Abstract: A counter-balanced tiltable platform (10) is provided for receiving and supporting a load such as a camera. The arrangement includes a base (11), an intermediate support (13) mounted on the base to move in a vertical direction with respect to the base, a pivot mechanism (15) for mounting the platform on the intermediate support to tilt about a horizontal axis in either direction from a normal position, a mechanism for positioning a load on the platform with its center of gravity over the horizontal axis when the platform is in said normal position and a link and bell crank lever arrangement (25, 27, 31) acting through the intermediate support to raise the support and thereby the platform in response to tilting of the platform in either direction from the normal position to maintain the center of gravity of the loaded platform in a constant horizontal plane and thereby to counter-balance the loaded platform.

Abstract: A pan and tilt head for a TV or video camera mounting (10) comprises two drag/damper devices, one for controlling the pan movement and the other for controlling the tilt movement. Each device may comprise a fixed central shaft (18), a first set of spaced plates (22) secured to the shaft, a second set (24) secured to a rotatable housing (20), and a third set (26) interleaved between the first and second sets. When the plates are immersed in a viscous fluid and one member is moved, the characteristics are such that the forque increases linearly with speed from zero up to a given speed, and then remains substantially constant above the speed.

Abstract: The need for readjustment of clamps due to wear and tear is overcome by the provision of clamping means comprising a first member (16) movable relative to a housing (10) to effect clamping; torque limiting drive means (30,44) rotatable to effect that movement; and lost motion stop means (50,60) rotatable by the drive means into a first stop position in which continued rotation of the drive means is prevented and, through reverse rotation of the drive means, into a second stop position in which continued reverse rotation of the drive means is prevented. This clamping means can be used in particular to clamp telescoping legs, for instance on camera tripods.

Abstract: A control device for a tiltable mounting head, such as the mounting head for a camera, has a three element pantographic linkage including a rigid control arm of which an intermediate point is constrained to move along a horizontal path. One end of the arm is pivotally mounted to an arm carrying the tiltable head, while the other end is pivotally mounted to a locating arm whose remote end is pivoted to fixed structure. The relative angular position of the two arms is controlled by two parallelogram linkages with different degrees of fold and having the central arm in common, whereby one of the two linkages is always laterally spaced from the arm. Alternatively the two arms may be secured to respective sprockets pivoted to the arm and connected together by a chain.

Abstract: A control device for a tiltable mounting head, such as the mounting head for a camera, includes a pantographic-type linkage. The angular position of an arm (24) supporting the mounting head (26) is controlled relative to a locating arm (12), whose remote end is pivoted to fixed structure (16) by three meshing gears, of which one (10) is connected to the locating arm (12) and another gear (20) is connected to the arm (24). The gears are rotatably mounted on a rigid arm (22) of the linkage of which an intermediate point (28) is constrained to move along a horizontal path.

Abstract: A height adjustable load carrying platform (7) wheel mounted for steering or crabbing movement and comprising at least three concertainable lazy tongs lattices of struts (5) forming a 3 sided pyramid which can be raised and lowered manually or under power, and includes a counterbalance mechanism (67). The structure replaces a conventional pedestal support for a camera or the like (such as T.V. camera) and is capable of being extended up to normal pedestal height, but is also capable of contracting to a lower minimum height than that of a conventional pedestal. Three and four axis hinges are described to permit the articulation at the corners.