GB1572443A - Adjustable tilting mechanisms - Google Patents

Adjustable tilting mechanisms Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1572443A
GB1572443A GB9764/76A GB976476A GB1572443A GB 1572443 A GB1572443 A GB 1572443A GB 9764/76 A GB9764/76 A GB 9764/76A GB 976476 A GB976476 A GB 976476A GB 1572443 A GB1572443 A GB 1572443A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
spacing
support member
disc
annular
base member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
GB9764/76A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Allard Way Holdings Ltd
Original Assignee
Elliott Brothers London Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Elliott Brothers London Ltd filed Critical Elliott Brothers London Ltd
Priority to GB9764/76A priority Critical patent/GB1572443A/en
Publication of GB1572443A publication Critical patent/GB1572443A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
    • F16M7/00—Details of attaching or adjusting engine beds, frames, or supporting-legs on foundation or base; Attaching non-moving engine parts, e.g. cylinder blocks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q1/00—Members which are comprised in the general build-up of a form of machine, particularly relatively large fixed members
    • B23Q1/25—Movable or adjustable work or tool supports
    • B23Q1/44—Movable or adjustable work or tool supports using particular mechanisms
    • B23Q1/50—Movable or adjustable work or tool supports using particular mechanisms with rotating pairs only, the rotating pairs being the first two elements of the mechanism
    • B23Q1/54—Movable or adjustable work or tool supports using particular mechanisms with rotating pairs only, the rotating pairs being the first two elements of the mechanism two rotating pairs only
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q1/00—Members which are comprised in the general build-up of a form of machine, particularly relatively large fixed members
    • B23Q1/25—Movable or adjustable work or tool supports
    • B23Q1/44—Movable or adjustable work or tool supports using particular mechanisms
    • B23Q1/50—Movable or adjustable work or tool supports using particular mechanisms with rotating pairs only, the rotating pairs being the first two elements of the mechanism
    • B23Q1/54—Movable or adjustable work or tool supports using particular mechanisms with rotating pairs only, the rotating pairs being the first two elements of the mechanism two rotating pairs only
    • B23Q1/5406—Movable or adjustable work or tool supports using particular mechanisms with rotating pairs only, the rotating pairs being the first two elements of the mechanism two rotating pairs only a single rotating pair followed perpendicularly by a single rotating pair
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
    • F16M11/00—Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon ; Stands for scientific apparatus such as gravitational force meters
    • F16M11/02—Heads
    • F16M11/04—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
    • F16M11/06—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting
    • F16M11/08—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting around a vertical axis, e.g. panoramic heads
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
    • F16M11/00—Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon ; Stands for scientific apparatus such as gravitational force meters
    • F16M11/20—Undercarriages with or without wheels
    • F16M11/2007—Undercarriages with or without wheels comprising means allowing pivoting adjustment
    • F16M11/2021—Undercarriages with or without wheels comprising means allowing pivoting adjustment around a horizontal axis
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G12—INSTRUMENT DETAILS
    • G12B—CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF INSTRUMENTS, OR COMPARABLE DETAILS OF OTHER APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G12B5/00—Adjusting position or attitude, e.g. level, of instruments or other apparatus, or of parts thereof; Compensating for the effects of tilting or acceleration, e.g. for optical apparatus

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Braking Arrangements (AREA)

