WO2014033404A1

WO2014033404A1 - Device for transporting a camera that allows pictures to be taken aerially or on land

Info

Publication number: WO2014033404A1
Application number: PCT/FR2013/051983
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean JADAUD
Original assignee: Jadaud Jean
Priority date: 2012-08-30
Filing date: 2013-08-28
Publication date: 2014-03-06
Also published as: FR2995058B1; FR2995058A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for transporting a camera (4) comprising a carriage (2) provided, in the lower part, with means of attachment of the camera (4) and, in the upper part, with a fixed chassis (8) that can be mounted suspended from a sky line stretched between two points, or a similar elongate support element, via running means (6) designed to move along the line or similar elongate support element, the carriage (2) further comprising an additional chassis (10), fitted with wheels (13), mounted removably on the fixed chassis (8).

Description

Device for transporting an image taking apparatus

allowing the taking of images by air or land

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [001] The invention relates to a device for embedding an image taking apparatus and to move it at a determined distance from the ground in order to take fluid and stable images according to the traveling technique.

[002] The invention more particularly relates to a transport device of an image pickup apparatus comprising a carriage adapted to be mounted suspended on a carrier cable or a similar elongate support element being heard between two points via rolling means adapted to move on the cable or the support member.

[003] The transport device is intended in particular, but not exclusively, for the production of dynamic images in the context for example of sports events or film productions.

STATE OF THE ART

[004] In what follows, we will talk about camera with reference to the image pickup device but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this type of device. It may be for example a system for shooting 3D images with two cameras arranged next to each other or smartphones, tablets, camcorders, embedded cameras etc.

[005] The traveling technique is based on the movement of a video camera type device during the taking of images. The principle is to physically move the video device for the purpose for example to fly over the elements, to move closer to a subject or to move away from it, or to bypass a subject or to follow the subject in movement. [006] There are two ways to implement the tracking technique: a track by the air and a track by the ground.

[007] As regards the track by the airs, the current devices comprise, in a conventional manner per se, a carriage comprising rolling means, of the type wheels or rollers, able to circulate on one or more carrier cables between a departure station and an arrival station, said carriage supporting a turret adapted to receive the camera. Patent application FR2782686 describes an example of such a device.

[008] Regarding the track by the ground, it is particularly known to use trolleys running on rails formed on the ground, the trolleys supporting the camera (Dolly carriage). [009] The devices implemented in each of the channels are however, by their constitution, specifically dedicated to the airway or the ground. However, depending on the images to be taken, it may sometimes be necessary to switch from taking images on the ground to taking aerial images, and vice versa.

The need to have available both types of camera transport device has the disadvantage of occupying a space and a storage weight of the infrastructure (on site and during transport) important and imposes costs management, transport, ergonomics of the site (power supplies, space required for the installation of infrastructure) and other particularly important.

The invention aims to remedy these problems by providing a transport device of a simplified shooting device, versatile, to move quickly and easily from an "air" type of transport device to a device transport type "ground", and vice versa.

The invention also aims to provide a type of transport device "air" whose assembly and disassembly on the cable is fast and secure, and whose use is simplified and secure without resorting to means external security arranged on the site filmed.

The invention also aims to propose a transport device autonomous and freed from any constraints related to the ergonomics of the filmed site (no preparation of the site upstream).

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, and according to a first aspect, the invention provides a device for transporting an image pickup apparatus comprising a carriage provided, in the lower part, with fixing means of the pick-up device. and, in the upper part, a fixed frame capable of being mounted suspended on a carrier cable stretched between two points, or a similar elongated support element of the rail or single beam type, by means of rolling means adapted to moving on the cable or similar elongated support member, the carriage further comprising an additional frame provided with wheels and removably mounted on the fixed frame.

Thus, the presence of a mobile additional frame removably mounted on the fixed frame of the carriage gives the transport device a modular and versatile character, the transport device can be used interchangeably for taking aerial images or terrestrial.

