Patent ID: 6805337
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
A payload isolation system for isolating a payload from a base structure upon which the payload is supported, the payload isolation system comprising:motion constraint means for maintaining a parallel relationship between the payload and the base structure throughout a range of motion, the motion constraint means comprising at least two parallelogram linkages, each of the at least two parallelogram linkages comprises first and second parallelogram sub-linkages, each of the first and second parallelogram sub-linkages having first and second supporting links the first and second supporting links for each of the first and second parallelogram sub-linkages being connected to a common member, the first and second supporting links for one of the first or second parallelogram sub-linkages being directly fixed to only the payload or a portion thereof through first rotating joints, the first and second supporting links for the other of the first or second parallelogram sub-linkages being-directly fixed to only the base structure or a portion thereof through second rotating joints; and support means being deformable along the range of motion for providing vertical and/or lateral support of the payload relative to the base structure such that the transmission of vertical and/or lateral vibration between the payload and the base structure are suppressed.