Shuttle transfer system

Claim 2

A shuttle transfer assembly for transferring high load devices at high speeds comprising; a screw (l8) having threads (23), support means (24) at each end (20,22) of said screw (l8) for rotatably supporting and journalling said ends (20,22) of said screw (l8), drive means (46) for rotating said screw (l8), a nonrotatable nut (54) having threads (56) coactive with said threads (23) of said screw (l8) to travel longitudinally along the length of said screw (l8) during rotation thereof, said assembly (l0) characterized by said threads (56,23) of said nut (54) and screw (l8) each being multithreaded, said threads (56) of said nut (54) formed about said threads (23) of said screw (l8) for providing multipoint full thread contact completely about said screw (l8) and minimizing tolerances between said threads (23) of said screw (l8) and said threads (56) of said nut (54) to move said nut (54) at high speeds between said ends (20,22) of said screw (l8).

Claim 3

An assembly as set forth in claim l further characterized by said threads (56) of said nut (54) and said threads (23) of said screw (l8) having a thread lead to thread diameter ratio greater than one.

Claim 4

An assembly as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said threads (56) of said nut (54) being a polymer material for lubricating and dissipating heat between said threads (56,23) of said nut (54) and screw (l8).

Claim 5

An assembly as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said threads (56) of said nut (54) and said threads (23) of said screw (l8) each having at least two threads.

Claim 6

An assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a shuttle housing (l2) connected to a support surface to support said support means (24).

Claim 7

An assembly as set forth in claim 5 including guide channels (68) being substantially parallel to one another connected to the side of said shuttle housing (l2) and having a guide means (70) interconnecting said guide plates (68) for guiding said nut (54) along the length of said screw (l8).

Claim 8

An assembly as set forth in claim 6 further characterized by said guide means (70) including a polymer material formed in a U shape and defining a cap (70) having a channel (72).

Claim 9

An assembly as set forth in claim 7 further characterized by said nut (54) including a carriage plate member (60) attached to said nut (54) to allow attachment of objects to said plate member (60) to be moved along said screw (l8).

Claim 10

An assembly as set forth in claim 8 including a carrier bracket (64) having a U shape and connected on both sides of said carriage plate (60), one flange of said U-shaped carrier bracket (64) being disposed in said channel (72) of said guide means (70).

Claim 11

l0. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 further characterized by said screw (l8) having coaxially spaced corotative screw sections (l8) with the thread grooves of said sections (l8) being operatively aligned.

Claim 12

An assembly as set forth in claim l0 further characterized by said support means (24) including a standoff bracket (26) supporting a pair of said screw sections (l8) in the space therebetween and rotatably journalling said screw sections (l8).

Claim 13

An assembly as set forth in claim ll further characterized by said standoff bracket (26) comprising a base (28) connected to said shuttle housing (l2), a journal head (26), and a spacer web (32) interconnecting said base (28) and said journal head (30).

Claim 14

An assembly as set forth in claim l2 including a connecting member (34) interconnecting said screw sections (l8), said connecting member (34) being disposed within said journal head (30).

Claim 15

An assembly as set forth in claim l3 further characterized by said support means (24) including a bearing housing (36) connected to said shuttle housing (l2) to support the drive end (20) of said screw (l8).

Claim 16

An assembly as set forth in claim l4 including bearing means (38) disposed within said bearing housing (36) for rotatably supporting said drive end (20) of said screw (l8).

Claim 17

An assembly as set forth in claim l5 including brake means (72) for stopping rotation of said screw (l8) upon power cut off and said not (54) exceeding a predetermined position.

Claim 18

An assembly as set forth in claim l6 including shock absorber means (74) at each end of said screw (l8) for preventing contact of said nut (54) with said bearing housing (36) and said brake means (72).

Claim 19

An assembly as set forth in claim l7 including a sensing means (66) connected to one of said carrier brackets (64) for sensing the linear displacement of said nut (54) along the length of said screw (l8).

