Rail mounted camera system

• US 4,699,484 A
• Filed: 05/27/1986
• Issued: 10/13/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mary E. Howell, Michael A. Hofstein, Murrell D. Howell
• Original Assignee: Mary E. Howell, Michael A. Hofstein, Murrell D. Howell
• Inventors: Howell, Murrell D., Howell, Mary E., Hofstein, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Monroe H.
• Application Number:
  US06/887,045
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 352/132, 352/243, 354/81, 354/293
• US Class Current: 352/243
• 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: F16M 11/425 along guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle

Abstract

A camera system which has a wheeled rail car (20) with running gear (26) front and back connected to a chassis (40) containing a movable panning head (46) on the top, covered by an enclosure (44). The panning head (46) has a motion picture camera (58) mounted thereon and the rail car (20) is self-propelled and the head (46) rotatability tilts up and down and pans 360 degrees. The car (20) is movably installed on a track system (22) consisting of rails (64) connected together with ties (78), each rail (64) having a power strip (66) supplying electrical energy to the car (20) through a set of wipers (84). An electrical control system (24) is positioned remotely from the tracks (22) and provides control for propulsion and positioning of the panning head (46), as well as control of the camera (58). A television monitor (86) receives a signal from the camera (58), allowing the operator visual indication of the scene viewed by the camera. The entire system may be stationary or mounted on an engine driven vehicle with the operator controlling the system from the inside.

Claims

1. A self-propelled rail car and self-positioning camera system for filming motion pictures comprising:

(a) rail car wheeled running gear having a plurality of resilient wheels positioned in such a manner as to operate in a right side up and upside down orientation;

(b) a rail car chassis connected to a running gear on each end forming a structural frame capable of supporting a camera while placed in motion with said running gear;

(c) rail car propulsion means drivingly connected to said running gear and said chassis to actuate the rail car in a forward and reverse direction by supplying motivational force to rotate said wheels;

(d) an enclosure disposed above and attached to said rail car chassis, covering the running gear and propulsion means providing a body to conceal the same and protect operating personnel from open moving components thereunder, also providing a pleasing asthetic, cosmetic effect for the system;

(e) a movable panning head rotatably connected to said chassis to support the weight of a camera and provide movement thereupon in a radial tilt up and down position, also simultaneous axial pan direction;

(f) a motion picture camera attached upon said panning head for filming scenes;

(g) means to rotate and elevate said panning head controlled from a remote location providing directional movement of the camera mounted upon said platform while the rail car is moving from one location to another;

(h) a pair of rails in plural sections to support and supply power to said apparatus configured to correspond and interface with said wheeled running gear giving body and guidance to the system;

(i) a plurality of ties connecting said rails together at predetermined spacing forming a track the same width as said running gear providing a rigid base thereunto;

(j) a plurality of mounting brackets attached to said rails for interfacing with an engine driven vehicle, such as a truck, allowing said system to be portable;

(k) electrical power means providing a path for an electrical circuit to be completed to said propulsion, rotation, and elevational means from a remote location allowing the above rail car to move freely upon said rails and angularly position said camera; and

,

(1) remote control and monitoring means for said system providing communication with an operator away from the scene at a remote location, said system characterized by positioning a motion picture camera upon said panning head that is, in turn, movably connected to the chassis containing running gear, which is covered by the enclosure, the above assembly self-propelled upon a set of power providing rails connected by ties and mounting brackets with remote control and monitoring means providing the direction and visual indication of the camera.

2. A self-propelled rail car and self-positioning camera system for filming motion pictures comprising:

(a) a rail car having wheeled running gear and propulsion mean further comprising;

(1) a plurality of top wheels allowing alignment and contiguous engagement with a pair of rails for supporting the weight of said rail car,

(2) a plurality of bottom wheels allowing alignment with the underside of a pair of rails for supporting the weight of said rail car when turned upside down,

(3) a plurality of horizontal guide wheels adjacent to said top and bottom wheels allowing contiguous engagement with a pair of rails for maintaining said rail car between a pair of rails,

(4) a plurality of axles rotatably connected on each end to each plurality of wheels, also pivotally mounted to said rail car for transmitting the weight to a pair of rails,

(5) a plurality of coil springs resiliently mounted between said axles and said rail car providing a cushion effect therewith,

(6) a plurality of electric motors having gearboxes and gears rotatably attached to said wheeled running gear for propulsion thereof,

(b) a movable panning head rotatably connected to said rail car to support the weight of a camera and provide movement thereupon in a radial tilt up and down position, also simultaneous axial pan directions, said movable panning head having,

(1) a table with attaching means for a camera on the top thereof,

(2) axial sides having rack-like gears on the inside of each side capable of angular movement,

(3) a pinion gear intermeshed with each rack gear for moving the table of the panning head in a radial angular position at least 30 degrees from above and below a horizontal plane,

(4) a radial driven gear for rotating said head at least 360 degrees about the horizontal plane for panning a camera,

(c) a motion picture camera attached upon said panning head for filming scenes,

(d) means to rotate and elevate said panning head controlled from a remote location providing directional movement of the camera mounted upon said panning head while the rail car is moving from one location to another wherein said means to rotate and elevate said panning head further comprises a head elevating motor having a gearbox and shaft attached rotatably with each pinion gear and a head rotating motor having a gearbox and drive gear intermeshing with said radial driven gear providing the electromotive force to rotate said panning head in a radial tilt and axial pan direction,

(e) a pair of rails in plural sections to support and supply power to said rail car configured to correspond and interface with said wheeled running gear giving support and guidance to the system, wherein said rails further comprise a wheel compatible surface on the top and an opposed wheel compatible surface on the bottom and a plurality of electrically conducting dielectrically insulated power strips on the outside surface thereof having an insulated cover on the outside for interfacing with the running gear and supplying power to the rail car, also a plurality of pins on one end of the rail and mating sockets on the other for mechanical connection therebetween when attached together to extend the length of said rail, each rail having male and female covers on the end thereof interfacing with said pins and sockets to terminate the open ends of said rails and provide a safety cover to protect the exposed end of said rail,

(f) electrical power means providing a path for an electrical circuit to be completed to said propulsion, rotation, and elevational means from a remote location allowing the above rail car to move freely upon said rails and angularly position said camera, said power means having a plurality of wipers interfacing into said rails for transferring electrical power from the rails to the system while the rail car is moving along the rails and power distribution means to transfer said power to the rotational and propulsion means thereof; and

,

(g) remote control and monitoring means for said system providing communication with an operator away from the scene at a remote location, further comprising;

(1) a television monitor recieving signals from said camera to review the scene being filmed,

(2) a joystick control switch to activate the rotational and elevational means of said camera mounted on said panning head for remote control thereof,

(3) a pair of foot controls to regulate the direction and speed of the propulsion means for remote control thereof,

(4) a console having the required electronic equipment to actuate the remote control and monitoring means, as described, said system characterized by positioning a motion picture camera upon said panning head that is, in turn, movably connected to the chassis containing running gear, with the rail car self-propelled upon a set of power providing rails connected by ties and mounting brackets with remote control and monitoring means providing the direction and visual indication of the camera.