Rate table

Claim 2

A rate table apparatus including: a turntable mounted for rotation about a central axis; tubular shaft means coaxial of said central axis and having an end attached to said turntable; fixed tubular spindle means disposed concentrically of said shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle means and shaft means defining between them hydrostatic thrust and radial bearings proximate said end of said shaft means, said thrust and radial bearings being contiguous and in close approximation and sharing common liquid supply and return conduit means formed in said shaft means and spindle means; means coupled to said liquid supply conduit means for supplying liquid to said bearings under pressure; motor means coupled to said shaft means for rotating said turntable in accordance with command signals; and means coupled to supply said command signals and including means for generating a reference signal and tachometer means coupled to said shaft means.

Claim 3

A rate table apparatus, as defined in claim 1, which includes: a second radial bearing defined by said shaft means and spindle means and spaced from the first radial bearing whereby decentering moments are resisted, said second radial bearing sharing said common liquid supply and return conduit means.

Claim 4

A rate table apparatus, as defined in claim 1, which includes: a second radial bearing defined by said shaft means and spindle means and spaced from the first radial bearing whereby decentering moments are resisted, said second radial bearing sharing said common liquid supply and return conduit means.

Claim 5

A rate table apparatus, as defined in claim 1, which includes: a second hydrostatic thrust bearing defined by said shaft means and spindle means for reacting to axial loads opposite to those resisted by the first thrust bearing, said second thrust bearing sharing said common liquid supply and return conduit means.

Claim 6

A rate table apparatus including: a turntable mounted for rotation about a central axis; shaft means, coaxial of said central axis, having an end attached to said turntable; means operatively associated with said shaft means for rotating said turntable at predetermined, precise velocities and including A motor supplied by a temperature-compensated reference power supply and servo loop means including said motor and a tachometer coupled to said shaft means; and fixed spindle means disposed concentrically of said shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle means and shaft means defining between them a hydrostatic liquid thrust bearing means and first radial bearings adjacent the turntable end of said shaft means and second radial bearings distal said end of said shaft means, said thrust bearing means and first and second radial bearings being supplied by a liquid circulation system including passages and flow-directing means carried by said spindle means.

Claim 7

A rate table apparatus including: a turntable mounted for rotation about a central axis; shaft means, coaxial of said central axis, having an end attached to said turntable; means operatively associated with said shaft means for rotating said turntable at predetermined, precise velocities and including A motor supplied by a temperature-compensated reference power supply and servo loop means including said motor and a tachometer coupled to said shaft means; and fixed spindle means disposed concentrically of said shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle means and shaft means defining between them a hydrostatic liquid thrust bearing means and first radial bearings adjacent the turntable end of said shaft means and second radial bearings distal said end of said shaft means, said thrust bearing means and first and second radial bearings being supplied by a liquid circulation system including passages and flow-directing means carried by said spindle means.

Claim 8

A rate table apparatus, as defined in claim 4, which includes: return conduits defined by said spindle means and shaft means, said return conduits including an annular duct extending axially between said first and second radial bearings.

Claim 9

A rate table apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which: said spindle means includes at least three said passages extending parallel with said central axis and spaced at equal angular intervals; and said flow-directing means comprises first and second radial bearing plugs and thrust bearing plugs, said first and second radial bearing plugs being received within radial apertures intersecting said passages, each said plug including an orifice for conducting liquid to the corresponding radial bearings and dropping the pressure of said liquid and an undercut section communicating with said passage for permitting a portion of the liquid in the passage to pass around the plug, said thrust bearing plugs including an orifice for conducting liquid to the thrust bearing means, said first and second radial bearings and said thrust bearing means being connected in parallel with the pressure side of said liquid circulation system.

Claim 10

A rate table apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which: said shaft means comprises a tubular member enclosing said spindle means; said means for rotating said turntable comprises an electric motor having an annular armature disposed about and secured to the tubular shaft means; and which apparatus includes: tachometer means having an annular rotor disposed about and secured to said tubular shaft means.

Claim 11

A rate table system including: a turntable including a depending, hollow cylindrical shaft means having contiguous internal thrust and radial bearing surfaces perpendicular to one another; torque motor means operatively associated with said shaft means for rotating said turntable in accordance with input commands to said torque motor means; tachometer means operatively associated with said shaft means for providing an output signal indicative of the angular velocity of said turntable and including a rotor secured to said shaft means and a stator disposed about said rotor; temperature-sensing means mounted on said tachometer stator; servo loop means interconnecting said torque motor means and said tachometer means for regulating the angular velocity of the turntable, said temperature sensing means being connected to said servo loop means to introduce a temperature correction signal to said loop means; and cylindrical spindle means projecting into said hollow cylindrical shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith and having external thrust and radial bearing pads adjacent corresponding thrust and radial bearing surfaces of said shaft means, said spindle means further having passages formed therein for circulating liquid to said bearings under pressure.

