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
  • 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
  • F16M11/18—Heads with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63G—MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT
  • A63G31/00—Amusement arrangements
  • A63G31/02—Amusement arrangements with moving substructures
  • A63G31/04—Amusement arrangements with moving substructures with jolting substructures
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63G—MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT
  • A63G31/00—Amusement arrangements
  • A63G31/16—Amusement arrangements creating illusions of travel
• • 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
  • F16M11/043—Allowing translations
• • 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
  • F16M11/12—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting in more than one direction

Definitions

• the present invention relates motion platforms that employ active devices, e.g., linear actuators, for inducing platform motion. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of transducers (e.g., passive transducers) for the purpose of control ling the orientation and/or position of the motion platform and for the purpose of preventing the active devices from extending or retracting beyond their operational lim its and, in turn, protecting the motion platform and any load being carried by the motion platform .
• transducers e.g., passive transducers
• Motion platforms are used in a wide variety of appl ications.
• motion platforms may be used in vehicle simulators (e.g., aircraft simulators) for training purposes as wel l as recreational purposes.
• vehicle simulators e.g., aircraft simulators
• a motion platform may be moved about its one or more axes by operation of one or more actuators positioned beneath the motion platform, as il lustrated in figure 1 of the publ ication.
• transducers may be employed for determ ining the position of or the orientation of the motion platform.
• Each transducer in US Patent Publ ication 2006/0222539 is positioned "immediately adjacent to an actuator. "
• a m icroprocessor then receives and decodes signals from the transducers and, based thereon, calculates the position or the orientation of the motion platform . The calculations can then be used to feedback control signals to the actuators to further control and/or correct the position or orientation of the motion platform.
• Each transducer also may be employed to provide end of travel (EOT) protection for the correspond ing actuator.
• EOT end of travel
• each transducer would more speci fical ly provide discrete position sensing for the corresponding actuator in order to determine the degree to which the actuator is extended or retracted and prevent the actuator from operating outside its intended range.
• the m icroprocessor must receiv e the output signals from the transducers and make the aforementioned calculations quickly and accurately. Th is abi l ity is, at least in part, dependent on the complexity of the calculations.
• the calcu lations may be quite complex because the output signal from each transducer is not continuously proportional to the state of the corresponding actuator and. in add ition, the output of each actuator wil l influence the output signal of both transducers due to cross-coupling e ffects.
• the microprocessor must then solve for this lack of proportional ity and the cross-coupl ing effects, which may result in a time consum ing and compl icated computational process.
• the present invention obviates the deficiencies associated with the prior art in that it provides an improved motion platform configuration compared to the prior art.
• This improved motion platform configuration includes a particular alignment of components including a plural ity of active devices (e.g., linear actuators) and corresponding transducers (e.g., passive transducers), such that the aforementioned computations, based on the output signals from the transducers, are simpl ified compared to the prior art.
• the improved motion platform configuration includes a particular alignment of components including a plural ity of active devices (e.g., linear actuators) and corresponding transducers (e.g., passive transducers), such that the aforementioned computations, based on the output signals from the transducers, are simpl ified compared to the prior art.
• the improved motion platform configuration includes a particular alignment of components including a plural ity of active devices (e.g., linear actuators) and corresponding transducers (e.g., passive transducers), such that the a
• con figuration descri bed herein provides better support at least for h igh speed motion platform appl ications.
• One advantage associated with the improved motion platform configuration of the present invention is that the computations necessary to solve mot ion platform position and/or orientation are accompl ished more accurately and efficiently.
• Another advantage assoc iated with the present invention is that the improved motion platform configuration provides better support for high speed motion platform appl ications.
• an apparatus comprising a number of components includ ing a base; a motion platform; a pivot joint positioned between and connected to the base and the motion platform; a plurality of active devices and a plurality of transducers.
• Each of the plural ity of active devices is positioned between and connected to the motion platform at a corresponding first connection point and to the base at a corresponding second connection point.
• each of the plural ity of active devices is capable of exerting a force on the motion platform at its corresponding first connection point.
• Each of the plurality of transducers is positioned between and connected to the motion platform at a corresponding th ird connection point and to the base at a corresponding fourth connection point. Further, each of the plurality of transducers is al igned with a corresponding one of the plurality of active devices and the pivot joint. Consequently, the third and fourth connection point of each of the plural ity of transducers are located in a geometric plane with a pivot point associated with the pivot joint and the first and second connection points of the corresponding one of the plural ity of active devices, and an output signal assoc iated with each of the plural ity of transducers remains proportional to the length of the correspond ing one of the plural ity of active devices between its first and second connection points.
