Apparatus for transport of equipment and method for manufacture thereof

• US 8,347,793 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toppan Photomasks Incorporated (TOPPAN Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Toppan Photomasks Incorporated (TOPPAN Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cummins, David S., Jackson, Curt A., Cook, James N. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wujciak, Alfred J
• Application Number:
  US12/769,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20100294176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 248/618, 248/622, 248/581, 248/584, 248/157, 248/421, 267/217, 267/241, 267/242, 267/245, 267/256, 267/113, 267/118, 108/106, 108/144.11, 108/145, 108/57.12, 108/136
• US Class Current: 108/57.12
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2205/06 Cushioned or damping stop devices, e.g. using springs or other mechanical actions
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/02 Suppression of vibrations of non-rotating, e.g. reciprocating systems; Suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of members not moving with the rotating systems F16F15/005 takes precedence ; layered products B32B; suppression of vibration in ships B63; relieving load on bearings, using magnetic means F16C39/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/0076 Pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/54 Arrangements for attachment grommet-type rubber mounting springs per se F16F1/3732; construction of cylinder ends F16F9/3242; attachments to vehicles B60G13/001, B60G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method of manufacture may include providing a first platform having a substantially planar first surface and a second platform having a substantially planar second surface substantially parallel to the first surface. The method may further include mechanically coupling the second surface and first surface via a plurality of compression springs allowing movement of the second platform relative to the first platform. Additionally, the method may include mechanically coupling at least one weight sensor to the second platform configured to measure a portion of weight of a load upon the apparatus. Moreover, the method may include communicatively coupling a compression spring control module to at least one compression spring of the plurality of compression springs and the at least one weight sensor configured to tune the at least one compression spring based at least on the portion of weight of the load measured by the at least one weight sensor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transporting equipment, comprising:

a first platform having a substantially planar first surface;

a second platform having a substantially planar second surface substantially parallel to the first surface, the second platform mechanically coupled to the first platform via a plurality of compression springs allowing movement of the second platform relative to the first platform;

at least one weight sensor mechanically coupled to the second platform, the at least one weight sensor configured to measure a portion of weight of a load upon the apparatus; and

a compression spring control module communicatively coupled to at least one compression spring of the plurality of compression springs and the at least one weight sensor, the compression spring module configured to tune the at least one compression spring based at least on the portion of weight of the load measured by the at least one weight sensor; and

a third platform having a substantially planar third surface substantially parallel to the second surface, the third platform mechanically coupled to the second platform via the at least one weight sensor.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, the compression spring control module comprising:

a display communicatively coupled to the at least one weight sensor and configured to display an indication of the portion of the weight of the load measured by the at least one weight sensor; and

a compression spring tuning control configured to allow for manual tuning of the at least one compression spring.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compression spring module is configured to automatically tune the at least one compression spring based at least on the portion of weight of the load measured by the at least one weight sensor.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bearing assembly mechanically coupled to the first platform and the second platform, the bearing assembly configured to maintain registration of the second platform relative to the first platform.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, the bearing assembly comprising:

a bearing fixedly coupled to one of the first platform and the second platform; and

an opening corresponding to the bearing in the other of the first platform and the second platform;

wherein the bearing is configured to mate with the opening such that the bearing may slide relative to the opening as second platform moves relative to first platform.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a damping assembly mechanically coupled to the first platform and the second platform, the damping assembly configured to dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, the damping assembly including:

an arm located between the first surface and the second surface, the arm pivotally coupled to the first platform and slidably coupled to the second platform; and

a shock absorber mechanically coupled between the first platform and the arm, such that the shock absorber dampens rotation of the arm to dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, the damping assembly including a shock absorber mechanically coupled between the first platform and the second platform.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6, the damping assembly further configured to dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform in an axis substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, the damping assembly further configured to dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform in an axis substantially parallel to the first surface.

