US4401406A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote three axis cable transport system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1980-10-31
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2000-10-31
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for accurately positioning an object such as a radiation probe within a defined three dimensional space has a pair of support bars extending along each of three perpendicular axes defining said space with bearing block supports slidably mounted along each set of support rods. A cable drive for each direction of movement is provided to move these bearing blocks including a drive motor, a drum assembly including a capstan and cable guide, a drive cable, and a plurality of pulleys spaced along the system to achieve a balanced movement of the system in the associated direction. The cable is aligned so that each section of its run is either perpendicular or parallel to its other sections and is arranged with the capstan and cable guide so that there is an increase of tension as the cable is reeled in and a decrease of tension as the cable is payed out to reduce the stretching of the cable as the apparatus is operated.
Inventors
- 👤 Miguel Rovira
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:44
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N5/00; G; G21; G21F; G21F7/00; G21F7/06; G21F7/063; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/18832
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A system for accurately positioning a probe at any preselected point in a three dimensional space comprising: a probe, means defining a bounded three dimensional space including a support, said support having at least one guide bar extending along each of three directions of movement, and a guide block supported on each of said guide bars, said probe being mounted to one of said guide blocks, said system having means for selectively moving said probe in a plurality of directions including a cable drive for moving said probe in each movable direction, each of said cable drives including a motor and a cable means associated therewith, said cable means extending between said drive motors, guide blocks, and said support, each drive motor and cable means having a capstan associated therewith, each of said drive motors being in driving relation to its associated capstan, each cable means including at least one cable wrapped at least partially around its associated capstan so that rotation of a capstan by a drive motor causes said cable to move at least one guide block along its associated guide bar and thereby move the probe, and wherein a sub-assembly mounts the drive motors and capstans for two directions of movement, said sub-assembly being supported from at least one of said guide bars for said third directions of movement, said third motor for the third direction of movement and its associated capstan and drive cable having means to move said sub-assembly along its associated guide bar.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
249 words
A system for accurately positioning a probe at any preselected point in a three dimensional space comprising: a probe, means defining a bounded three dimensional space including a support, said support having at least one guide bar extending along each of three directions of movement, and a guide block supported on each of said guide bars, said probe being mounted to one of said guide blocks, said system having means for selectively moving said probe in a plurality of directions including a cable drive for moving said probe in each movable direction, each of said cable drives including a motor and a cable means associated therewith, said cable means extending between said drive motors, guide blocks, and said support, each drive motor and cable means having a capstan associated therewith, each of said drive motors being in driving relation to its associated capstan, each cable means including at least one cable wrapped at least partially around its associated capstan so that rotation of a capstan by a drive motor causes said cable to move at least one guide block along its associated guide bar and thereby move the probe, and wherein a sub-assembly mounts the drive motors and capstans for two directions of movement, said sub-assembly being supported from at least one of said guide bars for said third directions of movement, said third motor for the third direction of movement and its associated capstan and drive cable having means to move said sub-assembly along its associated guide bar.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said third capstan is a double capstan with twice the number of drive cables associated therewith as that of said first or second capstans, said sub-assembly being supported from a guide bar at both ends thereof by a guide block, one side of said third capstan driving the guide block at one end and the other side of said third capstan driving the guide block at the other end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said probe is sensitive to radiation, and said space is filled with water, said probe thereby measuring the attenuation of radiation caused by said water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each guide block has at least one pair of pulleys associated therewith for rotatably securing at least one drive cable thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each drive cable has an end fixedly secured to either said support or said guide blocks supporting either end of said sub-assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 5 wherein each drive cable has its other end fixedly secured to its associated capstan, each capstan having at least two drive cables associated therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising means to increase the tension between each of said cables and its associated capstan as the cable is reeled in and decrease said tension as the cable is payed out.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 7 wherein each of said cable means includes a second cable wrapped at least partially around said capstan and opposing said first cable so that said second cable pays out as said first cable is reeled in, and means to increase the tension between said second cable and the capstan as it is reeled in and decrease said tension as it is payed out.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
26 words
The system of claims 7 or 8 wherein said tensioning means includes a cable guide, said cable guide having means to slidably receive the cable means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
198 words
A system for accurately positioning a radiation sensitive probe at any preselected point in a three dimensional space filled with water comprising: a radiation sensitive probe, means defining a bounded three dimensional space including a bottom and sidewalls, said bottom and sidewalls being joined at their edges to form a watertight seal, means for supporting and moving said probe within said defined space including at least one guide bar extending in each of three directions along orthogonal coordinates, at least one guide block supported on each of said guide bars, the support bars extending in two of said three directions being supported by said guide blocks, said probe being slidingly mounted to the support bars extending in one of said directions, a cable drive for each of said three directions, each cable drive comprising a drive motor and a capstan operatively connected to said drive motor, a sub-assembly for mounting two of said cable drives, said third cable drive having means to move said sub-assembly along its associated guide bar, a cable means wrapped at least partially around each of said capstans, said cable means extending between said capstan, its associated guide blocks, and said space defining means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
198 words
A system for accurately positioning a radiation sensitive probe at any preselected point in a three dimensional space filled with water comprising: a radiation sensitive probe, means defining a bounded three dimensional space including a bottom and sidewalls, said bottom and sidewalls being joined at their edges to form a watertight seal, means for supporting and moving said probe within said defined space including at least one guide bar extending in each of three directions along orthogonal coordinates, at least one guide block supported on each of said guide bars, the support bars extending in two of said three directions being supported by said guide blocks, said probe being slidingly mounted to the support bars extending in one of said directions, a cable drive for each of said three directions, each cable drive comprising a drive motor and a capstan operatively connected to said drive motor, a sub-assembly for mounting two of said cable drives, said third cable drive having means to move said sub-assembly along its associated guide bar, a cable means wrapped at least partially around each of said capstans, said cable means extending between said capstan, its associated guide blocks, and said space defining means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 10 wherein each cable drive further comprises a plurality of pulleys around which its associated cable means is at least partially wrapped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 11 wherein each cable means defines a straight line as it extends from one of said pulleys to another of said pulleys, each of said straight lines being either substantially parallel to or perpendicular to each of said other straight lines.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |