PAN SYSTEMS

• US 20090179127A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robotzone, LLC
• Original Assignee: BTR Robotics Limited Liability Company
• Inventors: Pettey, Brian T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,934,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/276.100
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/22 Electric drives power supply through track A63H18/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears

Abstract

Pan systems are provided. Pan systems illustratively include a hobby servo motor having a splined output shaft, a rotatable auxiliary shaft that is approximately parallel to the splined output shaft, and a one piece support frame. In an embodiment, the one piece support frame has a top panel, a center panel, a first side, and a second side. The top panel and the center panel are approximately parallel. The first side and the second side are approximately parallel. The top panel and the center panel are approximately perpendicular to the first side and the second side. The top and center panels illustratively each include a hobby servo motor aperture and an auxiliary shaft aperture. The hobby servo motor is positioned within the hobby servo apertures and the rotatable auxiliary shaft is positioned within the auxiliary shaft apertures.

Claims

1. A pan system comprising:

a hobby servo motor having a splined output shaft;

a rotatable auxiliary shaft that is approximately parallel to the splined output shaft; and

a one piece support frame, the one piece support frame having a top panel, a center panel, a first side, and a second side, wherein the top panel and the center panel are approximately parallel, wherein the first side and the second side are approximately parallel, wherein the top panel and the center panel are approximately perpendicular to the first side and the second side, wherein the top panel and the center panel each includes a hobby servo motor aperture and an auxiliary shaft aperture, wherein the hobby servo motor is positioned within the hobby servo apertures, and wherein the rotatable auxiliary shaft is positioned within the auxiliary shaft apertures.

2. The pan system of claim 1 wherein the first side has a height and wherein the center panel is separated from the top panel by a distance that is between 25-45% of the height of the first side.

3. The pan system of claim 1 wherein the height of the first side is between 1 and 4 inches.

4. The pan system of claim 3 wherein the first side has a length that is between 2 and 6 inches.

5. The pan system of claim 4 wherein the center panel has a width that is between 30-50% of the first side length.

6. The pan system of claim 5 wherein the first side has a thickness that is between one thirty second of an inch and one half of an inch.

7. The pan system of claim 6 wherein the one piece support frame is made of anodized aluminum.

8. The pan system of claim 7 wherein the one piece support frame includes flanges that are approximately parallel to the center panel.

9. The pan system of claim 8 wherein the flanges include apertures.

10. A pan system comprising:

a hobby servo motor having a rotatable splined output shaft;

a servo gear engaged to the output shaft;

an auxiliary gear rotatably coupled to the servo gear;

an auxiliary shaft connected to the auxiliary gear such that rotation of the auxiliary gear is translated to the auxiliary shaft;

a one piece support frame having a top panel and a center panel, the top panel and the center panel each having a servo aperture and an auxiliary aperture, wherein the hobby servo motor is positioned within the servo apertures, and wherein the auxiliary shaft is positioned within the auxiliary apertures.

11. The pan system of claim 10 wherein the splined output shaft has a first axis of rotation, wherein the auxiliary gear has a second axis of rotation, and wherein the first and second axes are approximately parallel.

12. The pan system of claim 11 wherein the top panel and the center panel are approximately parallel.

13. The pan system of claim 12 wherein the one piece support frame comprises a first side and a second side that are both approximately perpendicular to the top and center panels.

14. The pan system of claim 13 wherein a first bearing assembly is positioned within the top panel auxiliary aperture and a second bearing assembly is positioned within the center panel auxiliary aperture.

15. The pan system of claim 14 wherein an external potentiometer is functionally connected to the auxiliary shaft and wherein an angular position of the splined output shaft is controlled based at least in part on the external potentiometer.

16. A one piece housing frame comprising:

a one piece frame member;

a first aperture defined within the frame member and configured to support a hobby servo motor;

a second aperture defined within the frame member and configured to receive a rotatable shaft; and

wherein the first aperture is displaced from the second aperture.

17. The one piece housing frame of claim 16 further comprising:

an attachment aperture defined within the frame member and configured to receive an attachment mechanism in order to secure the frame member within an operational environment.

18. The one piece housing frame of claim 17 further comprising:

a hobby servo motor attached within the first aperture.

19. The one piece housing frame of claim 18 wherein the one piece frame member comprises a top panel and a center panel and wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are each defined within the center panel.

20. The one piece housing frame of claim 19 wherein the one piece frame member comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the first and second sides are each perpendicular to the top panel and the center panel, and wherein the first and second sides each have a thickness that is substantially uniform.