IP Library Granted Patent US 12,188,545
Granted Patent B2
US 12,188,545 · App. 18/358,446 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Geared drive system providing intermittent motion

Inventors: Nikhil Kumar (Albuquerque, NM); Nathan Schuknecht (Golden, CO)
Assignee: ARRAY TECH, INC.
F16H27/06F16H29/12F24S30/425H02S20/32F24S25/70F24S2030/12F24S2030/134Y02E10/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,188,545
App. No.
18/358,446
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mounting assembly may include an arced connecting member that includes a first drive chain along a bottom surface of the arced connecting member, a second drive chain positioned adjacent to the first drive chain, and a third drive chain in a gap between the first and the second drive chains. The mounting assembly may include an intermittent-motion drive system that has a drive wheel with a nub extending from a lateral surface of the drive wheel, the nub being shaped to interface with notches included along the third drive chain. The intermittent-motion drive system may include a first and a second protrusion shaped to interface with surfaces of the first and second drive chains, respectively. Rotation of a drive axle extending through the drive wheel may affect rotation of the drive wheel, rotational movement of the nub extending from the drive wheel, and movement of the arced connecting member.

Claims (27)

1. A mounting assembly, comprising:

an arced connecting member that includes:

a first plate;

a second plate positioned adjacent to the first plate; and

a plurality of pegs interposed between the first plate and the second plate;

an intermittent-motion drive system that includes:

a drive wheel positioned at least partially between the first plate and the second plate;

a protrusion extending from a center of a base surface of the drive wheel, the protrusion being shaped to interface with one or more pegs of the plurality of pegs,

a first protruding wall that extends from the base surface of the drive wheel; and

a second protruding wall that extends from the base surface of the drive wheel, wherein the first protruding wall is located closer to the center of the drive wheel than the second protruding wall.

2. The mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first protruding wall and the second protruding wall each include an arced shape.

3. The mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

a first gap is formed between the base surface of the drive wheel, the protrusion, and the first protruding wall, the first gap including a width greater than a width of one peg of the plurality of pegs; and

a second gap is formed between the base surface of the drive wheel, the first protruding wall, and the second protruding wall, the second gap including a width greater than the width of one peg of the plurality of pegs.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pegs includes:

a first set of pegs extending from a first surface of the first plate towards the second plate, the first surface facing the second plate; and

a second set of pegs extending from a second surface of the second plate towards the first plate, the second surface facing the first plate.

5. A mounting assembly, comprising:

an arced connecting member that includes:

a first plate;

a second plate positioned adjacent to the first plate; and

a plurality of pegs interposed between the first plate and the second plate proximate a bottom surface of the arced connecting member;

an intermittent-motion drive system that includes a drive wheel positioned at least partially between the first plate and the second plate, the drive wheel including a substantially circular shape and a nub protruding from a lateral surface of the drive wheel, the drive wheel further positioned so the nub at least partially overlaps with the plurality of pegs, wherein the lateral surface of the drive wheel includes one or more grooves positioned at an interface between the substantially circular shape and the nub protruding from the lateral surface of the drive wheel.

6. The mounting assembly of claim 5 , wherein the nub protruding from the lateral surface of the drive wheel includes a convex triangular shape.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 5 , wherein each peg of the plurality of pegs includes a cylindrical shape in which a first base surface of each peg is attached to a first surface of the first plate and a second base surface of each peg is attached to a second surface of the second plate.

8. The mounting assembly of claim 7 , wherein each peg of the plurality of pegs includes a ring extending from a lateral surface of each peg.

9. The mounting assembly of claim 8 , wherein the drive wheel includes a channel circumscribing the drive wheel along the lateral surface of the drive wheel.

Assignments (3)
SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 1, 2025
From: ARRAY TECH, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071149/0854 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2023
From: KUMAR, NIKHIL; SCHUKNECHT, NATHAN
To: ARRAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 064426/0425 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 28, 2023
From: ARRAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: ARRAY TECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 064427/0214 →
Continuity (3)
Division 17650489 · Feb 9, 2022
Provisional Application 63147425 · Feb 9, 2021
Related Publication 20230370015A1 · Nov 16, 2023
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