Trw Limited

Trw Systems and Energy

Anthony A Rizzo

A rotary mount for an object, such as an instrument or workpiece, has a base supporting a rotor which turns on a fixed axis relative to the base and rotatably supports, in turn, on a second rotation axis inclined to the fixed axis, a platform for supporting the object with a reference axis of the object inclined to the platform rotation axis. The rotor and platform are selectively rotatable individually and in unison in such a way as to angularly and rotatably displace the reference axis through a range of skew angles and directions relative to the fixed axis. Operatively coupled between the base, rotor, and platform are drive means for selectively driving the rotor and platform individually and in unison and angle sensing means for generating signals representing the relative angular positions of the base, rotor and platform in such a way as to permit angular positioning or pointing of the object on the platform with high resolution and driving of the object in a conical, spiral, or the other coning motion.

Rotary mount characterized by variable coning motion

A caging device for releasibly caging or clutching two relatively rotatable members to one another, such as a rotatable shaft to a fixed support or two independently rotatable shafts to one another, by axial movement of a clutch or caging member having a conically tapered clutch surface to and from a position of simultaneous engagement of its clutch surface with coaxial conically tapered clutch surfaces on the relatively rotatable members. The caging member can be electromechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically, or thermally actuated.

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Torrance, CA, United States of America

Anthony A Rizzo