The terms "upper" or "high" and "lower" or "low" refer to a transport device in position suspended on a cable.

Advantageously, the carriage comprises means for stabilizing the fixed frame on the additional chassis. According to an advantageous embodiment, the fixed frame comprises two rolling means, one being located at the front of the chassis and the other at the rear of the chassis, and an electric motor connectable to one of the means of bearing or to one of the wheels of the additional chassis. The front part and the rear part of the carriage are designated in relation to the direction of movement of the latter.

According to a particular configuration, one of the rolling means is equipped with a data transmission encoder for moving the carriage to a control unit.

Advantageously, the encoder is connectable to one of the wheels of the frame additional.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the carriage comprises means for retaining the fixed frame on the carrier cable or the elongate support member when the frame is mounted suspended on said cable or the elongated support member, the means for retaining being located in alignment with the rolling means. The presence of these retaining means has the advantage of overcoming cable alignment problems by an on-site infrastructure as well as the many carrier cables, tractors and safety implemented in the transport devices of the prior art. . They also allow the introduction of the carriage directly on tensioned carrying cables, which makes it possible to avoid the handling of carrying cables, tractors and safety during assembly and disassembly of the transport devices as is the case for the devices. transport of the prior art.

Advantageously, the retaining means comprise an inverted V-shaped groove whose arms have, in the lower part, a gap greater than the thickness of the rolling medium near which it is disposed. Thus, in the event of "derailing" or "dismantling" of the carrier cable carriage, the presence and dimensioning of the groove will prevent the complete exit of the carrier cable carriage and thus avoid the associated risks given the weight of the carriage, by plating the carrier cable against one side of the rolling means. It may also be provided that the retaining means comprise a U-shaped element arranged near the other rolling means, the U-shaped element being mounted movably on the chassis between an open position allowing the passage of the carrier cable in the U-shaped element and a closed position preventing the exit of the carrier cable from the U-shaped element. Advantageously, the image taking apparatus is fixed to the carriage by the intermediate of a motorized orientation head.

[0025] Advantageously, the orientation head is connected to the carriage by a telescopic column.

[0026] Advantageously, the transport device comprises means for gyroscopic stabilization.

Advantageously, the transport device comprises a pantograph system or cylinder to maintain the image pickup apparatus at a predetermined height of the ground during the movement of the carriage. This makes it possible to adapt in real time the height of the camera relative to the ground during the movement of the carriage and this, regardless of the chosen path (ground or air).

[0028] Advantageously, the chassis is retractable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figures 1 and 2 show a perspective view respectively front and back of a camera carrying device according to one embodiment of the invention, the device being used in air mode;

FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of the transport device of FIG. 1 used in terrestrial mode;

- Figure 4 shows a schematic front view of the device of Figure 3, the carriage not carrying an orientation head;

- Figure 5 shows a schematic side view of the device of Figure 3, the carriage carrying an orientation head equipped with a camera; - Figures 6 and 7 show a detail view of the front portion of the carriage shown respectively in Figures 1 and 2;

- Figures 8 and 9 show a detail view of the rear portion of the carriage shown respectively in Figures 1 and 2;

FIG. 10 represents a perspective view of an orientation head supporting a camera;

- Figure 11 shows the room receiving the camera;

- Figure 12 shows a transport device according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; FIG. 13 represents a block diagram of the operation of the transport device according to the invention.

For clarity, identical or similar elements of the different embodiments are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In connection with Figures 1 to 13, there is described a versatile transport device 1 for transporting an image pickup device 4 by air (Figures 1 and 2) or by land (Figures 3 to 5 ). In what follows, we will speak of camera 4 with reference to the image taking apparatus, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this type of apparatus.

The transport device 1 comprises a carriage 2 and an orientation head 3 connected to the carriage, the orientation head being intended to receive the camera 4.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the carriage 2 is arranged to be suspended on a carrier cable 5, or any elongated support member similar to the carrier cable, extending between two anchor points. More particularly, the carriage 2 is suspended by means of rolling means 6 adapted to move on the carrier cable 5. In this configuration, the orientation head forms the lower part of the transport device 1.

