← Back to Patent Explorer
US4304381A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Aimable mounting apparatus

Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
•
Filing: 1980-02-19
•
Granted: 1981-12-08
•
Expires: 2000-02-19
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A disc-shaped member-to-be-aimed is mounted for tilting about two mutually perpendicular tilt axes rotatable about a third and mutually perpendicular boresight axis that affords a conical field of view for the member in the presence of any asymmetry in its tilting about the tilt axis. A multi-gimbal assembly accommodates such multiple-axis movement freedom, and torque motors disposed in an axialwise direction at one side of the member-to-be-aimed affords radial compactness for the gimbal assembly.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wayne B. Lloyd

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 21:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/18; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/02; H01Q3/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 107 words
A directional assembly comprising: a generally cylindrical roll gimbal rotatable about a boresight axis at its center; a member-to-be-aimed mounted on said roll gimbal for tilting about a tilt axis perpendicular to said boresight axis; a torque motor mounted on said member-to-be-aimed at one side thereof; said torque motor having a rotary output shaft extending radially inward toward said boresight axis; a reaction rod extending generally along said boresight axis; device means connecting one end of said reaction rod to said output shaft; and, means at the center of said roll gimbal in axialwise and radialwise sliding cooperation with the opposite end region of said reaction rod.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 107 words
A directional assembly comprising: a generally cylindrical roll gimbal rotatable about a boresight axis at its center; a member-to-be-aimed mounted on said roll gimbal for tilting about a tilt axis perpendicular to said boresight axis; a torque motor mounted on said member-to-be-aimed at one side thereof; said torque motor having a rotary output shaft extending radially inward toward said boresight axis; a reaction rod extending generally along said boresight axis; device means connecting one end of said reaction rod to said output shaft; and, means at the center of said roll gimbal in axialwise and radialwise sliding cooperation with the opposite end region of said reaction rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 64 words
The directional assembly of claim 1, further comprising a ring gimbal with means defining the aforesaid tilt axis for said member-to-be-aimed and mounted on said roll gimbal for tilting movement about a second and mutually perpendicular tilt axis, a second torque motor carried on said roll gimbal at one side of said member-to-be-aimed, and means interconnecting said second torque motor with said ring gimbal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The directional assembly of claim 1, further comprising a torque motor means for said roll gimbal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The directional assembly of claim 3, further comprising pickoff means for sensing angular and rotary attitudes of said member-to-be-aimed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The directional assembly of claim 4, wherein said pickoff means is affiliated with at least one of the aforesaid torque motors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
A directional assembly according to claim 1 wherein the means at the center of said roll gimbal includes a ball and socket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
A directional assembly according to claim 2 wherein the means defining the belt axis is a pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
A directional assembly according to claim 2 wherein said interconnecting means is a belt and pulley.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2437251A Cited
US2551180A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-12-07 1985-06-08 1985-12-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-12-07 1989-06-08 1989-12-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-12-07 1993-06-08 1993-12-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag