Education and demonstration – Vehicle operator instruction or testing
Patent
1990-11-13
1991-12-10
Apley, Richard J.
Education and demonstration
Vehicle operator instruction or testing
434 58, G09B 900
Patent
active
050713523
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to motion simulator mechanisms and in particular to motion simulator mechanisms to simulate the rides given in motor vehicles, land vehicles, water borne vehicles, space vehicles etc.
A number of motion mechanisms are known with a restricted number of degrees of freedom. For example mechanisms are described in GB 2068322. U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,261 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,101.
It is also known to produce mechanisms which provide motion in three degrees of freedom i.e. the axes of heave, pitch and roll. These mechanisms are known for entertainment purposes. In particular such mechanisms are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,256 and our co-pending application GB 8722853.
GB 8722853 relates to improvements in the design of hinged frame, three axes motion systems in which the disposition of the rams is arranged so that they form a flexible tetrahedron with the platform which is to be moved. On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,256 shows rams in an essentially vertical or inclined position coming from three separate points on the base of the mechanism.
There are problems in using vertical pillar systems because of the difficulties relating to the bracing of the universal joint on one or more of the pillars.
GB 1224505 describes similar mechanisms which relate to ground based flight simulating apparatus. The apparatus includes framework which carries the weight of the simulating mechanism from above. The disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the mounting framework must be designed to withstand significant lateral and rotational forces so that extra weight is required in the apparatus as a whole in order to provide a strong structure.
GB 1146213 shows a flight simulator in which all primary forces are transmitted via actuators. All the linkages shown are both primary force transmitters as well as restraining means. There is a significant loss of efficiency in the linkage mechanisms because of the number of frictional pivots between the simulator and the actuators.
GB 954357 relates to a simulator which operates in pitch and roll only and does not have three degrees of motion.
According to the present invention there is provided a motion simulator mechanism which has intersecting roll and pitch axes.
According to the present invention there is provided a simulator mechanism capable of operating in three degrees of freedom and having intersecting roll and pitch axes comprising a base having a fixed plane, a simulator capsule having a simulator operating plane, the base being below the simulator operating plane, three independent extendible actuators capable of changing the position of the simulator operating plane, the three actuators being pivotally coupled at separate points on the fixed plane of the base and at separate points on the simulator operating plane, the weight of the simulator capsule and the simulator operating plane when in operation being carried by the three actuators, the line joining two of the actuators being positioned perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of both the base plane and the simulator operating plane, the third actuator being positioned at one end and on the longitudinal axis of the base plane, at least two passive restraining mechanisms being provided to prevent unwanted motion in yaw, surge and sway axes, the restraints being pivotally connected along the roll axis in the same simulator operating plane as the coupling points of the actuators.
It is preferred that the centre of mass of the simulator capsule is located between the connecting points of the actuators in or above the simulator operating plane of the capsule.
The actuators are coupled to operate in heave, pitch and roll axes and have restraining means to prevent unwanted motion in yaw, surge and sway axes. The actuators are preferably hydraulic rams having extendible pistons. However other types of actuators may also be used such as pneumatic pistons, electric actuators, rack and pinion actuators operated by electric motors and actuators comprising ball and nut operating in a rotating s
REFERENCES:
patent: 3577659 (1971-05-01), Kail
patent: 3619911 (1971-11-01), Pancoe
patent: 3645011 (1972-02-01), Callanen
patent: 3967387 (1976-07-01), Marchegiani
patent: 4343610 (1982-08-01), Chou
patent: 4753596 (1988-06-01), Hart et al.
Apley Richard J.
Richman Glenn E.
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