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ADJUSTABLE TILTING MECHANISMS (71) We, ELLIOTT BROTHERS (LONDON) LIMITED, of Marconi House, New Street, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1PL, formerly of Century Works, Lewisham, London, S.E.13, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to adjustable tilting mechanisms and more particularly to levelling mechanisms for adjusting the tilt of a platform on which equipment is mounted so as to enable the platform to be positioned accurately horizontally.
One disadvantage of the system as described in the parent U.K. Patent Specification No. 1,435,513 is that it is difficult to adjust the platform with a heavy object supported on the platform.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable tilting device suitable for adjusting the tilt of a platform on which heavy equipment is mounted so as to enable the platform to be positioned accurately horizontally.
According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable tilting mechanism comprising: a base member; a first spacing member carried by the base member; a second spacing member carried by the first spacing member; and a support member carried by the second spacing member; said spacing members and said support member thus forming a stack, each of said spacing members having an upper face inclined to a lower face; and the first and second spacing members being arranged for independent rotation with respect to each other and relative to the base member to effect tilting of said support member relative to said base member by virtue of the varying thicknesses of said spacing members, and further including means for preventing rotation of said spacing members from causing rotation of said support member relative to the base member, so as to permit only tilting of the support member relative to said base member when said spacing members are rotated, wherein rolling element bearings are interposed between the base member and the first spacing member, between the first spacing member and the second spacing member and between the second spacing member and the support member, wherein said rotation preventing means comprises a gimbal or Hooke joint whose forks are respectively attached to the base member and to a flange attached to the support member and comprising screw means for pre-loading the roller bearings.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross section of levelling and alignment mechanism for use with equipment such as portable radar surveying equipment; Figure 2 shows a partial cross section of Figure 1 along the line A - A.
Referring now to Figure 1, the alignment mechanism comprises a base member 10 which is basically of a circular plate construction with an upstanding flange portion 12. A first annular spacing member 14 is separated from the base member 12 by a ball race 16. A second annular spacing member 18 is separated from the first annular spacing member 14 by a ball race 20. The annular spacing members 14, 18 are of generally wedgeshaped construction such that in the Figure the upper surface of the annular spacing member 14 is inclined at a small angle to the surface of the base member 10. Similarly the upper surface of the annular spacing member 18 is inclined at the same small angle to its lower annular surface.
Rotation of the two annular spacing members 14,18 by means of respective handles 22, 24 causes a disc member 26 to be tilted.
The disc member 26 is separated from the second annular spacing member by a ball race 21. A support member 28 is rotatably mounted on the disc member 26 by means of a ball race 30, the ball race being retained in the disc member by an annular retaining ring 32 and set screws 34 (only two of which are shown) and being retained in the support member 28 by a similar annular retaining ring 36 and screws 38. The support member 28 thus tilts with the disc member 26.
The handles 22, 24 are attached to their respective first and second annular spacing members by respective threaded portions 40, 42 which are shown as internally threaded nuts welded to the inside of the respective spacing members 14,18 which threaded nuts co-operate with screw threaded portions on the end of the spindles of handles 22, 24.
With each handle 22,24 a respective brake lever 44,46 is provided. The levers 44,46 are provided with a suitable friction material 48, 50 at one end. The handles 22,24 are shown in the locked position in which the braking lever 44 is effective in locking the first spacing member 14 to the base member 10 and in which the braking lever 46 is effective in locking the second spacing member 18 to the disc member 26. The first and second spacing members are rotated with respect to each other and with respect to the base member 10 by unscrewing the respective handles 22, 24 to release the brakes and are then relocked in the new position by re-screwing the handles 22, 24 as shown.
It is necessary that in rotating the first and second spacing member, to obtain the levelling action on the support member 28, the support member should not rotate. This is accomplished by a gimbal or Hooke joint arrangement which will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Referring particularly to Figure 2, the joint includes an inner annular member 60 and an outer annular member 62 which is formed as a flange on the disc member 26.
The annular members 60, 62 are able to rotate in a first plane with respect to one another by means of bearing pins 64,66. The joint further includes an inner boss member 68 which is connected to the inner annular member 60 by a further bearing pin 70. The bearing pins 64, 66, 70 form the forks of the gimbal or Hooke joint arrangement. The inner annular member 60 can thus rotate in a second plane, perpendicular to the first plane, with respect to the boss member 68.
The boss member 68 is formed integrally with a semi-flexible diaphragm 72 (Figure 1) which is fixed to the base member 10 by screws 74 (only two of which are shown). A threaded bolt 76 is screwed into internal screw threading in the boss 68 and is tightened against a disc spring 78 to pre-load the bearings 16, 20 and 21.
The support member 28 is rotatable with respect to the disc member 26 so that any eequipment mounted on the support member 28 may be rotated into a desired position without upsetting the adjustment of the levelling device. It is desirable to include some form of clamping between the support member 28 and the disc member 26 in order that it remains stationary after being rotated to a desired position and this may be in the form of predetermined frictional clamping or in the form of a braking mechanism such as provided by brake levers 44, 46.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An adjustable tilting mechanism comprising: a base member; a first spacing member carried by the base member; a second spacing member carried by the first spacing member; and a support member carried by the second spacing member; said spacing members and said support member thus forming a stack, each of said spacing members having an upper face inclined to a lower face; and the first and second spacing members being arranged for independent rotation with respect to each other and relative to the base member to effect tilting of said support member relative to said base member by virtue of the varying thicknesses of said spacing members, and further including means for preventing rotation of said spacing members from causing rotation of said support member relative to the base member, so as to permit only tilting of the support member relative to said base member when said spacing members are rotated, wherein rolling element bearings are interposed between the base member and the first spacing member, between the first spacing member and the second spacing member and between the second spacing member and the support member, wherein said rotation preventing means comprises a gimbal or Hooke joint whose forks are respectively attached to the base member and to a flange attached to the support member and comprising screw means for pre-loading the roller bearings.
2. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the forks of the gimbal or Hooke joint are respectively attached to a boss attached to the base member and the flange attached to the support member.
3. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the gimbal or Hooke joint includes an annular member, and the forks of the gimbal or Hooke joint respectively extend between the annular member and a boss attached to the base member and between the annular member and the flange attached to the support member.
4. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the boss is integral with a semi-flexible diaphragm by which the boss is attached to the base member.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. 22, 24 causes a disc member 26 to be tilted. The disc member 26 is separated from the second annular spacing member by a ball race 21. A support member 28 is rotatably mounted on the disc member 26 by means of a ball race 30, the ball race being retained in the disc member by an annular retaining ring 32 and set screws 34 (only two of which are shown) and being retained in the support member 28 by a similar annular retaining ring 36 and screws 38. The support member 28 thus tilts with the disc member 26. The handles 22, 24 are attached to their respective first and second annular spacing members by respective threaded portions 40, 42 which are shown as internally threaded nuts welded to the inside of the respective spacing members 14,18 which threaded nuts co-operate with screw threaded portions on the end of the spindles of handles 22, 24. With each handle 22,24 a respective brake lever 44,46 is provided. The levers 44,46 are provided with a suitable friction material 48, 50 at one end. The handles 22,24 are shown in the locked position in which the braking lever 44 is effective in locking the first spacing member 14 to the base member 10 and in which the braking lever 46 is effective in locking the second spacing member 18 to the disc member 26. The first and second spacing members are rotated with respect to each other and with respect to the base member 10 by unscrewing the respective handles 22, 24 to release the brakes and are then relocked in the new position by re-screwing the handles 22, 24 as shown. It is necessary that in rotating the first and second spacing member, to obtain the levelling action on the support member 28, the support member should not rotate. This is accomplished by a gimbal or Hooke joint arrangement which will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Referring particularly to Figure 2, the joint includes an inner annular member 60 and an outer annular member 62 which is formed as a flange on the disc member 26. The annular members 60, 62 are able to rotate in a first plane with respect to one another by means of bearing pins 64,66. The joint further includes an inner boss member 68 which is connected to the inner annular member 60 by a further bearing pin 70. The bearing pins 64, 66, 70 form the forks of the gimbal or Hooke joint arrangement. The inner annular member 60 can thus rotate in a second plane, perpendicular to the first plane, with respect to the boss member 68. The boss member 68 is formed integrally with a semi-flexible diaphragm 72 (Figure 1) which is fixed to the base member 10 by screws 74 (only two of which are shown). A threaded bolt 76 is screwed into internal screw threading in the boss 68 and is tightened against a disc spring 78 to pre-load the bearings 16, 20 and 21. The support member 28 is rotatable with respect to the disc member 26 so that any eequipment mounted on the support member 28 may be rotated into a desired position without upsetting the adjustment of the levelling device. It is desirable to include some form of clamping between the support member 28 and the disc member 26 in order that it remains stationary after being rotated to a desired position and this may be in the form of predetermined frictional clamping or in the form of a braking mechanism such as provided by brake levers 44, 46. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. An adjustable tilting mechanism comprising: a base member; a first spacing member carried by the base member; a second spacing member carried by the first spacing member; and a support member carried by the second spacing member; said spacing members and said support member thus forming a stack, each of said spacing members having an upper face inclined to a lower face; and the first and second spacing members being arranged for independent rotation with respect to each other and relative to the base member to effect tilting of said support member relative to said base member by virtue of the varying thicknesses of said spacing members, and further including means for preventing rotation of said spacing members from causing rotation of said support member relative to the base member, so as to permit only tilting of the support member relative to said base member when said spacing members are rotated, wherein rolling element bearings are interposed between the base member and the first spacing member, between the first spacing member and the second spacing member and between the second spacing member and the support member, wherein said rotation preventing means comprises a gimbal or Hooke joint whose forks are respectively attached to the base member and to a flange attached to the support member and comprising screw means for pre-loading the roller bearings.
2. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the forks of the gimbal or Hooke joint are respectively attached to a boss attached to the base member and the flange attached to the support member.
3. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the gimbal or Hooke joint includes an annular member, and the forks of the gimbal or Hooke joint respectively extend between the annular member and a boss attached to the base member and between the annular member and the flange attached to the support member.
4. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the boss is integral with a semi-flexible diaphragm by which the boss is attached to the base member.
5. A mechanism as claimed in any one of
Claims 2 to 4, wherein the screw means for pre-loading the roller bearings co-operates with the boss.
6. A mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the screw means is tightened against spring means interposed between the screw means and the base member.
7. A mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, including brake means operative to restrain relative rotation between the first spacing member and the base member.
8. A mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, including brake means operative to restrain relative rotation between the second spacing member and a disc member on which the support member is mounted.
9. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the support member is rotatably mounted on the disc member, and including brake means operative to restrain relative rotation between the support member and the disc member.
10. An adjustable tilting mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB9764/76A 1977-03-10 1977-03-10 Adjustable tilting mechanisms Expired GB1572443A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9764/76A GB1572443A (en) 1977-03-10 1977-03-10 Adjustable tilting mechanisms

