Pneumatic stepper motor
First Claim
1. A step motor, comprising:
- a motor body;
a hoop element slidably disposed over at least a portion of said motor body;
a plurality of constraining assemblies, each mounted to said motor body and spaced around a periphery of and in mechanical connection to said hoop element to constrain motion of said hoop element while disposed in said step motor, wherein said plurality of constraining assemblies continuously constrains said hoop element to be in constant contact with each of the plurality of constraining assemblies; and
a plurality of actuators arranged in a spaced pattern around said hoop element so as to be in mechanical connection with said hoop element to provide selective applied forces to said hoop element to provide periodic translational motion, by cyclic force commutation,wherein each of said selective applied forces is directed towards a center of said hoop element to provide said periodic translational motion, by cyclic force commutation, of said hoop element.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A stepper motor suitable for use in a medical imaging environment has (a) a cylindrical central gear having an external surface with circumferentially distributed and radially directed teeth, (b) a shaft for mounting the central gear such that it is constrained to move in rotational motion about its centerline, (c) a cylindrical hoop gear having a bore with an internal surface having circumferentially distributed and radially directed teeth, (d) level arm crank mechanisms for mounting the hoop gear such that it is constrained to move in translational-circular motion about the central gear'"'"'s centerline, wherein this central gear is further configured to fit within the hoop gear'"'"'s bore in such a manner that a plurality of the central gear and hoop gear teeth intermesh and cooperate so that the planetary movement of the hoop gear causes the central gear to rotate, and (e) piston mechanisms for applying a fluid pressure driven force to specified points on the hoop gear so as to cause its movement.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A step motor, comprising:
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a motor body; a hoop element slidably disposed over at least a portion of said motor body; a plurality of constraining assemblies, each mounted to said motor body and spaced around a periphery of and in mechanical connection to said hoop element to constrain motion of said hoop element while disposed in said step motor, wherein said plurality of constraining assemblies continuously constrains said hoop element to be in constant contact with each of the plurality of constraining assemblies; and a plurality of actuators arranged in a spaced pattern around said hoop element so as to be in mechanical connection with said hoop element to provide selective applied forces to said hoop element to provide periodic translational motion, by cyclic force commutation, wherein each of said selective applied forces is directed towards a center of said hoop element to provide said periodic translational motion, by cyclic force commutation, of said hoop element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A step-motor system, comprising:
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a step motor, comprising; a motor body; a hoop element slidably disposed over at least a portion of said motor body; a plurality of constraining assemblies, each mounted to said motor body and spaced around a periphery of and in mechanical connection to said hoop element to constrain motion of said hoop element while disposed in said step motor, wherein said plurality of constraining assemblies continuously constrains said hoop element to be in constant contact with each of the plurality of constraining assemblies; and a plurality of actuators arranged in a spaced pattern around said hoop element so as to be in mechanical connection with said hoop element to provide selective applied forces to said hoop element to provide periodic translational motion, substantially free of rotational motion, by cyclic force commutation; and a power distributor operatively connected to said plurality of actuators, wherein each of said selective applied forces is directed towards a center of said hoop element to provide said periodic translational motion, by cyclic force commutation, of said hoop element. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A step-motor system, comprising:
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a step motor, comprising; a motor body; a hoop element slidably disposed over at least a portion of said motor body; a plurality of constraining assemblies, each mounted to said motor body and spaced around a periphery of and in mechanical connection to said hoop element to constrain motion of said hoop element while disposed in said step motor, wherein said plurality of constraining assemblies continuously constrains said motion of said hoop element; and a plurality of actuators arranged in a spaced pattern around said hoop element so as to be in mechanical connection with said hoop element to provide selective applied forces to said hoop element to provide periodic translational motion, substantially free of rotational motion, by cyclic force commutation; a power distributor operatively connected to said plurality of actuators; and an encoding system arranged to monitor motion of said hoop element, wherein each of said selective applied forces is directed towards a center of said hoop element to provide said periodic translational motion, by cyclic force commutation, of said hoop element, and wherein said encoding system comprises first and second optical fibers positioned on opposing sides of said hoop element, wherein motion of said hoop element cyclically interrupts a beam of light transmitted from said first optical fiber to said second optical fiber.
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23. A step-motor system, comprising:
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a step motor, comprising; a motor body; a hoop element slidably disposed over at least a portion of said motor body; a plurality of constraining assemblies, each mounted to said motor body and spaced around a periphery of and in mechanical connection to said hoop element to constrain motion of said hoop element while disposed in said step motor, wherein said plurality of constraining assemblies continuously constrains said motion of said hoop element; a plurality of actuators arranged in a spaced pattern around said hoop element so as to be in mechanical connection with said hoop element to provide selective applied forces to said hoop element to provide periodic translational motion, substantially free of rotational motion, by cyclic force commutation; and a motor housing disposed on a first side of the motor body, and a housing cap disposed on a second side of said motor body; a power distributor operatively connected to said plurality of actuators; and an encoding system arranged to monitor motion of said hoop element, wherein each of said selective applied forces is directed towards a center of said hoop element to provide said periodic translational motion, by cyclic force commutation, of said hoop element, and wherein said encoding system comprises a first optical fiber disposed proximate said motor housing, a second optical fiber disposed proximate said housing cap, and an encoding wheel in mechanical connection with one of said plurality of constraining assemblies, and wherein motion of said encoding wheel cyclically interrupts a beam of light transmitted from said first optical fiber to said second optical fiber.
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Specification