Claim 12

A rate table system including: a turntable including a depending, hollow cylindrical shaft means having contiguous internal thrust and radial bearing surfaces perpendicular to one another; torque motor means operatively associated with said shaft means for rotating said turntable in accordance with input commands to said torque motor means; tachometer means operatively associated with said shaft means for providing an output signal indicative of the angular velocity of said turntable and including a rotor secured to said shaft means and a stator disposed about said rotor; temperature-sensing means mounted on said tachometer stator; servo loop means interconnecting said torque motor means and said tachometer means for regulating the angular velocity of the turntable, said temperature sensing means being connected to said servo loop means to introduce a temperature correction signal to said loop means; and cylindrical spindle means projecting into said hollow cylindrical shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith and having external thrust and radial bearing pads adjacent corresponding thrust and radial bearing surfaces of said shaft means, said spindle means further having passages formed therein for circulating liquid to said bearings under pressure.

Claim 13

A rate table system for testing and calibrating instruments, including: a turntable for supporting said instruments and including connector means for coupling to the outputs of said instruments, said turntable being mounted for rotation about a central axis; a tubular shaft, coaxial of said axis, depending from said turntable; motor means operatively associated with said shAft for rotating said shaft and turntable in accordance with command signals; a fixed, tubular spindle disposed concentrically inside said shaft and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle and shaft defining between them a hydrostatic thrust bearing proximate said turntable and a hydrostatic radial bearing means at least a portion of which radial bearing means is positioned close to said thrust bearing, said spindle and shaft including conduit means for circulating liquid to and from said thrust bearing and radial bearing means; a hollow stem depending coaxially from said turntable within said spindle; and a slip ring and brush assembly operatively associated with said stem for coupling said connector means, via said hollow stem, to external recording devices.

Claim 14

A rate table system for testing and calibrating instruments, including: a turntable for supporting said instruments and including connector means for coupling to the outputs of said instruments, said turntable being mounted for rotation about a central axis; a tubular shaft, coaxial of said axis, depending from said turntable; motor means operatively associated with said shAft for rotating said shaft and turntable in accordance with command signals; a fixed, tubular spindle disposed concentrically inside said shaft and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle and shaft defining between them a hydrostatic thrust bearing proximate said turntable and a hydrostatic radial bearing means at least a portion of which radial bearing means is positioned close to said thrust bearing, said spindle and shaft including conduit means for circulating liquid to and from said thrust bearing and radial bearing means; a hollow stem depending coaxially from said turntable within said spindle; and a slip ring and brush assembly operatively associated with said stem for coupling said connector means, via said hollow stem, to external recording devices.

Claim 15

A rate table system for testing and calibrating instruments, including: a turntable for carrying said instruments and including means for connection to the outputs of said instruments, said turntable mounted for rotation about a central axis; a tubular shaft, coaxial of said axis, attached to and depending from said turntable, said shaft having adjacent, contiguous internal thrust and upper radial bearing surfaces perpendicular to one another and proximate the end of said shaft attached to said turntable, and lower radial bearing surfaces distal said upper radial bearing surfaces; an annular torque motor coupled to the exterior surface of said shaft for rotating said turntable in accordance with input commands to said torque motor; an annular tachometer coupled to the exterior surface of said shaft for providing an output signal indicative of the angular velocity of said turntable and including a rotor secured about the exterior surface of the shaft and a stator disposed about said rotor; a thermistor mounted on said tachometer stator, said tachometer being connected in velocity-feedback fashion to the input of said torque motor, the output of said thermistor being connected to the input of said torque motor to introduce a temperature correction feedback signal; a fixed, tubular spindle disposed concentrically inside said shaft and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle having external bearing pads corresponding to the thrust, upper radial and lower radial bearing surfaces of said shaft, said shaft and spindle defining liquid circulation conduit means including at least three equally spaced, axially oriented liquid supply passages formed in the wall of the spindle and extending the full length thereof, a chamber within said spindle for receiving liquid discharged from said thrust bearing, a plurality of radial discharge passages through the walls of said spindle and said shaft, and an annular duct defined by the spindle and shaft and extending axially between said upper and lower radial bearings and interconnecting the radial discharge passages in the spindle wall with the radial discharge passages in the shaft wall; orifice plugs mounted in the wall of said spindle within radial apertures intersecting said supply passages for supplying liquid to said upper and lower radial bearings, said orifice plugs including pressure reducing orifices in communication with said passages, said orifice plugs further defining means for bypassing a portion of the fluid in said passages around said plugs whereby said orifices are connected in parallel with said passages, radially oriented bores in said plugs interconnecting said orifices with said radial bearings; an axially extending orifice plug mounted within the upper extremity of one of said passages for supplying said thrust bearing, said plug including an axial orifice interconnecting said passage with said thrust bearing; axially extending sealing plugs mounted in the upper extremities of the remaining passages; a pump; an annular reservoir, disposed about said shaft, for holding a supply of liquid and connected in series with said pump, said supply passages in said spindle wall beIng connected in parallel with said pump, said radial discharge passages in said shaft wall being in communication with said reservoir to return liquid thereto; a tubular stem depending from said turntable coaxially therewith and extending downwardly into said spindle; unloaded bearing means disposed between said spindle and the lower end of said stem for stabilizing said stem during rotation; and a slip ring and brush assembly coupled to said stem for connecting said instrument connection means on said turntable via said stem, to external recording devices.

