Hobby servo blocks

Abstract

A hobby servo block system for increasing the load-bearing capacity of a hobby servo motor is provided. The system includes a servo plate configured to receive a hobby servo motor. The system also includes a hub plate configured to couple to the servo plate such that the hub plate and the servo plate are substantially perpendicular. The system further includes a ball bearing plate configured to couple to the hub plate such that the ball bearing plate and the servo plate are substantially parallel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hobby servo block system for increasing the load-bearing capacity of a hobby servo motor, the system comprising:
 a servo plate configured to receive a hobby servo motor;   a hub plate configured to couple to the servo plate such that the hub plate and the servo plate are substantially perpendicular; and   a ball bearing plate configured to couple to the hub plate such that the ball bearing plate and the servo plate are substantially parallel.   
     
     
         2 . The hobby servo block system of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a shaft portion that is configured to functionally engage an output shaft of the hobby servo motor, and that is configured to be rotated in an aperture of the ball bearing plate.   
     
     
         3 . The hobby servo block system of  claim 1 , wherein the servo plate is configured to couple to the hub plate such that the hub plate indirectly couples to the hobby servo motor. 
     
     
         4 . The hobby servo block system of  claim 2 , wherein the servo plate, the ball bearing plate, the hub plate, and the shaft portions are formed as separate components. 
     
     
         5 . The hobby servo block system of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 one or more additional hub plates configured to functionally connect the servo plate and the ball bearing plate.   
     
     
         6 . The hobby servo block system of  claim 1 , wherein the servo plate has an approximately rectangular shape that includes an inner perimeter larger than an outer perimeter of the hobby servo motor, and wherein the servo plate has a main body portion that includes a number of different types of apertures, a first group of the apertures being configured to attached the servo plate to the hobby servo motor, and a second group of the apertures being configured to attach the servo plate to the hub plate. 
     
     
         7 . The hobby servo block system of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the first group of apertures are located at approximately a center of the servo plate, wherein another portion of the first group of apertures are located at approximately an end of the servo plate, and wherein at least some of the second group of apertures are located at opposite ends of the servo plate. 
     
     
         8 . The hobby servo block system of  claim 1 , and further wherein the hobby servo motor comprises an external potentiometer. 
     
     
         9 . The hobby servo block system of  claim 1 , and further wherein the hobby servo motor comprises an internal potentiometer. 
     
     
         10 . The hobby servo block system of  claim 1 , and further wherein the hobby servo motor has been modified to remove an internal potentiometer from a control loop of the hobby servo motor, wherein the internal potentiometer has been replaced in the control loop with an external potentiometer, and wherein hobby servo motor control scheme is configured to utilize the external potentiometer to provide proportional control over a range greater than three hundred and sixty angular degrees. 
     
     
         11 . A servo plate configured to isolate a lateral load from a spline of a hobby servo motor, the system comprising:
 a set of servo apertures configured to receive a servo fastening mechanism, wherein the servo fastening mechanism is configured to secure the servo plate to the received hobby servo motor;   a set of extension apertures configured to receive an extension fastening mechanism, wherein the extension fastening mechanism is configured to secure an extension feature to the servo plate, such that the extension feature is indirectly coupled to the received hobby servo motor; and   wherein the servo plate comprises an aperture with an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the hobby servo motor, such that the servo plate is configured to couple to the hobby servo motor received within the aperture.   
     
     
         12 . The servo plate of  claim 11 , and further comprising:
 wherein the received hobby servo motor comprises a splined output shaft that has an angular position that is controlled at least in part by a coded input signal on an input line.   
     
     
         13 . The servo plate of  claim 11 , and further comprising:
 a shaft portion that is configured to functionally engage a rotatable shaft of a hobby servo motor, and to fit through a central aperture in the ball bearing portion.   
     
     
         14 . The servo plate of  claim 11 , wherein the set of extension apertures are configured such that the extension feature, when coupled to the servo plate, is perpendicular to the servo plate. 
     
     
         15 . The hobby servo block of  claim 11 , and further comprising:
 a shaft portion configured to functionally engage a splined output shaft of the received hobby servo motor.   
     
     
         16 . A method of attaching a servo block to a hobby servo motor, the method comprising:
 coupling a servo plate to the hobby servo motor;   coupling a hub plate to the servo plate, such that the hub plate is substantially perpendicular to the servo plate;   coupling a ball bearing plate to the hub plate, such that the ball bearing plate is substantially parallel to the servo plate; and   wherein the servo block, when attached to the hobby servo motor, is configured to increase a load-bearing capability of the hobby servo motor while isolating a lateral load from a servo spline of the hobby servo motor.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the servo plate comprises an aperture configured to receive a portion of the hobby servo motor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the hub plate is a first hub plate, and the method further comprises:
 coupling a second hub plate to an opposing side of the servo plate from the first hub plate such that the first and second hub plates are substantially parallel to each other.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
 coupling a spline shaft hub to the ball bearing plate.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
 coupling a tube clamping hub to the hub plate.