US3877662A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Isolated frame on platforms stabilized by spinning body
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-05-11
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1993-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A despun platform is stabilized by a spinning body. A frame is mounted on an isolation pivot on the despun platform. A directable instrument is mounted on the frame to isolate the instrument from platform perturbations. The isolation pivot substantially isolates the frame from wobble caused by rotation of the spinning body about an axis other than the bearing axis of the despun platform. An optional damping mechanism at the isolation mount activated by relative motion between frame and despun platform damps frame motion with respect to the despun platform. For the case where frame moment of inertia is sufficiently high, nutation damping is provided by this mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon S Reiter
- 👤 Charles P Rubin
- 👤 Ronald V Swanson
- 👤 Jr Bernard F Burns
- 👤 Anthony J Iorillo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:23
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/24; B64G1/38; B64G1/28; B64G1/281; G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/12; Y10T74/1229; Y10T74/1257
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
An instrument-carrying vehicle comprising: a gyroscopic mass rotatable on a first axis; a despun platform rotatably mounted on said gyroscopic mass to rotate with respect thereto on a second axis and rotatable at a slower speed in selected coordinates than said gyroscopic mass, the difference between said first and second axes causing wobble at the frequency of their relative rotation; a nutation damper mounted upon said platform to rotate on an axis substantially normal to said first axis and tuned to a frequency closer to the nutation frequency than any other system frequency to damp nutational movements about the axis of said nutation damper; an isolated frame pivotally mounted upon said despun platform on a third axis which is oriented substantially normal to said second axis of rotation, spring means interconnected between said frame and said platform for urging said frame rotationally about said third axis to a centered angular position with respect to said platform, said spring means being related to the mass of said frame so that said frame is tuned at a frequency closer to the spin frequency of said spinnable body than to any other system frequency and a directable instrument mounted on said frame so that wobble of said despun platform is isolated from said frame and said directable instrument by rotation of said isolated frame and said directable instrument mounted thereon on said third axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
An instrument-carrying vehicle comprising: a gyroscopic mass rotatable on a first axis; a despun platform rotatably mounted on said gyroscopic mass to rotate with respect thereto on a second axis and rotatable at a slower speed in selected coordinates than said gyroscopic mass, the difference between said first and second axes causing wobble at the frequency of their relative rotation; a nutation damper mounted upon said platform to rotate on an axis substantially normal to said first axis and tuned to a frequency closer to the nutation frequency than any other system frequency to damp nutational movements about the axis of said nutation damper; an isolated frame pivotally mounted upon said despun platform on a third axis which is oriented substantially normal to said second axis of rotation, spring means interconnected between said frame and said platform for urging said frame rotationally about said third axis to a centered angular position with respect to said platform, said spring means being related to the mass of said frame so that said frame is tuned at a frequency closer to the spin frequency of said spinnable body than to any other system frequency and a directable instrument mounted on said frame so that wobble of said despun platform is isolated from said frame and said directable instrument by rotation of said isolated frame and said directable instrument mounted thereon on said third axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The instrument-carrying vehicle of claim 1 further including damping means interconnected between said frame and said platform for absorbing energy from said system as said isolated frame wobbles with respect to said platform due to relative rotation of said gyroscopic mass and said despun platform.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |