EP2901196A1

EP2901196A1 - Adjusting device for an optical element of a telescope

Info

Publication number: EP2901196A1
Application number: EP13773641.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ingo WEHMEIER
Original assignee: Bresser GmbH
Current assignee: Bresser GmbH
Priority date: 2012-09-28
Filing date: 2013-09-13
Publication date: 2015-08-05
Also published as: WO2014048774A1; DE102012217838A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjusting device for an optical element of a telescope, wherein the optical element is mounted rotatably about at least two spatial axes, the adjusting device being characterised by at least two actuating means (31, 32, 35) with which the optical elements (2, 3) can be rotated about a respective spatial axis (11, 12), wherein each of the actuating means (31, 32, 35) has a latching means (42) with which an audible and/or tangible latching can be generated during a movement of the actuating means (31, 32, 35).

Description

Adjusting device for an optical element of a

telescope

The invention relates to an adjusting device for an optical element of a telescope with the features of claim 1.

Telescopes, such as refractors or reflectors, have optical elements that are impeccable

Operation must be adjusted correctly. Examples of optical elements are e.g. Lens devices, prisms or mirrors.

An adjustment of the optical elements is

time-consuming, since the optical elements several

Have degrees of freedom that need to be adjusted to each other.

So it is e.g. known to set primary or secondary mirror of a telescope with three screws. Through different adjustment of the screws, the respective mirror is tilted as long as something in the room until the adjustment allows an acceptable observation result.

Such an adjustment requires a

considerable effort in tilting the mirror.

Similar adjusting devices also exist for

Lens devices, such as e.g. Lens packages.

It is the object to provide an adjusting device with which an accurate and fast adjustment of optical elements on or in a telescope is possible.

This task is accomplished by the subject with the Characteristics of claim 1 solved.

By at least two adjusting means, an optical element can be rotated in each case about a spatial axis, wherein each of the adjusting means comprises a locking means, with the hearing in a movement of the adjusting means and / or tactile

Rasterung is generated. These audible and / or tactile latching signals allow the user a spatial

Make adjustment of the optical elements in a reproducible manner, since the adjustment is proportional to the number of notches. At the same time, the hearing and / or noticeable locking signals also facilitate adjustment under poor visibility conditions. Advantageously, the optical element has a mirror, a prism and / or a lens device. These

especially in telescopes occurring optical elements can thus be adjusted in a particularly simple form. It is particularly advantageous if the mirror a

Secondary mirror or the primary mirror of a

Mirror telescopes is because there is a significant adjustment effort regularly.

In an advantageous embodiment, a latching means on a spring-loaded pressure pin and / or a ball which is engaged with a screening of the actuating means. The locking means touches the screening and thus ensures the generation of audible and / or tactile locking signals. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the at least one

Adjusting means manually adjustable or motor driven.

In an advantageous adjusting device is with

at least one of the adjusting means a rotational movement of the optical element about the one tilt axis, a yaw axis or the optical axis executable. The setting of the rotary movements is particularly facilitated by the adjusting means with screening.

However, it is additionally or alternatively also possible to provide a means for the linear displacement of the secondary mirror along the optical axis of the telescope.

If the adjusting device, in particular the adjusting means, are designed such that they do not form any additional obstruction of an opening of the telescope with respect to the projection of the secondary mirror in the direction of incidence of the light along the optical axis, the imaging result becomes

improved. In a further embodiment, the adjusting device for a telescope is designed to be retrofitted. The adjusting means and the locking means can thus be retrofitted, e.g. be installed in the tube of a Newton reflector. In a particularly effective embodiment, the optical element is rigidly connected to an adjusting element, wherein the adjusting means via a contact surface to the

Attempt adjusting element to allow a spatial tilting of the optical element. By the rigid one

Connection, a movement of the adjusting element is effectively transmitted from the adjusting means to the optical element.

It is particularly advantageous if the adjusting element is substantially rod-shaped and is mounted in a housing. Such an arrangement provides a favorable point of attack for the actuating means.

