US4324032A — Operator member erection system and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 90 words

An insertion system including an operator member erection system comprising: an operator member having a longitudinal axis; support means for defining a remote center of compliance laterally spaced from said longitudinal axis of said operator member and including a support member and means for interconnecting said operator member with said support member for enabling said operator member to move about a remote center to vary the orientation of the operator member longitudinal axis relative to said support member as said operator member moves between an extended and a retracted position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 90 words

An insertion system including an operator member erection system comprising: an operator member having a longitudinal axis; support means for defining a remote center of compliance laterally spaced from said longitudinal axis of said operator member and including a support member and means for interconnecting said operator member with said support member for enabling said operator member to move about a remote center to vary the orientation of the operator member longitudinal axis relative to said support member as said operator member moves between an extended and a retracted position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The insertion system of claim 1 in which said operator member includes first and second spaced mounting axes on said operator member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

The insertion system of claim 2 in which said support member has first and second spaced mounting axes, said means for interconnecting being pivotably connected to said first and second mounting axes on said operator and support members.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of claim 3 in which said first and second mounting axes on said support member are spaced apart a different distance than said first and second mounting axes on said operator member.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 3 in which the interconnection axis of said first mounting axes is non-parallel to the interconnection axis of said second mounting axes and defines a focus where the interconnection axes converge.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 3 in which said means for interconnecting includes at least a first link for interconnecting said first mounting axes and a second link for interconnecting said second mounting axes.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 3 in which said means for interconnecting includes a first pair of links for interconnecting said first mounting axes at two spaced points and a second pair of links for interconnecting said second mounting axes at two spaced points.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 7 in which the interconnection axes of said first pair of links are non-parallel and generally converge at a focus and the interconnection axes of said second pair of links are non-parallel and generally converge at said focus.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 74 words

The system of claim 1 in which said support member includes first and second stop means for limiting motion of said operator member about said lateral remote center between an extended position in which the longitudinal axis of said operator member intersects with the longitudinal axis of said support member and a retracted position in which said longitudinal axis of said operator member is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 2 in which said support member includes an RCC.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 10 in which said RCC is deformable and is fixedly interconnected with said mounting axes.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 53 words

The system of claim 2 in which said means for interconnecting includes a follower on one of said members and a slot in the other for interconnection of said first mounting axes and a follower on one of said members and a slot in the other for interconnection of said second mounting axes.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 58 words

The system of claim 2 in which said support member has coincident first and second mounting axes defining a fixed lateral remote center and said interconnecting means are pivotably connected to said coincident first and second mounting axes on said support member and are fixedly connected to said spaced first and second mounting axes on said operator member.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 163 words

An insertion system including a remote center compliance device and an operator member erection system supported as a part of an intermediate operator member by the remote center compliance device (RCC) and comprising: a primary operator member having a longitudinal axis; support means for defining a remote center of compliance laterally spaced from said longitudinal axis of said primary operator member and including a support member and means for interconnecting said primary operator member with said support member for enabling said operator member to move about a remote center to vary the orientation of the primary operator member longitudinal axis relative to said support member as said primary operator member moves between an extended and a retracted position for enabling said longitudinal axis of said primary operator member to align in the retracted position with said longitudinal axis of said intermediate operator member and place the remote center of the remote center compliance device (RCC) proximate the tip of said primary operator member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 163 words

An insertion system including a remote center compliance device and an operator member erection system supported as a part of an intermediate operator member by the remote center compliance device (RCC) and comprising: a primary operator member having a longitudinal axis; support means for defining a remote center of compliance laterally spaced from said longitudinal axis of said primary operator member and including a support member and means for interconnecting said primary operator member with said support member for enabling said operator member to move about a remote center to vary the orientation of the primary operator member longitudinal axis relative to said support member as said primary operator member moves between an extended and a retracted position for enabling said longitudinal axis of said primary operator member to align in the retracted position with said longitudinal axis of said intermediate operator member and place the remote center of the remote center compliance device (RCC) proximate the tip of said primary operator member.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The insertion system of claim 14 in which said primary operator member includes at least first and second spaced mounting axes.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 39 words

The insertion system of claim 15 in which said support member has first and second spaced mounting axes, said means for interconnecting being pivotably connected to said first and second mounting axes on said primary operator and support members.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 16 in which said first and second mounting axes on said support member are spaced apart a different distance than said first and second mounting axes on said primary operator member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 16 in which the interconnection axis of said first mounting axes is non-parallel to the interconnection axis of said second mounting axes and defines a focus where the interconnection axes converge.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 16 in which said means for interconnecting includes at least a first link for interconnecting said first mounting axes and a second link for interconnecting said second mounting axes.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 16 in which said means for interconnecting includes a first pair of links for interconnecting said first mounting axes at two spaced points and a second pair of links for interconnecting said second mounting axes at two spaced points.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 20 in which the interconnecting axes of said first pair of links are non-parallel and generally converge at a focus and the interconnection axes of said second pair of links are non-parallel and generally converge at said focus.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 15 in which said support means includes an RCC.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 22 in which said RCC is deformable and is fixedly interconnected with said mounting axes.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 82 words

The system of claim 15 in which said support member has a longitudinal axis and includes first and second stop means for limiting motion of said primary operator member about said lateral remote center between an extended position in which the longitudinal axis of said primary operator member intersects with the longitudinal axis of said support member and a retracted position in which said longitudinal axis of said primary operator member is generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said support member.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 53 words

The system of claim 15 in which said means for interconnecting includes a follower on one of said members and a slot on the other for interconnection of said first mounting axes and a follower on one of said members and a slot on the other for interconnection of said second mounting axes.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 59 words

The system of claim 15 in which said support member has coincident first and second mounting axes defining a fixed lateral remote center and said interconnecting means are pivotably connected to said coincident first and second mounting axes on said support member and are fixedly connected to said spaced first and second mounting axes on said primary operator member.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 106 words

A method of engaging an operator member, carried by a support member, with a part comprising: moving the operator member toward the part with the longitudinal axis of the operator member non-parallel to that of the part; engaging the operator member with the part; moving the support member toward the part causing the operator member to rotate about a remote center laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the support member to erect the operator member with its longitudinal axis generally aligned with that of the part; and restricting further rotation of the operator member and fixing it in the erected position engaged with the part.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 106 words

A method of engaging an operator member, carried by a support member, with a part comprising: moving the operator member toward the part with the longitudinal axis of the operator member non-parallel to that of the part; engaging the operator member with the part; moving the support member toward the part causing the operator member to rotate about a remote center laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the support member to erect the operator member with its longitudinal axis generally aligned with that of the part; and restricting further rotation of the operator member and fixing it in the erected position engaged with the part.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 27 in which said support member is carried by an RCC which provides said erected operator member with a remote center of compliance proximate the end of the operator member and further including moving the RCC and support member toward the part to complete engagement.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-04-12	1985-10-12	1986-04-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-04-12	1989-10-12	1990-04-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-04-12	1993-10-12	1994-04-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Operator member erection system and method

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