US3580363A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydraulic gimbal lock
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
•
Filing: 1969-11-19
•
Granted: 1971-05-25
•
Expires: 1989-11-19
Abstract
Abstract An improved lock is disclosed, as applied to the elevation gimbal of a large telescope installation. Hydraulic pressure is employed firmly and simultaneously to force a number of contact members against a stationary surface of circular configuration and forming part of the fork gimbal or yoke pedestal. The hydraulic pressure is made effective by the use of a bellows system in which each bellows carries a contact head positioned a short distance from the stationary surface and the bellows are equally spaced from one another. A solenoid having a movable core and controlled from a position near the eyepiece of the telescope is employed to operate a miniature hydraulic pump which feeds oil under pressure simultaneously to each of the bellows. The latter elongate and press firmly against the stationary surface and at the same time, the motor which drives the gimbal to which the telescope is attached, can be declutched so that instant braking is effected. There is no overrun and the telescope remains strictly in line with the star being sighted when the control is operated.
Inventors
- 👤 Moshe L Plawner
- 👤 Vincent R Vento
- 👤 Abraham Gordon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:24
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D51/00; F16D51/16; F16D51/32; F16D51/34; F16D51/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
In a telescope mounting including a pair of gimbals swivelly connected together for permitting the telescope to be moved in the vertical and horizontal directions, the vertical moving gimbal being supported on oppositely positioned shafts journaled on a horizontally moving gimbal, and brake means attached to said extended shaft for applying a braking effect to the swinging movement of the gimbal which positions the telescope in the vertical direction said brake means comprises a cylinder secured to the periphery of the cylinder and extending radially outward, the edge portions of the plate sections being spaced from one another to form outwardly extending slots which have parallel sides and the slots being arranged at right angles to one another, expandable elements in said slots, said elements terminating in solid heads at their outer ends, said elements being responsive to hydraulic pressure in order to expand, a pair of lock members swingably mounted on pivots on opposite sides of each slot, said members having tapered edges which bear against the head of said expandable elements, the lower end of the member bearing against the periphery of the multisection plate member, a stationary ring member surrounding said expansible elements, and means for causing each expansible element to elongate and swing the lock members about their respective pivots to make contact with the stationary ring member when hydraulic pressure is applied to each element whereby a braking action is effected on the elevation moving gimbal through said cylinder and shaft extension to prevent overrun of one gimbal with respect to the other gimbal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
In a telescope mounting including a pair of gimbals swivelly connected together for permitting the telescope to be moved in the vertical and horizontal directions, the vertical moving gimbal being supported on oppositely positioned shafts journaled on a horizontally moving gimbal, and brake means attached to said extended shaft for applying a braking effect to the swinging movement of the gimbal which positions the telescope in the vertical direction said brake means comprises a cylinder secured to the periphery of the cylinder and extending radially outward, the edge portions of the plate sections being spaced from one another to form outwardly extending slots which have parallel sides and the slots being arranged at right angles to one another, expandable elements in said slots, said elements terminating in solid heads at their outer ends, said elements being responsive to hydraulic pressure in order to expand, a pair of lock members swingably mounted on pivots on opposite sides of each slot, said members having tapered edges which bear against the head of said expandable elements, the lower end of the member bearing against the periphery of the multisection plate member, a stationary ring member surrounding said expansible elements, and means for causing each expansible element to elongate and swing the lock members about their respective pivots to make contact with the stationary ring member when hydraulic pressure is applied to each element whereby a braking action is effected on the elevation moving gimbal through said cylinder and shaft extension to prevent overrun of one gimbal with respect to the other gimbal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a telescope mounting according to claim 2 and in which said elements consist of bellow members closed at the head end and in communication at the other end with the hydraulic pressure developed within said cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a telescope mounting according to claim 2 and in which the hydraulic pressure is developed by a solenoid and piston structure contained within said cylinder and controllable from the eyepiece position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a telescopic mounting according to claim 2 and in which said last mentioned means includes a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder and a solenoid in the cylinder having a core connected to said piston, said solenoid being electrically controllable from the observer''s position, oil in The cylinder at the position of the piston which upon the compression stroke of the piston forces the oil into the expansible members which serve to press the lock members against said locking surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a telescope mounting according to claim 1, said means for causing each expansible element to elongate being constituted of a solenoid in said cylinder, a core in said solenoid and connected to a piston located at one end of the cylinder, the piston end of the cylinder being in communication with said expansible elements, oil in said cylinder so that when the solenoid is activated, the piston moves to place the oil under pressure which is forced into the expansible elements, a stationary ring surrounding the expansible elements and secured to the horizontally moving gimbal, said expansible elements upon receiving the oil under pressure expands and contacts the stationary ring whereby a powerful braking action is obtained and the gimbal which moves the telescope in the vertical direction is brought to a complete stop to prevent overrun.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a telescope mounting according to claim 1, a locking gimbal for maintaining the telescope at a desired position in elevation, said gimbal including a bearing structure for receiving a shaft on which the telescope can move in the vertical direction, said structure also including a metal ring which is secured to the gimbal that moves in the horizontal direction and having an interior peripheral surface which constitutes a locking surface, a plurality of lock members for maintaining the telescope and its bearing structure fixed with respect to the horizontally movable gimbal, and means for hydraulically pressing the lock members against the locking surface when the telescope is pointed at the precise altitude of the target star.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a telescope mounting according to claim 3 and having spring means operable on the withdrawal of the hydraulic pressure for removing the lock members out of contact with the locking ring so as to permit the telescope to be moved in elevation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a telescope mounting according to claim 3 and in which said ring includes a casting which surrounds at least one end of said cylinder and is connected to the gimbal which moves in the horizontal direction, said casting having a radially extending web which carries an annular member of substantial thickness and extends in the horizontal direction, the inside surface of said annular member presenting a cylindrical surface against which said lock can contact when hydraulic pressure is applied to the expansible element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2326552A
Cited
US3338350A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |