Gimbal apparatus for translating rotational motion to accurate linear motion

摘要

A lead screw driven by a motor has a drive nut threadably connected to the lead screw for reciprocation therealong. The drive nut is rotationally restrained thereby limiting its movement along the axis of the lead screw. Three disk members each having an opening through their centers are positioned on the lead screw. The two outer disk members each have at least a pair of bearing members, such as ball bearings, positioned along a diameter of the disk on adjacent sides of the opening. A keeper member is positioned on the lead screw to sandwich the three disk members between the drive nut and the keeper member. Indexing members are positioned on the drive nut and the keeper member to maintain the diameters of the two outer disks, having the bearings mounted therein, orthogonal with respect to each other. A linear motion device is rigidly coupled to the keeper member such that rotary motion of the lead screw is translated to the linear motion device without flexure, eccentricities, or other undesirable movement of the lead screw being transmitted to the linear motion device.