Tilt mechanism
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorKenneth W. Stark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tilt mechanism includes a rigid base member, a first tilt plate pivotally ounted on the base member, and a second tilt plate pivotally mounted on the first tilt plate. The first and second tilt plates are pivoted via actuating mechanisms which include stepper motors, harmonic drives, and precision nuts which translate the rotational output of the harmonic drives to pivotal motion of the tilt plates. All of the movable components of the mechanism are mounted to one another via flexural pivots which allow at least limited rotation in one direction but which prevent movement in all other directions.
Claims25
A tilt mechanism comprising:
- (A) a rigid base member;
- (B) a first tilt plate;
- (C) a first tilt plate mounting member pivotally connecting said first tilt plate to said base member;
- (D) a first motor having,, an output;
- (E) a first flexural mount via which said first motor is mounted on said base member, said first flexural mount allowing limited pivotal movement of said first motor relative to said base member about an axis which is substantially orthogonal to an axis of rotation of said output of said first motor;
- (F) a first translation device which is connected to said output of said first motor and which translates a rotational output of said first motor to a translational output;
- and
- (G) a first connector connecting said translation device to said first tilt plate at a location remote from said first tilt plate mounting member, said first connector allowing pivotal movement between said first translation device and said first tilt plate.
A tilt mechanism comprising:
- (A) a rigid base member;
- (B) a first tilt plate;
- (C) first tilt plate mounting means for pivotally connecting said first tilt plate to said base member;
- (D) a first motor;
- (E) first motor mounting means for connecting said first motor to said base member, said first motor mounting means allowing pivotal movement of said first motor relative to said base member about an axis which is substantially orthogonal to an axis of rotation of an output of said first motor;
- (F) first translation means for translating a rotational output of said first motor to a translational output;
- and
- (G) first connector means for connecting said first translation means to said first tilt plate at a location remote from said first tilt plate mounting means, said first connector means allowing pivotal movement between said first translation means and said first tilt plate.
A tilt mechanism comprising:
- (A) a rigid base member;
- (B) a first tilt plate which is connected to said rigid base member and which is pivotable about a first axis relative to said base member;
- (C) a second tilt plate which is connected to said first tilt plate and which is pivotable about a second axis relative to said first tilt plate;
- and
- (D) actuating mechanisms connected to each of said first and second tilt plates, each of said actuating mechanisms comprising
- a motor having an output,
- a harmonic drive device which is connected to said output of said motor, and
- a precision nut and lead screw assembly which connects said harmonic drive to the respective tilt plate and which translates a rotational output of said harmonic drive to pivotal movement of the respective tilt plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.