Claim 16

A rate table system for testing and calibrating instruments, including: a turntable for carrying said instruments and including means for connection to the outputs of said instruments, said turntable mounted for rotation about a central axis; a tubular shaft, coaxial of said axis, attached to and depending from said turntable, said shaft having adjacent, contiguous internal thrust and upper radial bearing surfaces perpendicular to one another and proximate the end of said shaft attached to said turntable, and lower radial bearing surfaces distal said upper radial bearing surfaces; an annular torque motor coupled to the exterior surface of said shaft for rotating said turntable in accordance with input commands to said torque motor; an annular tachometer coupled to the exterior surface of said shaft for providing an output signal indicative of the angular velocity of said turntable and including a rotor secured about the exterior surface of the shaft and a stator disposed about said rotor; a thermistor mounted on said tachometer stator, said tachometer being connected in velocity-feedback fashion to the input of said torque motor, the output of said thermistor being connected to the input of said torque motor to introduce a temperature correction feedback signal; a fixed, tubular spindle disposed concentrically inside said shaft and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle having external bearing pads corresponding to the thrust, upper radial and lower radial bearing surfaces of said shaft, said shaft and spindle defining liquid circulation conduit means including at least three equally spaced, axially oriented liquid supply passages formed in the wall of the spindle and extending the full length thereof, a chamber within said spindle for receiving liquid discharged from said thrust bearing, a plurality of radial discharge passages through the walls of said spindle and said shaft, and an annular duct defined by the spindle and shaft and extending axially between said upper and lower radial bearings and interconnecting the radial discharge passages in the spindle wall with the radial discharge passages in the shaft wall; orifice plugs mounted in the wall of said spindle within radial apertures intersecting said supply passages for supplying liquid to said upper and lower radial bearings, said orifice plugs including pressure reducing orifices in communication with said passages, said orifice plugs further defining means for bypassing a portion of the fluid in said passages around said plugs whereby said orifices are connected in parallel with said passages, radially oriented bores in said plugs interconnecting said orifices with said radial bearings; an axially extending orifice plug mounted within the upper extremity of one of said passages for supplying said thrust bearing, said plug including an axial orifice interconnecting said passage with said thrust bearing; axially extending sealing plugs mounted in the upper extremities of the remaining passages; a pump; an annular reservoir, disposed about said shaft, for holding a supply of liquid and connected in series with said pump, said supply passages in said spindle wall beIng connected in parallel with said pump, said radial discharge passages in said shaft wall being in communication with said reservoir to return liquid thereto; a tubular stem depending from said turntable coaxially therewith and extending downwardly into said spindle; unloaded bearing means disposed between said spindle and the lower end of said stem for stabilizing said stem during rotation; and a slip ring and brush assembly coupled to said stem for connecting said instrument connection means on said turntable via said stem, to external recording devices.

Claim 17

A rate table system, as defined in claim 11, in which: the thrust bearing reacts against downwardly directed loads; and which system includes: second thrust bearing surfaces and pads, transverse of said axis, defined by said shaft and said spindle, respectively, forming a second thrust bearing for reacting against upwardly directed loads; an extension to one of said supply passages formed in said spindle for supplying liquid to said second thrust bearing; an orifice plug in said passage extension for directing liquid to said second thrust bearing; and generally axially oriented discharge conduit means formed in said spindle for receiving liquid discharged from said second thrust bearing and conducting said liquid to said chamber.

