WO2006018011A1

WO2006018011A1 - Tripod head for film and television cameras and other devices

Info

Publication number: WO2006018011A1
Application number: PCT/DE2005/001429
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Fitz
Original assignee: Panther Gmbh
Priority date: 2004-08-14
Filing date: 2005-08-12
Publication date: 2006-02-23
Also published as: DE102004039571A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a tripod head which comprises a stator (2) and a rotor (3) which can be rotated about the stator about a horizontal rotational axis (5) of a main shaft (4), said rotor accommodating the camera or the device. A spring arrangement (9) is provided between the stator and the rotor and exerts a restoring force acting against the torque produced when the rotor is rotated so that the camera or the device is maintained stable in any position of rotation. The spring arrangement has two substantially parallel compression springs (9, 9') which are supported with their first ends in the stator (2) at both sides of the rotational axis (5) of the rotor and on the second ends of which one arm (22) each of an eccentric rocker (23) rests. The rocker axis (27, 32) is located between the two springs in a horizontal and parallel orientation in relation to the rotational axis (5) of the rotor. The main shaft (4) carries a cam (26) which engages with the rocker.

Description

TRIPOD HEAD FOR FILM AND TV CAMERAS AND OTHER DEVICES

The invention relates to a tripod head for FiIm- and television cameras and other devices according to the preamble of claim 1. Such tripod heads have a stator and a pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis about the stator rotor, which receives the camera or the device, and a arranged between the stator and the rotor spring assembly, which exerts a counter to the resulting by the weight of the camera torque restoring force during pivoting of the rotor, so that the camera or the device is kept stable in each pivot position. Such a tripod head with weight compensation is e.g. known from DE-A 27 549 83. The device for weight compensation in this case has two acting in the opposite direction, preferably oppositely wound coil springs, which are arranged in a connectable to the stator module and compensate for a pivotal movement of the rotor in both directions in each case the torque generated by the weight of the rotor with the camera.

Instead of coil springs can be used in accordance with DE-Al-101 64 368 bending springs, which are supported at its one end to the stator and at its other end to the rotor. Likewise, balancing devices with two coil springs are known, which extend on both sides of the pivot axis of the tripod head and each supported on end plates; see. DE-C2-32 11 372.

From DE-A-30 18 268 a compensating device is known in which a connected to the pivot axis of the rotor cam is connected, which acts according to its rotational position on a compression spring progressively.

Further, tripod heads are known with a compensating device in which in addition to two coil springs fixed to the stator there is provided a tensioning cable connected thereto and connected by rollers, the ends of which are connected to two fixed points of the rotor located on opposite sides of the rotor centerline; see. US-B1-6, 328, 487.

All these compensating devices have in common that the spring arrangement exerts a substantially sinusoidally extending restoring torque over the pivoting range of the rotor to the rotor with the recorded camera or the device, so that the camera or the device is held stable in each pivoting position, without intervention an operator is necessary.

Special attention must be paid to the play within the compensation device, so that when changing from one direction to the other no noticeable jerk for a cameraman occurs.

The invention is based on the objects, a tripod head with a compensating device for the Specify the weight of the camera or the device, which is simple in design and allows a smooth pivoting movement even when changing the pivoting direction. In addition, the compensating device should be adapted, at least to a certain extent, to the weight of the camera received on the rotor.

These objects are achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, a spring arrangement is provided with two parallel and vertically extending compression springs which are supported in each case with their first end in the stator on both sides of the pivot axis and on whose second ends in each case one arm of an eccentric rock rests. The pivot or pressure axis of the eccentric rocker is located between the two springs, is horizontal and parallel to the pivot or pressure axis of the rotor. An eccentric connected to this pivot or pressure axis, preferably at its lower edge, engages in a central receiving opening of the eccentric rocker and pivots or presses the eccentric rocker during pivoting of the camera progressively, so that the restoring force built up by the springs reduces the torque of the camera or of the camera Device is always compensated. Torque and restoring force are sinusoidal, plotted over the swivel angle.

As springs coil springs or disc springs are used, the latter in particular as disc spring packages, which are arranged around guide tubes. Disc springs also have approximately linear properties in the limit region. Other spring arrangements are possible. To adjust this spring arrangement to the weight of a camera or a device, the ends of the springs, which are supported on the stator, adjustable by means of a Einstell¬ device in position, so that the bias of the compression springs by shortening or lengthening the springs on the Weight of the mounted on the rotor device is adjustable.

According to a preferred embodiment, the eccentric rocker located between the compression springs foot part, engages in the lower, the adjusting end of the eccentric, wherein at the upper end of the foot two firmly connected to this and oppositely extending rocker arms are provided, each on one of the compression springs rest.

