ANTI-TWIST JOINT, ORIENTING SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A positioning system is provided for orienting a payload. In some embodiments, the system may continuously orient the payload relative to another object without twisting connections of the payload. The positioning system may be provided with a base, a rotating member, a pivoting member, an anti-twist member, and a coupling apparatus. The rotating member may be rotably mounted to the base such that the rotating member rotates about a first axis. The pivoting member may be pivotably mounted to the rotating member such that the pivoting member pivots about a second axis. The anti-twist member may be rotably mounted to the pivoting member. The coupling apparatus may rotationally couple the anti-twist member to the base such that the rotational orientation of the anti-twist member relative to the base remains constant regardless of a rotational orientation or a pivoting orientation of the pivoting member relative to the base.

主权项

1. An anti-twist joint comprising:
a base; a rotating member rotably mounted to the base such that the rotating member rotates about a first axis; a pivoting member pivotably mounted to the rotating member such that the pivoting member pivots about a second axis; an anti-twist member rotably mounted to the pivoting member; and a coupling apparatus that rotationally couples the anti-twist member to the base such that the rotational orientation of the anti-twist member relative to the base remains constant regardless of a rotational orientation or a pivoting orientation of the pivoting member relative to the base.