Method and apparatus for the rotation of a spherical object around a virtual axis passing through its center

• US 3,974,577 A
• Filed: 07/28/1975
• Issued: 08/17/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arcady Brachlianoff
• Original Assignee: Arcady Brachlianoff
• Inventors: Brachlianoff, Arcady
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burke, Allan R.
• Application Number:
  US05/599,483
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 35/46 R, 35/46 A, 35/47, 35/12 R, 35/12 L, 35/12 N, 40/30, 40/33, 33/15 A, 74/198, 74/210, 74/206, 74/190.5
• US Class Current: 434/136
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 27/08 Globes celestial globes G09B27/06

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assuring the rotation of a spherical object around a virtual axis orientable at will. The object which is to be turned rests on at least three elements for suspension and rotation, whose relative orientation determines that of the virtual axis of rotation of the spherical object.

Claims

1. A method for rotating a generally spherical object about a virtual axis, orientable at will, passing through its center, comprising the steps of:

a. mounting the object to a structure including three roller elements which press against the object and whose axes of rotation intersect said virtual axis;

b. driving one of the roller elements about its axis of rotation, thereby causing rolling action without slipping between the object and all three roller elements, which, in turn, causes rotation of the object about its virtual axis; and

c. changing the orientation of said virtual axis whether the object is at rest or in motion by changing the orientation of the axis of rotation of at least one of the other two roller elements in such a way that whichever is changed, at any moment each of the axes of these elements intersects said virtual axis.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the driven element is a fixed axis, the method further comprising the steps of:

d. coupling the motion of the other two roller elements so that the axes of rotation of both other roller elements are symmetrical to and always intersect along a line lying in a plane containing the virtual axis of the object in all of its orientations; and

e. arranging the fixed axis of the driven roller element so that it lies in the plane containing the virtual axis of the object and the intersection of the axes of rotation of the other two roller elements.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

f. controlling the motion of the driven roller element and one of the other two roller elements so that the orientation of their axes of rotation can be effected independently of each other but such that the intersection of the axes of rotation of these roller elements always lies in the same plane for all orientations of the virtual axis of the object; and

g. providing a self-orienting caster type for the third roller element.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the orientation of the virtual axis is manually controlled utilizing a mechanical transmission.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the orientation of the virtual axis is manually controlled utilizing an electrical transmission.

6. An apparatus for rotating a generally spherical object about a virtual axis, orientable at will, passing through its center, comprising:

a. a mounting structure including three roller elements which press against the object and whose axes of rotation intersect said virtual axis;

b. drive means connected to one of said roller elements for driving said element about its axis of rotation, thereby causing rolling action without slipping between the object and all three roller elements, which, in turn, causes rotation of the object about its virtual axis; and

c. means connected to at least one of the other two roller elements for changing the orientation of the axis of rotation thereof and consequently the orientation of the virtual axis, in such a way that whichever is changed, at all times each of the axes of these roller elements intersects said virtual axis.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising

d. means coupling said other two roller elements so that the motion of each is coordinated such that the axis of rotation of each of these other two roller elements is symmetrical and always intersects along a line lying in a plane containing the virtual axis of the object in all of its orientations;

and wherein

e. said driven roller element has a fixed axis of rotation, with the fixed axis lying in the plane containing the virtual axis of the object and the intersection of the axes of rotation of the other two roller elements.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said orientation changing means is connected to said driven roller element and to one of the other two roller elements so that the orientation of each can be effected independently of one another by such that the intersection of the axes of rotation of both roller elements always lie in the same plane for all orientations of the virtual axis of the object;

and wherein the third one of said roller elements is of the self-orienting caster type.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said mounting structure includes magnetic means for causing the object to bear against said elements.