitters, Kwun-Wing Cheung, Paul Andrew Kinzer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for assisting movement of a bin into a closed position. An assistance system associated with the bin may be activated in response to a manipulation of a switch associated with the bin. The assistance system may comprise a biasing system and a switch. The biasing system may be configured to generate a force in a direction towards a closed position for the bin. A switch may be connected to the biasing system and configured to activate the biasing system when a selected amount of weight is present in the bin. The force in the direction towards the closed position for the bin may be generated in response to activating the assistance system.
Claims20
A method for moving a bin, the method comprising:
- rotating an elongate member configured for:
- releasing a pawl, and activating a biasing unit connected to the bin, such that the bin remains movable when the pawl remains engaged with a ratchet and the biasing unit remains inactive;
- and
- activating the biasing unit and generating a force moving the bin toward a closed position by applying a force from the biasing unit against a cam and moving the biasing unit away from an opening of the bin.
A method of generating a force moving a bin toward a closed position, the method comprising:
- providing a force from a biasing unit for pressing the biasing unit against a cam connected to a housing, the housing retaining the bin;
- restraining:
- the force from the biasing unit, and the force moving the bin toward the closed position, by engaging a ratchet with a pawl such that the bin may be moved toward the closed position without activating the biasing unit;
- rotating an elongate member connected to the pawl and thus, when a selected weight is present in the bin, rotating the pawl and thus releasing the ratchet from engagement with the pawl;
- and
- the biasing unit pushing against the cam and thus rotating the bin, toward the closed position, about a pivot.
A method for providing a force for assisting movement of a bin, the method comprising:
- activating the force by activating a switch configured to release, when the bin contains a selected weight, a ratchet from a pawl thus moving a biasing unit away from an opening of the bin and rotating the bin about a pivot, the pivot being connected to a housing retaining the bin, the pawl being spring biased to engage the ratchet and connecting to the biasing unit at a first location on the biasing unit, the ratchet connecting to the biasing unit at a second location on the biasing unit via a carriage, such that the bin remains movable when the ratchet remains engaged with the pawl.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.