Claim 18

A rate table apparatus including: a turntable mounted for rotation about a central axis; shaft means, coaxial of said central axis, having an end attached to said turntable; means operatively associated with said shaft means for rotating said turntable at predetermined velocities; and fixed spindle means disposed concentrically of said shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle means and shaft means defining between them a hydrostatic liquid thrust bearing means and first radial bearings adjacent the turntable end of said shaft means and second radial bearings distal said end of said shaft means, said thrust bearing means and first and second radial bearings being supplied by a liquid circulation system including at least three passages in said spindle means extending parallel with said central axis and spaced at equal angular intervals and flow-directing means comprising first and second radial bearing plugs and thrust bearing plugs, said first and second radial bearing plugs being received within radial apertures intersecting said passages, each said plug including an orifice for conducting liquid to the corresponding radial bearings and dropping the pressure of said liquid and an undercut section communicating with said passage for permitting a portion of the liquid in the passage to pass around the plug, said thrust bearing plugs including an orifice for conducting liquid to the thrust bearing means, said first and second radial bearings and said thrust bearing means being connected in parallel with the pressure side of said liquid circulation system,

Claim 19

A rate table apparatus including: a turntable mounted for rotation about a central axis; shaft means, coaxial of said central axis, having an end attached to said turntable; means operatively associated with said shaft means for rotating said turntable at predetermined velocities; and fixed spindle means disposed concentrically of said shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle means and shaft means defining between them a hydrostatic liquid thrust bearing means and first radial bearings adjacent the turntable end of said shaft means and second radial bearings distal said end of said shaft means, said thrust bearing means and first and second radial bearings being supplied by a liquid circulation system including at least three passages in said spindle means extending parallel with said central axis and spaced at equal angular intervals and flow-directing means comprising first and second radial bearing plugs and thrust bearing plugs, said first and second radial bearing plugs being received within radial apertures intersecting said passages, each said plug including an orifice for conducting liquid to the corresponding radial bearings and dropping the pressure of said liquid and an undercut section communicating with said passage for permitting a portion of the liquid in the passage to pass around the plug, said thrust bearing plugs including an orifice for conducting liquid to the thrust bearing means, said first and second radial bearings and said thrust bearing means being connected in parallel with the pressure side of said liquid circulation system,

Claim 20

A rate table apparatus including; a turntable mounted for rotation about a central axis; tubular shaft means, coaxial of said central axis, having an end attached to said turntable; an electric motor for rotating said turntable at predetermined velocities and having an annular armature disposed about and secured to the tubular shaft means; fixed spindle means disposed concentrically of and enclosed by said shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle means and shaft means defining between them a hydrostatic liquid thrust bearing means and first radial bearings adjacent the turntable end of said shaft means and second radial bearings distal said end of said shaft means, said thrust bearing means and first and second radial bearings being supplied by a liquid circulation system including passages and flow-directing means carried by said spindle means; and tachometer means having an annular rotor disposed about and secured to said tubular shaft means.

Claim 21

A rate table apparatus including; a turntable mounted for rotation about a central axis; tubular shaft means, coaxial of said central axis, having an end attached to said turntable; an electric motor for rotating said turntable at predetermined velocities and having an annular armature disposed about and secured to the tubular shaft means; fixed spindle means disposed concentrically of and enclosed by said shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle means and shaft means defining between them a hydrostatic liquid thrust bearing means and first radial bearings adjacent the turntable end of said shaft means and second radial bearings distal said end of said shaft means, said thrust bearing means and first and second radial bearings being supplied by a liquid circulation system including passages and flow-directing means carried by said spindle means; and tachometer means having an annular rotor disposed about and secured to said tubular shaft means.

Claim 22

A rate table system including: a turntable including depending shaft means having contiguous thrust and radial bearing surfaces perpendicular to one another; torque motor means operatively associated with said shaft means for rotating said turntable in accordance with input commands to said torque motor means; tachometer means operatively associated with said shaft means for providing an output signal indicative of the angular velocity of said turntable; servo loop means interconnecting said torque motor means and said tachometer means for regulating the angular velocity of the turntable; fixed spindle means operatively associated with said shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith and having thrust and radial bearing pads adjacent corresponding thrust and radial bearing surfaces of said shaft means, said spindle means further having passages formed therein for circulating liquid to said bearings under pressure; and means connected to said passages for supplying said bearings with liquid under pressure.

