US3752429A

US3752429A - Three axis simulator

Info

Publication number: US3752429A
Application number: US00268338A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Reed
Original assignee: US Department of Navy
Current assignee: US Department of Navy
Priority date: 1972-07-03
Filing date: 1972-07-03
Publication date: 1973-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-14

Abstract

A test fixture is provided with selective movement capability along any one of three mutually orthogonal axes. An adjustable support means is configured to support any of a plurality of devices to be tested on the fixture such as to position the center of gravity above the intersection of the axis of movement. A lock mechanism prevents movement of the support fixture about nonselected axes. An interlock is provided for the lock mechanism to prevent movement along the undesired ones of the mutually perpendicular orthogonal axes and to permit movement along the selected axis in dependence on the interlock position.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,752,429

Reed 1451 Aug. 14, 1973 THREE AXIS SIMULATOR 3,331,575 7/1967 Anderson et a]. 248/180 3,517,904 6/ 1 970 Verchain 248/179 [75] Invent Chest" Reed Burbank 3,592,429 7/1971 Miller 248/179 [73] Assignee: The United States 0! America as represented by the Secretary of the Primary Examiner-Marion Parsons, Jr.

y, Washington, A ttorney- Richard S. Sciascia, Ervin F. Johnston 22 Filed: July 3, 1972 et 21 A 1. N 268 338 1 pp 57 ABSTRACT 52] U S Cl 248/179 A test fixture is provided with selective movement ca- [51] h. .Cl 13/00 pability along any one of three mutually orthogonal 58] Field 48/179 180, axes. An adjustable support means is configured to su 2112/3 port any of a plurality of devices to be tested on the fixture such as to position the center of gravity above the intersection of the axis of movement. A lock mecha- [56] References Cited I nism prevents movement of the support fixture about UNITED STATES PATENTS nonselected axes. An interlock is provided for the lock 2,469,918 5/1949 Douglas 272/36 mechanism to prevent movement along the undesired 2,5 Black ones of the mutually perpendicular orthogonal axes 2514762 11/1950 Hayes et 5 272/36 and to permit movement along the selected axis in de- 3 099 934 8/1963 Park 248/180 7 1 t e rl ion. 3,295,224 1/1967 Cappel 272/36 pendence h 12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEU AUG 14 I875 SHEET 1 0F 5 FlG.l

FIGZ FlG.6

PATENIED MIR \4 i975 sum 1. or 5 PATENTEDMIB 14 I875 3; 752.429

sum 5 OF 5 FIG.7

, FIGS FIGS THREE AXIS SIMULATOR STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains generally to the field of supports. More particularly, the invention is directed to the supports of the stand type. In greater particularity, the invention pertains to those stand type supports having a tilting support surface. Further, the invention is directed to stands having tilting support surfaces and a particular article support means thereon. By way of further characterization, the. invention pertains to a stand having a tilting support surface which may be adjusted or moved about any of three mutually perpendicular axes of movement. More particularly, but without limitation thereto, the invention will be described as it pertains to a support fixture to be used in a test stand environment. Further, the invention will be described as it is used in a test stand for ordnance type vehicles, such as torpedoes, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Previous to the invention, the testing of torpedoes prior to their use has required a plurality of individual tests of either the component parts of the device or of the assembled device. A variety of problems has arisen as a result of these prior art testing techniques. These prior art problems come in a multitude of guises and are named in accordance with a particular art or device tested. However, for the most part, they are due to a lack of standardization between the various independent test instruments. Thus, in one series of tests, the device may be moved about one axis while in another test a different axis of movement or a different center of arcuate movement may be inadvertently used. As a direct result of this lack of uniformity and standarization, a composite figure of a merit for the completed device is difficult to obtain with any meaningful accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a universally movable support fixture which may move loads of moderate weight about any of a selected one of three mutually orthogonal axes and includes a fixed base on which a universally movable table is positioned. The movable table is suspended by a universal joint mechanism and has a control such as to permit movement about only one of a plurality of axes. A lock mechanism is also provided to disable movement about any of the three axes so as to permit positioning and removal of items to be tested on the table. In this way, a plurality of tests may be made from a single position of a torpedo mounted on the fixture.

An article support means is included as a component part to permit positioning of a variety of objects on the table with the center of gravity located over the center of rotational movement. In addition to the adjustment to position the center of gravity in a desired location, an adjustment also provides for the acceptance of devices of different lengths.

STATEMENT OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a new and improved universally movable support fixture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a universally movable support fixture which is movable in rotation about one of a plurality of axes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide for a movable support fixture which is movable about any of three mutually orthogonal axes.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved support fixture which may be selectively movable about any of three mutually orthogonal axes or rigidly supported in a neutral position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a test fixture for testing the operability of subassemblies of a vehicle employing a guidance system.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a universally movable support as a component part of a test assembly for marine torpedoes.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the ensuing specification when taken with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7.-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 is a section taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, test fixture 11 is illustrated. As shown, test fixture 11 includes a suitable fixed base 12 which is secured to a suitable support stand 13. Support stand 13 is generally configured in the form of a table or bench and may conveniently house electronic components of the test device, as well as.miscellaneous tools and parts used in the testing procedure. Table 14 is supported above fixed base 12 by a suitable universal joint 15 and a rotable shaft, to be later described.

An instrument package 16 is also shown as being mounted on table 14, however, this instrument package may be dispensed with if the testing application does not require it. A suitable pair of upright supports, indicated at 17 and 18, are also mounted on table 14. The spacing between

supports

17 and 18 may be varied and secured at a desired spacing by means of a lock handle 19. As might be anticipated, such space variation is useful so as to permit test fixture 11 to be adjusted to accommodate a variety of instruments to be tested. In addition to vary the spacing between test support 17 and test support 18, the operator may move both supports along table 14 in a direction correspond-ing to the fore and aft direction, or the right and left as seen in FIG. 1. This adjustability is obtained by loosening

lock knobs

21 and 22 so as to permit movement of the supports along a beveled edge of table 14 which serves as a suitable track, to be more completely described herein. As will be obvious to those versed in the mechanical engineering arts and test applications connected therewith, such movement along table 14 permits the alignment of an axis passing through the center of gravity of the object under test with the axis of universal joint 15. Quite naturally, such alignment of the center of gravity with the axis of movement of table 14 permits the table with the test object mounted thereon to be moved with an expenditure of a lesser amount of force than would be required if the alignment were not possible.

Also visible in FIG. 1 is a selector handle 23 which is used to select the axis of movement of table 14 as will be described herein.

Operating handles

24 and 25 also are shown attached to table 14 and permit the table to be moved by the operator. A plurality of electrical connectors, indicated generally at 26, are shown as emerging from support stand 13 to be attached to the device under test. Likewise, a plurality of indicating lamps 27 are shown on the upper surface of support stand 13 where they are readily visible by the operator. The precise manner in which electrical connectors 26 and test lamps 27 operate, of course, depend upon the particular test mechanism which, of course, is beyond the scope of the invention.

Before commencing with the detailed instruction of the preferred embodiment of the invention, a propaedeutic description of the basic components of the invention will be given to assist in the understanding of the preferred embodiment of the device of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, table 14 is shown separated from universal joint 15. A suitable shaft 28 is attached to universal joint and is received for rotation in fixed plate 12 by an enlarged flanged bearing 29. A plurality of pins 31 are slidably received in suitable guides 32 which, in turn, are rigidly mounted in fixed base 12. Guides 32 are spaced about orthogonal axes and support table 14 for movement about these axes as permitted by universal joint 15. In order to facilitate such pivotal movement, the ends of pins 31 support caster mechanisms, to be more completely described herein, which engage the lower surface of table 14.

A suitably configured index plate 33 is attached to selector handle 23 and is rotably secured about shaft 28. A similarly configured bottom plate 34 is slightly larger than index plate 33 and is effectively secured to fixed base 12 by means not shown in FIG. 2, to provide a retaining support for index plate 33.

A plurality of apertures 35 are provided in index plate 33 and cooperate with pins 31 so as to permit pairs thereof located on a common axis to slidably extend downward through apertures 35 when they are in alignment with guides 32. As will be obvious to those skilled in the mechanical engineering arts, the apertures 35 are placed on angular axes different from those of pins 31 so as to provide selective alignment with one pair of pins 31 and prevent the other pair of pins from sliding downwardly because of an interference with index plate 33. As may be readily visualized,

this permits but a single pair of pins 31 to be freed by selective movement of index plate 33 so as to align apertures 35 with the associated guides 32. It should be noted here, that pins 31 are normally retained in an upward position to be in engagement with table 14 by means of cooperating spring retaining means, not shown. A preferred arrangement for accomplishing this biasing of pins 31 will be described subsequently in connection with other figures of the drawings.

A suitable locking plate 36 is secured to the end of shaft 28 and controls its rotation. Ordinarily, shaft 28 is prevented from rotational movement by means of a suitable locking pin 37. Locking pin 37 is carried by a pin retainer 38 and is biased into engagement with locking plate 36. Pin retainer 38 is secured to bottom plate 34 and therefore provides a rigid indexing of pin 37 and locking plate 36 when it is engaged thereby. A cam latch, also to be more fully described subsequently, is attached to the bottom of indexing plate 33 and extends through an arcuate slot 39 in bottom plate 34 to selectively engage locking pin 37 for withdrawal thereof from locking plate 36.

As will be readily appreciated by those versed in the mechanical engineering arts, movement of the indexing plate 33 by handle 23 alternately frees either of two pairs of pins 31 or frees locking pin 37 from engagement with locking plate 36 in dependence on position to which indexing plate 33 is moved. It will also be readily understood that index plate 33 may have a position in which all pins 31 and locking pin 37 are constrained to their indexing position such that table 14 is unable to move in any direction. This position, the locked position, is useful when placing objects to be tested on the table or removing them for assembly or further adjustment.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, which are respectively a top and bottom plan view and side elevation view of the preferred assembly of the invention, the details of the actual preferred embodiment of the test support arrangement will be more clearly seen. Forward test support 18 has a forward slide assembly 41 attached to the rear thereof which overlaps a similarly configured aft slide assembly 42 which, in turn, is attached to aft test support 17. As may be best seen in FIG. 3, these two slide assemblies, 41 and 42, are frictionally held in a locked position by means of lock handle 19. Lock handle 19 controls a conventional frictional clamping arrangement to secure

slide assemblies

41 and 42 in an adjusted position to determine the separation between aft support 17 and forward test support 18 in a desired position relative to one another. This adjustment permits the test fixture of the invention to accommodate a plurality of assemblies and thereby greatly increases the usefulness of the fixture. In the case of torpedo testing, these different packages may correspond to an active warhead or an exercise warhead or other instrument packages contained on the weapon.

As will be more clearly described in the operation section of the invention, table 14 is moved through its angular degree of freedom by means of operator handles 24 and 25. In order to facilitate this movement, it is desirable that the center of gravity of the object under test be approximately over the center of the universal joint 15.

This advantageous positioning is accomplished by moving both test supports 17 and 18 along the length of table 14. A cylindrical guide rod 43 helps stabilize the tables as they are moved in this fashion. In order to facilitate repeated settings at the desired location, an indicia bracket 44 is provided with markings thereon which cooperate with a fixed index pin 45.

The mechanism facilitating this fore and aft adjust ment is best understood with reference to FIG. 5. It will be noted that for purposes of clearity, handles 24 and 25 have been omitted from FIG. 5. As shown, lock knob 22 is connected to a threaded shaft 46 which is received in a trunnion 49 attached to support 18. Rotation of lock knob 22 forces a spacer 48 against a movable gib 51. Movable gib 51 is pivoted about a fastening pin such as spring pin 4'7 so as to force movable gib 51 and a fixed gib 52, located on the opposite side of test support 18, against table 14. Of course, trunnion 49 is affixed to forward test support 18 by suitable means, not shown. As will be observed, table 14 is beveled to permit this gripping action between

gibs

51 and 52 and to retain

supports

17 and 18 on table 14 when

knobs

21 and 22 are loosened.

Lock knob 21 functions in an identical fashion to cause aft test support 17 to grip table 14.

Aft test support 17 and forward test support 18 have contoured cutouts therein in order to facilitate placement of a cylindrical object to be tested thereon. The precise positioning of the object may be further ensured by the employment of a suitable guide, such as shown at 53, to determine the initial position of the object to be tested. Guide 53 may be made of any suitable material such as, for example, a high impact plastic or a metal such as stainless steel. A notch 60 in aft support determines the rotational orientation of the object being tested.

In addition to these aforedescribed support means, the test object is held in place against any vertical movement which might dislodge it by means of a suitable fastening arrangement. In the preferred embodiment this fastening arrangement comprises flexible bands 54 which retract into test supports 17 and 18 and, when fastened, extend therefrom to encircle the device undergoing test. Flexible band 54 may be made of any suitable high tensile strength flexible material, however, it should be noted that steel has proven very satisfactory for the construction of these bands in the device of the invention. Flexible band 54 is secured about the object to be tested by means of suitable clamp arrangement 55. Clamp 55 is a conventional over center mechanism which is well understood in the hardware arts.

In order to facilitate retraction and withdrawal of flexible band 54 from test supports 17 and 18, suitable internal guiding mechanism may be provided. In the case of a steel flexible band 54, a spring guide mechanism 56 has proven satisfactory for this guiding device. As shown, spring 56 is a leaf type spring which is secured to suitable spacers 57 so as to extend toward the center of test supports 17 and 18 on the inside thereof.

The arrangement for supporting bottom plate 34 to fixed base 12 is also shown to best advantage in FIG. 5. As may be readily observed, a plurality of cylindrical collars 58 are arranged in a circumferential fashion about the outer edge of index plate 33. Suitable threaded fasteners 59 extend through fixed base 12, cylindrical collars 58, and terminate below bottom plate 34. Fasteners 59 hold bottom plate 34 to fixed base 12. In addition to spacing fixed base 12 and bottom plate 34 apart, collars 58 provide a guiding and bearing surface for the rotation of index plate 33 by providing a marginal guide path in a fashion to be more completely described presently.

Referring to FIG. 4, a mechanism permitting table 14 to rotate about shaft 28 will now be described. This rotational movement about shaft 28 is termed yaw in the preferred embodiment as it corresponds to movements about a vertical axis extending through the torpedo being tested. As shown, locking plate 36 is held against rotation by means of a locking pin 37 which is carried in a pin retainer 38. Pin retainer 38 contains internal spring mechanism, not shown, which biases retaining pin 37 to engage a mating notch 61 on looking plate 36. A lifting cam 62 which is attached to index plate 33 lifts pin 37 out of engagement with notch 61 when index plate 33 is rotated to its extreme clockwise position, when viewed from below as in FIG. 4.

When locking pin 37 is freed from notch 61, shaft 28 is free to rotate about is longitudinal axis. Rather than permit full rotation of shaft 28, the rotation is limited by means of suitably configured stops 63 and 64. As shown, stops 63 and 64 are secured to bottom of plate 34 and are therefore effectively rigidly secured with respect to fixed base 12. The ends of stops 63 and 64 extend into the path of travel of locking plate 36 to effectively limit its rotational movement and, hence, the rotational movement of shaft 28. Of course, the amount of rotation permitted may be varied to suit the particular test desired to be performed by relocating stops 63 and 64. In the preferred embodiment, approximately 10 of rotational freedom is permitted on either side of the lock position.

In order to minimize shock to the device being tested and to prolong instrument life, stops 63 and 64 are provided with a suitable pad 65 in the abutting end thereof. Pad 65 may be made of a suitable energy absorbing material such as rubber or a suitable synthetic material.

Referring to FIG. 6, the method of securing locking plate 36 to shaft 28 will be described. FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 4. As shown, the end of shaft 28 is threaded and passes through a hole in locking plate 36 to extend beyond the surface thereof on the lower side, A castellated or spanner nut 66 is threadably received on the end of shaft 28 and draws locking plate 36 upwardly when threadably secured thereon. A pin 67 extends through a bore in locking plate 36 and shaft 28 and is secured on the opposite side of locking plate 36 by means of a nut 68. As previously described in connection with FIG. 2, shaft 28 passes through index plate 33 and bottom plate 34 and is separated therefrom by means of an appropriate bearing 29. If desired, a suitable thrust bearing 69 may be provided between locking plate 36 and bottom plate 34.

Referring to FIG. 7, a sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 3, further mechanical features of the table control mechanism will be described. As shown, pin 31 has a suitably shaped collar 71 affixed to the upper end thereof. Collar 71 provides an engagement surface for a coil spring 72 which is coaxially spaced with respect to pin 31 and extends downwardly from collar 71 to fixed base 12. Spring 72 biases pin 31 in the upward position.

Above collar 71, on pin 31, a ball caster 73 is mounted. Ball caster 73 is a conventional hardware item and is, therefore, well understood by those proficient in the mechanical engineering arts and need not be described further herein. Ball caster 73 permits table 14 to rotate about shaft 28 with reduced friction with respect to that which would be provided if pin 31 were to contact table 14 directly. If desired, the sliding resistance of table 14 on ball caster 73 may be further reduced by affixing a caster slide 74 to the underside of table 14. Caster slide 74 may extend only for the arcuate extent that table 14 is allowed to move by reason of stops 63 and 64. Caster slide 74 may be made of any suitable material having a low coefficient of friction and a smooth surface, however, a polished metal plate as well as a plastic strip have proven satisfactory in developmental models of the device of the invention.

When index plate 33 is moved to align control apertures 35. with pins 31, the table may be rocked about the axis which is perpendicular to the line adjoining the unlocked pins. in the illustrated figure, this corresponds to the axis extending along the longitudinal dimension of the torpedo or the roll axis.

As may be readily seen from FIG. 7, when table 14 rolls to depress pin 3]., spring 72 is compressed permitting pin 71 to pass through aperture 35 in index plate 33. An aperture 77 in bottom plate 34 is positioned beneath each pin 31 so as to permit its vertical reciprocation, which is caused by extreme movement of table 14, to carry it therethrough.

As in the case of movements about shaft 28, it is desirable to limit the angular extent that table 14 may be moved in the pitch and roll simulation directions. This limitation of movement is provided by attaching suitable bumpers 75 to the underside of table 14 to abut fixed stops 76 carried on the upper surface of fixed base 12. As in the case of stops 63 and 64, a suitable pad 78 may be carried by stop 76 to reduce the shock caused by bumper 75 striking the stop. Similar stops and bumpers are provided for the pitch axis and together with bumpers 75 and stops 76 serve to protect the device being tested as well as extend the longevity of the test fixture.

Referring now to H68. 4 and 8, the latching mechanism used in the preferred embodiment of the invention will be described. As shown, a latch plate 79 is secured to the underside of bottom plate 34. A suitably shaped latch handle 81 is pivotally carried in a slot in selector handle 23 by means of a suitably disposed pivot pin 82. Latch handle 81, as may be seen in FIG. 8, is held in an upward direction by means of a coil spring 85 which is compressed between a suitable stop member such as washer 84 and a thumb actuated operator knob 86. Operator knob 86 is secured to latch handle 83 by means of suitable fasteners such as screw 87, for example. A latch pawl 88 is carried on the lower side of latch handle 83 and cooperates with latch detents 83 in latch plate 79.

From the foregoing it may be seen that selector handle 23 may be moved to rotate index plate 33 only when latch handle 83 is depressed so as to free latch pawl 88 from latch detents 89.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the details of lifting cam 62 may be more clearly seen. As shown, lifting cam 62 extends downwardly so as to grip lifting pin 37 on both sides thereof by means of a slot 91 cut in the face thereof. Lifting cam 62 is secured to indexing plate 33 by means of suitable cap screws 92 which are recessed into the surface of index plate 33 so as not to interfere with rotational movement about shaft 28.

is pivotally supported from a locking lever base 94 by means of a pivot pin 95. When a positive roll attitude is required, table 14 is moved to a tilted position by operator handle 25 and lever 93 is raised to engage a detent, not shown, in the lower surface of table 14 thus forming a prop to support the table in the desired in dexed position.

Although the foregoing structional description is believed sufficiently complete to enable one skilled in the mechanical engineering arts and having the benefit of the teachings thereof to make and use the device, the invention will be more readily appreciated and understood with reference to the following description of the mode of operation.

MODE OF OPERATION The operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention is as follows. Aft test support 17 and forward test support 18 are adjusted for the proper spacing of the device to be tested by means of loosening lock handle l9 and manually positioning two test supports with respect to each other so as to obtain the desired spacing. The achievement of this spacing is facilitated by suitable indicia on forward slide assembly 41 and aft slide assembly 42.

After the correct spacing is obtained, the two test supports 17 and 18 are moved together either forward or aft until the correct indicium ,on indicia bracket 44 is in alignment with index pin 45. This places the center of gravity of the device to be tested over shaft- 28. In this position, the mounted test instrument will offer a minimum of inertia to operators using the device.

The item to be tested is then placed in the mating surface of forward and aft test supports 18 and 17 in such a manner that the forward edge thereof is initially placed in abutment with guide 53. The device being tested is then lowered to rest in

supports

17 and 18. The forward support is then pushed abaft to bring a positioning dowel on the test object into contact with the aft test support 17. The object being tested is then rotated to bring the dowel into engagement with notch 60. This assures that the object being tested is seated in the desired reference position.

Flexible bands 54 are then withdrawn from test supports 17 and 18 and carried about the device to be tested where they are secured with clamp 55. The operator of the test instrument then connects the electrical connectors 26 to their mating connectors on the device to be tested and the system is energized in dependence on the particular test being conducted.

Selector handle 23 is then moved to the desired position corresponding to the axis along which the guidance mechanism is to be tested. Of course novement of handle 23 includes the step of depressing operator knob 86 to free pawl 88 from latch plate 79. The operator then grabs handles 24 and 25 and rapidly swings the device undergoing test to the limits of its rotational freedom about the selected axis. Appropriate motion sensing apparatus carried in instrument package 16 provides a reference signal for the movement of the table against which the system undergoing test is compared. lf the device under test is performing satisfactorily, the operator obtains an instrument reading on the particular test equipment being used.

Selector handle 23 is then moved to the next position and the procedure repeated for that test axis. This procedure is continued until all of the guidance axes perform satisfactorily and indicate that the item is ready for a final assembly.

The dismounting of the item under test is the reverse of the mounting procedure. Of course, where a plurality of the same type of device is being tested, the adjustment and positioning of forward and aft test supports 17 and 18 may be left in the desired position.

The foregoing description taken together with the appended claims constitute a disclosure as to enable a person skilled in the electronic and mechanical engineering arts and having the benefit of the teachings contained therein to make and use the invention. Further, the structure herein described meets the objects of invention, and generally constitutes a meritorious advance in the art uno'bvious to such a skilled worker not having the benefit of these teachings.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings, and, it is therefore understood that within the scope of the disclosed inventive concept, the invention may be practiced otherwise than specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. A universally movable support fixture comprising in combination:

a fixed base;

a shaft rotatably supported in the fixed base for rotatable movement about its longitudinal axis and extending from the fixed base;

a universal joint affixed to the shaft to permit rotable movement about two axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

a table attached to the universal joint for movement about two axis of the universal joint and about the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

