Method and arrangement for mechanical stabilization

• US 5,670,967 A
• Filed: 02/02/1996
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Markku Sarjala
• Original Assignee: Markku Sarjala
• Inventors: Sarjala, Markku
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh T.
• Application Number:
  US08/596,419
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 343/757, 343/758, 343/760, 343/761, 343/763, 343/765, 343/766, 343/878, 343/882
• US Class Current: 343/757
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/18 Means for stabilising antennas on an unstable platform

Abstract

A method and a device are disclosed relating to the stabilization of mechanical bodies. The method is based on supporting the body to be stabilized at its mass center, whereby no acceleration in any direction causes a torque induced by the inertial forces in the body. The body thus maintains its position in relation to the earth gravity field, even if accelerations and various kinetic states were effective at the point of support. Inching of the body from the desired position is compensated by a slow control system using actuators functioning on a contact-free principle. As a particularly advantageous embodiment, the invention can be applied for stabilizing bodies attached to moving objects.

Claims

1. A method for stabilizing a position of an antenna body having a mass center and being supported on a support base moving in relation to an earth gravity field, comprising the steps of:

supporting said antenna body at its mass center located at a connection between said antenna body and said support base whereby any torque induced by inertial forces from accelerations on said antenna body is eliminated;

measuring a kinetic state of at least one of said antenna body and said support base, and

generating forces, based on said measuring step, and acting on a contact-free principle, to maintain said antenna body in said position by removing effects of destabilizing forces.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said destabilizing forces are frictional forces.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of generating forces is accomplished by bringing a fluidized medium into a kinetic state.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said step of generating forces is accomplished using a plurality of fans.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of generating forces is accomplished by using an electromagnetic field.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of generating forces is accomplished by a plurality of pairs of electromagnetic means of which a first means in connected to said body and a second means is connected to a support frame.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of generating forces is accomplished by changing a relative position of a plurality of balancing wheels.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of generating forces is accomplished by changing speeds of rotation of a plurality of balancing wheels.

9. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

forming said body as an integrated body, having an active body with a mass center and which is movable in relation to said support base, at least one counterweight connected with said active body, and means for maintaining said mass center of said active body in place during movement in relation to said at least one counterweight means, said maintaining means being at least partially in connection with said at least one counterweight means,

supporting said integrated body by a support frame, and

fixing said support frame to said support base at said mass center of said body.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said measuring step is accomplished by at least one sensor connected with said body,

and further comprising the steps of:

sending a measuring signal from said at least one sensor to a slow control system, having a response rate at least one decade lower than a maximum kinetic velocity corresponding to said kinetic state of said support base, and

forming a control signal in said slow control system for use in said step of generating forces.

11. A method for stabilizing a position of an antenna body having a mass center and being supported on a support base moving in relation to an earth gravity field, comprising the steps of:

supporting said antenna body at its mass center located at a gimbal joint connection between said antenna body and said support base whereby any torque induced by inertial forces from accelerations on said antenna body is eliminated,

measuring a kinetic state of at least one of said antenna body and said support base by at least one sensor connected with said antenna body,

conveying a measuring signal from said at least one sensor to a slow control system, having a response rate at least one decade lower than a maximum kinetic velocity corresponding to said kinetic state of said support base,

forming a control signal in said slow control system, and

generating forces with a set of devices, based on said control signal, to maintain said antenna body in said position by removing effects of destabilizing forces without said set of devices using physical contact with said support base to create said forces.

12. An apparatus for stabilizing a position of an antenna body having a mass center and being supported on a support base moving in relation to an earth gravity field, comprising:

an antenna body supported at its mass center located at a connection between said antenna body and said support base whereby any torque induced by inertial forces from accelerations on said antenna body is eliminated,

means for measuring a kinetic state of at least one of said antenna body and said support base, and

a set of devices in communication with said measuring means, for generating forces, acting on a contact-free principle, to maintain said antenna body in said position by removing effects of destabilizing forces.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said destabilizing forces are frictional forces.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said set of devices operates by bringing a fluidized medium into a kinetic state.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said set of devices is a plurality of fans.

16. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said set of devices operates by generating an electromagnetic field.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said set of devices is a plurality of pairs of electronic means of which a first means is connected to said body and a second means is connected to a support frame.

18. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said set of devices operates by changing a relative position of a plurality of balancing wheels.

19. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said set of devices operates by changing speeds of rotation of a plurality of balancing wheels.

20. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said body is an integrated body, supported by a support frame, comprising:

an active body, having a mass center and which is movable in relation to said support base;

at least one counterweight means connected with said active body, and

means, at least partially in connection with said at least one counterweight means, for maintaining said mass center of said active body in place during movement in relation to said at least one counterweight means,

wherein said support frame is fixed to said support base at said mass center of said body.

21. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said measuring means is at least one sensor connected with said body, and wherein said apparatus further includes:

a slow control system, for receiving a measuring signal from said at least one sensor and for forming a control signal for operating said set of devices, said slow control system having a response rate at least one decade lower than a maximum kinetic velocity corresponding to said kinetic state of said support base.

22. An apparatus for stabilizing a position of an antenna body having a mass center and being supported on a support base moving in relation to an earth gravity field, comprising

an antenna body supported at its mass center located at a gimbal joint connection between said antenna body and said support base whereby any torque induced by inertial forces from accelerations on said antenna body is eliminated;

means for measuring a kinetic state of at least one of said antenna body and said support base;

a set of devices in communication with said measuring means, for generating forces to maintain said antenna body in said position by removing effects of destabilizing forces without said set of devices using physical contact with said support base to create said forces; and

a slow control system, for receiving a measuring signal from said measuring means and for forming a control signal for operating said set of devices, said slow control system having a response rate at least one decade lower than a maximum kinetic velocity corresponding to said kinetic state of said support base.