Daniel A Norton

US Patent:

6508190, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

Sep 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/670948

Inventors:

Daniel Norton - Cary NC 27511

International Classification:

B63B 2100

US Classification:

1142302

Abstract:

A remotely operable device that enables one person to quickly attach and release a boat to and from a mooring. The device is retractable to allow for a safe and non-obstructive state while the boat is under way. A mooring buoy with a tall vertical rigid rod is targeted by a catcher at the end of a telescopic arm that is aimed by remote control at the rod on the buoy, and automatically locks with the rod upon contact with a bi-directional latch in the catcher. Guide rails extend from either side of the catcher to form a âVâ to quickly enable the catcher to lock on to the rod. A mooring line can then be extended. To get the boat under way, the mooring line is reeled in, pulling the boat close. Then the remote controlled latch releases the rod. These operations can be performed by cables controllable from the cockpit of a boat or by radio or infra-red control links for controlling electronically actuated motors, latches or springs.

US Patent:

8132816, Mar 13, 2012

Filed:

Apr 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/695191

Inventors:

Daniel Allen Norton - Cary NC, US
Michael Joseph Hill - Fuquay-Varina NC, US
Michael L. Gloden - Apex NC, US

Assignee:

ATI Industrial Automation, Inc. - Apex NC

International Classification:

B23B 31/22

US Classification:

279 219, 279 223, 279 71, 279 73, 279134, 279140, 29428, 4033222

Abstract:

A robotic tool changer comprises first and second units, operative to be separately attached to a robot and a robotic tool, and further operative to be selectively coupled together and decoupled. The first and second units are coupled and decoupled by an electric motor. Power from the electric motor may be applied to couple and decouple the first and second units in a variety of ways.

US Patent:

8209840, Jul 3, 2012

Filed:

Apr 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/695212

Inventors:

Daniel Allen Norton - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

ATI Industrial Automation, Inc. - Apex NC

International Classification:

B23B 31/22

US Classification:

29428, 279 219, 279 223, 279 71, 279 73, 279134, 4033222

Abstract:

In a robotic tool coupler, a rotating cam member having a plurality of surfaces formed therein urges a plurality of ball members in one tool coupling unit radially to contact an angled surface in the other tool coupling unit. Further rotation of the cam member exerts a radial force through the ball members onto the angled surface. A component of that force is directed by the angled surface toward the opposite tool coupling unit, locking the two units together. The cam member may include a failsafe surface and/or a failsafe lobe to maintain the two units locked together in the event of a loss of power to positively actuate the cam member.

US Patent:

8500132, Aug 6, 2013

Filed:

Jun 12, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/494695

Inventors:

Daniel Allen Norton - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

ATI Industrial Automation, Inc. - Apex NC

International Classification:

B23B 31/22

US Classification:

279 71, 279 81, 279140, 4033222

Abstract:

A manual robotic tool changer provides a compact, lightweight means to manually selectively couple a robotic tool, such as a surgical tool, to a robot arm. The tool changer includes numerous safety features to prevent inadvertent decoupling of the robotic tool. These include a dual-button handle locking mechanism operative to lock the tool changer closed in the fully coupled position, and requiring simultaneous actuation of both of two latch buttons to unlock; a one-way clutch mechanism that prevents rotation of the coupling mechanism towards the decoupled position, unless the handle is actuated to unlock the tool changer; and a spring biasing the tool changer to an at least partially coupled state when no force is applied to the handle, thus requiring a positive force against the spring, moving the handle to a fully open position, to insert or remove a robotic tool.

US Patent:

8533930, Sep 17, 2013

Filed:

Jan 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/687766

Inventors:

Daniel Allen Norton - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

ATI Industrial Automation, Inc. - Apex NC

International Classification:

B23B 31/22

US Classification:

29525, 279 219, 279 223, 279 212, 279 69, 4033222

Abstract:

A manually actuated robotic tool changer includes a rapid coupling mechanism. The tool changer includes a master unit having a piston moveable along its axis between an unlocked position and a fully locked position, and a tool unit that is coupled to the master unit when the units are adjacent and the piston is moved to the fully locked position. A piston movement control mechanism selectively allows free axial motion of the piston between the unlocked position and a nearly locked position, when the control mechanism is actuated. The piston may be biased toward the locked position, allowing the master and tool units to be rapidly coupled by positioning the units adjacently, actuating the control mechanism to allow the piston to rapidly advance to a nearly locked position, releasing the control mechanism to restrict free axial motion of the piston, and manually advancing the piston to a fully locked position.

US Patent:

8601667, Dec 10, 2013

Filed:

Sep 4, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/554543

Inventors:

Daniel Allen Norton - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

ATI Industrial Automation, Inc. - Apex NC

International Classification:

B23B 31/22

US Classification:

29428, 279 71, 279 81, 279140, 4033222

Abstract:

In a robotic tool changer, a rotating cam surface ring having a plurality of surfaces formed therein urges a plurality of ball members in one tool coupling unit radially to contact a coupling surface in the other tool coupling unit. Mechanical energy captured and stored upon decoupling the units is used by an actuation mechanism, upon manual initiation, to at least partially automatically couple the two units by partially rotating the rotating cam surface ring. Further manual rotation of the cam member exerts a radial force through the ball members onto the coupling surface. A component of that force is directed by the coupling surface toward the opposite tool coupling unit, locking the two units together.

US Patent:

7992508, Aug 9, 2011

Filed:

Apr 17, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/386451

Inventors:

Daniel A. Norton - Cary NC, US

International Classification:

B63B 21/00

US Classification:

114231, 11423016, 11423018

Abstract:

A docking mechanism comprises first and second units, operative to firmly attach and release a watercraft such as a ferry boat to a dock. This action can be produced by actuators that may be hydraulic or pneumatic actuators, or by other means such as manually actuated levers, electric motors or solenoids. A moveable locking piston acts to push locking cylinders or other locking members such as movable links against watercraft lock channels mounted upon the watercrafts. The apparatus results in very firm coupling of a watercraft to the dock, beneficially permitting ferry boats to load and unload cargo without keeping their engines running which wastes fuel and pollutes the environment. The lock channels on the watercraft are however configured to permit relative vertical motion between the watercraft and the latching assembly to account for water level changes and yet maintain very firm coupling of the watercraft to the dock.

US Patent:

20100009825, Jan 14, 2010

Filed:

Jul 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/171021

Inventors:

Daniel Allen Norton - Cary NC, US
Michael Joseph Gala - Apex NC, US

Assignee:

ATI INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION, INC. - Apex NC

International Classification:

B23Q 3/155

US Classification:

483 58, 901 41

Abstract:

A compliant service transfer module, which transfers services such as electricity, data, pneumatic fluid, etc., between a robotic arm and an attached tool, aligns service transfer points as the two units of the module mate, when the units are misaligned. A floating structure disposed in the first unit is operative to move laterally within a chamber in the housing of the first unit, to align service transfer points with the corresponding service transfer points of a second unit, when the two units are mated together but are not fully aligned. The floating structure protrudes from the first housing, and in the case of misalignment, contacts an angled inner wall of a chamber in the housing of the second unit, which moves the floating structure laterally to align the service transfer points. The floating structure returns to a default, centered position when the two units are not mated together.