support means attached to the table for mountably engaging an object to be positioned-thereon;

first lock means positioned below the table and selectively actuatable for effectively connecting the table to the fixed base to prevent relative movement therebetween about one of the two axes of the universal joint;

second lock means positioned below the table and selectively actuatable for effectively connecting the table to the fixed base to prevent relative movement therebetween about the other of the two axes of the universal joint;

third lock means positioned below the table and adjacent to the shaft and selectively actuatable for effectively connecting the shaft to the fixed base to prevent the shaft from rotating therein; and

interlock means connected between said first, sec- 0nd, and third lock means for operating any combination of the lock means simultaneously to permit the selective securing and articulation of the table.

2. A universally-movable .support fixture according to claim 1 further including:

operation means attached to the table for moving the table about a desired axis as determined by the position of said interlock means.

3. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 1 wherein said support means includes two upright standards which are configured to engage and secure an object thereto.

4. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 3 wherein said vertically extending support standards are movable relative to one another so as to vary the spacing therebetween.

5. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 4 wherein said vertically extending support standards are movable with respect to the table for positioning the articles supported thereby with respect to the aforesaid universal joint.

6. A universally movable supportfixture according to claim 1 wherein said first and second lock means include reciprocally mounted pin means which engage the table so as to prevent motion thereof.

7. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 6 wherein said pin means are resiliently urged into engagement with the table.

8. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 7 wherein the aforesaid third lock means comprises a reciprocally mounted pin which engages a suitable detent effectively configured as to be an integral part of the aforesaid shaft.

9. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 8 wherein the reciprocally mounted pin means is resiliently urged into engagement with said detent.

10. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 9 wherein said detent engaging pin is configured so as to have a cam follower portion thereon to permit the detent engaging pin to be moved by means of a suitable cam.

11. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 1 wherein said interlock means comprises: an index plate rotably mounted about the shaft;

a plurality of apertures passing through the index plate and aligned so as to selectively register with the end of either the first or second lock means in dependence upon the position of the index plate; and

operator means extending outwardly from the index plate for manual movement thereof.

12. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 11 further comprising:

cam means mounted on said index plate and positioned so as to cooperate with the aforesaid third lock means for selectively moving it to a position such as to free the shaft for rotation within the fixed base.

Claims

1. A universally movable support fixture comprising in combination: a fixed base; a shaft rotatably supported in the fixed base for rotatable movement about its longitudinal axis and extending from the fixed base; a universal joint affixed to the shaft to permit rotable movement about two axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; a table attached to the universal joint for movement about two axis of the universal joint and about the longitudinal axis of the shaft; support means attached to the table for mountably engaging an object to be positioned thereon; first lock means positioned below the table and selectively actuatable for effectively connecting the table to the fixed base to prevent relative movement therebetween about one of the two axes of the universal joint; second lock means positioned below the table and selectively actuatable for effectively connecting the table to the fixed base to prevent relative movement therebetween about the other of the two axes of the universal joint; third lock means positioned below the table and adjacent to the shaft and selectively actuatable for effectively connecting the shaft to the fixed base to prevent the shaft from rotating therein; and interlock means connected between said first, second, and third lock means for operating any combination of the lock means simultaneously to permit the selective securing and articulation of the table.

2. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 1 further including: operation means attached to the table for moving the table about a desired axis as determined by the position of said interlock means.

6. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 1 wherein said first and second lock means include reciprocally mounted pin means which engage the table so as to prevent motion thereof.

11. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 1 wherein said interlock means comprises: an index plate rotably mounted about the shaft; a plurality of apertures passing through the index plate and aligned so as to selectively register with the end of either the first or second lock means in dependence upon the position of the index plate; and operator means extending outwardly from the index plate for manual movement thereof.

12. A universally movable support fixture according to claim 11 further comprising: cam means mounted on said index plate and positioned so as to cooperate with the aforesaid third lock means for selectively moving it to a position such as to free the shaft for rotation within the fixed base.