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The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Patent No.:

US 12528182 B1

PDFFull Text
Date of Patent:
Jan. 20, 2026

Filed:

Aug. 04, 2022

High stiffness self leveling platform

Applicant:

United States of America As Represented BY the Administrator of Nasa, Washington, DC (US);

Inventors:

Thomas C. Jones, Williamsburg, VA (US);

William R. Doggett, Poquoson, VA (US);

Iok M. Wong, Poquoson, VA (US);

Assignee:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA, Washington, DC (US);

Attorneys:

M. Bruce Harper

Trenton J. Roche

Robin W. Edwards

Primary Examiner:

Tyrone V Hall, Jr

Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B25J 9/00 (2006.01); B66F 7/14 (2006.01); B66F 7/06 (2006.01); F16M 11/20 (2006.01); F16M 11/22 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B25J 9/1623 (2013.01); B25J 9/0069 (2013.01); B66F 7/14 (2013.01); B66F 7/0608 (2013.01); F16M 11/2021 (2013.01); F16M 11/22 (2013.01);
Abstract

A powered base assembly includes first and second structures that are operably interconnected by at least three legs that can include electrically-powered linear actuators. Each electrically powered actuator includes a housing and a rod associated with the housing. Each rod is connected to one of the first and second structures by a swivel joint having two degrees of freedom, and each housing is connected to the other of the first and second structure by a swivel joint having one degree of freedom. The linear actuators can be actuated to thereby change at least one of an angular position of the first structure relative to the second structure and a distance of the first structure, relative to the second structure. In this way, the base assembly may be used for leveling or moving a payload placed on the first structure; the payload weight is transferred linearly through the legs to the second structure. The configuration of the legs and the second structure enable to the second structure to be placed on a surface to support the base assembly while minimizing the bending moment on the second structure.

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