Patent GB-1137322-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to universal mounting devices
IPC: F16M11/12
Filed: 1966-05-19
Abstract: 1,137,322. Mounting weapons. NTT ENTERPRISES Inc. 19 May, 1966 [21 Jan., 1966], No. 22236/66. Heading F3C. [Also in Division G2] A universal mount for an armament device, camera, telescope or other instrument which is to be continuously aimed at a moving object comprises an elongated support arm 18, Fig. 1, whose rearward end is mounted for tilting about a normally horizontal rearward tilt axis 24 and for rotation about a normally vertical rearward pan axis 26 by means of a rearward support assembly 20 connected to a platform 22, and a forward support assembly 28 carrying the instrument which, as shown, is a camera 30, is mounted on the forward end of arm 18 for tilting about a normally horizontal forward tilt axis 32, and has portions which are relatively rotatable to permit rotation about a normally vertical forward pan axis 34 so that an operator can, for example tilt the forward support assembly 28 upwardly about axis 32 and simultaneously tilt the assembly 28 and arm 18 upwardly about the rearward tilt axis 24 to maintain camera 30 at a convenient height despite its tilted position relative to axis 32. As shown applied to a camera mounting in a helicopter the platform 22 secured to the floor of the aircraft has a pair of plates spaced apart by springs to damp out vibrations, the upper plate 38 having a padded seat 40 and also supporting, by means of an anti-vibration mount, the lower part 44 of a vertical post 42. The upper part 46 is rotatably mounted on the part 44 about the rearward pan axis 26. The arm 18 is connected to a battery case 114 by a tube which is rotatable about a normally horizontal tip axis 102 within a sleeve 100 pivoted to the upper end of post 42 about the rearward tilt axis 24. The camera is controlled by a pair of handles 260 connected to the outer ends of handle bars 246 by means of rubber shock mounts, the inner ends of the handle bars 246 being secured to a member which is rigid with the tray assembly 178 carrying the camera 30 and is rotatable about the forward pan axis 34 within a slider arm assembly 151. Varied amounts of friction may be provided at the joints by devices 298, 300, and 302. To balance the camera about axes 32, 34, and the whole of the forward assembly about axes 24, 26, 102, the camera 30 is fixed to a baseplate 188 which is slidably engaged with a slide 186 and may be locked by a detent in various positions thereon; the slide 186 is transversely adjustable upon slide 184, and the latter is longitudinally adjustable upon the base of the tray assembly 178; the head assembly 138, which is vertically adjustable, carries the slider arm assembly 151 which is capable of lateral adjustment and the battery case 114 may have adjustable weights and be movable transversely. The electrical connections for the camera 30 may pass almost wholly through the hollow members of the mounting, slip rings being provided at axes 32 and 34, and control switches such as 284 being on the handle 260. In a modification, Fig. 6, not shown, the battery case is not movable with the arm 18 about the tip axis 102. In a further form, Fig. 12, the arm 18 is not curved so that axes 26a, 34, are not aligned in the longitudinal direction and the battery case 36a is offset to effect balance.