Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
Apparatus for supporting a body in a desired angular position which comprises: (a) a base; (b) a carrier for said body mounted on said base; (c) electrically operated drive means operatively interposed between said base and said carrier for angularly moving said carrier relative to said base about an axis extending horizontally in the normal operating position of said apparatus; and (d) control means mounted on said carrier for controlling said drive means, said control means including (1) first signal generating means for sensing the rate of angular movement of said carrier in a plane perpendicular to said axis and for generating a first signal indicative of the sensed rate, (2) second signal generating means including position-responsive mercury switch for generating a second constant D.C. signal indicative of the absence or presence of a predetermined angular position of said switch means in a plane perpendicular to said axis, and (3) circuit means operatively connected to said first and second signal generating means and to said drive means for transmitting to said drive means an electrical operating signal in response to said first and second signals and for thereby causing said switch means to be moved by said drive means into said predetermined angular position thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
Apparatus for supporting a body in a desired angular position which comprises: (a) a base; (b) a carrier for said body mounted on said base; (c) electrically operated drive means operatively interposed between said base and said carrier for angularly moving said carrier relative to said base about an axis extending horizontally in the normal operating position of said apparatus; and (d) control means mounted on said carrier for controlling said drive means, said control means including (1) first signal generating means for sensing the rate of angular movement of said carrier in a plane perpendicular to said axis and for generating a first signal indicative of the sensed rate, (2) second signal generating means including position-responsive mercury switch for generating a second constant D.C. signal indicative of the absence or presence of a predetermined angular position of said switch means in a plane perpendicular to said axis, and (3) circuit means operatively connected to said first and second signal generating means and to said drive means for transmitting to said drive means an electrical operating signal in response to said first and second signals and for thereby causing said switch means to be moved by said drive means into said predetermined angular position thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said operating signal satisfies the relationship V.sub.76 =k.sub.1 V.sub.58 +∫(k.sub.2 V.sub.58 +k.sub.3 V.sub.60 +∫∫k.sub.4 V.sub.60 dt)dt wherein V 76 is said operating signal, V 58 and V 60 are said first and second signals respectively, and k 1 , k 2 , k 3 , and k 4 are constants.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said predetermined position is horizontal and said second signal is zero in said predetermined position of said mercury switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising adjusting means for varying the angular position of said mercury switch relative to said carrier in a plane perpendicular to said axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base includes a vehicle.