The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 08, 1996
Filed:
Nov. 17, 1994
Terry D Gromes, Navarre, OH (US);
Valley Systems, Inc., Canal Fulton, OH (US);
Abstract
A system for moving a work element along a work surface for performing work thereon includes an elongated track of flexible plastic material formed with gear teeth along one edge thereof. A carriage having a drive motor and a drive wheel driven thereby, is moved along the track by the drive wheel engaging the gear teeth. The drive wheel is connected to the drive motor by an eccentric cam mechanism. The work element is carried by the carriage and preferably is a high-pressure fluid cutting device. The track is formed of a flexible plastic material such as a linear high density polyethylene, enabling it to bend and conform to the work surface, and has a second elongated strip of plastic material movably secured to the track and extending longitudinally therealong. A series of magnets are mounted on the track for adhering the track to the work surface. The magnets are attached to the track by fasteners extending through slotted openings in the second strip of the track when conforming to the work surface. The carriage includes a spring-biased mechanism which biases the drive wheel through the eccentric cam mechanism into driving engagement with the track teeth which enables the drive wheel to compensate for any irregularities in the track teeth as it moves along the track.