Caging system
This invention was made with U.S. Government support and the U.S. Government has certain rights therein. 
    
    
     The invention generally relates to a caging system, and in particular the invention relates to a caging system for a payload support platform on a spacecraft. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The prior art caging system for an equipment platform includes a plurality of rotary clamp assemblies, one for each gimbal of the platform. 
     One problem with the prior art caging system is that there is a substantial friction in each clamp assembly in its uncaged condition. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a caging system is provided for an equipment platform on a spacecraft. The caging system includes at least three axial caging actuators, each actuator having a first portion with a snubber having an axis, and having a second portion with a pair of axially spaced caging rings disposed on axially opposite sides of the snubber, the caging rings being axially movable away from the snubber in the uncaged condition of the actuator. 
     By using the structure of the snubber and the pair of axially movable caging rings, the caging actuator avoids friction in the uncaged condition of the actuator, whereby the problem of friction in the caging system in its uncaged condition is avoided. 
    
    
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a payload support system according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a section view as taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a section view as taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a section view as taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a section view corresponding to a portion of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is an exterior developed view of a cylindrical part which is shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 is a section view as taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 8 is a section view as taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 9 is a section view as taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 is a section view as taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 11 is a section view corresponding to a portion of FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 12 is a section view as taken along line 12--12 of FIG. 11. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a payload support system 10 is provided. System 10 includes a pointing structure 14, a suspension and caging platform 26 and a payload unit 32. FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing. 
     Pointing structure 14 is mounted on a spacecraft 12 and is movable about three axes 16, 18, 20, which are three axes in quadrature. Pointing structure 14 has a plate 22 with a plurality of flanges 24, which connect to suspension and caging platform 26 for angularly displacing platform 26 about each of the axes 16, 18, 20. 
     Payload unit 32 has a support member 28 which connects to platform 26. Payload unit 32 also has flanges 30, which connect to support member 28. Platform 26 provides a magnetic support or a magnetic bed for supporting payload unit 32 in the uncaged condition. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, suspension and caging platform 26 has first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth magnetic actuators 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, which are spaced apart at equal angles. Suspension and caging unit 26 also has first, second and third caging actuators 46, 48, 50, which are spaced apart at equal angles. Caging actuators 46, 48, 50, which are identical in construction, are able to clamp or lock pointing structure 14 to payload unit 32 in their caged condition. In their uncaged condition, caging actuators 46, 48, 50 have no mechanical connection of pointing structure 14 to payload unit 32, so that there is no friction force on payload unit 32. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, magnetic actuators 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, which are conventional magnetic actuators, are able to suspend or float the support member 28 relative to the plate member 22. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, caging actuator 46 which is a typical actuator, includes an upper caging ring 52, a lower caging ring 54, a snubber 56, and a rotary cam 57. Cam 57 is angularly displaceable for urging rings 52 and 54 against snubber 56 in the caged condition for locking payload unit 32 to pointing structure 14. When rings 52 and 54 are moved away from snubber 56 in the uncaged condition, there is no contact therebetween, thereby avoiding any friction therebetween. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, which is an exterior developed view of cam 57, cam 57 has an upper cam portion 64, which has first, second and third groove surfaces 58, 60, 62, that respectively receive first, second and third upper cam followers 66, 68, 70. Cam 57 is rotatably movable about actuator axis 72. Rings 52, 54 and snubber 56 and cam 57 are coaxial along axis 72. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, cam 57 also has a lower cam portion 80, which has fourth, fifth and sixth lower groove surfaces 74, 76, 78, that respectively receive fourth, fifth and sixth lower cam followers 82, 84, 86. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, cam 57 has an angle of displacement 88. Upper groove surface 60 which is identical to upper groove surfaces 58, 62, has a level surface portion 90, a sloped surface portion 92, and a second sloped surface portion 94. The slopes used in surfaces 90, 92, 94 are discussed hereafter. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, lower groove surface 76 also has a level surface portion 96, a sloped surface portion 98, and another sloped surface portion 100. Surface portions 90, 96 act in the caged condition, for clamping rings 52, 54 on snubber 56. Cam 57 is angularly displaceable for angularly displacing grooves 60, 76. Surface portions 92, 98 and 94, 100 act to clamp or unclamp rings 52, 54. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, cam 57 has an upper roller bearing 102 and has a lower roller bearing 104. The outer race of upper bearing 102 is supported by housing 106. The inner race of upper bearing 102 supports cam 57. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, upper ring 52 has first, second and third bearings 108, 110, 112. Bearings 108, 110, 112 respectively support and receive cam followers 66, 68, 70. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, lower ring 54 has fourth, fifth and sixth bearings 114, 116, 118. Bearings 114, 116, 118 respectively support and receive cam followers 82, 84, 86. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, there is a separation space or annular gap 120 between surface 122 of ring 52 and surface 124 of snubber 56 in the uncaged condition. There is a similar space between surface 126 of lower ring 54 and surface 128 of snubber 56. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, upper ring 52 has first, second and third upper bushing assemblies 130, 132, 134. Both rings 52, 54 have first, second and third guide assemblies 136, 138, 140 extending therethrough. Lower ring 54 has first, second and third lower bushing assemblies 131, 133, 135. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, housing 106 has a cap member 142, which supports the upper ends of guide assemblies 136, 138, 140. Housing 106 has a bracket 144 which supports the lower ends of guide assemblies 136, 138, 140. Housing 106 has a base 146 which supports bracket 144. Base 146 has a lock ring 148 and screws 150. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, a direct current motor having a stator 152 and a limited angle rotor 156 is provided. Stator 152 has leads 154. A lockring 158 positions rotor 156. Another lockring 160 positions stator 152. 