• a motion platform system that comprises a base, a motion platform, a universal joint positioned between and connected to the base and the motion platform, a plural ity of l inear actuators, and a plural ity of passive transducers.
• Each of the plural ity of l inear actuators is positioned between and connected to the motion platform at a corresponding first connection point and to the base at a correspond ing second connection point.
• each of the plurality of l inear actuators is capable of exerting a force on the motion platform at its correspond ing first connection point.
• Each of the plural ity of passive transducers is positioned between and connected to the motion platform at a corresponding th ird connection point and to the base at a corresponding fourth connection point, f urther, each of the plural ity of passive transducers is al igned with a corresponding one of the plural ity of linear actuators and the universal joint.
• the third and fourth connection point of each of the plural ity of passive transducers are located in a geometric plane with a pivot point associated with the universal joint and the first and second connection points of the corresponding one of the plural ity of l inear actuators, and an output signal associated with each of the plurality of passive transducers remains proportional to the length of the corresponding one of the plurality of l inear actuators between its first and second connection points.
• a dark ride veh icle comprising a motion platform system that comprises a base, a motion platform, a universal joint positioned between and connected to the base and the motion platform, a plurality of l inear actuators, and a plural ity of passive transducers.
• Each of the plurality o linear actuators is positioned between and connected to the motion platform at a corresponding first connection point and to the base at a corresponding second connection point.
• each of the plural ity of l inear actuators is capable of exerting a force on the motion platform at its corresponding first connection point.
• Each of the plurality of passive transducers is positioned between and connected to the motion platform at a corresponding third connection point and to the base at a corresponding fourth connection point. Further, each of the plural ity of passive transducers is al igned with a correspond ing one of the plural ity of l inear actuators and the universal joint.
• the third and fourth connection point of each of the plurality of passive transducers are located in a geometric plane with a pivot point associated with the universal joint and the first and second connection points of the corresponding one of the plurality of l inear actuators, and an output signal associated with each of the plurality of passive transducers remains proportional to the length of the corresponding one of the plural ity o f l inear actuators between its first and second connection points.
• FIG . I il lustrates an exemplary universal joint (u-joint) operatively coupled to and positioned between a base and a motion platform;
• FIG. 3 i l lustrates an active device, a u-joint and a transducer, all of which are coupled to and positioned between a base and a motion platform;
• FIG . 4 i l lustrates the relative positioning of the active device, u-joint and transducer of FIG. 3 ;
• FIG. 5 il lustrates an exemplary passive transducer
• FIG. 6 is a top-down v iew illustrating the relative positioning of a first active dev ice, transducer pair; a second active device, transducer pair and a u-joint, al l of which are operatively coupled to and positioned between a base and a motion platform; and
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view il lustrating the relative position ing of the first active device, transducer pair; the second active device, transducer pair and u-joint, of FIG. 6, al l of which are operatively coupled to and positioned between a base and a motion platform.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a pivot joint (e.g.. a u-joint) opcrativcly coupled to and positioned between a base and a motion platform.
• the motion platform 100 is able to move relative to base 105. This is achieved, in part, by the u-joint I 10, one end of which is connected to the top ofthe base 105. and a second end of which is connected to the bottom ofthe motion platform 100.
• the u-joint 110 permits the motion platform 100 to at least rotate about a roll axis "x" and a pitch axis "z.” where the pitch axis "z" is perpendicular to FIG. 1.
• U-joints are well known in the art.
• FIGs.2A and 2B illustrate an exemplary active device and a u-joint. where both are coupled to and positioned between a base and a motion platform.
• forces must be applied to the motion platform 100.
• this force is supplied by a plurality of active devices 215.
• FIG. 2 is a side view, so that only one of said plurality of active devices 215 is visible.
• als ofthe plurality of active devices 215 are spaced a desired distance "d" from the u-joint 110. as illustrated.
• the plurality of active devices 215 will be illustrated and described in greater detail below.
• Each of the plurality of active devices 215 may be linear actuators, for example, but not limited to pneumatic or hydraulic piston/cylinder type actuators, or electromagnetic or electromechanical actuators. They are referred to herein as "active" devices because they receive an input that results in an output that, in turn, directly acts on another component.
• the input is typically an electric signal that causes pressurized air or hydraulic fluid, respectively, to drive a piston rod into or out of a cylinder, thereby reducing or increasing the overall length of the actuator.
• the output is a force acting to pull the motion platform 100 towards the base 105 (FIG.2A).
• the output is a force acting to push the motion platform 100 away from the base 105 (FIG.2B).
• the combined force acting on the motion platform 100 by each ofthe plurality of active devices 215 will cause the motion platform 100 to rotate a corresponding angular distance about the roll axis "z" and/or the pitch axis "z” by virtue ofthe u-joint 110.
