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Alignment positioning mechanismAn alignment positioning mechanism for correcting and compensating for misalignment of structures to be coupled is disclosed. The mechanism comprises a power screw with a base portion and a threaded shank portion. A mounting fixture is provided for rigidly coupling said base portion to the mounting interface of a supporting structure with the axis of the screw perpendicular thereto. A traveling ball nut threaded on the power screw is formed with an external annular arcuate surface configured in the form of a spherical segment and enclosed by a ball nut housing with a conforming arcuate surface for permitting gimballed motion thereon. The ball nut housing is provided with a mounting surface which is positionable in cooperable engagement with the mounting interface of a primary structure to be coupled to the supporting structure. Cooperative means are provided on the ball nut and ball nut housing, respectively, for positioning the ball nut and ball nut housing in relative gimballed position within a predetermined range of relative angular relationship whereby severe structural stresses due to unequal loadings and undesirable bending moments on the mechanism are avoided.
Document ID
19910012230
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other - Patent
Authors
Fantasia, Peter M.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
March 19, 1991
Subject Category
Mechanical Engineering
Report/Patent Number
Patent Number: NASA-CASE-MSC-21502-1
Patent Number: US-PATENT-5,000,416
Patent Application Number: US-PATENT-APPL-SN-470663
Accession Number
91N21543
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Patent
NASA-CASE-MSC-21502-1|US-PATENT-5,000,416
Patent Application
US-PATENT-APPL-SN-470663
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