11. An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a second damping assembly mechanically coupled to the first platform and the second platform, the second damping assembly configured to dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, at least one of the plurality of compression springs comprising a gas spring.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compressive force of the plurality of springs is substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

14. An apparatus for transporting equipment, comprising:

a first platform having a substantially planar first surface;

a second platform having a substantially planar second surface substantially parallel to the first surface, the second platform mechanically coupled to the first platform via a plurality of compression springs allowing movement of the second platform relative to the first platform;

at least one weight sensor mechanically coupled to the second platform, the at least one weight sensor configured to measure a portion of weight of a load upon the apparatus; and

a compression spring control module communicatively coupled to at least one compression spring of the plurality of compression springs and the at least one weight sensor, the compression spring module configured to tune the at least one compression spring based at least on the portion of weight of the load measured by the at least one weight sensor; and

a bearing assembly mechanically coupled to the first platform and the second platform, the bearing assembly configured to maintain registration of the second platform relative to the first platform, and the bearing assembly comprising;

a bearing fixedly coupled to one of the first platform and the second platform; and

an opening corresponding to the bearing in the other of the first platform and the second platform;

wherein the bearing is configured to mate with the opening such that the bearing may slide relative to the opening as second platform moves relative to first platform.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, the compression spring control module comprising:

a display communicatively coupled to the at least one weight sensor and configured to display an indication of the portion of the weight of the load measured by the at least one weight sensor; and

a compression spring tuning control configured to allow for manual tuning of the at least one compression spring.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the compression spring module is configured to automatically tune the at least one compression spring based at least on the portion of weight of the load measured by the at least one weight sensor.

17. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a damping assembly mechanically coupled to the first platform and the second platform, the damping assembly configured to dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, the damping assembly including:

an arm located between the first surface and the second surface, the arm pivotally coupled to the first platform and slidably coupled to the second platform; and

a shock absorber mechanically coupled between the first platform and the arm, such that the shock absorber dampens rotation of the arm to dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, the damping assembly including a shock absorber mechanically coupled between the first platform and the second platform.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17, the damping assembly further configured to dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform in an axis substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, the damping assembly further configured to dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform in an axis substantially parallel to the first surface.

22. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a second damping assembly mechanically coupled to the first platform and the second platform, the second damping assembly configured to dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform.

23. An apparatus according to claim 14, at least one of the plurality of compression springs comprising a gas spring.

24. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the compressive force of the plurality of springs is substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

25. An apparatus for transporting equipment, comprising:

a first platform having a substantially planar first surface;

a second platform having a substantially planar second surface substantially parallel to the first surface, the second platform mechanically coupled to the first platform via a plurality of compression springs allowing movement of the second platform relative to the first platform;

at least one weight sensor mechanically coupled to the second platform, the at least one weight sensor configured to measure a portion of weight of a load upon the apparatus; and

a compression spring control module communicatively coupled to at least one compression spring of the plurality of compression springs and the at least one weight sensor, the compression spring module configured to tune the at least one compression spring based at least on the portion of weight of the load measured by the at least one weight sensor; and

a damping assembly mechanically coupled to the first platform and the second platform, the damping assembly configured to;

dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform in an axis substantially perpendicular to the first surface; and

dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform in an axis substantially parallel to the first surface.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, the compression spring control module comprising:

a display communicatively coupled to the at least one weight sensor and configured to display an indication of the portion of the weight of the load measured by the at least one weight sensor; and

a compression spring tuning control configured to allow for manual tuning of the at least one compression spring.

27. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the compression spring module is configured to automatically tune the at least one compression spring based at least on the portion of weight of the load measured by the at least one weight sensor.

28. An apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a bearing assembly mechanically coupled to the first platform and the second platform, the bearing assembly configured to maintain registration of the second platform relative to the first platform.

29. An apparatus according to claim 25, the damping assembly including:

an arm located between the first surface and the second surface, the arm pivotally coupled to the first platform and slidably coupled to the second platform; and

a shock absorber mechanically coupled between the first platform and the arm, such that the shock absorber dampens rotation of the arm to dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform.

30. An apparatus according to claim 25, the damping assembly including a shock absorber mechanically coupled between the first platform and the second platform.

31. An apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a second damping assembly mechanically coupled to the first platform and the second platform, the second damping assembly configured to dampen movement of the second platform relative to the first platform.

32. An apparatus according to claim 25, at least one of the plurality of compression springs comprising a gas spring.

33. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the compressive force of the plurality of springs is substantially perpendicular to the first surface.