Joel D Mulder

US Patent:

20040035181, Feb 26, 2004

Filed:

Aug 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/227604

Inventors:

Daniel DeRuiter - Kentwood MI, US
Todd Collier - Saugatuck MI, US
Daniel Brookhouse - Hudsonville MI, US
Joel Mulder - Zeeland MI, US
Michael Walcott - Hudsonville MI, US
Ellis Gusky - New Boston MI, US

Assignee:

Johnson Controls Technology Company

International Classification:

G01N003/30

US Classification:

073/012060

Abstract:

A weight drop system includes a frame, a base weight, at least one supplemental weight, a carriage, at least one gripper carried by the carriage and a hold mechanism. The base weight is movable relative to the frame between an undeployed position and a deployed load applying position in which a load is applied. The at least one supplemental weight is actuatable between a load supplementing state in which the load being applied is increased and a non-supplementing state. The carriage moves between a raised position and a lowered retrieving position. The grippers move between a weight engaging position and a weight disengaging position. The hold mechanism holds at least the base weight in the undeployed position while the at least one gripper disengages or is disengaged from at least the base weight. Release of the base weight by the hold mechanism allows at least the base weight to fall to the load applying position.