Patent Application
20220410020
This application claims priority to Taiwan patent application no. 110123470 filed on Jun. 26, 2021.
The present invention relates to motion simulating apparatuses that can carry at least one occupant and create the feeling of being in a real motion environment.
Motion simulators may be typically used as amusement or training equipment. Generally, a motion simulator includes a plurality of actuators that are respectively disposed at different locations and along different axes of movements so as to be able to simulate motions along different axes. Unfortunately, the conventional motion simulators are usually complex in construction and have relatively high manufacturing costs.
Therefore, there is a need for a motion simulating apparatus that can address at least the aforementioned issues.
The present application describes a motion simulating apparatus that can address at least the foregoing issues.
According to one aspect, a motion simulating apparatus described herein includes a support base, a coupling part, an occupant platform adapted to carry one or more occupant, and two linear actuators. The coupling part is pivotally connected to the support base about a first pivot axis. The occupant platform is disposed above the support base and is pivotally connected to the coupling part about a second pivot axis, the first pivot axis being substantially orthogonal to the second pivot axis. The two linear actuators are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the second pivot axis, wherein the two linear actuators are respectively connected pivotally to the support base and are respectively connected pivotally to the occupant platform at the two opposite sides of the second pivot axis.
According to another aspect, a motion simulating apparatus described herein includes a support base, a coupling part, an occupant platform adapted to carry one or more occupants, and an actuating system. The coupling part is pivotally connected to the support base about a first pivot axis. The occupant platform is disposed above the support base and is pivotally connected to the coupling part about a second pivot axis, the first pivot axis being substantially orthogonal to the second pivot axis. The actuating system is connected with the occupant platform, and is operable to cause the occupant platform to rotate about the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis.
The support base 102 can extend generally horizontally, and can provide support for the coupling part 104, the occupant platform 106 and the actuating system 108. According to an example of construction, the support base 102 can include a plate structure.
The coupling part 104 is pivotally connected to the support base 102 about a pivot axis 110, whereby the coupling part 104 can rotate about the pivot axis 110 relative to the support base 102. The pivot axis 110 can be a substantially horizontal axis. According to an example of construction, the coupling part 104 can include a frame portion 112, and two extensions 114 fixedly connected with the frame portion 112. The coupling part 104 including the frame portion 112 and the two extensions 114 may be integrally formed as a single part, or may be assembled by attaching the two extensions 114 to the frame portion 112 via fasteners. The frame portion 112 is adapted to couple to the occupant platform 106, and the two extensions 114 can protrude at an underside of the frame portion 112 and respectively connect pivotally to the support base 102 about the pivot axis 110. According to an example of construction, the frame portion 112 may be generally shaped as a triangle or an isosceles trapezoid, and the two extensions 114 can respectively protrude from two corners of the frame portion 112 at the underside thereof. The support base 102 may further include a support frame 116, and the coupling part 104 can include two brackets 118 that are respectively connected with the support frame 116 via two cushioning parts 120. The support frame 116 can be exemplarily fixed on the support base 102. Examples of the cushioning parts 120 may include, without limitation, springs, hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, and the like. The cushioning parts 120 can provide cushioning support for the coupling part 104.
Referring to
According to an example of construction, the seat support frame 126 can include one or more support bars and/or one or more plates assembled together. The seat support frame 126 may be fixedly connected with the backrest portion 124B of each seat 124, and may be pivotally connected to the coupling part 104 about the pivot axis 122 at a rear of the seats 124. For example, the seat support frame 126 can be pivotally connected to the frame portion 112 of the coupling part 104 via a bearing 130 at a pivot connecting location 128, the bearing 130 defining the pivot axis 122. The bearing 130 may include, without limitation, a ball bearing, a cylinder bearing, and the like. According to an example of construction, the bearing 130 can be disposed at a middle location of the seat support frame 126, and most of the bearing 130 can be arranged above the support frame 116 and the cushioning parts 120. As shown in
The actuating system 108 is connected with the occupant platform 106, and is operable to drive the occupant platform 106 to rotate about the pivot axes 110 and 122. More specifically, the actuating system 108 can include at least one linear actuator 132 connected with the occupant platform 106, the linear actuator 132 being operable to drive the occupant platform 106 to rotate relative to the support base 102. The linear actuator 132 may include, e.g., an electric cylinder. However, it will be appreciated that the linear actuator 132 may be of any types, which can include, without limitation, pneumatic cylinders and hydraulic cylinders.
