WO1996009490A1

WO1996009490A1 - Movable carriage for cinematographic shooting camera

Info

Publication number: WO1996009490A1
Application number: PCT/FR1995/001223
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Claude Muller; Laurent Thiery
Original assignee: Ogusta France
Priority date: 1994-09-23
Filing date: 1995-09-22
Publication date: 1996-03-28
Also published as: FR2725050A1

Abstract

The movable carriage comprises a support (1) for a camera. The carriage has a frame (2) fitted with wheels and rollers (3). The support is provided with an arm (1) comprised of two elements (4, 5) which are mounted telescopically into each other, the lower end of the arm being fixed to the frame (2) so as to pivot about a vertical axis (X-X') and oscillating with respect to a horizontal axis (Y-Y'), the upper end of the arm (1) carrying the platen (6) to fix the camera which is attached to said upper extremity by means of a horizontal articulation axis (Z-Z'), the frame (2) comprising at right angles to the arm (1) a recess (7) such that said arm (1) can be lowered into said recess (7) so as to bring the platen (6) substantially to ground level.

Description

"Mobile cart for cinematographic camera"

The present invention relates to a mobile cart, camera support, for making cinematographic films.

The invention relates to mobile equipment, camera supports used for filming films.

These materials traditionally include a metal chassis on wheels or on rollers for movement on the ground or on rails. This chassis is provided with a steering wheel or a handlebar in relation to the rear wheels by a rack or cam system in order to make them directional at certain angles.

On the mobile chassis is fixed a camera support arm, the conditions of which are to operate without the slightest noise or vibration and to allow the cameraman a maximum of shooting possibilities while keeping the tangent to the circle, that is to say that the trajectory of the camera must move perpendicular to the ground.

In all current embodiments, the mobile arm which supports the camera is an integral part of the chassis. The camera support arm works:

- either according to the principle of the compass, and it is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder adapted to the chassis and in this case, the range of motion is limited to more or less 110 cm and it is impossible that the base of the camera can start at ground level unless a remote device is used which then limits access to the possibility of mounting the camera at height; - either the arm operates on slides being actuated by a hydraulic cylinder and in this in this case, a large slide is required to obtain a good range of movement, which therefore implies a significant size and weight of the chassis; and furthermore, it is impossible with this system to start at ground level with the base of the camera unless, as previously, an offset device is used which limits access to height.

The major problem not solved to date lies in the variations in height of the arm from the ground level by keeping the tangent to the circle, that is to say by allowing the movement of the camera perpendicular to the ground, so that the cameraman can take a maximum of shots.

The invention thus relates to a mobile carriage comprising a support for a camera, said carriage comprising a chassis equipped with wheels or rollers.

According to the invention, this carriage is characterized in that the support comprises an arm in two elements mounted telescopically one inside the other, the lower end of the arm being pivotally fixed to the chassis along a vertical axis and oscillating on a horizontal axis, the upper end of the arm carrying a plate for fixing the camera, this plate being fixed to said upper end of the arm by a horizontal articulation axis, the chassis comprising at the right of the arm a recess such as said arm can be lowered into said recess so as to bring the camera support plate substantially at ground level. The mobile cart according to the invention thus solves the problem explained above which had never been resolved to date.

According to a preferred version of the invention, the mobile carriage comprises means for controlling the oscillation of the arm along said horizontal axis and the sliding of the two telescopic elements of the arm in such a way that the camera fixed on the stage remains horizontal and describes a vertical trajectory. According to an advantageous version of the invention, the two telescopic elements of the arm comprise a first element in the form of a box, adjacent to the chassis in which is mounted telescopically along slides, the second element also in the form of a box.

Preferably also, the oscillation of the arm along the horizontal axis is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder, one end of which is fixed to the support and the other end to the box constituting the first element of the arm.

According to a feature of the invention, the sliding of the two boxes is controlled by an endless screw cooperating with a nut, the endless screw itself being driven in rotation by an electric motor.

Preferably also, the means for keeping the camera support plate horizontal whatever the inclination of the telescopic arm comprise an extendable shaft comprised between the horizontal axis of oscillation of the arm and the axis of articulation of the plate, each end "of said extendable shaft comprising a bevel gear meshing with a bevel gear integral with the adjacent horizontal axis, so that the modification of the inclination of the arm causes the rotation of said extendable shaft to maintain the horizontality of the plate. D 'Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description: In the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile camera support carriage according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the telescopic camera support arm,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the plane III-III of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the plane IV-IV of FIG. 2,

- Figure 5 is a sectional view along the plane V-V of Figure 2. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the movable carriage includes a support 1 for a camera not shown. This carriage comprises a chassis 2 equipped with rollers 3 for moving the carriage on rails. The support comprises an arm 1 in two elements 4, 5, mounted telescopically one inside the other. The lower end of the arm 1 is fixed to the chassis 2 in a pivoting fashion along a vertical axis X-X 'and oscillating on a horizontal axis Y-Y'. The upper end of the arm 1 carries a plate 6 for fixing the camera, this plate being fixed to said upper end of the arm by a horizontal articulation axis Z-Z '.

The chassis 2 comprises, to the right of the arm 1, a recess 7 such that the said arm 1 can be lowered in this recess 7, so as to bring the camera support plate 6 substantially at ground level.

The mobile carriage according to the invention comprises means for controlling the oscillation of the arm 1 along the horizontal axis YY 'and the sliding of the two telescopic elements 4, 5 of the arm in such a way that the camera fixed on the plate 6 remains horizontal and describes a vertical trajectory.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two telescopic elements 4 and 5 of the arm comprise a first element 4 in the form of a box adjacent to the frame 2 in which is telescopically mounted along slides 8, the second element 5 also in the form of a box.

