Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Sperry Corporation

Sperry Rand Corporation

Other

Peter E Jacobson

Terry S Allen

Dennis Wayne Smith

Harold L Swartz

Robert L Pirman

Conrad M Rustenburg

Ryan S Porter

Drum stick finger holder

The present invention is an improved electrical cylindrical circuit collector ring assembly. The assembly includes an axial stack of multiple torodial-shaped spacer members and at least one electrical conductor ring member. The spacer members each include one insulating face and one electrically conductive face. The ring assembly also includes a general adhesive for mounting the insulator face to the ring members and an electrically conductive adhesive for mounting the conductive face to the ring members and for mounting ring members to ring members where applicable. The ring assembly also includes a radial extension on each of the conductive faces of the spacer members beyond the ring member diameter providing for an electrical connecting point. Finally, radial tabs provide lead wire channels and means of improved electrical shielding.

Rotating electrical transfer components

The present invention is full-rotational freedom conductor assembly for conducting electricity between a pair of coaxial electrically conductive members. The conductive members are provided with complementary, planar tracks and are relatively rotatable about a common axis thereof. The invention includes a pair or pairs of opposing coupler halves having a planetary axis, with track-adapted profiles. The pairs of coupler halves are rotatably confined between the tracks enabling electrical contact between the tracks of the conductive members. The invention further includes a force source located at least partially between the coupler halves. The force source applies force to each of the coupling halves in a direction substantially parallel to the second common axis. The force is applied to the pairs of coupler halves in a manner that enables the coupler halves to be flexibly retained between the tracks.

Rolling electrical transfer coupling improvements

A gimbal module for installation in a gimbal assembly and for operation by a simple type of robot device for use in a space environment. The module has a stator, which is fixedly connected to a first gimbal, and has a coaxial rotor, which is fixedly connected to a second gimbal. The stator and first gimbal have respectively a stator spline and a gimbal spline for aligning and installing the stator in the first gimbal. The stator has a bearing which rotatably supports the rotor. The first gimbal has a bearing which rotatably supports the second gimbal. The stator and first gimbal have respective connector components. A first force is applied along the gimbal axis on the module for aligning and installing the stator and its connecotr component into the first gimbal and its connector component. The rotor and the second gimbal have respective rotor connector components. The rotor has a cam subassembly which is actuated by the robot device for applying a second force urging the connector component of the second gimbal into the connector component on the rotor.

Gimbal module

An optical rotary joint includes a rotating input lens assembly which emits a ray set from a focal point to illuminate a cylindrical reflector. Rays reflected from the cylindrical reflector pass through another focal point and are reflected from the cylindrical reflector to pass through still another focal point. This reflection and focusing continues until the ray paths are incident to a window in the cylindrical reflector and exit. Exiting rays are focused by a lens arrangement which focuses the rays to an output optical fiber.

Off-axis fiber optic rotary joint

An angular position encoder utilizes Moire fringes formed by illuminating regions of coded images arranged circumferentially on wheels rotatable in accordance with angles to be encoded. Movement of the Moire fringes from a reference position is detected and used to determine the angular movement. All non-rotating movements of the coded wheel are compensated by the encoding process and do not effect the output.

Compensated rotary position encoder

A ball bearing includes an outer ring having a rotation axis and an inner ring, which rotates relative to the outer ring, and a plurality of bearing balls disposed between the outer ring and the inner ring. A plurality of rollers are peripherally disposed between the bearing balls and are radially disposed between the outer ring and the inner ring. First and second axially spaced tracks are disposed on opposite sides of the bearing balls for supporting the rollers. First and second plates, which support the first and second tracks, are connected to and supported by the inner ring. The bearing balls and roller portions have respective radial dimensions, and the outer ring and inner ring and roller tracks have respective radial dimensions. Such radial dimensions can be specified using given formulas, in order to provide substantially pure rolling friction, without any sliding friciton.

Rolling ball separator

A variable ratio traction drive employing a set of geometrically skewed axis drive balls mounted in an input carrier and captured between a split outer ring. An alteration of the axis skew angle of the balls causes a turns ratio change in the traction drive.