Claim 23

A rate table system including: a turntable including depending shaft means having contiguous thrust and radial bearing surfaces perpendicular to one another; torque motor means operatively associated with said shaft means for rotating said turntable in accordance with input commands to said torque motor means; tachometer means operatively associated with said shaft means for providing an output signal indicative of the angular velocity of said turntable; servo loop means interconnecting said torque motor means and said tachometer means for regulating the angular velocity of the turntable; fixed spindle means operatively associated with said shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith and having thrust and radial bearing pads adjacent corresponding thrust and radial bearing surfaces of said shaft means, said spindle means further having passages formed therein for circulating liquid to said bearings under pressure; and means connected to said passages for supplying said bearings with liquid under pressure.

Claim 24

A rate table system, as defined in claim 14, which includes: means coupled to said tachometer for sensing the temperature thereof and having an output connected to said servo loop means to introduce a temperature correction signal.

Claim 25

A rate table system for testing and calibrating instruments, including: a turntable for supporting said instruments and including connector means for coupling to the outputs of said instruments, said turntable being mounted for rotation about a central axis; a shaft, coaxial of said axis, depending from said turntable; motor means operatively associated with said shaft for rotating said shaft and turntable in accordance with command signals; means coupled to supply said command signals and including means for generating a reference signal and tachometer means coupled to said shaft; a fixed spindle disposed concentrically of said shaft and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle and shaft defining between them a hydrostatic thrust bearing proximate said turntable and a hydrostatic radial bearing means at least a portion of which radial bearing means is positioned close to said thrust bearing, said spindle and shaft including conduit means for circulating liquid to and from said thrust bearing and radial bearing means; and a slip ring and brush assembly operatively associated with said shaft for coupling said connector means to external recording devices.

Claim 26

A rate table system for testing and calibrating instruments, including: a turntable for supporting said instruments and including connector means for coupling to the outputs of said instruments, said turntable being mounted for rotation about a central axis; a shaft, coaxial of said axis, depending from said turntable; motor means operatively associated with said shaft for rotating said shaft and turntable in accordance with command signals; means coupled to supply said command signals and including means for generating a reference signal and tachometer means coupled to said shaft; a fixed spindle disposed concentrically of said shaft and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle and shaft defining between them a hydrostatic thrust bearing proximate said turntable and a hydrostatic radial bearing means at least a portion of which radial bearing means is positioned close to said thrust bearing, said spindle and shaft including conduit means for circulating liquid to and from said thrust bearing and radial bearing means; and a slip ring and brush assembly operatively associated with said shaft for coupling said connector means to external recording devices.

Claim 27

A rate system, as defined in claim 16, which includes: an encoder coupled to said shaft and providing a digital output representing the total angular displacement of said turntable from a starting reference.

Claim 28

A rate table apparatus including: a turntable for supporting instruments for testing and calibration and rotatable about a central axis; shaft means disposed coaxial of said central axis and having an end attached to said turntable; precision drive means coupled to said shaft means; fixed spindle means operatively associated with said shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle means and shaft means defining between them hydrostatic thrust and radial bearings proximate the turntable end of said shaft means, said thrust bearing including two opposed, axially spaced, radially extending bearing surfaces on said spindle means and two corresponding, radially extending bearing surfaces on said shaft means; and a liquid circulation system including passages and flow-directing means defined and carried by said spindle means for supplying liquid under pressure to said thrust and radial bearings.

Claim 29

A rate table apparatus including: a turntable for supporting instruments for testing and calibration and rotatable about a central axis; shaft means disposed coaxial of said central axis and having an end attached to said turntable; precision drive means coupled to said shaft means; fixed spindle means operatively associated with said shaft means and dimensioned for a running fit therewith, said spindle means and shaft means defining between them hydrostatic thrust and radial bearings proximate the turntable end of said shaft means, said thrust bearing including two opposed, axially spaced, radially extending bearing surfaces on said spindle means and two corresponding, radially extending bearing surfaces on said shaft means; and a liquid circulation system including passages and flow-directing means defined and carried by said spindle means for supplying liquid under pressure to said thrust and radial bearings.

Claim 30

A rate table apparatus, as defined in claim 18, in which: said shaft means comprises a tubular member, said radially extending bearing surfaces on said shaft means are defined by an inwardly directed flange forming an integral part of said shaft means; and said radially extending bearing surfaces on said spindle means are defined by an annular recess receiviNg said inwardly directed flange.