Air wipe timed base station for driveshafts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12440875-B2
Application number	US-202217722647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2022
Priority date	Apr 18, 2022
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

Systems are provided for a base station to house an air wipe device. Certain embodiments of the base station may include a plunger that activates a pneumatic timer when depressed to compress an accompanying spring. The base station may be formed to optimize the process of removing particles from a driveshaft spline.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for removing particles from an object, comprising:
a station adapted to receive the object, the station comprising:
an aperture to receive the object;
a plunger proximate to the aperture, wherein the plunger is depressed by the object when the station receives the object in the aperture;
an air wipe device that at least partially surrounds the object when the object is received in the aperture, wherein the air wipe device is activated when the plunger is depressed; and
a cleaning medium, wherein the cleaning medium is dispensed from the air wipe device to remove the particles from the object.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a spring, wherein the spring is connected to the plunger, and wherein the spring compresses when the plunger is depressed.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a timer, wherein the timer is activated when the plunger is depressed, and wherein the air wipe device is deactivated upon expiration of the timer.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the station further comprises an exterior plate that surrounds the air wipe device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plunger comprises a nylon plunger.

6. A method for removing particles from a drive shaft spline, the method comprising:
receiving the driveshaft spline in an air wipe device;
depressing a plunger in response to the application of force from the driveshaft spline;
compressing a spring connected to the plunger in response to the force;
activating a timer connected to a plurality of valves, wherein the timer is set with a predetermined amount of time;
activating the air wipe device; and
removing a plurality of particles from the drive shaft spline using the air wipe device.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the air wipe device deactivates if no force is applied to the plunger.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the timer resets if no force is applied to the plunger.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising collecting the plurality of particles in an exterior plate surrounding the air wipe device.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising deactivating the air wipe device after the predetermined amount of time and resetting the timer, regardless of whether force is applied to the plunger.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air wipe produces a ring of air directed towards the aperture.

12. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a lever, wherein the spring is compressed towards the lever to activate a timer.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the station further includes a protector plate fastened on top of the station.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air wipe device is activated based on applying force from the object to the plunger.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the timer is activated when the spring is partially compressed towards the lever.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Watson Michael D

Classifications

• B08B2240/00

  Type of materials or objects being cleaned · CPC title

• B08B5/02

  Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities {(airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005)} · CPC title

• B08B13/00 Primary

  Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning · CPC title