According to an example of construction, the actuating system 108 can include two linear actuators 132 that are respectively connected pivotally to the support base 102 and are respectively connected pivotally to the occupant platform 106 at two opposite sides of the pivot axis 122. One or both of the two linear actuators 132 may apply a force on the occupant platform 106 so as to generate a torque adapted to cause the occupant platform 106 to rotate about the pivot axis 110 and/or the pivot axis 122. More specifically, the force exerted by the two linear actuators 132 on the occupant platform 106 may be able to generate a torque about each of the two pivot axes 110 and 122, and the torque amount may be modified by controlling the course of each of the two linear actuators 132 to cause the occupant platform 106 to rotate about the pivot axis 110 and/or the pivot axis 122.
Referring to
It is worth noting that the two linear actuators 132 are not limited to the aforementioned arrangement. According to another example of construction, the two linear actuators 132 may be symmetrically disposed at two opposite sides of the pivot axis 122 but may not extend parallel to each other between the pivot connecting locations 134 and the pivot connecting locations 136. More specifically, the two linear actuators 132 may be disposed so that the pivot axis 122 is substantially equidistant to the two pivot connecting locations 134 by a first distance, and substantially equidistant to the two pivot connecting locations 136 by a second distance that differs from the first distance.
According to another example of construction, the two linear actuators 132 may be disposed equally distant at two opposite sides of the pivot axis 122 but not according to a symmetric arrangement, and the occupant platform 106 can be driven to rotate about the pivot axis 110 and/or the pivot axis 122 by controllably imparting a differential course between the two linear actuators 132.
In the actuating system 108, the two linear actuators 132 thus may be disposed at two opposite sides of the pivot axis 122 according to any suitable symmetric or asymmetric arrangements for driving the occupant platform 106 to rotate about the pivot axis 110 and/or the pivot axis 122.
According to an embodiment, the pivot axis 110 can be a pitch axis, the pivot axis 122 can be a roll axis, and the two linear actuators 132 are operable to cause the occupant platform 106 to rotate about the pivot axis 110 and/or to rotate about the pivot axis 122 for simulating pitch and/or roll motions. For example, the two linear actuators 132 can be operated to generate synchronous and identical courses to cause the occupant platform 106 and the coupling part 104 to pitch up and down about the pivot axis 110 relative to the support base 102, and the two linear actuators 132 can be operated to generate different courses to cause the occupant platform 106 to rotate about the pivot axis 122 to the left and right side relative to the support base 102 and the coupling part 104. With the arrangement of the support base 102, the coupling part 104 and the occupant platform 106 as described herein, the actuating system 108 can have a simple construction capable of simulating pitch and roll motions with two linear actuators 132. Examples of applications for the motion simulating apparatus 100 described herein may include, without limitation, flight simulators.
It will be appreciated that the actuating system 108 is not limited to the aforementioned configuration. For example, a variant construction of the actuating system 108 can include an electric motor, which may be additionally provided in the actuating system 108 or substitute for one of the two linear actuators 132, wherein the electric motor is connected with the occupant platform 106 and is operable to drive the occupant platform 106 to rotate about the pivot axis 122.
Referring to
Advantages of the structures described herein include the ability to provide a motion simulating apparatus that is relatively simple in construction, and can be manufactured with reduced cost. Moreover, the motion simulating apparatus described has a reduced size, which may be particularly suitable for use in environments of limited space.
Realizations of the structures have been described only in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for components described herein as a single instance. Structures and functionality presented as discrete components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the claims that follow.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110123470 | Jun 2021 | TW | national |