It is also advantageous if the adjusting element is tiltably mounted at a first end of the housing and at the opposite second end the contacting takes place by the actuating means. Thus, a kind of lever

provided . In this case, a first lever arm extends

Advantageously, from the middle of the secondary mirror to the fulcrum and a second lever arm extends from the fulcrum to the point of a

Adjusting means extends, wherein the ratio of the first lever arm to the length of the second lever arm is in particular between 1.1 and 1.3.

To lock the adjusting element, it is advantageous if spring elements, in particular wave springs, are arranged as preloading elements on the side opposite the adjusting means.

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated below with reference to figures. Show it:

1 shows a schematic structure of a Newton reflector in a sectional view;

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a

Secondary mirror of the refractor of FIG. 1 with an embodiment of a

Adjusting device;

FIGS. 2A and 2B show an illustration of the adjusting device according to FIG. 2 in each deflected position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the adjusting device

according to the embodiment of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an illustration of individual parts of a

Adjusting means of an adjusting device;

Fig. 5 is an illustration of an axial

Ver adjusting device;

6 is an illustration of a housing of a Embodiment of an adjusting device,

Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of a

Adjusting device on a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope;

Fig. 8 is a view of a reflector with three

Adjusting means of an adjusting device for the primary mirror;

9 is a detail view of the mirror bearing of

Reflector according to Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view of a refractor with three

Adjusting means of an adjusting device;

11 is a view of a lens package of a

Refractor. In Fig. 1, a Newton telescope 1 is shown as an example of a reflector in a sectional view. As optical elements 2, 3, the telescope 1 a

Primary mirror (also called the main mirror), the incident light from the opening 4 (beam path 5) to a secondary mirror 3 (also called secondary mirror) directs. The secondary mirror is inclined by 45 ° relative to the primary mirror plane, so that the secondary mirror 3 directs the incident light via an eyepiece 6 to the observer or via an adapter to a camera.

The secondary mirror 3 is arranged in the tube of the telescope 1 on holders 60 so that only a small part of the opening of the telescope is covered (see Fig. 1). In the embodiment described in FIGS. 2, 2A, 2B, an adjusting device 100 is provided, which is coupled to the secondary mirror 3 and in which Extension of the optical axis 10 is arranged. In Fig. 1, the adjusting device 100 is shown only schematically. In the longitudinal direction of the telescope 1 are the

Secondary mirror 3 and the primary mirror 2 arranged on an optical axis 10.

Perpendicular to this optical axis 10 are a

Tilting axis 11 and a yaw axis 12 about which the secondary mirror 3 is rotatably arranged in the illustrated embodiment. In Fig. 2, the two axes of rotation (tilting and yaw axes 11, 12) on

Secondary mirror 3 shown.

In the following, an embodiment of an adjusting device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B

described. At the rear of the secondary mirror 3 (i.e., facing the opening 4 in the telescope 1) is in

Direction of the optical axis 10, an adjusting element 40 is arranged. The adjusting element 40 and the

Secondary mirrors 3 are rigidly connected.

The adjusting element 40 is shown in the

Embodiment as a round rod-shaped element

educated. In other embodiments, the

Adjustment element 30 e.g. at least partially

have polygonal cross-section. The adjusting element 40 is substantially concentric in a housing 50 of the adjusting device 100

arranged, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment as a sleeve. The adjusting element 40 is arranged tiltable inside the housing 50, since there is some play (approximately 2 to 3 mm) between the housing wall and the adjusting element 40. The tilting takes place about the fulcrum 51, which in the circular opening of the Housing 50 is located.

The first lever arm (distance A in Fig. 2A) extends from the center of the secondary mirror 3 to the vertical plane through the adjusting element 40, which through the

Lever point 51 goes.

The second lever arm (distance B in Fig. 2B) extends between a first vertical plane through the adjusting element 40, which passes through the fulcrum 51 to a second vertical plane passing through the

Adjustment element 40 and passes through the point of application 52 of a control means 31, i. the point at which the force is transmitted from the adjusting means 31 to the adjusting element 40. In a two-dimensional force transmission, the

Center of the surface can be selected as a starting point for the determination of the point of application 52.

