Rotary drive accelerator

Abstract

A rotary shock testing system including a rotating table mounted to a bearing plate of a precision bearing assembly. The bearing plate to which the rotating table is attached preferably includes upper and lower surfaces supported against ported plates to thereby prevent vertical translation of the bearing plate along the axis of rotation. Oil is injected through ports in the ported plates to provide a substantially frictionless hydrostatic bearing between the upper and lower surfaces of the bearing plate and respective surfaces of the ported plates. The precision bearing further includes a pair of tapered bearings and a roller bearing, spaced along the axis of rotation, which bearings further support the bearing plate for substantially frictionless rotation while preventing translation in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation and precession of the axis of rotation. The tapered bearings further assist in preventing vertical translation of the bearing plate along the axis of rotation. A shock generation and delivery system for delivering a shock to the rotating table includes a pneumatic cylinder storing a pressurized gas, and a lever for receiving a shock generated by the pressurized gas within the pneumatic cylinder, and delivering the shock to the rotating table.