The carriage 2 is formed of a carriage body 7 mounted on a fixed frame 8 carrying the rolling means 6 on its upper face and the connecting means of the orientation head 3 on its underside. In the illustrated embodiment, the body trolley 7 constitutes a part of the frame 8.

In the embodiment described, the rolling means 6 comprise three wheels: two carrying wheels 60, 61, one being disposed at the front of the carriage 2 and the other at the rear of the carriage 2, and a tension wheel 62. The tension wheel 62, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is situated at the front of the chassis, close to the front carrier wheel 60 and in the same plane as that defined by the front and rear load wheels 60, 61. Its function is to adjust the tension exerted on the carrier cable 5 when the carriage 2 is suspended on the latter. The tension wheel 62 is connected to the frame 8 by means of a tensioning arm 63 by a pivoting pivot axis 64, the latter to ensure the adjustment of the tension.

The front wheel 60 is motorized. For this purpose, the carriage 2 comprises an electric motor 19 disposed at the front of the frame 8 and connected to the axis 600 of the front carrier wheel 60 by means of a transmission belt 15 and a control system. pulleys 16, 17 (Figure 6). The rear bearing wheel 61, for its part, is equipped with an encoder 30 for transmitting data on the displacement of the carriage 2 (FIG. 9). The encoder 30 carried on the axis of the rear wheel 61 of the carriage ensures the transmission of data on the "behavior" of the driving wheel (front wheel) (slippage, loss of grip, etc.) and informs in real time the the position of the carriage with respect to pre-established stop points where appropriate.

Each wheel 60, 61 62 is provided with a groove 60a, 61a, 62a circumferential for receiving the carrier cable 5 during the introduction of the carriage 2 on the latter.

To allow terrestrial use of the carriage, the transport device 1 according to the invention comprises an additional frame 10 adapted to be removably attached to the frame 8 of the carriage 2. Thus, and as is understood with 3, the mounting of the carriage 2 on the additional frame 10 will allow, by turning the carriage 2 and the orientation head 3, to move from a position of use in which the trolley 2 is mounted suspended on the carrier cable 5 (aerial use) to a position of use in which the carriage 2 is mounted on the ground or on rails 9 (rigid or flexible) arranged on the ground (land use). In this latter position, the orientation head 3 forms the upper part of the transport device 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the additional chassis 10 comprises a frame 11 of substantially rectangular shape provided with four identical wheels 13. The frame 11 has, on its upper face, two wedging bases 12 of the carriage 2. The wedging blocks 12, arranged in the example shown transversely with respect to the frame 11, are arranged relative to one another to wedge the carriage 2 in front and back. To improve the maintenance of the carriage 2 on the frame 11, there are provided holding bars 14 extending on either side of the carriage 2 and connecting the frame 11 in the upper part of the carriage 2. Each holding bar 14 is further connected to one of the wedging bases 12 by reinforcement bars 140.

The holding bars 14 may be fixed on the carriage 2 by any appropriate means and techniques known to those skilled in the art. Thus, the holding bars may for example be screwed on the carriage 2.

With the wedging bases, the holding bars form connecting means of the additional frame 10 to the carriage 2. Advantageously, these connecting means are arranged so that the carriage 2 is positioned centrally on the frame 11. They are further configured to prevent a roll movement during the movements of the carriage 2 moving on rails 9 or directly on the ground.

