Adaptable locking mechanism for cost-effective series production

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10923796-B2
Application number	US-201716652918-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2017
Priority date	Oct 4, 2017
Publication date	Feb 16, 2021
Grant date	Feb 16, 2021

Abstract

The present invention regards a platform and elevation support arrangement ( 1 ) and a method for manufacture thereof. An elevation support ( 3 ) is to be hingedly mounted to a platform ( 5 ) around a first axis (X 1 ) extending along a first direction (B 1 ) via a hinge member ( 7 ) arranged between the platform ( 5 ) and the elevation support ( 3 ); and wherein the elevation support ( 3 ) is configured to be locked to the platform ( 5 ) in a fixed position by means of an adjustable locking mechanism ( 9 ), comprising a first and a second opening ( 11′, 11″ ) arranged at a first distance (D 1 ) from each other and comprising a first and second sliding shaft element ( 13′, 13″ ) arranged at a second distance (D 2 ) from each other each configured to slide along a second direction (B 2 ) perpendicular to the first axis (X 1 ). The method comprises the steps of providing the platform ( 5 ), the elevation support ( 3 ) and the adjustable locking mechanism ( 9 ); mounting the elevation support ( 3 ) to the platform ( 5 ); adjusting the adjustable locking mechanism ( 9 ) so that the first distance (D 1 ) corresponds with the second distance (D 2 ); and locking the adjustable locking mechanism ( 9 ) by sliding the first shaft element ( 13 ′) into the first opening ( 11 ′) and by sliding the second shaft element ( 13 ″) into the second opening ( 11 ″).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for manufacture of a platform and elevation support arrangement ( 1 ), wherein an elevation support ( 3 ) is to be hingedly mounted to a platform ( 5 ) around a first axis (X 1 ) extending along a first direction (B 1 ) via a hinge member ( 7 ) arranged between the platform ( 5 ) and the elevation support ( 3 ), wherein the elevation support ( 3 ) is configured to be locked to the platform ( 5 ) in a fixed position by means of an adjustable locking mechanism ( 9 ), wherein the elevation support ( 3 ) is in a lowered and locked state relative to the platform, wherein the adjustable locking mechanism ( 9 ) comprises a first and a second opening ( 11 ′, 11 ″) arranged at a first distance (D 1 ) from each other and a first and second sliding shaft element ( 13 ′, 13 ″) arranged at a second distance (D 2 ) from each other, and wherein each of the first and second sliding shaft elements are configured to slide along a second direction (B 2 ) perpendicular to the first axis (X 1 ), the method comprising the steps of:
providing the platform ( 5 ), the elevation support ( 3 ) and the adjustable locking mechanism ( 9 );
mounting the elevation support ( 3 ) to the platform ( 5 );
adjusting the adjustable locking mechanism ( 9 ) so that the first distance (D 1 ) corresponds with the second distance (D 2 ); and
locking the adjustable locking mechanism ( 9 ) by sliding the first shaft element ( 13 ′) into the first opening ( 11 ′) and by sliding the second shaft element ( 13 ″) into the second opening ( 11 ″),
wherein:
the step of adjusting the adjustable locking mechanism comprises moving at least one of the first opening ( 11 ′) or the first sliding shaft element ( 13 ′) in a third direction ( 133 ) parallel with the first direction ( 131 ),
said moving of at least one of the first opening ( 11 ′) or the first sliding shaft element ( 13 ′) is performed by rotating a first eccentric housing ( 21 ′) comprising at least one of said first opening or the first sliding shaft element around an eccentric housing axis extending perpendicular to the first axis (X 1 ),
the first eccentric housing ( 21 ′) is rotatably positioned in the elevation support ( 3 ) and the first sliding shaft element ( 13 ′) is positioned in the platform ( 5 ).

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of adjusting the adjustable locking mechanism ( 9 ) comprises moving the at least first opening ( 11 ′) in the third direction (B 3 ) in an imaginary plane being parallel with the first axis (X 1 ).

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of locking the locking mechanism ( 9 ) in a fixed position comprises the step of securing a fixing device ( 38 ) to the locking mechanism ( 9 ).

4. A platform and elevation support arrangement ( 1 ) comprising:
an elevation support ( 3 ) hingedly mounted to a platform ( 5 ) around a first axis (X 1 ) extending along a first direction (B 1 ) via a hinge member ( 7 ) arranged between the platform ( 5 ) and the elevation support ( 3 ),
wherein:
the elevation support ( 3 ) is configured to be locked to the platform ( 5 ) in a fixed position by means of an adjustable locking mechanism ( 9 ),
the elevation support ( 3 ) is in a lowered and locked state relative to the platform ( 5 ), and
the adjustable locking mechanism ( 6 ) comprises:
a first and a second opening ( 11 ′ 1 ″) arranged at a first distance (D 1 ) from each other,
a first and second sliding shaft element ( 13 ′, 13 ″) arranged at a second distance (D 2 ) from each other, each being configured to slide along a second direction (B 2 ),
an adjusting device ( 15 ) configured to move at least one of the first opening ( 11 ′) or the first sliding shaft element ( 13 ′) so that the first distance (D 1 ) corresponds with the second distance (D 2 ), the adjusting device being configured to move at least one of the first opening ( 11 ′) or the first sliding shaft element ( 13 ′) in a third direction (B 3 ) parallel with the first direction (B 1 ) such that the first distance (D 1 ) corresponds with the second distance (D 2 ), said moving of at least one of the first opening ( 11 ′) or the first sliding shaft element ( 13 ′) being performed by rotating a first eccentric housing ( 21 ′) comprising at least one of said first opening or the first sliding shaft element around an eccentric housing axis that extends perpendicular to the first axis (X 1 ), the first eccentric housing ( 21 ′) being rotatably positioned in the elevation support ( 3 ) and the first sliding shaft element ( 13 ′) being positioned in the platform ( 5 ),
a first drive member ( 17 ′) configured to slide the first shaft element ( 13 ″) into the first opening ( 11 ′), and
a second drive member ( 17 ″) configured to slide the second shaft element ( 13 ″) into the second opening ( 11 ″).

5. The platform and elevation support arrangement ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein:
the first opening ( 11 ′) is cylindrical and defines a first opening central axis (CX′) extending through the first opening ( 11 ′),
the first opening ( 11 ′) is housed in a first eccentric housing ( 21 ′) defining a first housing central axis (CHX′), and
the first opening ( 11 ′) is eccentrically arranged in the first eccentric housing ( 21 ′).

6. The platform and elevation support arrangement ( 1 ) according to c wherein the elevation support ( 3 ) carries a radar antenna unit ( 2 ).

7. The platform and elevation support arrangement ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein locking the locking mechanism ( 9 ) is configured to be secured in a fixed position relative the elevation support ( 3 ) by means of a fixing device ( 38 ).

Assignees

• Saab Ab

Inventors

• Oestberg Johan
• Isaksson Omar

Classifications

• H01Q3/06

  over a restricted angle · CPC title

• H01Q1/1235

  Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna · CPC title

• H01Q3/02

  using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole · CPC title

• H01Q1/27

  Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies (H01Q1/08, H01Q1/12, H01Q1/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• F41A23/52

  Base plates for gun mountings · CPC title