Stable positioning system for suspended loads
OwnerJohn H. Williamsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stable positioning system for a suspended payload. A stabilizer, control unit and positioner are located above a suspended payload. The stabilizer includes a plurality of flywheels within a casing. The axis of rotation of each flywheel is aligned with one of three orthogonal axes. A central bevel gear translates the output of a high r.p.m. motor to the various flywheels. Four flywheels are arranged into two counterrotating pairs along one horizontal axis. Two flywheels counterrotate about the other axis and a single flywheel rotates about the vertical axis. The mass and arrangement of flywheels provides gyroscopic stability while neutralizing potential precessional moments.
Claims21
Apparatus for stabilizing a suspended load comprising, in combination:
- a) means engaged to said load;
- b) said means including a plurality of flywheels;
- c) said plurality of flywheels being arranged along each of a set of three orthogonal space axes;
- d) means for driving said flywheels;
- and
- e) said flywheels being arranged so that precession forces responsive to the input of disturbances are substantially cancelled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.