Once in place in the front and rear sockets 12 and the support bars fixed on the carriage 2, the latter and the additional frame 10 are made integral. Advantageously, the additional frame 10 is configured to receive an encoder cable and a motor transmission belt provided in the aerial version of the carriage 2. More particularly, the transmission and control elements such as the belt 15 and the encoder 30 are also "reported" on the two axes of bearing the frame 11 by performing a change of transmission belt for the motor part (removal of the transmission belt 15 connecting the front wheel 60 to the engine 19 and replacement by a transmission belt having a length adapted to allow a transmission of the movement from the engine to at least one of the wheels of the additional chassis 10). Furthermore, it is expected that the additional chassis 10 carries on one of its wheels (preferably rear) an encoder identical to that carried by the rear wheel of the carriage 2 adapted to be connected to the control unit 40.

Figure 3 shows an additional chassis 10 comprising four wheels 13, but it is of course obvious that the number of wheels may be greater than four. Furthermore, the positioning of the wheel axles may vary depending on the shape of the rails or elongated support members on which the carriage must move.

Advantageously, the carriage 2 comprises retaining means 20, 26 of the fixed frame 8 on the carrier cable 5 when the frame is mounted suspended on said cable, the retaining means being located in alignment with the rolling means. In the embodiment described, the retaining means 20, 26 consist of two pieces of security through which the carrying cable 5 passes, one of the pieces being located at the front of the frame (part 20), the other part being located at the rear of the chassis (part 26).

The first security part 20 extends transversely between the front wheel 60 and the tension wheel 62. It is in the form of a substantially rectangular plate, comprising a passage slot 21 opening on a side edge of the plate. The slot 21 is extended in a perpendicular direction by a V-shaped groove 22. The security piece is arranged between the two wheels so as to center the top of the V at the groove of the front carrier wheel 60. Advantageously, the V-shaped groove 22 is dimensioned so as to present, in the lower part of the V, a wider width than that of the front carrier wheel 60. According to one particular embodiment, the V-shaped groove 22 is in the lower part wider by two to three centimeters. relative to each side of the front wheel 60.

The first security part 20 further comprises a latch bar 23 articulated at one of its ends, around an axis 24 formed near one of the edges of the slot 21, the other end being able to be fixed by means of a wheel 25 on the opposite edge of the slot 21, thus closing the passage of the slot 21.

Thus, in the case of "derailing" or "dismantling" of the carriage 2 of the carrier cable 5, the safety part 20 will allow, by the shape and dimensions of the groove 22, to press the carrier cable 5 against one of the sides of the front wheel 60 and thereby retain the carriage 2 on the cable.

The second security part 26, illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, comprises a base 27 fixed to the frame 8 of the carriage on which is mounted articulated a U-shaped member 28 to move from an open position allowing the introduction or withdrawal of the carrier cable 5 to a closed position prohibiting the removal of the carrier cable 5 of the U-shaped element 28, and vice versa. In the illustrated example, the U-shaped element is closed by means of a wheel 29 which is screwed onto the base 27. Likewise for the first security part 20, this second security piece 26 has the following effect: function of pressing the carrier cable 5 against one of the sides of the rear carrier wheel and thus to retain the carriage 2 on the cable in case of "derailment" or "dismantling" thereof. In this example, a shape of the second security part different from the first security part has been chosen, this form taking into account that the rear part of the frame carries only the encoder. It is of course obvious that it may be provided, according to an alternative embodiment, a second security piece of identical shape to that of the first piece without departing from the scope of the invention. The body of the carriage 7 further comprises the on-board electronics (40) necessary for remote control or automatic control of the carriage 2 (detailed below) and a battery (41).

The body of the carriage 7 comprises on its underside connection means 39 to the orientation head 3. Advantageously, the connecting means are arranged to allow a removable mounting of the orientation head 3 on the body of the trolley 7.

According to the embodiment described, the orientation head 3 comprises a first structure in the form of a gantry 31 which comprises two arms 32, 34 connected in the upper part by a cross member 33. The orientation head 3 further comprises a second cradle structure 35 for receiving the camera 4. The cradle structure 34 is mounted at the bottom of the gantry 31, between the two arms of the latter.

Advantageously, the crosspiece 33 is provided on its upper face with connection means 36 complementary to those carried on the lower part of the carriage 2. In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the connection means 36 carried by the orientation head 3 consists of a male junction adapted to cooperate with a female junction formed on the carriage 2.

