Deployable and retrievable section dividers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020339352-A1
Application number	US-201916391365-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 23, 2019
Priority date	Apr 23, 2019
Publication date	Oct 29, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for deployment and retrieval of section dividers includes a frame, a deployment rail, a first section divider carrier rail, and a second section divider carrier rail. The structure includes a first end of the first section divider carrier rail coupled to a first end of the deployment rail and a first end of the second section divider carrier rail coupled to a second of the deployment rail. A first actuator coupled to the first end of the first section divider carrier rail. A second actuator coupled to the second end of the first section divider carrier rail. The structure further includes a first deployment and retrieval system coupled to the first section divider carrier rail, wherein the first deployment and retrieval system guides a first retrieval body at a first end of a first section divider from the deployment rail to the first section divider carrier rail.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for deployment and retrieval of section dividers, the apparatus comprising:
a frame, a deployment rail, a first section divider carrier rail, and a second section divider carrier rail; a first end of the first section divider carrier rail coupled to a first end of the deployment rail and a first end of the second section divider carrier rail coupled to a second of the deployment rail, wherein the first end of the deployment rail is opposite the second end of the deployment rail; a first actuator coupled to the first end of the first section divider carrier rail and a first portion of the frame; a second actuator coupled to the second end of the first section divider carrier rail and a second portion of the frame; and a first deployment and retrieval system coupled to the first section divider carrier rail, wherein the first deployment and retrieval system guides a first retrieval body at a first end of a first section divider from the deployment rail to the first section divider carrier rail.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second deployment and retrieval system coupled to the second section divider carrier rail, wherein the second deployment and retrieval system guides a second retrieval body at a second end of the first section divider from the deployment rail to the second section divider carrier rail.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a third actuator coupled to the first end of the second section divider carrier rail and a third portion of the frame; and a fourth actuator coupled to the second end of the second section divider carrier rail and a fourth portion of the frame.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the deployment rail includes two or more cutouts for transferring the first section divider to the first section divider carrier rail and the second section divider carrier rail.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first section divider carrier rail includes a first rail extension disposed inside the first section divider carrier rail and the second section divider carrier rail includes a second rail extension disposed inside the second section divider carrier rail.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:
a first actuator coupled to the first section divider carrier rail, wherein the first actuator extends the first section divider carrier rail exposing the first rail extension; and a second actuator coupled to the second section divider carrier rail, wherein the second actuator extends the second section divider carrier rail exposing the second rail extension.

7 . The apparatus of claim 2 , the first deployment and retrieval system further comprising:
a first pulley coupled to a first motor drive, wherein the first pulley is coupled to a second pulley via a first linkage; and a first set of one or more section guides coupled to the first linkage, wherein the first set of the one or more section guides directs the first retrieval body of the first end of the section divider from the deployment rail to the first section divider carrier rail.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , the second deployment and retrieval system further comprising:
a first pulley coupled to a second motor drive, wherein the first pulley is coupled to a second pulley via a second linkage; and a second set of one or more section guides coupled to the second linkage, wherein the second set of one or more section guides directs the second retrieval body of the second end of the section divider from the deployment rail to the second section divider carrier rail.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprises:
a first tensioner coupled to a third pulley of the first deployment and retrieval system, wherein the third pulley of the first deployment and retrieval system is coupled to the first pulley and the second pulley via the first linkage, wherein the first tensioner is in a relaxed position when the first rail extension is in an extended state.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first tensioner is in a stretched position when the first rail extension is in a compressed state.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprises:
a second tensioner coupled to a third pulley of the second deployment and retrieval system, wherein the third pulley of the second deployment and retrieval system is coupled to the first pulley and the second pulley via the second linkage, wherein the second tensioner is in a relaxed position when the second rail extension is in an extended state.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the tensioner is in a stretched position when the second rail extension is in a compressed state.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more casters coupled to a lower surface of the frame, wherein the one or more casters allow for movement of the frame.

14 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a dimension for each of the two or more cutout of the deployment rail are greater than a dimension of the first retrieval body and the second retrieval body of the first section divider.

15 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a dimension for each of the first set of one or more section guides is such that the first retrieval body is placeable in each of the first set of one or more section guides.

16 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a dimension for each of the second set of one or more section guides is such that the second retrieval body is placeable in each of the second set of one or more section guides.

17 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first section divider is coupled to a second section divider.

18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first section divider is a rigid structure and the second section divider is a flexible structure.

19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first section divider is constructed from a material consisting of one or more of: a lightweight alloy, a plastic composite, and a ceramic composite.

20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the second section divider is of a woven plastic mesh material.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Kane Michael
• Masterson Colin Edward
• Porter Jacob
• Cole Marie
• Khambati Suraush

Classifications

• E01F9/70 Primary

  Storing, transporting, placing or retrieving portable devices · CPC title

• E01F13/02

  free-standing; {portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes (E01F9/688 takes precedence); Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers} · CPC title

• E01F7/00

  Devices affording protection against snow, sand drifts, side-wind effects, snowslides, avalanches or falling rocks (permanently installed heating or blowing devices for roads E01C11/26); Anti-dazzle arrangements {; Sight-screens for roads, e.g. to mask accident site (E01F8/00 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65G1/10 Primary

  with relatively movable racks to facilitate insertion or removal of articles {(cabinets with means for moving compartments up and down A47B51/00; cabinet system, e.g. consisting of cabinets arranged in a row with means to open or close passages between adjacent cabinets A47B53/02)} · CPC title