Patent ID: 6705019
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: B23Q,F16C

Abstract:
A goniometer for providing rotational support to a rotor, comprising: the rotor,a support base, and at least three balls disposed between the support base and the rotor to allow rotation of the rotor relative to the support base and about an axis of rotation external to the rotor, the at least three balls being disposed in at least two arcuate; paths located between the rotor and the support base, each arcuate path being in a plane normal to the axis of rotation and circumferential to the axis of rotation, each ball of the at least three balls being constrained to a location within an arcuate path and spaced apart in at least two dimensions to provide a point of support between the rotor and the support base, at least one arcuate path having an arcuate flat surface associated with one of the support base and the rotor so that a ball disposed in the at least one arcuate path having an arcuate flat surface is free to move along the arcuate flat surface to allow self adjustment of the ball to a position to ensure a point of contact between the base support and the rotor along the at least one arcuate path by a rotation of the rotor about an axis normal to the axis of rotation to thereby ensure at least three paints of support between the rotor and the base by contact between the base support and the rotor by each ball.