Advantageously, the arms of the gantry are configured to allow a height adjustment of the orientation head. Similarly, it can be provided a configuration of the transom of the gantry and the cradle allowing a width adjustment of the orientation head. Such a configuration has the advantage of adapting the orientation head to the size of a camera or two cameras for 3D shooting. This also provides an orientation head that can adapt to different camera sizes. [0059] Advantageously, the orientation head 3 is motorized. In the embodiment described, it comprises two motors: a first motor 37 actuating a displacement of the orientation head 3 in a vertical direction and a second motor 38 actuating a displacement of the orientation head 3 in a horizontal direction, so that the orientation head move from left to right and from bottom to top.

Advantageously, the transport device 1 comprises gyro stabilization means 43. Depending on whether the orientation head is connected to the carriage by a telescopic column or not, the stabilizing means will be formed in the telescopic column 42 as shown in FIG. Figure 12 or directly on the body of the carriage 7 as illustrated in Figure 2.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the transport device 1 comprises a pantograph system for maintaining the camera at a predefined height of the ground. Controlled by a motor provided for this purpose in the body of the telescopic column 42, the pantograph system makes it possible to adapt in real time the height of the camera 4 relative to the ground regardless of the implementation of the truck (ground or air).

The control interface of the transport device 1 comprises a portable bag 50 transmitting and receiving high frequency signals or Wifi signals respectively to or from the carriage and the orientation head. The transmitter / receiver bag 50, placed on the ground, corresponds in real time with the carriage 2. It is connected to a computer 51 for the recording of data relating to the movements of the carriage in order to memorize sequences of movements made and able by the then perform the stored sequences again or create new sequences based on stored sequences. The described control interface is given here by way of example. It is of course obvious that other interfaces may be provided for controlling the transport device such as that of a smartphone (general public) or an iPad (professional).

Advantageously, the orientation head 3 and the frame are controlled by programmable remote controllers 52 operating by radio link.

It can also be provided that the control interface allows to smooth the motor curves by limiting the action of the drive to prevent sudden movement and thus maintain the fluidity of movement. It also allows launching the truck alone or with the orientation head at constant speed while controlling all the acceleration and deceleration parameters.

The installation of the carriage 2 on the carrier cable 5 is carried out as follows.

In a first step, the carrier cable 5 is hooked and then stretched completely or partially on either side of two anchor points. The carriage 2 is then installed on the carrier cable 5 by passing the latter through the V-shaped groove 22 of the first security part 20 and the U-shaped element 28 of the second security part 26. .

The carriage 2 is then secured by arranging the latch bar 23 and the element U-shape 28 in the closed position. The cable is then "trapped" in the spaces delimited by the first security part 20 and the latch bar 23 on the one hand and by the base 27 and the U-shaped element 29 of the second security part 26. 'somewhere else. The carriage 2 is then raised to allow the passage of the carrier cable 5 in the grooves 60a, 61a, 62a of the three wheels 60, 61, 62, the tension wheel 62 is then adjusted to add or not the adhesion between the carrier cable 5 and the wheels 60 and 61.

Once the carriage 2 installed on the carrier cable 5, the motorized orientation head 3 is fixed on the lower part of the carriage 2 by means of the complementary cooperation means formed respectively on the carriage 2 (connection means secure 39) and the gantry 31 of the orientation head 3 (connecting means 36).

In addition to securing the carriage 2 on the carrier cable 5 by means of the first and second safety parts 20, 26 provided on the front and rear portions of the carriage 2 for the passage of the carrier cable 5, securing the carriage 2 is also provided via the interface via the data transmitted by the encoder 30.