This construction has the advantage that it has only a small height, so that the entire counterbalancing device can be accommodated in a small space. Above the end of the compression springs, no parts necessary for equalizing the weight are provided except for the arms of the eccentric rocker: all the elements essential for weight compensation are arranged between the compression springs.

The foot of the rocker may be formed as a connecting rod, the rocker and eccentric connects to each other and is connected on the sides of the rocker with the rocker axis and on the other side hinged to the eccentric. In this construction, the rocker axis is located firmly in the tripod head and no longer floating as at a firm connection of the foot part with the rocker. Thus, the rocker does not turn but loads both springs evenly. This also makes it possible to compensate for the weight of the device placed on the tripod head.

With the mentioned constructions, it is possible to progressively compress one spring by the rocker and to relax the other or evenly and progressively compress both springs, both of which achieve weight compensation.

It would also be possible to arrange the two springs on opposite sides of the rocker; however, this arrangement requires more space.

The adjusting device for adjusting the bias of the two compression springs preferably has a carrier with two ramps facing the bottom of the stator, whose pitch is the same but opposite. On a common, the ramps opposite base of the carrier based on the two springs. On each ramp slides a trapezoidal or wedge-shaped slide. The carriages are preferably displaced by means of a threaded bolt which has a right-hand thread symmetrically about its center on one side and a left-hand thread on the other side which engage in corresponding threads in the carriage. The threaded bolt is firmly connected, for example, with a rotary handle which is located outside of the stator. By rotating the knob, the slides slide on the ramps of the carrier and move it up or down, whereby the bias of Springs changed and the weight compensation device can be adapted to different weights of the device.

Further embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The invention is illustrated in exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing; in this represent:

1 shows a partially sectioned cross section through a first embodiment of a tripod head according to the invention;

Figure 2: a cross section through a tripod head according to a second embodiment.

A tripod head 1, according to Figure 1, a stator 2 and a rotor 3, which can be pivoted about a mounted in the stator 2 horizontal pivot shaft 4 with a pivot axis 5 in the direction of the double arrow P. On the rotor 3, a device, in this case a camera 6 is attached, which is only partially shown.

The stator 2 has a base plate 7, which can be connected to a camera stand via a rotary plate, not shown, so that the tripod head in the stand can still be pivoted about a vertical axis of rotation.

In the stator 2, a device 8 is arranged to balance the weight, which during pivoting the camera 6 compensated torque compensated and keeps the camera stable in each pivot position.

This weight balancing device 8 has two coil springs 9, which are arranged symmetrically on one side of the horizontal pivot axis 5, extend vertically and are supported on their, in the figure lower ends on an "upper" substantially flat base 10 of a support 11. The carrier has a trapezoidal symmetrical cross-section with a base surface 10 opposite the roof surface 12 and two the base and roof surface 10, 12 connecting ramps 13, wherein between these ramps 13 and the base 12 an acute angle of about 25 ° to 30 °.

Below the carrier 11, two carriages 14 are located, which support the carrier 11 and rest smoothly with likewise inclined ramps 15 on the ramps 13 of the carrier. The trapezoidal or wedge-shaped carriages 14 slide on a horizontal bottom surface 16 of the base plate 7 along a horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the pivot axis 5 and can be displaced in opposite directions by means of a threaded bolt 17 on the bottom surface along the horizontal double arrows P1. The threaded bolt 17 is mounted at its two ends in the stator. It has symmetrical to its center on one side of a left-hand thread 18 and on the other side a right-hand thread 19, which engage respectively in corresponding threads in the two carriages 14. One end 20 of the threaded bolt is passed through the wall of the stator and connected to a rotary handle 21 outside the stator. By turning the knob, the carriages 14 can move in opposite directions be moved so that the carrier 11 is raised or lowered according to the movement of the carriage, whereby the total length of the coil springs and thus their bias is changed.

The upper ends of the coil springs 9 are each supported on a horizontally extending arm 22 of an eccentric rocker 23. The eccentric rocker 23 has between the two arms 22 downwardly in the direction of the base plate of the stator extending foot portion 24 which is located symmetrically between the two coil springs 9 and extends approximately over two thirds of the length of the coil springs 9. The foot part 24 has approximately in its center a receiving opening 25 into which an eccentric 26 engages. The eccentric 26 is fixedly connected to the pivot shaft 4 of the rotor 3 and is fixedly connected in the illustrated rest position of the tripod head on the underside of the pivot shaft 4 of the rotor. The eccentric 26 engages torsionally in the receiving opening 25 of the foot part 24, wherein the central axis of the eccentric rocker axis 27 is located in the illustrated rest position of the tripod head below the pivot axis 5 of the tripod head and parallel to this.

