Load-leveling base

Claim 1

An improved base for supporting a leveled load comprising: A. a horizontally oriented plate having an upper surface adapted to receive in supporting relation a load characterized by a center of mass substantially centrally related to the plate; B. support means for supporting said plate for oscillatory motion about a pair of normally related pivotal axes intersecting a vertically oriented load axis passing through the center of the plate including a vertically oriented load-bearing post surmounted by an integrally related ball and characterized by a longitudinal axis coincident with said load axis, means defining in the center of said plate an inverted socket concentrically related to said load axis receiving the ball in mated relation, and means defining a keeper for securing said ball in said socket; C. means for pivotally displacing said plate about a selected one of said pivotal axes, while simultaneously supporting said plate against pivotal displacement about the other pivotal axis of said pair, including one pair of jack screws spaced 90° apart about the longitudinal axis of said post, each of the jack screws being characterized by a vertically oriented jack screw shaft having a linear axis extended into intersecting relation with one pivotal axis of the pair of pivotal axes, means connecting the upper end of each of said jack screw shafts with said plate, and drive means for axially displacing the jack screw shafts, each independently of the other, including a pair of worms connected in driving relation with the jack screw shafts, and means for driving said worms in rotation, each independently of the other, including an electrically energizable motor, a flexible drive shaft connected to each worm of said pair of worms, and transmission means for selectively connecting each drive shaft of said pair of drive shafts to said motor; and D. means including an electrical circuit for selectively energizing said motor.