Optical: systems and elements – Lens – With support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2001-08-21
Epps, Georgia (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Lens
With support
C359S430000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278561
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a heavy-duty precision mounting or support for an optical instrument, especially for an astronomical telescope, comprising a base carrier which is mounted on a stationary pedestal or base so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis and an instrument holder which receives the optical instrument and which is supported so as to be swivelable with the optical instrument about a horizontal axis.
b) Description of the Related Art
Supports of the type mentioned above can be used for both altazimuth and equatorial mounting of an optical instrument, for example, of a telescope. The purpose of application results in very exacting demands on the accuracy of the guides and drive units with respect to the alignment of the axes of rotation and very small movement increments which, in addition, must be carried out without jolting or jerking, for example, to enable point-accurate tracking of the relative movement of an observed astronomical object relative to the setup location of the optical instrument in the order of magnitude of a fraction of an arc second.
Because instruments for astronomical observation are usually set up at locations high above sea level to protect against the influence of man-made emissions and since they must also be operated in open spaces, the mounting or support is exposed to fluctuations in temperature within a relatively wide range from +50° C. to −25° C. Further, it must be taken into account that the instrument, including the support, is an accumulator of heat which, when diverging from outside temperatures, causes turbulence that impairs observation possibilities. It is therefore desirable to build the instrument and support so as to be stable but so as to have a small mass.
Heavy-duty precision supports for optical instruments used heretofore are characterized by a highly complex construction of the support, drive unit and position measurement and provide only an unsatisfactory solution to the problem mentioned above.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary object of the invention, on the other hand, to provide a heavy-duty precision support which ensures high availability, dependability and positioning accuracy in a simplified construction.
This object is met by a heavy-duty precision support of the type mentioned above in which the base carrier is supported against the base in its center of rotation close to the vertical axis by a central bearing and, in addition, is guided on the base with supporting bearings which are arranged concentrically around the central bearing and is accordingly secured against tilting around the central bearing.
The axial principal load is introduced into the base in the direction of the vertical axis via the central bearing. The supporting bearings which are arranged around the central bearing serve chiefly to absorb tilting moments. Through the use of this centric bearing, construction costs can be reduced considerably in comparison with conventional solutions.
Further, only a little adjustment work is required for the guides of the base carrier at the base.
The solution according to the invention is further distinguished by very small changes in friction torque and very small wobble error.
In an advantageous arrangement of the invention, the central bearing is constructed as a hydrostatic low-pressure bearing. This is operated within a pressure range of up to 10 bar. Generally, hydrostatic devices involve increased heat radiation which negatively affects observation conditions. Through the use of a low-pressure bearing, heat radiation can be kept to a low level that does not impair observation possibilities.
On the side of the base carrier, the hydrostatic low-pressure bearing preferably has a bearing body which is curved outward in a convex manner in the shape of a spherical surface portion and which is received in a bearing shell that is curved in a correspondingly concave manner and arranged in a stationary manner on the side of the base. This arrangement promotes a self-centering of the bearing so that the base carrier also sits on the base so as to be secured against axial displacement.
For optimum supply of lubricant, the bearing shell is provided at its concave curved surface with lubricant pockets which are supplied, via lubricant feed lines, with lubricant which is under pressure and proportioned or metered. Lubricant is accordingly supplied via the stationary side to avoid costly line connections to the moving bearing element.
In another advantageous arrangement of the invention, the base carrier has a first running surface which is concentric to the vertical axis and which faces in the direction of the base and, when the base carrier rotates about the vertical axis, rolls on supporting rollers of the supporting bearings, which supporting rollers are connected in a stationary manner with the base. Therefore, tilting moments which act on the base carrier, for example, due to wind forces acting on the optical instrument and precision support, can be dependably absorbed. Further, the mass to be moved is kept small by the arrangement of the supporting rollers on sides of the base, so that the base carrier can be exactly positioned with small driving forces.
The supporting rollers are preferably conical and supported so as to be rotatable on an axle which is oriented toward the vertical axis, wherein the outer diameter of the supporting roller tapers in the direction of the vertical axis. An additional centering effect of the base carrier toward the vertical axis is achieved in this way, which further improves the guiding accuracy of the base carrier.
In another preferred embodiment form of the invention, drive units are arranged on the base side, the driven elements of these drive units engaging in a torque-transmitting manner with a second running surface which is likewise constructed concentric to the vertical axis at the base carrier. The resulting solution is particularly simple with respect to construction and avoids a complicated central drive unit.
For optimum absorption of tilting moments, the supporting bearings are arranged equidistant from one another in the circumferential direction.
Introduction of force is further improved preferably when the drive units are arranged in pairs opposite one another with reference to the vertical axis. In this way, the drive units are balanced or compensated with respect to radial force in particular, so that high guiding accuracy and positioning capability of the base carrier can be realized.
In another advantageous arrangement of the invention, a first running surface for the supporting bearings and a second running surface for the drive units are constructed on a dish-like disk which is flanged to the base carrier. Above all, excellent stiffness of the bearing is achieved in this way, which benefits positioning accuracy. This also results in a substantial simplification with respect to manufacturing technique because the running surfaces which are to be produced with very great precision are in a close spatial arrangement with respect to one another. Further, the quantity of structural component parts and therefore also the assembly costs remain advantageously low.
A support of the horizontal axis which is especially simple in technical respects relating to manufacture and assembly, but which works in a highly dependable and accurate manner, results when the instrument holder has an annular flange which is symmetric with respect to rotation with reference to the horizontal axis and whose outer edge area is held axially and radially in a plurality of bearing units arranged at the base carrier, wherein every bearing unit has two axial guide rollers which are arranged at both sides of the annular flange and by which the annular flange is fixed axially, and a bearing roller which supports the annular flange radially.
Due to the fact that the horizontal axis is supported in the bearing units only pointwise, a compact suspension of the instrument holder is made possible, s
Boelich Berndt
Teske Hans-Joachim
Weigold Gerda
Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
Epps Georgia
Reed Smith LLP
Seyfrafi Saeed
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