Apparatus and methods for supporting an object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11565883-B2
Application number	US-201917271389-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2019
Priority date	Aug 29, 2018
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A support apparatus can comprise a cylindrical rod extending along a first rotation axis and comprising a first end portion provided with a first convex spherical segment and a second end portion provided with a second convex spherical segment. A first area can be configured to receive a portion of the first convex spherical segment. A second area can be configured to receive a portion of the second convex spherical segment. The cylindrical rod can be pivotable about a first pivot axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis. In some embodiments, methods of supporting an object can comprise engaging a surface of the object with the outer surface of the cylindrical rod wherein the first cylindrical rod supports a weight of the object while the first cylindrical rod is supported by the first fluid cushion and the second fluid cushion.

First claim

What it claimed is:

1. A support apparatus comprising:
a first cylindrical rod comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first cylindrical rod extends along a first rotation axis from the first end portion to the second end portion of the first cylindrical rod, and wherein the first end portion is provided with a first convex spherical segment and the second end portion is provided with a second convex spherical segment;
a first area configured to receive a portion of the first convex spherical segment with the first cylindrical rod pivotable about a first pivot axis of the first convex spherical segment that is perpendicular to the first rotation axis of the cylindrical rod;
a first fluid port in fluid communication with the first area;
a second area configured to receive a portion of the second convex spherical segment with the first cylindrical rod pivotable about a first pivot axis of the second convex spherical segment that is perpendicular to the first rotation axis of the cylindrical rod and parallel to the first pivot axis of the first convex spherical segment; and
a second fluid port in fluid communication with the second area.

2. The support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first area is configured to receive the portion of the first convex spherical segment with the first cylindrical rod pivotable about a second pivot axis of the first convex spherical segment that is perpendicular to the first rotation axis of the cylindrical rod and to the first pivot axis of the first convex spherical segment, and the second area is configured to receive the portion of the second convex spherical segment with the first cylindrical rod pivotable about a second pivot axis of the second convex spherical segment that is parallel to the second pivot axis of the first convex spherical segment and perpendicular to the first rotation axis of the cylindrical rod and to the first pivot axis of the second convex spherical segment.

3. The support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first area is configured to receive the portion of the first convex spherical segment with the first cylindrical rod pivotable by from about 10° to about 30° about the second pivot axis of the first convex spherical segment, and the second area is configured to receive the portion of the second convex spherical segment with the first cylindrical rod pivotable by from about 10° to about 30° about the second pivot axis of the second convex spherical segment.

4. The support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first spherical segment is configured to be freely supported by the first area and the second spherical segment is configured to be freely supported by the second area.

5. The support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first area is configured to receive the portion of the first convex spherical segment with the first cylindrical rod pivotable by from about 10° to about 30° about the first pivot axis of the first convex spherical segment, and the second area is configured to receive the portion of the second convex spherical segment with the first cylindrical rod pivotable by from about 10° to about 30° about the first pivot axis of the second convex spherical segment.

6. The support apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first area is configured to receive the portion of the first convex spherical segment with the first cylindrical rod pivotable by 360° about the first pivot axis of the first convex spherical segment, and the second area is configured to receive the portion of the second convex spherical segment with the first cylindrical rod pivotable by 360° about the first pivot axis of the second convex spherical segment.

7. The support apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a joint configured to adjustably mount the first area relative to a support surface in a direction of the first rotation axis of the first cylindrical rod.

8. The support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first lip circumscribes the first area and a second lip circumscribes the second area.

9. The support apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first area is recessed below the first lip at a maximum depth of from about 20% to about 80% of a first radius of the first convex spherical segment and the second area is recessed below the second lip at a maximum depth of from about 20% to about 80% of a second radius of the second convex spherical segment.

10. The support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cylindrical rod comprises one or a combination of materials selected from the group consisting of: alumina, fused quartz, mullite, silicon carbide, and graphite.

11. The support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first area is defined by a first concave segment.

12. The support apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first concave segment comprises a first concave spherical segment.

13. The support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second area is defined by a second concave segment.

14. The support apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second concave segment comprises a second concave spherical segment.

15. The support apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second cylindrical rod.

16. The support apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first rotation axis of the first cylindrical rod is parallel to a second rotation axis of the second cylindrical rod.

17. The support apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a first rotation axis of the first cylindrical rod extends at an acute angle relative to a second rotation axis of the second cylindrical rod.

18. The support apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis do not extend along a common plane.

19. The support apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis extend along a common plane.

20. A method of supporting an object with the support apparatus of claim 1 , the method comprising:
passing a first fluid stream through the first fluid port to form a first fluid cushion that levitates the first convex spherical segment;
passing a second fluid stream through the second fluid port to form a second fluid cushion that levitates the second convex spherical segment; and
engaging a surface of the object with an outer surface of the first cylindrical rod, wherein the first cylindrical rod supports a weight of the object while the first cylindrical rod is supported by the first fluid cushion and the second fluid cushion.

21. The method of supporting an object of claim 20 , further comprising traversing the object along a travel direction, wherein the object drives the first cylindrical rod to rotate about the first rotation axis while the first cylindrical rod is supported by the first fluid cushion and the second fluid cushion.

22. The method of supporting an object of claim 20 , wherein the object comprises a glass ribbon.

23. The method supporting an object of claim 20 , wherein the object comprises a temperature within a range from about 500° C. to about 1200° C.

24. The method of supporting an object of claim 20 , wherein the first spherical segment is freely supported by the first area and the second spherical segment is freely supported by the second area while supporting the object.

25. The method of supporting an object of claim 20 , further comprising adjusting a distance between the first area and the second area while supporting the object.

Assignees

• Corning Inc

Inventors

• Beckwith Jared David
• Cempa Matthew John
• Hoque Aziz
• Keebler Thomas Augustus
• Morgan Kenneth Spencer
• Wasson Kevin Lee
• West William Lawrence

Classifications

• B65G13/065 Primary

  with displacement of the roller · CPC title

• C03B35/162

  combined with means for thermal adjustment of the rollers, e.g. cooling (C03B35/183 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65G13/04

  all rollers driven · CPC title

• C03B35/165

  Supports or couplings for roller ends, e.g. trunions, gudgeons · CPC title

• B65G39/025

  having spherical roller elements · CPC title