Apparatus mountings providing at least one axis of movement with damping
US5944152A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 8, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16F9/532
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The disclosure relates to a viscous damper of the labyrinth ring type for incorporation in a mounting for a TV or video camera for damping pan or tilt movement of the camera. The damper has a stator (10) having a multiplicity of upstanding concentric annular fins (12) and a rotor (17) having a corresponding multiplicity of concentric annular fins (32) projecting downwardly which interleaf with clearance with the upstanding flanges of the stator, the space between the fins being filled with a viscous fluid to provide a resistance to relative movement between the rotor and stator. The rotor is adjusted with respect to the stator by a motor driven lead screw. A speed sensor measures speed of the rotor with respect to the stator and torque applied to the camera by the hand control to pan or tilt the camera is measured by a strain gauge associated with the hand control. A control system is provided for the motor embodying a microprocessor preprogrammed with one or more algorithms coordinating torque and speed. Thus the viscous damper may be controlled to provide a resistance torque to movement which rises generally linearly with speed as detected by the speed sensor to a certain level w…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.