Actuator assembly

• US 5,271,290 A
• Filed: 04/14/1993
• Issued: 12/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AEA Technology PLC (AEA Technology Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
• Inventors: Fischer, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TROUSDELL, WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/046,905
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• Field of Search: 74/471 XY, 74/479 R, 74/479 BP, 74/479 PF, 74/479 PM, 248/661, 901/15, 901/23, 244/234, 244/236
• US Class Current: 74/471.0XY
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04714 with orthogonal axes
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04737 with six degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20207 Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element

Abstract

An actuator assembly (14) suitable for use in a hand controller (10) with six degrees of freedom of movement consists of a pair of arms (20) each secured at one end to a respective rotary actuator (26), and at the other end secured to a common universal joint (21). The arms (20) are coupled directly to the drive shafts (25) of the rotary actuators (26) and their movement is restricted.

Claims

1. An actuator assembly which comprises a pair of arms, each arm comprising upper and lower arm sections pivotally connected to each other, with said upper arm sections being joined at a three-axis universal joint, and with said lower arm sections being attached independently of each other to a respective one of two rotary actuators, both rotary actuators being secured to a base via a common pivoting member.

2. An actuator assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rotary actuators are direct drive motors.

3. An actuator assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the direct drive motors are brushless DC torque motors.

4. A hand controller which comprises three actuator assemblies as claimed in claim 1 secured to a top plate via their three axis universal joints, the bases of the three actuator assemblies being spaced apart from each other.

5. A hand controller which comprises three actuator assemblies as claimed in claim 2 secured to a top plate via their three axis universal joints, the bases of the three actuator assemblies being spaced apart from each other.

6. A hand controller which comprises three actuator assemblies as claimed in claim 3 secured to a top plate via their three axis universal joints, the bases of the three actuator assemblies being spaced apart from each other.