Two-axis Mounting Base with Parallel Sliding Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional alt-azimuth mounting bases are bulky and require large driving power, making them unsuitable for heavy instruments, and suffer from error accumulation in driving joints.
Innovation Solution
A two-axis mounting base with a vertical column, rotatable platform, circular or elliptical rail, rods connected by universal and three-rotational-degrees-of-freedom joints, and sliding mechanisms driven by servo motors and reducers, which allows for efficient 0-90 degrees pitch and -180-180 degrees azimuth motion, distributing driving components and reducing weight and power requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional alt-azimuth mounting base uses two active perpendicular axes with servo motors and gear boxes, then the structure is simple and control is easy, but the mounting base becomes very bulky for supporting heavy instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical drive system (servo motors and gear boxes on both axes) with a parallel mechanism system. The azimuth motion is achieved through two sliding mechanisms moving along circular or elliptical rails, eliminating the need for a heavy azimuth motor and reducer. The elevation motion uses a single drive at the azimuth axis, substituting the traditional elevation drive. This mechanical substitution dramatically reduces the mounting base weight while maintaining structural simplicity and controllability.
2Device complexity
If conventional alt-azimuth mounting base uses motor and reducer on vertical axis for azimuth motion, then the driving mechanism is straightforward, but the driving power requirement becomes very large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the azimuth drive function into two independent sliding mechanisms that move along the rails. Instead of using one powerful motor and reducer to directly drive the azimuth rotation, the system divides the driving task into two separate, less powerful drive units. Each sliding mechanism independently contributes to the azimuth motion, reducing the power requirement for each individual drive while achieving the same overall azimuth rotation capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mounting base uses multiple driving joints, then the two-axis rotation capability is achieved, but error accumulations occur in the driving joints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the elevation driving joint from the error-prone mechanical drive chain. By using a parallel mechanism where two sliding mechanisms directly control the azimuth position through their positions on the rails, the system removes the need for a separate elevation motor and its associated drive joint. This extraction of the elevation drive eliminates the error accumulation that would occur at the elevation joint, improving pointing accuracy while maintaining full two-axis rotation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting base for supporting and rotating an instrument about two perpendicular axes is disclosed. The mounting base includes a vertical column; a rotatable platform attached to the column by a revolute joint; a rail around the column; at least one rod, an end of the at least one rod connecting with the revolute joint; at least one sliding mechanism, connecting with the other end of the at least one rod, the sliding mechanism sliding on the rail. The mounting base is light and easily controlled with arbitrary azimuth.