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US 12,320,466 B2Granted
Systems and methods for limiting rotation of a supported object
AssigneeBAE Systems Space & Mission Systems Inc.
InventorsFederick Renken, Miroslaw A. Ostaszewski, Grady Egan, Lathan Collins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for limiting rotation of a supported object about an axis of rotation are provided. A system as disclosed includes a stop system that engages at a selected amount of rotation about an axis of rotation to provide a balanced force countering further rotation. The stop system includes one or more pairs of stop mechanisms, with one stop mechanism in a pair disposed to act from a first side of the axis of rotation, and a second stop mechanism in the pair disposed to act from a second side of the axis of rotation. Each stop mechanism can include stops that engage a flexure at a selected amount of rotation.
Claims20
A stop system, comprising:
- a first stop mechanism, the first stop mechanism including:
- a first stop, wherein the first stop of the first stop mechanism has a fixed position relative to a first one of a supported object and a base;
- and
- a first flexure assembly having a flexure member with a fixed end and a free end, wherein the fixed end of the first flexure assembly has a fixed position relative to a second one of the supported object and the base;
- and
- a second stop mechanism, the second stop mechanism including:
- a first stop, wherein the first stop of the second stop mechanism has a fixed position relative to the first one of the supported object and the base;
- and
- a first flexure assembly having a flexure member with a fixed end and a free end, wherein the fixed end of the first flexure assembly of the second stop mechanism has a fixed position relative to the second one of the supported object and the base;
- wherein, in the first stop mechanism, the first stop engages a first side of the free end of the flexure member of the first flexure assembly in response to a rotation of the supported object relative to the base in a first direction about a first axis of rotation of at least a first predetermined amount, and
- wherein, in the second stop mechanism, the first stop engages a second side of the free end of the flexure member of the first flexure assembly in response to the rotation of the supported object relative to the base in the first direction about the first axis of rotation of at least the first predetermined amount.
8 more elements
An assembly, comprising:
- a base;
- an object;
- a suspension system, wherein the suspension system connects the object to the base and allows the object to move relative to the base about at least a first axis;
- a plurality of stop mechanisms, including:
- a first stop mechanism acting on a first side of the first axis, including:
- a plurality of stops, wherein the stops are connected to a first one of the base and the object;
- a flexure assembly, wherein a first side of a first end of the flexure assembly is disposed to contact a first one of the plurality of stops with the object rotated in a first direction about the first axis, wherein a second side of the first end of the flexure assembly is disposed to contact a second one of the plurality of stops with the object rotated in a second direction about the first axis, and wherein a second end of the flexure assembly is fixed to a second one of the base and the object;
- and
- a second stop mechanism acting on a second side of the first axis, including:
- a plurality of stops, wherein the stops are fixed to the first one of the base and the object;
- and
- a flexure assembly, wherein a second side of a first end of the flexure assembly is disposed to contact a second one of the plurality of stops with the object rotated in the first direction about the first axis, wherein a first side of the first end of the flexure assembly is disposed to contact a first one of the plurality of stops with the object rotated in the second direction about the first axis, and wherein a second end of the flexure assembly is fixed to the second one of the base and the object.
9 more elements
A method for limiting movement of a suspension system, comprising:
- supporting an object with a suspension system that allows motion of the object about at least a first axis of rotation relative to a base;
- locating a first stop mechanism that includes a plurality of stops and at least a portion of a flexure assembly to act on a first side of the first axis of rotation, wherein the flexure assembly engages a first one of the stops of the first stop mechanism with the object rotated by a first amount in a first direction about the first axis of rotation, and wherein the flexure assembly engages a second one of the stops of the first stop mechanism with the object rotated by a second amount in a second direction about the first axis of rotation;
- and
- locating a second stop mechanism that includes a plurality of stops and at least a portion of a flexure assembly to act on a second side of the first axis of rotation, wherein the flexure assembly engages a second one of the stops of the second stop mechanism with the object rotated by the first amount in the first direction about the first axis of rotation, and wherein the flexure assembly engages a first one of the stops of the second stop mechanism with the object rotated by the second amount in the second direction about the first axis of rotation.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.