Ball coupled compound traction drive

A ball structure for stabilizing bearing torque in high speed, preloaded, angular contact load supporting ball bearings operating on elastohydrodynamic lubricant films. Angular momentum developed about a ball spin axis that is not parallel to the bearing rotation axis results in a continuous creep of the ball about the momentum axis, thereby allowing a long term preload and torque variation. The improved ball set is shaped so that each ball has a mass inertia about its desired spin axis that is greater than about all other axes, so as to develop a restoring moment tending to maintain rotation about a fixed axis in each ball. The ball cage is configured to maintain ball alignment during run-up and run-down of the bearing.

Constant torque ball bearing

A controlled replenishing lubrication system provides a desired supply of oil to a rolling element bearing by monitoring the changes in the rolling element ball retainer to shaft speed ratio. This ratio is a function of elastohydrodynamic oil film thickness between elements of the bearing. Changes in the speed ratio are monitored by a sensor and fed to a control system which commands a pump to inject oil into the bearing when the speed ratio varies from a predetermined limit. The rolling elements are moveably mounted for rotation within a retainer or cage in a bearing housing. The retainer includes a light reflective indicia. A shaft is rotatably connected to rotate the retainer and the rolling elements. The shaft also includes a light reflective indicia. The sensor is mounted on or adjacent the bearing for simultaneously emitting light toward the retainer and shaft indicia for sensing variations in reflection of the light therefrom and for generating pulses to the control system responsive to the variations. The pump then responds to commands from the control system for providing a desired amount of lubricant to the bearing.

Controlled replenishing lubrication system

An apparatus for reducing terminal-to-terminal circuit resistance and enhancing heat transfer in a rotary power transfer apparatus of the roll ring type comprising a connecting thimble for attaching an external power cable to a cone shaped terminal which is attached to a tab integral to an outer ring. An inner ring having a spherical recess mates with the spherical end of a tie connector. A cone shaped terminal is fitted to a second connecting thimble for attaching a second external power cable.

Rotary high power transfer apparatus

A controlled capillary ball bearing cage composed of a plurality of layers woven mesh containing warp and woof strands. Selected removal of warp strands forms uniformly spaced cylindrical lubricant reservoirs around the circumference of ball bearing pockets machined into the cage.

Controlled capillary ball bearing cage

A full rotational, substantially zero friction electrical conductor assembly conducts relatively high electrical currents between a pair of relatively rotatable members. Electrical conductor modules are axially stacked to provide multiple circuit capabilities wherein each module has a pair of electrical conductive rings affixed to the rotatable members defining an annular radial gap therebetween. A plurality of resilient filamentary conductor loops are disposed between these conductive rings, and the loops contact, roll on, and are captured by the conductive rings thereby providing electrical continuity between the relatively rotatable members. Loop separating spools are interspaced between and in rolling contact with the conductor loops to prevent the loops from touching one another and generating frictional losses. A circular raceway, carried by one of the rotatable members, keeps the spools in rolling alignment with the loops.

High current transfer roll ring assembly

A gyroscopic rotor device is designed to eliminate any spin bearing outer raceway distortion and/or axial preload changes due to centrifugal and thermal effects in a bimetal rotor assembly by means of judicial geometric shaping of the rotor components. The shaping of the heavy metal motor rim and/or the lower density metal rotor spin bearing support web interface includes a discrete number of stress concentrating pads and an equal number of holes formed in the bearing web opposite each of the pads for isolating any strain induced within the bearing web from the spin bearing outer race.

Rotor structure for gyroscopic apparatus

A full or partial rotational, substantially zero friction electrical conductor assembly conducts the electrical currents of a large number of electrical circuits between a pair of relatively rotatable members in a minimum axial length. A plurality of concentric, annular, radially spaced gaps are formed between corresponding concentric, concave surfaced, electrically conductive rings affixed to the members, such that a large number of circuits may be accommodated in a reduced axial length assembly. Resilient, filamentary conductor loops are disposed between the conductive rings, and the loops contact, roll on, and are captured by the concave surfaces of the conductive rings, thereby providing electrical continuity between the relatively rotatable members. The conductor loops are sealed within individual structural enclosures, thus, providing an environmentally clean and rugged assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Peter E Jacobson