If the camera 6 is pivoted from the horizontal rest position shown, for example, counterclockwise along the double arrow P, so the eccentric rocker 23 is rotated progressively counterclockwise and pushes the left in the figure coil spring 9, while relaxed in the figure right coil spring. The left helical spring 9 exerts on the rotor from a torque of the rotor with the camera counteracting moment, wherein by the Arrangement of the eccentric 26 of this torque just compensated and the camera is kept stable in each pivot position. Of course, the same thing happens when the camera 6 is rotated in a clockwise direction. Since the torque of the rotor with the mounted camera changes approximately sinusoidally over the pivoting angle, the eccentric 26 is arranged eccentrically on the pivot shaft 4 of the rotor, that exactly one compensating torque is exerted.

In order to adapt this weight compensation to different weights of the camera 6, the bias of the coil springs 9 is changed by pushing up or down the carrier 11 along the vertical arrow P2. This is done by the two carriages 14 are moved in opposite directions along the double arrows Pl along the ramps 13 by the rotary handle 21 is rotated so that the carriage 14 along the left or right-hand thread 18, 19 of the threaded bolt 17 move in opposite directions. In the illustrated rest position of the tripod head, the two carriages 14 abut respectively on the outer sides of the stator 2. If the carriages are displaced inwards in opposite directions by turning the handle 21, the carrier is displaced upward along the arrow P2, so that the bias of the two springs 9 is increased and adapted to an increased weight of the camera 6.

There are of course other options to adjust the bias of the springs, but the described adjustment of the bases for the two springs 9 by a trapezoidal support 11 and corresponding wedge-shaped slide 14 is a very simple Construction, which can also be performed absolutely free of play.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a second arrangement for weight compensation.

Different from the above embodiment, the coil springs used there are replaced by a respective package 9 'of a plurality of stacked disc springs 30, each having a central opening, which are pushed onto guide tubes 31. The guide tubes engage through the arms of the rocker 23. The arms of the rocker slide on the guide tubes. The guide tubes are based on the arms of the rocker opposite, lower sides on the support 11 of the ramp assembly described above, as well as the disc springs. The disc springs of the plate spring package are based on the opposite upper side of the arms of the rocker 23.

Different from the above embodiment is also the connection between the eccentric 26 and the rocker: The eccentric is connected to the main shaft 4 as above. The rocker 23 is pivotable centrally between the two spring assemblies in the stator about a centrally located bearing 32. With this bearing 32, a connecting rod 24 'is verschwenbar connected, which corresponds to the foot part 24 according to the above embodiment. The other end of the connecting rod 24 'is connected to the eccentric 26.

In this construction, the eccentric rocker does not rotate; Rather, both spring assemblies are loaded evenly depending on the position of the eccentric. This also occurs a weight balance for the device attached to the tripod head.

Claims

claims

1. Tripod head (1) for film, television cameras and other devices (6), with a stator (2) and about a horizontal pivot axis (5) of a main shaft (4) about the stator pivotable rotor (3) of the camera or the device receives, and arranged between the stator and a rotor spring arrangement (9) which exerts a counteracting the resulting torque restoring force during pivoting of the rotor, so that the camera or the device is kept stable in each pivot position,

characterized by the following features:

the spring assembly has two substantially parallel

Compression springs (9, 9 '), each with its first end in the stator (2) on both sides of the

Supported pivot axis (5) of the rotor and on the second ends of each arm (22) of an eccentric rocker

(23) rests, the rocker axis (27, 32) between the two springs horizontally and parallel to the pivot axis

(5) of the rotor is located, and that the main shaft (4) carries an eccentric (26) which engages in the rocker.

2. Tripod head according to claim 1, characterized in that at the first ends of the springs (9, 9 ') a device (8) is provided, with which the bias of the springs (9, 9') adjustable by shortening or lengthening the springs is.

3. Tripod head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the springs are coil springs (9).

4. Tripod head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the springs disc springs (30).

5. Tripod head according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the eccentric rocker between the arms (22) centrally located and between the compression springs (9, 9 ') extending foot part (24, 24') which has a receiving opening (25 ) to

Receiving the eccentric (26).

6. Tripod head according to claim 5, characterized in that the foot part (24 ') with the rocker (23) and with the eccentric (26) is hingedly connected.

7. Tripod head according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression springs are supported on a common base (10) of a carrier (11), wherein the carrier (11) by a carriage assembly of two carriages (14) vertically to adjust the bias the compression springs is displaceable.

8. Tripod head according to claim 7, characterized in that the carrier (11) of the base (10) outgoing and extending at an acute angle ramps (13), against which corresponding ramps (15) of the carriage (14) abut, and in that the carriages are connected to each other by a threaded bolt (17) which is mounted in the stator (2) and for which a carriage (14) a right-hand thread (19) and for the other carriage (14) has a left-hand thread, each engaging in corresponding threads of the carriage (14), so that the two slides (14) move in opposite directions during rotation of the threaded bolt, and that the threaded bolt (17) is connected to a rotary handle (21) located outside the stator.