Motion-simulator mechanisms

Claim 1

A motion simulator mechanism capable of operating in three degrees of freedom and having intersecting roll and pitch axes comprising a base [14] having a fixed plane, a simulator capsule [10] having a simulator operating plane, the base [14] being below the simulator operating plane, three independent extendible actuators [20, 24, 26] capable of changing the position of the simulator operating plane, the three actuators [20, 24, 26] being pivotally coupled at separate points on the fixed plane of the base [14] and at separate points on the simulator operating plane [10], the weight of the simulator capsule [10] and the simulator operating plane when in operation being carried by the three actuators [20, 24, 26], characterised in that the line joining two of the actuators [24, 26] being positioned perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of both the base plane and the simulator operating plane, the third actuator [20] being positioned at one end and on the longitudinal axis of the base plane, and further including at least two passive restraining mechanisms [16, 18] being provided to prevent unwanted motion in yaw, surge and sway axes, the restraints being pivotally connected along the roll axis in the same simulator operating plane as the coupling points of the actuators [20, 24, 26].