Title:
TILT-BALL TURRET WITH GIMBAL LOCK AVOIDANCE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2013/074177
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A turret assembly for attachment on the undersurface of an aircraft that reduces performance limitations due to gimbal lock and reduces the cross section profile of the assembly. The assembly includes a roll actuator including a drive shaft. A yoke having a cross member is coupled to the drive shaft and a pair of prongs. The yoke is rotated via the roll actuator and drive shaft along a roll axis oriented substantially parallel to the body of the aircraft. A turret is mounted on the prongs of the yoke. A tilt actuator is contained within the turret. The tilt actuator tilts the turret on a tilt axis relative to the yoke. The tilt axis is perpendicular to the roll axis.
Inventors:
OMER THOMAS (US)
SZAREK THOMAS (US)
DIMOTAKIS MANOLIS PAVLOS (US)
MCBRIDE JEFFERSON C (US)
SZAREK THOMAS (US)
DIMOTAKIS MANOLIS PAVLOS (US)
MCBRIDE JEFFERSON C (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2012/052729
Publication Date:
May 15, 2014
Filing Date:
August 28, 2012
Export Citation:
Assignee:
AEROVIRONMENT INC (US)
OMER THOMAS (US)
SZAREK THOMAS (US)
DIMOTAKIS MANOLIS PAVLOS (US)
MCBRIDE JEFFERSON C (US)
OMER THOMAS (US)
SZAREK THOMAS (US)
DIMOTAKIS MANOLIS PAVLOS (US)
MCBRIDE JEFFERSON C (US)
International Classes:
B64D47/08
Foreign References:
| US6147701A | 2000-11-14 | |||
| US20090216394A1 | 2009-08-27 | |||
| US20100309344A1 | 2010-12-09 | |||
| US20080267612A1 | 2008-10-30 | |||
| US4217606A | 1980-08-12 | |||
| US6226125B1 | 2001-05-01 | |||
| US7955006B1 | 2011-06-07 | |||
| US20090284644A1 | 2009-11-19 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
KREBS, Robert, E. et al. (P.O. Box 60610Palo Alto, California, US)
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