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9764/76A GB1572443A (en) 1977-03-10 1977-03-10 Adjustable tilting mechanisms

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB1572443A true GB1572443A (en) 1980-07-30

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ID=9878348

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9764/76A Expired GB1572443A (en) 1977-03-10 1977-03-10 Adjustable tilting mechanisms

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GB (1) GB1572443A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102009037738A1 (en) * 2009-08-17 2011-02-24 Mtu Aero Engines Gmbh Method for aligning object i.e. work piece during mechanical processing of object in rotation friction welding machine, involves positioning sliding plate at plate surface, and changing object position parallel to surface by sliding plate
CN104653968A (en) * 2014-12-25 2015-05-27 中国人民解放军总参谋部第六十研究所 Vibration exciter fixed mounting device and using method thereof

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102009037738A1 (en) * 2009-08-17 2011-02-24 Mtu Aero Engines Gmbh Method for aligning object i.e. work piece during mechanical processing of object in rotation friction welding machine, involves positioning sliding plate at plate surface, and changing object position parallel to surface by sliding plate
CN104653968A (en) * 2014-12-25 2015-05-27 中国人民解放军总参谋部第六十研究所 Vibration exciter fixed mounting device and using method thereof
CN104653968B (en) * 2014-12-25 2016-06-08 中国人民解放军总参谋部第六十研究所 A kind of vibrator secure mounting arrangements and using method thereof

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