Design: Components and Function
2
dropping and catching the test mass, as well as returning it to the top of the
chamber for the next drop. A
L
ight
E
mitting
D
iode
(LED)
, located on the
cart, directs light through an
optical glass sphere
attached to the test mass.
The sphere focuses the light onto a
linear detector
, also mounted on the cart.
This system senses the position of the cart with respect to the test mass. A
servo-motor/drive belt system
(Figure 2-2) moves the cart inside the
Dropping Chamber, using active feedback from the position sensor to
maintain the cart in a constant position relative to the test mass during free-
fall. Since there is essentially no relative motion between the test mass and
the drag-free chamber, the effects of residual air drag are eliminated.
Figure 2-4
Front view of the cart/drag-free chamber
2-4
Summary of Contents for FG5
Page 22: ...Design Components and Function 2 Figure 2 10 The Superspring 2 14 ...
Page 31: ...Design Components and Function 2 Figure 2 13 Rotation Monitor 2 23 ...
Page 32: ......
Page 42: ...How to Set Up and Run the FG5 3 3 10 ...
Page 44: ...How to Set Up and Run the FG5 3 Figure 3 2 V Post 3 12 ...
Page 53: ...How to Set Up and Run the FG5 3 1 Backup the data 2 Shut off computer power 3 21 ...
Page 87: ...Adjustment and Maintenance 4 4 29 ...
Page 91: ...Adjustment and Maintenance 4 4 33 ...
Page 104: ...Troubleshooting 5 5 2 ...
Page 117: ...Troubleshooting 5 5 15 ...
Page 131: ...Checklists and Logs Appendix D 9 3 ...
Page 140: ...Checklists and Logs Appendix D Table 9 6 Replacing Drive Belt 9 12 ...
Page 145: ...Checklists and Logs Appendix D Table 9 10 Replace Linear Bearings 9 17 ...
Page 149: ...Checklists and Logs Appendix D Table 9 13 Replace Shaft Encoder 9 21 ...