Nested gimbal assembly
AssigneeFLIR Surveillance, Inc.
InventorsSean L. Delaney, John Nolan, Mark Stinnett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods for nested gimbal assemblies. A gimbal system may include a base, a yoke, and a gimbal assembly rotatably connecting the yoke to the base. The gimbal assembly may include a motor, a bearing, and a ferrofluid seal. The motor may be configured to rotate the yoke relative to the base about a rotational axis. The bearing may be seated within the base and permit rotation of the yoke relative to the base about the rotational axis. The ferrofluid seal may be positioned to seal an interface between the yoke and the base. The motor may be positioned within an inner diameter of the bearing. The bearing may be positioned within an inner diameter of the ferrofluid seal.
Claims20
A gimbal system comprising:
- a base;
- a yoke;
- and
- a gimbal assembly rotatably connecting the yoke to the base, the gimbal assembly comprising:
- a motor configured to rotate the yoke relative to the base about a rotational axis, the motor defining a motor outer diameter;
- a bearing seated within the base and permitting rotation of the yoke relative to the base about the rotational axis, the bearing defining a bearing inner diameter and a bearing outer diameter;
- a ferrofluid seal positioned between the yoke and the base, the ferrofluid seal defining a seal inner diameter;
- and
- a labyrinth seal positioned between the yoke and the base, the labyrinth seal positioned outside of the ferrofluid seal;
- wherein the motor outer diameter is less than the bearing inner diameter;
- and
- wherein the bearing outer diameter is less than the seal inner diameter.
A gimbal system comprising:
- a base;
- a yoke;
- and
- a gimbal assembly rotatably connecting the yoke to the base, the gimbal assembly comprising:
- a stem assembly connected to the yoke;
- a motor configured to rotate the stem assembly relative to the base about a rotational axis;
- a bearing seated onto the stem assembly and within the base to permit rotation of the yoke relative to the base about the rotational axis;
- a labyrinth seal fluidically sealing an interface between the yoke and the base;
- and
- a ferrofluid seal fluidically sealing an interface between the stem assembly and the base, wherein the ferrofluid seal is positioned within the diameter of the labyrinth seal;
- wherein the motor is positioned within an inner diameter of the bearing;
- and
- wherein the bearing is positioned within an inner diameter of the ferrofluid seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.