• Linear actuators included ing pneumatic and hydrau l ic piston/cyl inder type, and electromagnetic and electromechan ical type l inear actuators are. in and of themselves, wel l known in the art.
• FIG. 3 il lustrates an exemplary active dev ice, a u-joint and a transducer, al l of wh ich are coupled to and positioned between a base and a motion platform.
• each of a plurality of transducers 320 e.g., passive transducers
• i s al igned with the u-joint 1 1 0 and a correspond ing one of the plurality of active devices (e.g., linear actuators).
• F IG . 3 is also a side v iew and, therefore, on ly one of the plural ity of active devices 2 1 5 and only one of the plurality of transducers 320 are i llustrated.
• FIG. 3 also i llustrates that each one of the plural ity of transducers 320 is al igned with the u-joint 1 1 0 and a corresponding one of the plurality of active devices 21 5 such that the connection points A, B (between the active device, motion platform and base) and connection points C, D (between the transducer, motion platform and base) fal l in the same geometric plane as does the pivot point E of u-joint 1 1 0.
• this particular al ignment of each active device 2 1 5, its corresponding transducer 320 and the pivot point E of u- joint 1 1 0 is very important and it provides a signi ficant benefit.
• each transducer 320 remains proportional to the state of the corresponding active device 2 1 5.
• the active devices 21 5 are pneumatic or hydraulic linear piston/cylinder type actuators, the position of the rod within the cylinder of each actuator compared to the output of the corresponding transducer 320 remains proportional.
• FIG . 4 is a top-down view of FIG. 3, and further i llustrates the relative positioning of an active device, a corresponding passive transducer and the u-joint, in accordance w ith exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
• the aforementioned connection points ⁇ . B. C and D and the pivot point 1: of the u-joint 1 1 0 al l fall in the same geometric plane.
• each active dev ice 2 1 5, its corresponding transducer 320 and the u-joint I 1 0 appear to be arranged in a l inear con fi guration along l ine F.
• each of the transducers 320 is positioned between the correspond ing active dev ice 2 1 5 and the u-joint 1 1 0, as i l lustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG . 4.
• the speci fic location o f each transducer 320 i n th is embod iment may depend on such factors as size, cost and the location o f other components assoc iated with the motion platform 1 00.
• each of the plurality of active dev ices 2 1 5 are positioned between the corresponding transducer 320 and the u-joint. as long as the aforementioned connection points A, B, C and D are in the same geometric plane as the pivot point E of u-joint 1 1 0.
• the pivot point E of u-joint 1 1 0 is positioned between each of the plural ity of active devices 2 1 5 and its corresponding transducer 320, as long as the aforementioned connection points ⁇ , B, C and D are in the same geometric plane as the pivot point E of u-joint 1 0.
• the relative positioning of each of the plurality of active devices 2 15 with its corresponding transducer 320 and the u-joint may vary, as long as the aforementioned connection points A. B, C and D are in the same geometric plane as the pivot point E of u-joint 1 10.
• the computation based on the output of one transducer may be different from the computation based on the output of another transducer, due to the fact that the two transducers have di fferent positions relative to the corresponding active dev ice. Nevertheless, the computations are simplified as long as the aforementioned connection points A, B, C and D are in the same geometric plane as the pivot point E of u-joint 1 1 0.
• FIG . 5 i l lustrates an exemplary one of the plurality of transducers 320.
• the exemplary transducer 320 comprises a magnetic element 525 and a pair of sensors 530.
• the magnetic element 525 is capable of moving back and forth between the sensors 530 by virtue of a piston 535 which moves back and forth due to the movement of the motion platform 1 00 to which the transducer 320 is connected, as described above.
• Hach of the sensors 530 is capable of detecting the magnetic field produced by the magnetic element 525 when the magnet ic element 525 is in close proxim ity to the sensor.
• Hach sensor 530 is also capable of outputting an electric signal (e.g., a voltage or current) when the magnetic field is detected or the magnitude of the magnetic field exceeds a pre-determined threshold.
• an electric signal e.g., a voltage or current
• the upper sensor wi l l generate an electric output signal
• the lower sensor wi ll generate an electric output signal .
• the transducer 320 can be calibrated such that the electric output signal generated by one sensor may indicate that the length of the corresponding active device 2 1 5 is at or approaching one end of its operational range (e.g., maximum extension), and wherein the electric output signal generated by the other sensor may ind icate that the length of the active device 2 1 5 is at or approaching the other end of its operational range (e.g., maximum retraction).