Claim 20

An assembly as set forth in claim l8 further characterized by said bearing means (38) comprising a ball bearing.

Claim 21

An assembly as set forth in claim l9 including a retainer (40) connected at each end of said bearing housing (36).

Claim 22

2l. An assembly as set forth in claim 20 including a seal member (44) disposed within said bearing housing (36) to prevent contaminants from entering said bearing housing (36).

Claim 23

An assembly as set forth in claim 2l including a mounting bracket (76) connected to said shuttle housing (l2) to support said shock absorber means (74).

Claim 24

An assembly as set forth in claim 22 including a lock nut (42) disposed about said lead screw (l8) to secure said bearing means (38) within said bearing housing (36).

Claim 25

An assembly as set forth in claim 23 including a mounting bracket (80) connected to said shuttle housing (l2) to support said brake means (72).

Claim 26

An assembly as set forth in claim 24 including a catch pad (62) attached to each end of said plate member (60).

Claim 27

An assembly as set forth in claim 25 further characterized by said journal head (30) of said standoff bracket (26) being of no greater diameter than said screw section (l8).

Claim 28

An assembly as set forth in claim 26 further characterized by said web (32) of said standoff bracket (26) being substantially narrower than the diameter of said screw sections (l8).

Claim 29

An assembly as set forth in claim 27 further characterized by said nut (54) being cylindrical in shape and having a longitudinal slot (58) to clear said standoff bracket (26) in relative passing of the nut (54) past said standoff bracket (26).

Claim 30

An assembly as set forth in claim 28 further characterized by said nut slot (58) being of a width which is only slightly greater than the width of said web (32) of said standoff bracket (26).

Claim 31

An assembly as set forth in claim 29 further characterized by said threads (56) of said nut (54) and said threads (23) of said screw (l8) each having at least two threads.

Claim 32

3l. A screw shuttle transfer assembly comprising; a screw (l8) having threads (23), a bearing housing (36) supporting the drive end (20) of said screw (l8), said screw (l8) having coaxial corotative screw sections (l8) with the thread grooves of the sections (l8) operatively aligned, a standoff bracket supporting a pair of said screw sections (l8) at the ends thereof and rotatably journalling said screw sections (l8), a drive means (46) for rotating said screw (l8), a nonrotatable nut (54) having threads (56) coactive with said threads (23) of said screw (l8) to travel longitudinally along the length of said screw (l8), said nut (54) being cylindrical in shape and having a longitudinal slot (58), a connecting member (34) interconnecting said screw sections (l8), said standoff bracket (26) including a base (28) and journal head (26) and a web (32) interconnecting said journal head (30) and said base (28), a shuttle housing (l2) connected to a support surface for supporting said standoff bracket (26) and said bearing housing (36), brake means (72) for stopping rotation of said screw (l8) upon said nut (54) overtraveling a predetermined position and upon power cut off, a shock absorber means (74) for preventing contact of said nut (54) with said bearing housing (36) and said brake means (72), bearing means (38) disposed within said bearing housing (36) for rotatably supporting the drive end (20) of said screw (l8), a carriage plate member (60) attached to said nut (54) to be moved along said screw (l8), a carrier bracket (64) having a U shape connected on both sides of said carriage plate member (60), guide channels (68) being substantially parallel to one another connected to the side of said shuttle housing (l2) and having a guide means (70) interconnecting said guide channels (68) for guiding said nut (54) along said screw (l8), said guide means (70) including a polymer material formed in a U shape to define a cap (70) having a channel (72) with one flange of said U-­shaped carrier bracket (64) being disposed in said channel (72), said threads (56,23) of said nut (54) and said screw (l8) each being multithreaded, said threads (56) of said nut (54) formed about said threads (23) of said screw (l8) for providing multipoint full thread contact completely about said screw (l8) and minimizing tolerances between said threads (23) of said screw (l8) and said threads (56) of said nut (54) to move said nut (54) at high speeds between said ends (20.22) of said screw (l8).

