Patent ID: 6431802
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: B23Q,Y10T

Abstract:
A universal-joint tool head, comprising:a tool platform for supporting a tool which extends in a direction out of the platform, the platform being adapted for movement about three mutually perpendicular axes, two of the axes being axes of rotation of the platform across the direction of extension of the tool, and the third axis being an axis of translation of the platform; three rails placed at fixed circumferential intervals relative to one another and around the tool platform, each of the three rails extending parallel to each other and to the axis of translation and being axially at the same location along the axis of translation; three carriages, each of the carriages being supported on and to travel along a respective one of the three rails with motion independent of the other carriages; and three connecting rods, each rod having a first end and a second end, each of the first ends being pivotally connected to a respective one of the carriages at a pivot axis tangent to a radius perpendicular to the axis of translation, and each of the second ends being connected to the platform so as to enable movement of the connecting rods with respect to the platform in all directions.