     As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 three upper compression springs 162, 164, 166 are provided for urging upper ring 52 downwardly. Also, three lower compression springs 168, 170, 172 are provided for urging lower ring 54 upwardly. 
     In FIGS. 4 and 10, a clockspring 174 is shown, which is located below the motor rotor 156 and motor stator 152. Clockspring 174 and compression springs 162, 164, 166 and 168, 170, 172 urge cam 57 towards its caged condition. 
     As shown in FIG. 10, clockspring 174 is connected at its inner end to a sleeve 176 by a screw 178. Sleeve 176 is connected to the lower tubular portion of cam 57 by a key 182. A lockring 180, as shown in FIG. 4, supports sleeve 176. Clockspring 174 at its outer end is connected to ring 194 by screw 198. Ring 194 connects to gear ring 184. Gear ring 184 meshes with a worm gear 186, which has a shaft 188. Shaft 188 has a cavity 190 for a screwdriver to adjust the tension in clockspring 174. A screw 192, which is transversely disposed relative to worm gear 186, is used to clamp worm gear 186 in a fixed position, as desired. Three screws 195, 196, 197 fixedly connect gear ring 184 to ring 194. A lockring 200, as shown in FIG. 4, supported by housing 106, is used to support ring 194. 
     In FIG. 11, some parts are omitted for ease of illustration. As shown in FIG. 11, an auxiliary caging subassembly 201, which can be manually operated, is provided. Subassembly 201 includes an upper ring 202 and a lower ring 204, which clamp snubber 56 in a caged condition. A space 206, as shown in FIG. 4, separates upper ring 202 from snubber 56 in an uncaged condition. Upper ring 202 and lower ring 204 are supported by a shaft 208. Shaft 208 has external threads, and rings 202, 204 have meshing internal threads. Rotation in one direction of shaft 208 causes rings 202, 204 to move apart. Rotation in an opposite direction of shaft 208 causes rings 202, 204 to move towards each other. Shaft 208 is fixedly connected to a gear 212, which meshes with a worm gear 210, as shown in FIG. 12. Worm gear 210 has a drive shaft 214, which has a crank 218 with a crank handle 216. For electric drive, a motor 220 is also provided. Motor 220 has a pinion 222, which meshes with a gear 224, that is fixedly connected to shaft 214. 
     The operation of system 10 is discussed hereafter. 
     When platform 26 is in a caged condition, pointing system 14 can angularly accelerate payload 32 about axes 16, 18, 20. Platform 26 also provides vibration isolation for payload 32 in the uncaged condition. 
     Stator 152 and rotor 156 cause cam 57 to place and hold the rings 52, 54 and snubber 56 in an uncaged condition. 
     Compression springs 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172 and clockspring 174 cause cam 57 to place and hold rings 52, 54 and snubber 56 in a caged condition. Thus, if there is a loss of power, caging actuators 46, 48, 50 remain in a caged condition. 
     Clockspring 174 is also adjustable in tension, in order to control the caging time, and also to allow for wear or contamination in cam 57, rings 52, 54 and snubber 56. 
     Surfaces 90, 92, 94 of upper grooves 58, 60, 62, and opposite hand surfaces 96, 98, 100 of lower grooves 74, 76, 78 are selected, so that cam 57 operates in an optimum fashion. Level surfaces 90, 96 are in planes, which are normal to axis 72. Sloped surfaces 92, 98 are chosen to suit the torque of rotor 156 and stator 152, and to overcome the resisting torques caused by clockspring 174 and by compression springs 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172 and by friction. Sloped surfaces 94, 100 are opposite in slope to sloped surfaces 92, 98, so that compression spring torque changes its direction and clockspring torque remains in the same direction. Thus, more torque is required to initially move cam 57 out from its uncaged condition. 
     The advantages of system 10 are indicated hereafter. 
     1. In the uncaged condition, caging actuators 46, 48, 50 do not impart any friction to platform 26. Thus, payload unit 32 can float on a magnetic support without friction in the uncaged condition. 
     2 Caging actuators 46, 48, 50 lock payload unit 32 to pointing structure 14, if the power is shut off in an emergency situation. 
     3. An auxiliary caging system is provided which can be manually operated, or which can be electrically operated, in case of a breakdown of one or more of the caging actuators. 
     While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiments; it is to be understood that the words which have been used are words of description rather than limitation and that changes may be made within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention in its broader aspects.