Motion generating platform assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11027210-B2
Application number	US-201916551549-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2019
Priority date	Feb 8, 2017
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

An inverted Stewart platform assembly includes a first platform having a first surface, a second platform having a second surface facing the first surface of the first platform, and six legs extending between and coupling the first platform and the second platform. The six legs are configured to be actuated between a first arrangement in which adjustable lengths of the six legs, measured from the first platform to the second platform, are substantially equal to one another, and a plurality of second arrangements in which the adjustable lengths of the six legs are not substantially equal to one another, wherein each leg of the six legs forms, in the first arrangement, an angle of less than or equal to 45 degrees with a plane defined by the first platform.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A Stewart platform assembly comprising:
a first platform having a first surface;
a second platform having a second surface facing the first surface of the first platform; and
six legs extending between and coupling the first platform and the second platform, and configured to be actuated between a first arrangement in which adjustable lengths of the six legs, measured from the first platform to the second platform, are substantially equal to one another, and a plurality of second arrangements in which the adjustable lengths of the six legs are not substantially equal to one another, wherein each leg of the six legs forms, in the first arrangement, an angle of less than or equal to 45 degrees with a plane defined by the first platform;
wherein the first surface of the first platform comprises a first anchor position to which a first leg and a second leg of the six legs are coupled, a second anchor position to which a third leg and a fourth leg of the six legs are coupled, and a third anchor position to which a fifth leg and a sixth leg of the six legs are coupled;
wherein the second surface of the second platform comprises a fourth anchor position to which the third leg and the sixth leg are coupled, a fifth anchor position to which the second leg and the fifth leg are coupled, and a sixth anchor position to which the first leg and the fourth leg are coupled; and
wherein, in the first arrangement of the six legs, the first anchor position, the second anchor position, and the third anchor position are circumferentially aligned with the fourth anchor position, the fifth anchor position, and the sixth anchor position, respectively.

2. The Stewart platform assembly of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of winches disposed proximate to at least three of the first anchor position, the second anchor position, the third anchor position, the fourth anchor position, the fifth anchor position, or the sixth anchor position, wherein each leg of the six legs comprises a cable or rope coupled to a respective winch of the plurality of winches, and wherein the plurality of winches is configured to change the adjustable lengths of the six legs.

3. The Stewart platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plane is defined by the first surface of the first platform.

4. The Stewart platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein each leg of the six legs comprises a middle segment and a leg segment extending from the middle segment, wherein the middle segment enables the leg segment to telescope out of the middle segment, and wherein the middle segment enables the leg segment to telescope into the middle segment.

5. The Stewart platform assembly of claim 1 , comprising a controller configured to control actuation of the six legs between the first arrangement and the plurality of second arrangements.

6. The Stewart platform assembly of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of actuators corresponding to the six legs and configured to change the adjustable lengths of the six legs.

7. A Stewart platform assembly, comprising: a first platform having a first surface, a second platform having a second surface facing the first surface of the first platform, and six legs extending between the first platform and the second platform and having adjustable lengths measured from the first platform to the second platform, wherein the six legs are actuatable between a first arrangement in which the adjustable lengths of the six legs are substantially equal to one another, and a plurality of second arrangements in which the adjustable lengths of the six legs are not substantially equal to one another; a first anchor position, a second anchor position, and a third anchor position disposed on or proximate to the first surface of the first platform, wherein a first leg and a second leg of the six legs are coupled to the first anchor position, a third leg and a fourth leg of the six legs are coupled to the second anchor position, and a fifth leg and a sixth leg of the six legs are coupled to the third anchor position; and a fourth anchor position, a fifth anchor position, and a sixth anchor position disposed on or proximate to the second surface of the second platform, wherein the third leg and the sixth leg are coupled to the fourth anchor position, the second leg and the fifth leg are coupled to the fifth anchor position, and the first leg and the fourth leg are coupled to the sixth anchor position, and wherein the first arrangement causes the first anchor position to be circumferentially aligned with the fourth anchor position, the second anchor position to be circumferentially aligned with the fifth anchor position, and the third anchor position to be circumferentially aligned with the sixth anchor position.

8. The Stewart platform assembly of claim 7 , comprising actuators corresponding to the six legs and configured to change the adjustable lengths of the six legs.

9. The Stewart platform assembly of claim 7 , comprising a controller configured to control actuation of at least one leg of the six legs based on a desired roll, pitch, or yaw of the first platform.

10. The Stewart platform assembly of claim 7 , wherein each leg of the six legs forms, when the Stewart platform assembly is in the first arrangement, a first angle of less than or equal to 45 degrees with a first plane defined by the first platform, and a second angle of less than or equal to 45 degrees with a second plane defined by the second platform.

11. The Stewart platform assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first platform is configured to be coupled to a passenger cabin.

12. The Stewart platform assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second platform is configured to be coupled to a base or track.

13. A Stewart platform assembly comprising:
a first platform having a first inward facing surface;
a second platform having a second inward facing surface; and
six legs extending between and coupled to the first platform and the second platform, wherein the six legs are configured to be actuated between a first arrangement in which the first inward facing surface and the second inward facing surface are substantially parallel to one another, and a plurality of second arrangements in which adjustable lengths of the six legs are not substantially equal to one another, wherein each leg of the six legs forms, in the first arrangement, an angle of less than or equal to 45 degrees with the first inward facing surface of the first platform;
wherein the first inward facing surface of the first platform comprises a first anchor position, a second anchor position, and a third anchor position, wherein the second inward facing surface of the second platform comprises a fourth anchor position, a fifth anchor position, and a sixth anchor position, wherein the first arrangement of the six legs causes the first anchor position to be circumferentially aligned with the fourth anchor position, the second anchor position to be circumferentially aligned with the fifth anchor position, and the third anchor position to be circumferentially aligned with the sixth anchor position, and wherein the six legs comprise:
a first leg coupled to the first anchor position and the sixth anchor position;
a second leg coupled to the first anchor position and the fifth anchor position;
a third leg coupled to the second anchor position and the fourth anchor position;
a fourth leg coupled to the second anchor position and the sixth anchor position;
a fifth leg coupled to the third anchor position and the fifth anchor position; and
a sixth leg coupled to the third anchor position and the fourth anchor position.

14. The Stewart platform assembly of clai

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Blum Steven C
• King Steven

Classifications

• A63G31/14 Primary

  with planes mounted on springs; with movable planes · CPC title

• A63G31/02 Primary

  with moving substructures · CPC title

• A63G21/20 Primary

  Slideways with movably suspended cars, or with cars moving on ropes, or the like · CPC title

• A63G31/16

  creating illusions of travel · CPC title

• A63G1/08 Primary

  power-driven · CPC title