US 6,642,906 B1Granted

Self-righting assembly

AssigneeStar-H Corporation

InventorMilton D. Machalek

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Abstract

The invention is a self-righting assembly which always comes to rest in a prescribed orientation relative to gravity regardless of the orientation of the assembly within which the self-righting assembly is mounted. It is particularly useful for systems such as radio frequency antennas which must be oriented in a particular manner for transmission. The structure comprises two concentric spheres transparent to the radiation generated, separated by a dielectric fluid which nearly fills the space between the spheres and suspends the inner sphere. The antenna or radiator and its associated electronic circuitry are within the inner sphere which is weighted to always rest in a prescribed orientation relative to gravity. The assembly can be dropped or thrown, and regardless of how it lands, the radiation source will always be capable of proper transmission.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A self-righting assembly comprising:

a sealed outer container with curved walls forming an internal spherical volume;
a sealed inner container with an inner volume and a spherical outside surface with a center of the spherical outside surface located within the inner volume, the inner container located within the internal spherical volume of the outer container with a space between the spherical outside surface of the inner container and the curved walls of the outer container;
a liquid within the space between the spherical outside surface of the inner container and the curved walls of the internal spherical volume of the outer container, the liquid having a specific gravity sufficient to suspend the inner container within the internal spherical volume of the outer container;
and
a weight included in the inner container and offset from the center of the spherical outside surface of the inner container so that the inner container turns within the internal spherical volume of the outer container to rest with the weight located at the lowest point of the internal spherical volume of the outer container.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.