The adjusting element 40 can be installed in the housing so that the ratio of the length between

Lever point 51 and the center of the secondary mirror. 3

(Distance A) to the length between fulcrum 51 and

Point of attack 52 (route B) is between 1.1 and 1.3. The distances A, B indicate approximately the lengths of the lever arms. It should be noted that the length of the second lever arm may vary slightly depending on the setting of the actuating means.

For a Newton refractor with an opening diameter of 203 mm, a focal length of 800 mm and a

Secondary mirror weighing 420 g, the ratio 1.2 was chosen.

The rod-shaped adjusting element 40 - and thus the

Secondary mirrors 3 - are mounted at two points in the housing 50. At the end of the housing 50, which faces the secondary mirror 3, the adjusting element 40 rests in a circular opening (fulcrum) so that it can be tilted in the interior of the housing 50 around this point (or, depending on the contact, also this edge). The

Setting the tiltability is below

described.

The length of the adjusting element 30 (i.e., the lever arm) may be proportional to the weight of the secondary mirror 3.

At the opposite end of the housing 50 two adjusting means 31, 32 are arranged, of which in Fig. 2, only one actuating means 31 is shown. In Fig. 3 are in a plan view, the two actuating means 31, 32nd

shown. Also here is the concentric arrangement of the adjusting element 40 in the housing 50 can be seen. The adjusting means 31, 32 are designed here as set screws whose contact surfaces 39 (see FIG. 4) are in contact with the adjusting element 40.

On the adjusting means 31, 32 respectively

opposite side of the housing 50 each spring elements 33, 34 are arranged. The spring elements 33, 34 are formed here as wave springs as biasing elements. Wave springs have the advantage that they have a high spring force with low spring stroke. Alternatively, leaf springs can be used.

A typical usable wave spring has an inner diameter of 7 mm and an outer diameter of 11 mm. The spring force is between 17.8 and 35.6 N. The dimensions of the spring wire are 1.0 mm x 0.20 mm / 1.17 mm x 0.28 mm. The number of turns is 8. The first spring element 33, the wave spring is in Fig. 2 in the neutral setting with a not

deflected adjusting element 40, i. it is partially biased so that it can still move in both directions (see Figs. 2A and 2B).

By the spring element 33, a thumbscrew 45 is arranged, which serves to set the adjusting element 40 after the adjustment has taken place. This prevents inadvertent misalignment, e.g. when using the telescope.

When screwed up in the first actuating means 31 shown in Fig. 2, the moves

Contact surface 39 of the first actuating means 31 upwards. By the oppositely disposed first spring element 33, the adjusting element 40 is pushed upward, as shown in Fig. 2A. Overall, the adjusting element 40 pivots - and with him the secondary mirror 3 - to the tilting axis 11 down.

In Fig. 2B is shown in an analogous form, a pivoting about the tilting axis 11 upwards, which results when the first adjusting means 31 is moved downward. Here, the first spring element 33 is compressed.

The second actuator 32 is in a plane perpendicular to the planes shown in Figs. 2, 2A, 2B

arranged. The function is analogous to the first one

Adjustment means 31, so that an adjustment leads to that the adjusting element 40 about the yaw axis 12th

ver is pivotable.

The points of attack 52 of the actuating means 31, 32 am

Adjustment element 40 thus lie in planes that are in the

Substantially perpendicular to each other (see Fig. 3). By suitable adjustment of the two adjusting means 31, 32, the inclination of the adjusting element 30 - and thus the inclination of the secondary mirror 3 - about the tilting axis 11 and / or the yaw axis 12 can be adjusted. For a simple alignment in two degrees of freedom is possible.

In principle, it is also possible that more

Setting options exist. So u.U. Also, a rotation of the Sekundärspiegeis 3 about a longitudinal axis, ideally the optical axis 10, take place. It is also possible to displace the secondary mirror 3 along the optical axis 10. In connection with Fig. 5, an axial locking is shown. The adjusting means 31, 32 are designed here as set screws. In alternative embodiments, the application of force to the adjustment member 40 may be accomplished in other ways, e.g. via pins, threaded rods or similar devices. Also is one

Motorized control of the actuating means 31, 32 possible. This is especially useful where the accessibility of the controls can be difficult, which u.U. in the case of large telescopes. For an efficient adjustability of the inclination of the secondary mirror 3 about two axes, the

