IP Library Granted Patent US 9,879,816
Granted Patent B2
US 9,879,816 · App. 15/157,537 · Granted Jan 30, 2018

Levelling unit for cameras or sensors

Inventor: Frank Woodcock (Berchtesgaden, DE)
Assignees: ZIPPERMAST, INC.; PROGENOX GMBH
F16M11/2007F16H1/203F16M11/126F16M11/18G03B17/561F16M2200/041
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,879,816
App. No.
15/157,537
Granted
Jan 30, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a levelling unit for cameras or sensors, comprising a base, a tilting table that is tiltable with respect to the base, and two wedge rings arranged between said base and said tilting table, each wedge ring having two end faces oriented to one another in a wedge-like manner. Said tilting table is connected to said base via a cardan joint such that a relative rotation of said tilting table with respect to said base is prevented. Said two wedge rings are formed by a first wedge ring rotatably supported on said base and by a second wedge ring rotatably supported on said tilting table, wherein said second wedge ring is also rotatable with respect to said first wedge ring. A first drive is provided for said first wedge ring and a second drive is provided for said second wedge ring. According to the invention it is provided that said first drive is attached to said base and said second drive is attached to said tilting table, wherein no drive acting between said first wedge ring and said second wedge ring is provided.

Claims (19)

1. A leveling unit for a device, the leveling unit comprising:

a base;

a tilting table that is tiltable with respect to the base: and two wedge rings arranged between said base and said tilting table, each of the two wedge rings have two end faces oriented to one another in a wedge-like manner,

wherein said tilting table is connected to said base such that a relative rotation of said tilting table with respect to said base is prevented,

wherein said two wedge rings are formed by a first wedge ring rotatably supported on said base and by a second wedge ring rotatably supported on said tilting table, and

wherein said second wedge ring is rotatable with respect to said first wedge ring; and

a first drive coupled to said first wedge ring and a second drive coupled to said second wedge ring,

wherein said first drive is attached to said base and said second drive is attached to said tilting table;

wherein said first drive is at least partially received in an interior space of said base, said second drive is at least partially received in an interior space of said tilting table;

wherein said first drive comprises a first electric motor and a first gear unit attached thereto, said second drive comprises a second electric motor and a second gear unit attached thereto, wherein said first and second gear units are disposed within the interior space of said base and said tilting table, respectively; and

wherein said base and said tilting table each have a flange connected to said first gear unit and said second gear unit to receive said first and second electric motors.

2. The levelling unit according to claim 1 , comprising a first assembly that includes said base and said first drive, and a second assembly comprising said tilting table and said second drive.

3. The levelling unit according to claim 1 , wherein each of said first drive and said second drive comprises an output shaft with a gear wheel, and wherein said gear wheel meshes with teeth of the respective driven wedge ring.

4. The levelling unit according to claim 3 , wherein said output shaft is arranged at an angle of about 90° with respect to an input shaft of each of the first and second gear units.

5. The levelling unit according to claim 1 , wherein in said base and said tilting table are connected to one another via a folding bellows enclosing said first wedge ring and said second wedge ring.

6. The levelling unit according to claim 5 , wherein first wedge ring and said second wedge ring have a smaller outer circumference than said base and said tilting table, wherein said wedge rings do not project beyond the outer circumference of said base and said tilting table at least in a neutral position of said tilting table in which said tilting table is not tilted with respect to said base.

7. The levelling unit according to claim 1 , wherein a first position sensor is attached to said base, wherein said levelling unit comprises a control to automatically adjust said tilting table based on a signal of said first position sensor.

8. The levelling unit according to claim 7 , further comprising a second position sensor attached to said tilting table to detect an orientation of said tilting table.

9. The leveling unit according to claim 1 , wherein the leveling unit does not include a drive acting between said first wedge ring and said second wedge ring.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2016
From: WOODCOCK, FRANK
To: ZIPPERMAST, INC.; PROGENOX GMBH
Reel/Frame 038631/0672 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2015 006 437 · May 18, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160341353A1 · Nov 24, 2016