Patent
1987-08-04
1989-04-04
Arnold, Bruce Y.
350523, G02B 2106
Patent
active
048180858
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a microscope. The invention is in particular in the field of microscope illumination systems.
In known microscopes, the lamp unit arranged in the lower portion of the vertical portion of the microscope for transmitted light illumination is difficult to get access to from outside. When there is a break down in one of such lamps it is more than cumbersome and inconvenient to replace this lamp. This applies in particular to large research microscopes which are installed at stationary work stations with their backs to the wall and which might have ancillary equipment connected to them on either side of the vertical portion of the stand. What is more, in large microscopes the vertical portion thereof must be of particular stability. Therefore, bores, ports or other lateral openings which might facilitate an exchange of lamps should as far as possible be avoided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a microscope in such a manner that the lamps of the microscope are easy and convenient to exchange. In the present context, the term "lamp" refers to the light source with associated reflector and/or associated socket means if the same are replaced as one unit, otherwise it denotes the light source as such.
In accordance with the present invention, a microscope comprising a base portion or base plate, a cross member and a vertical portion connecting said base portion and said cross member is proposed for establishing this object, wherein at least one lamp for microscope illumination is arranged within the vertical portion, a slide adapted to be shifted in and out of the vertical portion from above in substantially vertical direction holds at least one lamp. By such an arrangement, it is readily feasible to exchange the lamps of the microscope according to the present invention, because the vertical portion of the microscope stand is usually easily accessible from above. By such an arrangement of the lamp on an insertable and removable slide, it is furthermore possible to gain access to portions deep down in the microscope stand through an opening at the upper end of the vertical portion of the stand and to easily exchange the lamps. This possibility of exchanging lamps is particularly advantageous for microscopes operating in the transmitted light illumination mode which have the lamps arranged in the lower part of the vertical portion of the microscope stand.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, heat dissipation means are provided adjacent the at least one lamp to prevent heat generated by the lamp from heating up parts of the microscope mechanism or of the microscope stand to such an extent that tensions and distortions occur resulting into inaccuracies disturbing the operation of the microscope, in particular in high magnification operations. To the same end, substantially vertically extending ribs are arranged adjacent at least one of the lamps, preferably on the slide as such, which slide is appropriately made of a material exhibiting good heat conducting properties, such as aluminium.
In a preferred variant of the invention, at least two lamps for different types of illumination, such as transmitted and incident light illumination, are successively arranged along the slide, such that these lamps are exactly adjusted to the appropriate optical path when the slide is in its inserted state, the centre points of the lamps appropriately lying on the longitudinal centre line of the slide or on a straight line extending parallel thereto.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two lamps of the same type are successively arranged on the slide in longitudinal direction, one of said lamps being used in normal operation and the other one serving as replacement lamp. When one lamp fails, the slide then only need to be shifted by the distance the centre points of the two adjacent lamps are spaced apart from each other, which operation is facilitated by markings or latching me
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Moser Karl
Schindl Klaus
Arnold Bruce Y.
Callaghan Terry S.
Reichert-Jung Optische Werke A.G.
Spencer Alan H.
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