SUPPORT STRUCTURE WITH FEATURES FOR PRECISION LEVELING

• US 20100224745A1
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexei K. Shkurko, Evgeny M. Orlov
• Original Assignee: Alexei K. Shkurko, Evgeny M. Orlov
• Inventors: Shkurko, Alexei K., Orlov, Evgeny M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,163,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/188.300
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/34 Members limiting spreading of legs , e.g. "umbrella legs"
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 7/00 Details of attaching or adjusting engine beds, frames, or supporting-legs on foundation or base; Attaching non-moving engine parts, e.g. cylinder blocks elastic or equivalent mounting for absorbing vibrations F16F, especially F16F15/04

Abstract

A support structure is provided that can comprise a central support member and leveling devices arranged in a deployed configuration where the leveling devices are radially offset from the central support member. In one embodiment of the support structure, each of the leveling devices can comprise an actuator assembly for fine positioning of a support plane of the support structure. The actuator assembly can communicate with a control system, and in one example the control system is operatively configured to monitor the position of the support plane, providing feedback in the form of a control that operates the actuator to adjust the orientation of the support plane.

Claims

1. A support structure comprising:

a central support member defining a central support axis, the central support member comprising a pivot end and a support end opposite the pivot end, the support end defining a plane orthogonal to the central support axis;

a first joint coupled to the central support member, the first joint having a position on the central support axis, the position describing a distance from the pivot end; and

a leveling device coupled to the first joint, the leveling device comprising an actuator for generating motion along a leveling device axis, the motion causing movement of the plane,

wherein the leveling device is operative in a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein each of the first configuration and the second configuration describe a radially offset relation of the leveling device relative to the central support axis, and wherein the first configuration changes to the second configuration in response to the position of the first joint.

2. A support structure according to claim 1, wherein the first joint comprises a collar in surrounding relation to the central support member, and wherein the collar comprises a configuration locking mechanism for causing the collar to compress against the central support member.

3. A support structure according to claim 1, further comprising

a tilt sensor proximate the support end;

and

a controller in communication with the tilt sensor, the controller providing a control to the actuator, the control for controlling the motion of the actuator.

4. A support structure according to claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises a pre-determined location identified for self-calibration, and wherein the actuator moves to the pre-determined location in response to the control.

5. A support structure according to claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises a motor assembly and a lead screw assembly coupled to the motor assembly.

6. A support structure according to claim 1, further comprising

a support pad aligned with one or more of the central support axis and the leveling mount assembly axis, wherein the support pad comprises a spherical joint permitting rotation about an articulating axes.

7. A support structure according to claim 1, further comprising a support stay assembly connecting the leveling mount assembly and the central support member, wherein the support stay assembly has a plurality of elongated members that comprise a first elongated member secured proximate the support end and a second elongated member secured to the first joint, and wherein the length of the first elongated member and the second elongated member are the same in the first configuration and the second configuration.

8. A support structure according to claim 4, further comprising a second joint aligned with the leveling mount assembly axis, wherein the second joint is secured to the elongated members of the support stay assembly, and wherein the second joint moves independent of the actuator to cause movement of the plane.

9. A support structure according to claim 6, wherein the second joint comprises a coupling joint permitting angular displacement of the elongated member relative to the central support axis.

10. A support structure according to claim 1, further comprising a manual level indicator coupled to the central support member proximate the support end.

11. An automated multi-axis support structure comprising:

a central support member defining a central support axis, the central support member comprising a support end with a support plate orthogonal to the central support axis;

a central collar aligned with the central support axis, the central collar comprising an outer retaining ring and a configuration locking mechanism for changing the inner diameter of the outer retaining ring;

a movable stay member coupled to the outer retaining ring;

a leveling collar coupled to the movable stay member, the leveling collar comprising a clamp with an aperture defining a leveling mount axis;

an actuator assembly aligned with the leveling mount axis, the actuator assembly comprising an outer housing exteriorly surrounded by the clamp; and

a control system coupled to the actuator assembly, the control system comprising a dynamic leveling indicator proximate the support plate and a controller providing a control to the actuator, the control for controlling the motion of the actuator.

12. An automated multi-axis support structure according to claim 11, wherein the controller is operatively configured to execute a fine positioning algorithm, wherein the fine positioning algorithm queries the dynamic leveling indicator for information about the orientation of the support plate, and wherein the control causes operation of the actuator to change the orientation of the support plate.

13. An automated multi-axis support structure according to claim 11, further comprising a support pad and a joint coupling the support pad to the leveling device, wherein the joint permits relative rotation of the support pad about one or more axes of an articulating axes of the joint.

14. An automated multi-axis support structure according to claim 13, wherein the joint comprise a ball member and a socket, and wherein the socket is formed as part of the support pad.

15. An automated multi-axis support structure according to claim 13, wherein the outer housing is movable along the leveling device axis.

16. An automated multi-axis support structure according to claim 11, further comprising a fixed stay member coupled to the central support member proximate the support plate, wherein the fixed stay member is secured to the clamp.

17. An automated multi-axis support structure according to claim 16, wherein the leveling device is operative in a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein each of the first configuration and the second configuration describe a radially offset relation of the leveling device relative to the central support axis, and wherein the first configuration changes to the second configuration in response to the position of the central collar.

18. A system for leveling a load comprising:

a central support system comprising a central support member with a central support axis and a support plane orthogonal to the central support axis, the support plane for receiving the load;

a leveling mount system for adjusting the position of the support plane, the leveling mount system comprising a leveling device with a leveling mount axis and an actuator aligned with the leveling mount axis, the actuator for providing movement of the support plane, the movement comprising a fine positioning movement;

a support stay system comprising a plurality of elongated members coupling the leveling device and the central support member; and

a control system providing a control to the actuator, the control system comprising a dynamic leveling indicator providing information about the orientation of the support plane,

wherein the control operates the fine positioning movement to adjust the orientation of the support plane in response to the information, and

wherein the leveling device is operative in a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein each of the first configuration and the second configuration describe a radially offset relation of the leveling device relative to the central support axis, and wherein the first configuration changes to the second configuration in response to the position of the elongated members relative to the central support axis.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the actuator assembly comprises a motor and a lead screw assembly coupled to the motor, wherein the control causes the motor to position the lead screw assembly at a pre-determined location, and wherein the pre-determined location comprises a zeroing condition for the fine positioning movement.

20. A system according to claim 18, further comprising a plurality of collars coupled to each of the elongated members, the collars comprising a central collar and a leveling collar, one each aligned with the central support axis and the leveling mount axis, and wherein the position of the central collar changes the position of the elongated members.

21. A support structure comprising:

a support plate defining a support plane and a central support axis orthogonal to the support plane;

a plurality of leveling devices coupled to the support plate, the leveling device comprising an actuator for generating motion along a leveling device axis causing movement of the support plane; and

a controller coupled to the actuator, the controller providing a control for controlling the motion of the actuator,

wherein the leveling devices are operative in a first configuration and a second configuration, and

wherein each of the first configuration and the second configuration describe a radially offset relation of the leveling devices relative to the central support axis.

22. A support structure according to claim 21, further comprising a tilt sensor coupled to the controller, the tilt sensor for measuring the orientation of the support plane, wherein the position of the actuator is selected in response to the tilt sensor.

23. A support structure according to claim 21, further comprising an elongated member coupling each of the leveling devices to the support plate, wherein the elongated member rotates amongst a plurality of angular positions relative to the central support axis, and wherein the first configuration and the second configuration correspond to different ones of the angular positions.