Umbilical and follower assembly utilized in microgravity platform system

A multi-directional umbilical and follower assembly for preventing unwanted movements of a frame from being transmitted through an umbilical assembly to a microgravity floating platform and payload mounted on the platform, comprising:

• an umbilical mount engaging a portion of the umbilical assembly, wherein the umbilical assembly is made up of at least two portions, for joint movement;
• the follower assembly including three separate actuators mounted on the frame and having an arm attached to an umbilical mount for joint movement therewith in three orthogonal directions;
• and
• control means for directing the three actuators to move the umbilical mount and attached umbilical assembly opposite to unwanted movements of the frame, thereby maintaining the umbilical mount and attached umbilical assembly in a predetermined position relative to the platform, while preventing the umbilical assembly from transmitting unwanted frame movements to the platform and payload.

A multi-directional umbilical and follower assembly for preventing unwanted movements of a frame from being transmitted through an umbilical assembly to a microgravity floating platform and payload mounted on the platform, comprising:

• the follower assembly including a bottom member mounted on the frame and a top member having at least one through passageway and spaced from both the bottom member and the platform, and further including an actuator assembly having a plurality of six actuator pivot members mounted on both the top and bottom members with attached arms extending from the pivot members on the top and bottom members toward one another and into engagement with tubular enclosures arranged between the top and bottom members;
• the umbilical assembly including at least one first umbilical member extending from the bottom member to a fitting mounted at the end of the passageway through the top member, and further including at least one second umbilical member extending from a fitting on an opposite end of the passageway through the top member into fluid communication with the payload;
• and
• control means for directing the actuator assembly to move the top member and attached umbilical assembly in any of three linear and/or three rotational directions opposite to the unwanted movements of the frame, thereby maintaining the top member and connected portion of the umbilical assembly in a predetermined position relative to the platform to prevent the umbilical assembly from transmitting the unwanted frame movements to the platform and payload.