Apparatus for providing energy communication between a moving and a stationary terminal

Abstract

A rotating platform is supported above a stationary surface by means of a rotating support. The platform and support are driven about their respective axes in the same relative direction at speeds in the ration of two-to-one respectively. A terminal is located on the stationary surface is communication with a second terminal positioned on the rotating platform. An energy-guiding channel such as an electrical conductor is connected between the first and second terminals and is positioned to extend closer to the axis of said rotating support than the rotating support and subsequently up to the rotating platform, around the platform, onto the surface to which the second terminal is connected. The surface of the rotating platform upon which the second terminal is located is positioned remote or away from the stationary surface so that the electrical conductor is forced to follow a path around the outer edge of the platform down to the stationary surface.

I claim:.]. .Iadd.What is claimed is: .Iaddend. .[.1. Apparatus for providing energy communication between a moving terminal and a stationary terminal comprising: a rotating platform having an axis of rotation; a rotating support extending from a stationary surface supporting said platform in spaced-apart relation to said stationary surface, said axis of rotation passing through said stationary surface, said rotating support having a second axis of rotation; said rotating platform having a far side facing away from said stationary surface and a near side facing said stationary surface; first means fixedly secured to said far side of said rotating platform for receiving or transmitting energy; second means fixedly secured to said stationary surface for receiving or transmitting energy transmitted or received by said first means; a rotating energy-guiding channel connected between said first and second means; said energy-guiding channel extending from a point substantially at the axis of rotation of said far side of said rotating platform, out around the platform, to a point on said stationary surface which is substantially at the intersection of said axis of rotation of said rotating platform and said stationary surface, the axis of rotation of said energy-guiding channel being coaxial with said axis of rotation of the rotating platform; means for rotating said platform and said energy-guiding channel in the same direction coaxially about the axis of rotation of said rotating platform and relative to each other in the ratio of two-to-one respectively..]. .[.2. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said energy-guiding channel comprises an electrical conductor..]. .[.3. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said energy-guiding channel comprises a light transmission path including light receiving and redirecting elements positioned along said path..]. .Iadd. 4. Apparatus for providing fluid communication between a moving terminal and a stationary terminal comprising: a rotating platform having an axis of rotation; a rotating support extending from a stationary surface supporting said platform in spaced-apart relation to said stationary surface, said axis of rotation passing through said stationary surface, said rotating support having a second axis of rotation; said rotating platform having a far side facing away from said stationary surface and a near side facing said stationary surface; first means fixedly secured to said far side of said rotating platform for receiving or transmitting fluid; second means fixedly secured to said stationary surface for receiving or transmitting fluid transmitted or received by said first means; a rotating, flexible, fluid-carrying channel connected between said first and second means; said fluid-carrying channel extending from a point substantially at the axis of rotation of said far side of said rotating platform, out around the platform, to a point on said stationary surface which is substantially at the intersection of said axis of rotation of said rotating platform and said stationary surface, the axis of rotation of said fluid-carrying channel being coaxial with said axis of rotation of the rotating platform; means for rotating said platform and said fluid-carrying channel in the same direction coaxially about the axis of rotation of said rotating platform and relative to each other in the ratio of 2:1, respectively. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the axis of rotation of said rotating platform is substantially the same as the axis of rotation of said rotating support. .Iaddend..Iadd. 6. Apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein said fluid-carrying channel comprises an elongated flexible tube, extending continuously from said first means to said second means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 7. Apparatus for providing light transmission between a moving terminal and a stationary terminal comprising: a rotating platform having an axis of rotation; a rotating support extending from a stationary surface supporting said platform in spaced-apart relation to said stationary surface, said rotating support having a second axis of rotation; said rotating platform having a far side facing away from said stationary surface and a near side facing said stationary surface; first means fixedly secured to said far side of said rotating platform for receiving or transmitting light; second means fixedly secured to said stationary surface for receiving or transmitting light transmitted or received by said first means; a rotating light transmission path, including light receiving and redirecting elements positioned along the path and connected between said first and second means; said light transmission path extending from a point substantially at the axis of rotation of said far side of said rotating platform, out around the platform, to a point on said stationary surface which is substantially at the intersection of said axis of rotation of said rotating platform and said stationary surface, the axis of rotation of said light transmission path being coaxial with said axis of rotation of the rotating platform; means for rotating said platform and said light transmission path in the same direction coaxially about the axis of rotation of said rotating platform and relative to each other in the ratio of 2:1, respectively; whereby for every 720°  rotation of the platform the light transmission path will rotate 360°. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the axis of rotation of said rotating platform is substantially the same as the axis of rotation of said rotating support. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. Apparatus for providing mechanical energy communication between a moving terminal and a stationary terminal comprising: a rotating platform having an axis of rotation; a rotating support extending from a stationary surface supporting said platform in spaced-apart relation to said stationary surface, said axis of rotation passing through said stationary surface, said rotating support having a second axis of rotation; said rotating platform having a far side facing away from said stationary surface and a near side facing said stationary surface; first means fixedly secured to said far side of said rotating platform for receiving or transmitting mechanical energy; second means fixedly secured to said stationary surface for receiving or transmitting energy transmitted or received by said first means; a rotating flexible cable connected between said first and second means; said flexible cable extending from a point substantially at the axis of rotation of said far side of said rotating platform, out around the platform, to a point on said stationary surface which is substantially at the intersection of said axis of rotation of said rotating platform and said stationary surface, the axis of rotation of said flexible cable being coaxial with said axis of rotation of the rotating platform; means for rotating said platform and said flexible cable in the same direction coaxially about the axis of rotation of said rotating platform and relative to each other in the ratio of 2:1, respectively. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the axis of rotation of said rotating platform is substantially the same as the axis of rotation of said rotating support. .Iaddend.