Assembly for aiming an instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9676502-B2
Application number	US-201614990649-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2016
Priority date	Jan 14, 2015
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

An aiming assembly comprising an instrument and aiming device, the aiming device comprises: a frame, a mobile part comprising a plate, the instrument being fixed onto the plate, the mobile part and the instrument having a centre of gravity, the mobile part being rotationally mobile relative to the frame on a first axis of rotation, and comprising a support configured to cooperate with the plate to allow the plate to be rotationally mobile relative to the frame about a second axis of rotation at right angles to the first axis of rotation, and rotationally mobile relative to the frame on the first axis, the first and second axes of rotation intersecting at a point of intersection. The point of intersection coincides with the centre of gravity of the mobile part and of the instrument, and the support comprises a flexible part configured to compensate for the differential expansions on the second axis of rotation between the frame and the plate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aiming assembly comprising an instrument and an aiming device, the aiming device comprising:
a frame,
a mobile part comprising a plate, the instrument being fixed onto the plate, the mobile part and the instrument having a centre of gravity,
the mobile part being rotationally mobile relative to the frame on a first axis of rotation and comprising a support configured to cooperate with the plate so as to allow the plate to be rotationally mobile relative to the frame about a second axis of rotation at right angles to the first axis of rotation, and rotationally mobile relative to the frame on the first axis, the first and second axes of rotation intersecting at a point of intersection,
wherein the point of intersection coincides with the centre of gravity of the mobile part and of the instrument, and wherein the support comprises a flexible part configured to compensate for the differential expansions on the second axis of rotation between the frame and the plate.

2. The aiming assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plate is rotationally mobile relative to the frame about a third axis of rotation at right angles to the first and second axes of rotation, the third axis of rotation intersecting with the first and second axes of rotation at the point of intersection.

3. The aiming assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the support is configured to cooperate with the plate so as to allow the plate to be rotationally mobile relative to the frame about the third axis of rotation.

4. The aiming assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the plate is rotationally mobile relative to the frame about the third axis of rotation with an amplitude of 360°.

5. The aiming assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a U-shaped arm, the arm having two ends and a central part, a first of the two ends being linked to the central part by a first branch and a second of the two ends being linked to the central part by a second branch, the central part being rotationally mobile relative to the frame on the first axis of rotation, wherein the plate is positioned between the two ends of the arm, wherein the two ends are configured to allow the rotation of the plate relative to the frame about the second axis of rotation, and wherein the second branch forms the flexible part of the support.

6. The aiming assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the aiming device comprises a first actuator associated with the first axis of rotation and allowing the rotation of the mobile part relative to the frame.

7. The aiming assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the aiming device comprises a second actuator associated with the second axis of rotation and allowing the rotation of the plate relative to the frame.

8. The aiming assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a jet.

9. The aiming assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the aiming device comprises a conductor to supply the jet, the conductor linking the mobile part to the frame, wherein the conductor comprises a first part wound about the first axis of rotation between the frame and the mobile part.

10. The aiming assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the aiming device comprises a conductor to supply the jet, the conductor linking the mobile part to the frame, wherein the conductor comprises a second part wound about the second axis of rotation at the level of the support.

11. A spacecraft comprising an aiming assembly according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Thales Sa

Inventors

• Baudassé Yannick
• Vézain Stéphane
• Mouille Paul
• Stanek Didier

Classifications

• G02B27/644

  compensating for large deviations, e.g. maintaining a fixed line of sight while a vehicle on which the system is mounted changes course · CPC title

• B64G1/66 Primary

  Arrangements or adaptations of apparatus or instruments, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F16M11/18

  with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand · CPC title

• F16M11/10

  around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F02K9/84

  using movable nozzles · CPC title