Indeed, during its movement on the carrier cable 5, it is necessary to prevent the carriage 2 from leaving uncontrollably towards one or other of the ends of the carrying cable 5 and that it deteriorates its own anchor points with the risks that this causes as the fall of the carrier cable 5. This securing is obtained by the presence of the encoder 30 carried by the rear wheel carrier 61. In the same way, it allows the chassis, when it is used in land mode, not to fall when it no longer has a running portion or rolling under its wheels. Thus, once the carrier cable 5 passed through the first and second safety parts 20, 26 and in the grooves 60a, 61a, 62a of the wheels and connected to the frame 2 by placing in the closed position of the parts of Safety 20, 26, the user takes control of the chassis from the interface in a mode called "unsecured free" in order to assign the carriage stop terminals. Once the stop terminals programmed, the user goes into a mode called "secure free". He can then use the carriage 2 in all its functions.

[0074] Advantageously, the carriage 2 and the orientation head 3 form two parts of the transport device and are arranged to operate independently of one another.

In the embodiment described above, the carriage 2 is motorized. It is of course obvious that the invention is not limited to this configuration and that it can be expected that the carriage operates without motor, with or without gyrostabilisateur, the latter then moving by gravity. In this configuration, and in order to avoid any sudden stop at the end of the line that may cause deterioration of the camera and anchor points when reaching the carriage at the arrival point of anchor, stops allowing to cushion the movement of the carriage are provided at each end of the carrying cable. Advantageously, the damping stops can be moved along the carrier cable to reduce the displacement of the frame. It is understood that in this example, the truck will not be equipped with batteries and will not have embedded electronics.

Similarly, in the example described, the camera 4 is carried by the carriage 2 via the orientation head 3. It is of course obvious that there can be provided a carriage 2 adapted to receive directly to the camera 4. For this purpose, the lower part of the carriage will comprise connecting means adapted to allow the connection of the camera 4 to the lower part of the frame 8.

The invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that the skilled person is able to achieve different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Transport device (1) for an image taking apparatus (4) comprising a carriage (2) provided in the lower part with means for fixing the image taking apparatus (4) and partially upper, a fixed frame (8) adapted to be mounted suspended on a carrier cable (5) stretched between two points, or a similar elongate support member, by means of rolling means (6) adapted to move on the cable or similar elongated support member, the carriage (2) further comprising an additional frame (10) provided with wheels (13) and removably mounted on the fixed frame (8).

Transport device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (2) comprises means for stabilizing the fixed frame (8) on the additional frame (10).

Transport device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the fixed frame (8) comprises two rolling means (6), one being located at the front of the frame and the other partly rear of the chassis, and a motor (19) connectable to one of the rolling means or at least one of the wheels (13) of the additional chassis (10).

Transport device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one of the rolling means is equipped with a data transmission encoder (30) relating to the movement of the carriage (2) to a control unit.

Transport device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the encoder (30) is connectable to one of the wheels (13) of the additional chassis (10).

6. Transport device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the carriage (2) comprises retaining means (20, 26) of the fixed frame (8) on the carrier cable (5) or the elongated support member when the frame is suspended on said cable or the elongated support member, the retaining means being located in alignment with the rolling means (6). ).

7. Transport device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the retaining means (20, 26) comprise an inverted V-shaped groove (22) whose arms have, in the lower part, a gap greater than the thickness of the rolling means (6) close to which it is arranged.

The transport device (1) according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the retaining means (20, 26) comprise a U-shaped element (28) arranged near the other rolling means. the U-shaped member being movably mounted on the fixed frame (8) between an open position allowing the carrier cable (5) to pass into the U-shaped member (28) and a closed position preventing the exit of the carrier cable (5) of the U-shaped element (28). 9. Transport device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the imaging device (4) is fixed to the carriage (2) via a d motorized steering (3).

10. Transport device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the orientation head (3) is connected to the carriage (2) by a telescopic column. 11. Transport device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the transport device (1) comprises gyro stabilization means (43).

12. Transport device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a pantograph or cylinder system for holding the image taking device (4) at a height of predefined floor during carriage movement (2).

13. Transport device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the frame is retractable.