Motion simulator fault tolerant load carrying pivot connection

A motion simulator comprising:

• a base;
• a platform;
• a plurality of linear actuators through which said platform is connected to said base;
• said plurality of linear actuators controllable to move said platform relative to said base in at least two degrees of freedom;
• at least one of said plurality of linear actuators connected to said platform by a platform joint having at least two degrees of freedom;
• said platform joint having a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis intersecting said first pivot axis;
• said platform joint comprising an actuator clevis, a clevis pin orientated about said first pivot axis and retained by said actuator clevis, an anchor clevis, and an axel orientated about said second pivot axis and retained by said anchor clevis;
• said axel comprising an axel opening orientated about said first pivot axis and configured to receive said clevis pin, said axel opening having a primary axel passage section defined by a primary axel inner radius, a first secondary axel passage section defined by a first secondary axel inner radius, and a second secondary axel passage section defined by a second secondary axel inner radius;
• said actuator clevis having a first side lug and a second side lug;
• said clevis pin extending between said first side lug and said second side lug of said actuator clevis;
• said axel extending between said first side lug and said second side lug of said actuator clevis and configured to rotate about said first pivot axis relative to said actuator clevis and to rotate about said second pivot axis relative to said anchor clevis;
• said axel comprising a first axel fault retaining protrusion having a first retaining outer radius and a first retaining inner radius;
• said axel comprising a second axel fault retaining protrusion having a second retaining outer radius and a second retaining inner radius;
• said first side lug comprising a first side lug opening orientated about said first pivot axis and configured to receive said clevis pin and said first axel fault retaining protrusion of said axel, said first side lug opening having a first primary lug passage section defined by a first primary lug inner radius and a first secondary lug passage section defined by a first secondary lug inner radius;
• said first side lug opening, clevis pin and first axel fault retaining protrusion configured such that a first primary lug radial clearance difference between said first primary lug inner radius of said first lug opening and an outer radius of said clevis pin is less than a first outer secondary lug radial clearance difference between said first secondary lug inner radius of said first lug and said first retaining outer radius of said first axel fault retaining protrusion.