Six-degree-of-freedom cam-controlled support platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9360093-B2
Application number	US-201414508831-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2014
Priority date	Aug 16, 2011
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

A platform is provided, which platform is adapted to engage a base through a multiplicity of pulley engaging cables. A first end of each cable is attached to a cam follower assembly located on the base and a second portion of the cable is attached to the platform. A motor driving the multiplicity of cams, cam followers, and cables will move the platform, the platform typically being suspended above the base on the cables or the cables and compression springs.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for generating multi-dimensional motion, the apparatus comprising:
a base adapted to rest on a support surface;
a platform moveable relative to the base and adapted to receive a platform load;
a motor;
a cam assembly having multiple cams on a cam shaft, the cam shaft driven by the motor to rotate the cams;
a multiplicity of cam follower assemblies, the cam follower assemblies in pivoting engagement to the base and responsive to the movement of the cams; and
a multiplicity of cables, each cable engaging a cam follower assembly and the platform, such that rotation of the cam shaft by the motor causes the platform to move responsive thereto.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a structural support system including plurality of structural members and pulleys to support the platform in spaced apart, movable relation to the base.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the structural support system comprises a multiplicity pulleys coupled to the base, at least some of the pulleys entraining at least some of the cables at points above where such cables attach to the platform.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the cable attach points are flex during loading.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the cable attach points comprise horizontal plates that flex vertically during loading.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the multiplicity of cables is eight, and wherein the platform includes a multiplicity of downwardly depending legs with eight attachment points for the eight cables, wherein the multiplicity of base mounted pulleys is eight arranged at four areas or points on the base.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein at least some of the pulleys are flexibly mounted to the base.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 , further including plate members for maintaining the multiplicity of cams positionally with respect to one another on the camshaft, and wherein the base is adapted to receive the members such that the cams are adjacent the cam follower assemblies and the camshaft engages directly or indirectly the motor.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the structural members comprise a multiplicity of compression springs mounted between the platform and the base, wherein the platform is moveably positioned by the springs above the base, and wherein at least some of the multiplicity of cables are configured to pull the platform against the compression springs.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the structural members include a non-cable mechanical coupling between the platform and the base and at least one base mounted pulley adapted to entrain the cable at a point above the point where the cable attaches to the platform.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the non-cable mechanical coupling comprises a sliding joint.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the non-cable mechanical cable comprises a hinge.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the non-cable mechanical comprises is a strut having at least one ball joint.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the non-cable mechanical cable comprises a strut having a pair of ball joints at the removed ends thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , further including springs for engagement between the base and the platform.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the platform cable attachments points, base, and platform are configured to generate platform motion in six degrees of freedom.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a saddle shaped member for engagement with the platform.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , further including a saddle horn and stirrups.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including plate members for maintaining the multiplicity of cams positionally with respect to one another on the camshaft, and wherein the base is adapted to receive the members such that the cams are adjacent the cam follower assemblies and the camshaft engages directly or indirectly the motor.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cam follower assemblies are arranged on a common, base mounted axle.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor is an electric motor with a speed controller.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base and the cam assembly are adapted so that the cam assembly is removable from the base.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the base comprises sockets, and the cam assembly comprises bearings sized to be received in the sockets.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the cam assembly comprises arms to lock the cam assembly to the sockets.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second cam assembly engagable with the base and the motor.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a transmission for conveying power from the motor to the cam assembly.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the transmission comprises a worm drive.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the cam assembly is adapted to be detachable from the worm drive and the base.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second cam assembly having multiple cams on a cam shaft;
a second multiplicity of cam follower assemblies, the second cam follower assemblies in pivoting engagement to the base and responsive to the movement of the cams in the second cam assembly; and
a second multiplicity of cables, each cable engaging a second cam follower assembly and the platform, such that rotation of the second cam shaft causes the platform to move responsive thereto.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the motor also drives the cams in the second cam assembly.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 , further comprising a transmission adapted to drive the second cam assembly at a different rate than the first cam assembly.

32. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises at least two segments.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the platform is a bed.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the platform comprises moveable joints between the segments.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein some of the multiplicity of cables drive a first segment of the platform and some of the multiplicity of cables drive a second segment of the platform.

36. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the multiplicity of cables drives a first segment of the platform and further comprising:
a second cam assembly having multiple cams on a cam shaft;
a second multiplicity of cam follower assemblies, the second cam follower assemblies in pivoting engagement to the base and responsive to the movement of the cams in the second cam assembly; and
a second multiplicity of cables, each cable engaging a second cam follower assembly and a second segment of the platform, such that rotation of the second cam shaft causes the second segment of platform to move responsive thereto.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the motor drives the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly.

Assignees

• Univ Baylor

Inventors

• Garner Brian A

Classifications

• A63G19/20 Primary

  motor-driven · CPC title

• A63B21/0058

  using motors · CPC title

• A63B69/04

  simulating the movement of horses (toy animals for riding A63G19/00) · CPC title

• F16H21/50 Primary

  for interconverting rotary motion and reciprocating motion · CPC title

• F16H25/08

  for interconverting rotary motion and reciprocating motion (F16H23/00 takes precedence) · CPC title