• the electric output signal generated by one sensor may indicate that the length of the corresponding active device 2 1 5 is at or approaching one end of its operational range (e.g., maximum extension)
• the electric output signal generated by the other sensor may ind icate that the length of the active device 2 1 5 is at or approaching the other end of its operational range (e.g., maximum retraction).
• each passive transducer 320 is to prevent the corresponding active device 2 1 5 from exceeding its operational range, then the passive transducer 320 illustrated in FIG. 5, as described above, is appropriate. If the primary function of the passive transducer 320 is to provide position and/or orientation feedback control for the motion platform 1 00, other types of passive transducers may be preferred, such as, but not limited to linear potentiometers, linear optical (incremental or absolute), linear-to-rotary (incremental or absolute), magneto-restrictive (absolute), u ltrasonic (absolute), magnetic encoded (incremental or absolute), laser interferometer (absolute), capacitive absolute, inductive absolute and eddy current type transducers.
• linear potentiometers linear optical (incremental or absolute), linear-to-rotary (incremental or absolute), magneto-restrictive (absolute), u ltrasonic (absolute), magnetic encoded (incremental or absolute), laser interferometer (absolute), capacitive
• the transducers 320 are passive devices. As such, the transducers 320 are. herein below, referred to as passive transducers.
• the transducers 320 are passive because they do not receive an input signal, as do the active devices 2 1 5. and they play no part in exerting any force on the motion platform 1 00, as do the active devices 2 1 5.
• Passive transducers such as the one illustrated in FIG. 5, are general ly well known in the art. It wi l l be understood, however, that the scope of the present invention is not l imited to the use of passive transducers, as some transducers that require power to operate could be employed as an alternative to the passive transducers described above.
• FIG. 6 is a top-down view i llustrating the relative positioning of ' a first active dev ice, passive transducer pair ( hereafter “first pair 635 "); a second active device, passive transducer pai r (hereafter “second pair 640" ) and a u-joint 1 1 0. al l of w hich are opcratively coupled to and positioned between a base and a motion.
• FIG . 7 is a perspective v iew of first pair 635.
• each of the plurality of active devices 2 1 5 arc al igned with a corresponding one of the plural ity of passive transducers 320 and the u-joint 1 1 0, such that each of the first pair 635 and the second pair 640 al igns in a linear configuration with the u-joint 1 1 0 in the top-down view, as i llustrated in FIG. 6. Because each pair 635 and 640 must align with the u-joint 1 1 0 in a linear configuration, the line L passing through the first pair 635 is separated by an angle 0 from the line L' passing through the second pair 640.
• the shape of the motion platform 1 00 is shown as being circular. Flowever, the present invention is not lim ited to any particular motion platform shape.
• the motion platform 1 00 will rotate about the pitch axis "z.”
• the active device of the first pair 635 and the active device of the second pair 640 extend or retract in d irect opposition (i.e., one extends by the same amount the other retracts)
• the motion platform 1 00 wi l l rotate purely about the roll axis "x.”
• the motion platform 1 00 will rotate partially about the roll axis "x," and partially about the pitch axis "z.” Regardless, because of the alignment of each of the plurality of active devices 2 1
• this simpl ifies the computations based on the output of the passive transducers, which may then be used to to generate feedback signals for control l ing the active devices and the movement of the motion platform or used to protect the active devices from operating outside their intended range.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Transmission Devices (AREA)
• Measurement Of Length, Angles, Or The Like Using Electric Or Magnetic Means (AREA)
• Length Measuring Devices With Unspecified Measuring Means (AREA)
• General Electrical Machinery Utilizing Piezoelectricity, Electrostriction Or Magnetostriction (AREA)
• Apparatuses For Generation Of Mechanical Vibrations (AREA)
• Measurement Of Velocity Or Position Using Acoustic Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)

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• 2014
  • 2014-03-12 JP JP2016501658A patent/JP6448613B2/ja active Active
  • 2014-03-12 CA CA2904064A patent/CA2904064C/en active Active
  • 2014-03-12 CN CN201480021671.4A patent/CN105378818B/zh active Active
  • 2014-03-12 MY MYPI2015002217A patent/MY172041A/en unknown
  • 2014-03-12 DK DK14768483.1T patent/DK2973500T3/da active
  • 2014-03-12 US US14/206,030 patent/US9097383B2/en active Active
  • 2014-03-12 SG SG11201507059VA patent/SG11201507059VA/en unknown
  • 2014-03-12 KR KR1020157028572A patent/KR102154065B1/ko active Active
  • 2014-03-12 WO PCT/US2014/024854 patent/WO2014151056A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2014-03-12 EP EP14768483.1A patent/EP2973500B1/en active Active

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