The oscillation of the arm 5 along the horizontal axis Y-Y 'is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder

(not shown) in one end is fixed to the frame 2 and the other end to the box 4 constituting the first element of the arm.

It can be seen in particular in FIG. 2 that the sliding of the two boxes 4, 5 is controlled by an endless screw 9 cooperating with a nut 10. The endless screw 9 is itself driven in rotation by an electric motor 11 by means of 'a system of pulleys 12, 13 and chain 14. The invention further provides means for holding the plate 6 camera support, horizontal regardless of the inclination of the telescopic arm.

In the embodiment shown in the appended figures, these means comprise an extendable shaft 15, lying between the horizontal axis YY 'of oscillation of the arm 1 and the articulation axis ZZ' of the plate 6. Each end of this shaft extensible 15 comprises a bevel gear 16, 17 meshing with a bevel gear 16a, 17a integral with the horizontal axis Y-Y ', ZZ' adjacent, so that the modification of the inclination of the arm 1 causes by rotation of said extendable shaft 15, maintaining the horizontality of the plate 6.

As also shown in FIG. 2, the extensible shaft 15 is constituted by a splined shaft 15a, slidably engaged in a sleeve 15b provided with complementary splines.

We will now describe the operation of the mobile carriage according to the invention. The telescopic movement of the arm 1 is obtained by the action of the electric motor 11 with current continuous which drives the worm 9. Furthermore, a hydraulic cylinder not shown controls the variation of the inclination of the arm. The movement of this jack is controlled electronically using a solenoid valve, the control of which is ensured by an electronic card. This allows the actuator to be actuated by remote control.

The telescopic movement of the arm can be carried out either automatically or manually. In the case of automatic control, the telescopic arm automatically takes the length allowing its end to maintain a trajectory perpendicular to the ground.

In the case of manual control, the arm can be operated at the desired speed using a remote control independently of the movement of raising and lowering of the arm.

The control of the hydraulic cylinder, which raises and lowers the arm, and that of the sliding of the arm as well as the selection of the operating mode of the arm in automatic or in manual can be carried out using a remote control unit .

The electronics of the device are housed in a suitcase itself housed in the mobile chassis. This suitcase is extractable. Two sensors are used to inform the electronics of the length of the cylinder and that of the telescopic arm. This electronics is thus capable of adjusting the length of the arm to a precise value as a function of the length of the jack in order to maintain a trajectory perpendicular to the ground for the camera in the case of automatic operation.

The motor used to control the sliding of the arm is a 24 volt, 250W, direct current motor and it is controlled by a variable speed drive contained in the bag above. Thus thanks to the invention, it is possible to move the camera between a high position and a position practically at ground level and this, along a trajectory perpendicular to the ground, which makes it possible to take the shots in very - perfectly optimal.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and many modifications can be made to it without departing from the scope of the invention.

Thus, the lower end of the arm 1 can be fixed on an assembly pivotally mounted and extractable from the chassis 2. Therefore, for filming indoors, the device can be removed from the chassis so as to reduce the '' space,

Claims

1. Mobile cart comprising a support (1) for a camera, said cart comprising a chassis (2) equipped with wheels or rollers (3), characterized in that said support comprises an arm (1) in two elements (4, 5) mounted telescopically one inside the other, the lower end of the arm 1 being fixed to the frame (2) pivotally, along a vertical axis (X-X ') and oscillating on a horizontal axis (Y -Y '), the upper end of the arm carrying a plate (6) for fixing the camera which is fixed to said upper end by a horizontal articulation axis (Z-Z'), the chassis (2) comprising at right of the arm (1), a recess (7) such that said arm (1) can be lowered into said recess (7) so as to bring the plate (6) camera holder substantially at ground level.

2. movable frame according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for controlling the oscillation of the arm (1) along said horizontal axis (Y-Y ') and the sliding of the two telescopic elements (4, 5 ) of the arm, in such a way that the camera fixed on the plate (6) remains horizontal and describes a vertical trajectory.

3. Mobile trolley according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the two telescopic elements (4, 5) of the arm comprise a first element (4) in the form of a box adjacent to the frame (2) in which is telescopically mounted along slides (8) the second element (5) also in the form of a box.

4. Mobile trolley according to claim 3, characterized in that the oscillation of the arm (1) along the horizontal axis (Y-Y ') is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder, one of the ends of which is fixed to the chassis ( 2) and the other end to the box (4) constituting the first element of the arm. 5. Mobile trolley according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the sliding of the two boxes (4,

5) is controlled by a worm (9) cooperating with a nut (10), the worm (9) itself being driven in rotation by an electric motor (11).

6. Mobile cart according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that means are provided for holding the plate (6) camera support, horizontal regardless of the inclination of the telescopic arm (1).

7. Mobile cart according to claim

6, characterized in that said means comprise an extendable shaft (15) comprised between the horizontal axis (Y-Y ') of oscillation of the arm (1) and the articulation axis (Z-Z') of the plate (6), each end of said arm (15) comprising a bevel gear (16, 17) meshing with a bevel gear (16a, 17a) integral with the adjacent horizontal axis (Y-Y ', Z-Z'), so that the modification of the arm (1) results in the rotation of said extendable shaft (15) maintaining the horizontality of the plate (6).

8. Mobile cart according to claim

7, characterized in that said extendable shaft 15) comprises a splined shaft (15a) slidably engaged in a sleeve (15b) provided with complementary groove.

9. Mobile trolley according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lower end of the arm (1) is fixed to an assembly pivotally mounted and extractable from the chassis (2).