초록 ▼

There is disclosed an angle positioning platform for positioning objects around first and second axes and a gearbox for same. The platform comprises a base, an intermediate stage, and an upper stage. The platform may have motors and first and second output gearboxes connected to the motors for drivi

There is disclosed an angle positioning platform for positioning objects around first and second axes and a gearbox for same. The platform comprises a base, an intermediate stage, and an upper stage. The platform may have motors and first and second output gearboxes connected to the motors for driving the platform. The orientation of the stages of the platform permits the platform to be relatively compact in a stowed position and to have high angular rotation from the stowed position to a maximum travel position. The gearboxes may have a mechanism for isolating worm shafts and wormgears from heavy loads when the platform is in the stowed position. Another aspect of the invention is an output gearbox with a wormgear having stops for stopping rotation of a matingly engaged worm. Another aspect of the invention is a gearbox having torsion springs to counter backlash in the gearbox. Such a gearbox has a wormgear and a torsion spring retainer plate, one or both of which have a plurality of holes to permit adjusting the torque of a torsion spring in the gearbox by providing a plurality of positions for the ends of a spring to be placed with respect to one another. A suitable fuel line assembly is disclosed to connect an ion thruster that is mounted in the platform to a fuel tank, the fuel line assembly comprising two bellows tubes and an elbow joint.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An angle positioning platform for positioning objects around first and second axes, the angle positioning platform comprising:a base;a launch lock seat connected to the base;an intermediate stage having first and second sides;first pivoting means comprising a first worm s

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An angle positioning platform for positioning objects around first and second axes, the angle positioning platform comprising:a base;a launch lock seat connected to the base;an intermediate stage having first and second sides;first pivoting means comprising a first worm shaft and a first set of bearings adapted to engaged the first worm shaft, the first pivoting means being mounted to the base and the first side of the intermediate stage for pivoting the intermediate stage around the first axis;second pivoting means comprising a second worm shaft and a second set of bearings adapted to engage the second worm shaft, the second pivoting means being connected to the second side of the intermediate stage;an upper stage connected to the second pivoting means, the second pivoting means pivoting the upper stage around the second axis;first isolation means for isolating vibration of the upper stage from the first set of bearings, the first isolation means including means for unseating the first worm shaft from the first set of bearings; andsecond isolation means for isolating vibration of the upper stage from the second set of bearings, the second isolating means including means for unseating the second worm shaft from the second set of bearings.