Shock isolation cradle
Methods and apparatus for supporting a payload within a vehicle, especially a land vehicle. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a cradle that permits the payload to translate fore and aft during sudden decelerations of the vehicle, such as when an off road vehicle runs into an obstacle. Preferably, the payload motion is damped by dampeners that couple the payload to the vehicle.
1. An apparatus, comprising: a vehicle for transporting a payload over a surface, said vehicle having at least first and second wheels in contact with the surface, said vehicle having a frame suspended from said at least two wheels; and a cradle for supporting the payload, said cradle being pivotally supported from said frame by at least two pivot joints, each said pivot joint being adapted and configure to permit pivoting about each of two orthogonal axes, said cradle includes an attachment surface for attachment to said payload, said attachment surface being located lower than either said pivot joint.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said pivot joint is adapted and configure to permit pivoting about the roll and pitch axes of said vehicle.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said pivot joint is adapted and configure to permit pivoting about each of three orthogonal axes.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises first and second biasing units, each said biasing unit having at least one of a spring or a shock absorber, said first biasing unit suspending said frame from said first wheel, said second biasing unit suspending said frame from said second wheel.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 which further comprises a third biasing units, said third biasing unit having at least one of a spring or a shock absorber, said third biasing unit suspending said cradle from said frame.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises first and second arms for supporting said cradle from said frame, wherein said two pivot joints are first and second upper pivot joints, said first upper pivot joint supporting said first arm from said frame, said second upper pivot joint supporting said second arm from said frame.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first pivot joint is pivotal about a first axis, said second pivot joint is pivotal about a second axis, said third pivot joint is pivotal about a third axis, said fourth pivot joint is pivotal about a fourth axis, and each of said first, second, third, and fourth axes are approximately parallel to each other.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cradle is a first cradle, and which further comprises a second cradle pivotally coupled to said first cradle.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 which further comprises a dampening unit having two ends and pivotally coupled at one end to said first cradle and pivotally coupled at said second end to said second cradle.
10. apparatus, comprising: a vehicle for transporting a payload over a surface, said vehicle having at least first and second wheels in contact with the surface, said vehicle having a frame suspended from said at least two wheels; and a cradle for supporting the payload, said cradle being pivotally supported from said frame by at least two pivot joints, each said pivot joint being adapted and configure to permit pivoting about at least one axis, each said pivot joint includes upper and lower springs, said cradle being supported between said upper and lower springs in the vertical direction.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one of said top springs is preloaded.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said two pivot joints are front and rear pivot joints, and said cradle is pivotal about the oil axis of said vehicle.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said first and second wheels are front wheels rotating about a co on front axis, which further comprises third and fourth rear wheels in contact with the surface, said rear wheels rotating about a common rear axis, said frame being suspended from each of said four wheels, said front pivot joint being located aft of the front axis, said rear pivot joint being located forward of the rear axis, and said cradle being located higher than said front axis and higher than said rear axis.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 which further comprises first and second arms for coupling said cradle from said frame, wherein said two pivot joints are first and second upper pivot joints, said first upper pivot joint coupling said first arm to said frame, said second upper pivot joint coupling said second arm to said frame at least one of said first arm or said second arm being coupled to said cradle to permit translation of said cradle relative to said one arm.