Tilt table

Details Tilt table Tilt table

1999-06-28

2001-02-06

Chen, Jose V. (Department: 3636)

Horizontally supported planar surfaces

Plural related horizontal surfaces

Terraced

C108S022000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06182582

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tilt tables and, more particularly, to pointing platforms which require tilting in two axes so that a line perpendicular to the surface of the platform can be made to point anywhere within a predetermined conical area.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are a number of devices available in the prior art to provide pointing in any direction, usually with use of two mutually interactive hinges. A simplified example of such a prior art arrangement is shown in FIG.
1
.
In
FIG. 1
, a horizontally arranged first table
10
is shown to be rotatable in the direction of arrows
12
. Mounted in the center of table
10
is a bracket
14
which carries a second table
16
shown by rotatable in directions shown to be arrows
18
. It will be seen that an axis
20
perpendicular to second table
16
can be made to point in almost any direction by a combination of rotating table
10
and table
16
.
There are problems with the operation of devices constructed similar to the structure of
FIG. 1
due to the requirement that mounting bracket
14
requires a certain length so that table
16
does not interfere with table
10
at any point in the positioning thereof. In the interest of maintaining a required stiffness, this added length results in a weight penalty. There is also a problem when apparatus like
FIG. 1
is to be used in space since the whole mechanism needs to be carefully locked to prevent damage due to forces occurring during the extreme conditions encountered at takeoff. It will be observed that the length of shafts
11
and
14
provide a lever arm that can produce a severe moment on the platforms
10
and
16
when the enormous forces acting during lift-off of a satellite occur. This also requires that the pointing platforms be robust and heavy. Another problem is the conduction of heat since the pivots used in the apparatus like
FIG. 1
are generally poor heat conductors, and therefore, in situations where heat conduction is necessary, the spacecraft needs greater ability to limit temperature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the problems encountered in the prior art by utilizing a plurality of wedge-shaped platforms mounted on low friction joints, each of which is independently driven to cause rotary motion about a different axis and provide a precise amount of tilt freedom with the result that the direction of the line perpendicular to the table can be set very accurately. The accuracy of pointing is in accordance with the pricision machining of the angle of the wedge shape and the precision of the rotary motion. Further, the equipment may be more easily locked, and there are no long mounting arms, which would provide angular moments acting on the tables during lift-off. The wedges and the low friction mounts are good conductors of heat.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3155383 (1964-11-01), Whitmore
patent: 3486629 (1969-12-01), Slaga
patent: 3572680 (1971-03-01), Neff
patent: 4656951 (1987-04-01), Kimura et al.

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