Claim 33

3l. A screw shuttle transfer assembly comprising; a screw (l8) having threads (23), a bearing housing (36) supporting the drive end (20) of said screw (l8), said screw (l8) having coaxial corotative screw sections (l8) with the thread grooves of the sections (l8) operatively aligned, a standoff bracket supporting a pair of said screw sections (l8) at the ends thereof and rotatably journalling said screw sections (l8), a drive means (46) for rotating said screw (l8), a nonrotatable nut (54) having threads (56) coactive with said threads (23) of said screw (l8) to travel longitudinally along the length of said screw (l8), said nut (54) being cylindrical in shape and having a longitudinal slot (58), a connecting member (34) interconnecting said screw sections (l8), said standoff bracket (26) including a base (28) and journal head (26) and a web (32) interconnecting said journal head (30) and said base (28), a shuttle housing (l2) connected to a support surface for supporting said standoff bracket (26) and said bearing housing (36), brake means (72) for stopping rotation of said screw (l8) upon said nut (54) overtraveling a predetermined position and upon power cut off, a shock absorber means (74) for preventing contact of said nut (54) with said bearing housing (36) and said brake means (72), bearing means (38) disposed within said bearing housing (36) for rotatably supporting the drive end (20) of said screw (l8), a carriage plate member (60) attached to said nut (54) to be moved along said screw (l8), a carrier bracket (64) having a U shape connected on both sides of said carriage plate member (60), guide channels (68) being substantially parallel to one another connected to the side of said shuttle housing (l2) and having a guide means (70) interconnecting said guide channels (68) for guiding said nut (54) along said screw (l8), said guide means (70) including a polymer material formed in a U shape to define a cap (70) having a channel (72) with one flange of said U-­shaped carrier bracket (64) being disposed in said channel (72), said threads (56,23) of said nut (54) and said screw (l8) each being multithreaded, said threads (56) of said nut (54) formed about said threads (23) of said screw (l8) for providing multipoint full thread contact completely about said screw (l8) and minimizing tolerances between said threads (23) of said screw (l8) and said threads (56) of said nut (54) to move said nut (54) at high speeds between said ends (20.22) of said screw (l8).

Claim 36

A method as set forth in claim 32 including the step of placing a centering member (88) about the screw (l8) at one end of the nut (54) to center the screw (l8) within the center hole (84) of the nut (54).

Claim 37

A method as set forth in claim 33 including the step of forming at least one annular groove (94) about the center hole (84) to support and retain the polymer material after filling and curing.

Claim 38

A method as set forth in claim 34 including the step of clamping a clamp member (92) about the screw (l8) to support the centering member (88) on the screw (l8).

Claim 39

A method as set forth in claim 35 including the step of filling the centering member (88) with a putty material prior to clamping the clamp member (92) about the screw (l8).

Claim 40

A method as set forth in claim 36 including the step of placing a second centering member (96) about the screw (l8) at the other end of the nut (59) to center the nut (54) about the screw (l8).

Claim 41

A method as set forth in claim 37 including the step of forming complementary inclined surfaces (90.98) on the centering members (88, 96) center hole (84) of the nut (54), respectively, to center the nut (54) about the screw (l8).

Claim 42

A method as set forth in claim 38 including the step of removing the screw (l8) from the nut (54) after curing of the polymer material and cutting longitudinal slots (l02) below the depth of the root of the threads (56) along the length thereof to provide lubrication ports.

Claim 43

A method as set forth in claim 39 including the step of spraying a release agent on the threads (23) of the screw (l8) prior to filling the space (86) between the lead screw (l8) and center hole (84) of the nut (54) with the polymer material.

Claim 44

4l. A method as set forth in claims 32 or 40 further characterized by the step of molding a polymer material about the upper flange of the carrier brackets (64) disposed between substantially parallel channels (68) connected to a shuttle housing (l2); curing the polymer material and forming a cap (70).