Embodiment of Fig. 2 and 3 adjusting means 31, 32 with screening means. FIG. 3 shows the view of the adjusting device 100 when the telescope 1 is viewed through the opening 4 of the telescope 1 along the optical axis. The adjusting device 100 and the underlying

Secondary mirrors (not visible in FIG. 3) are held in the tube of the telescope 1 by four holders 60. It shows Fig. 3, that the design of the

Adjusting device 100 is chosen so small that they do not over the edge of the secondary mirror or a protrudes from other part of the bracket. The projection of the secondary mirror 3 in the direction of the optical axis 10 is greater than the cross section of the adjusting device 100. Thus, the

Adjustment device 100 no further obstruction of the opening 4 of the telescope 1 is.

In Fig. 3, the secondary mirror 3 becomes four

Mounts 60 held. Alternatively, single or multi-arm mounts 60 may be provided. Also, lenses with central holes in question.

In Fig. 3, the rectangular arrangement of the two actuating elements 31, 32 can be seen.

The housing of the adjustment device 100 may e.g. be made of aluminum. It can also be designed so that it can be used selectively as a counterweight to the primary mirror 2.

In Fig. 4, individual parts of an actuating means 31, 32 are shown. In particular, the underside of a handle 36 of an actuating means 31, 32 is shown. Inside the handle 36 is a circumferential at the edge

Rasterung 37 arranged. In the opening on the interior of the handle 36, a rotary member 38 is used, at the lower end of the screw with the contact surface 39 for contacting the adjusting element 30 is arranged. On the circumference of the round rotary element 38, a bore 41 is arranged, at the bottom of which is a spring, not shown here. On the spring is set as a latching means 42, a ball through the

prestressed spring is pressed in the radial direction to the outside.

If the rotary member 38 is inserted with the mounted locking means 42 in the interior of the handle 38, the outside presses On the circumference locking means 42 of the rotary member 38 against the circumferential screening 37 on the inside of the handle 36. If the handle 36 is rotated to an adjustment of the secondary mirror 3 by the adjustment of the

Make contact surface 39, the screening 37 slides over the prestressed locking means 42 and generates a sound and a tactile signal. These latching signals are proportional to the path of the adjusting means 31, 32 for adjusting the adjusting element 30.

A "click" to the left means a defined one

Adjustment in one direction, a "click" to the right a defined adjustment in the other

Direction. Two "clicks" indicate a twice as large adjustment path as with a "click". Thus, the secondary mirror 3 can be spatially adjusted in a reproducible manner. The audible and tactile feedback is a simple setting even in the dark

possible.

It is not mandatory that the locking means 42 is formed as a ball. Alternatively, a pen can be used. In Fig. 5, the transition region of

Adjustment device 100 to the secondary mirror. 3

shown. Of the four brackets 60 of the

Justification device 100 and the secondary mirror 3 are only three recognizable. For an adjustment along the optical axis 10, this embodiment has a

Lock nut connection 70 and a threaded pin 75 (see also Fig. 6).

When the lock nut connection 70 and the set screw are released, the secondary mirror 3 can be displaced along the optical axis. In the desired position, it can then be locked. When the threaded pin 75 is released, a rotation of the secondary mirror 3 about the optical axis 10

respectively .

In Fig. 6, the housing 50 of the adjusting element 30 is shown opened by the second adjusting means 32 has been removed. From the right side, the first adjusting means 31 acts on the adjusting element 40. Left, the first spring means 33 (a wave spring) can be seen.

The invention has been presented above all with reference to the adjustment of a secondary mirror 3. The adjusting device 100, based on

Embodiments has been illustrated, but is not limited to the application to a telescope in Newton construction. Also other reflectors, such as one

Maksutov-Newton telescope, has a secondary mirror 3, whose adjustment by means of the adjusting device 100 is executable. Even more complex optics, such as a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, have a secondary mirror 3, the spatial alignment can be done with the adjustment device 100. This is shown in FIG. 7. Analogously to the illustration in FIG. 1, here an adjusting device 100 is connected to the secondary mirror 3 of the Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope 1.

This makes it clear that the described

Adjustment device 100 basically in all

Reflectors with spatially adjustable secondary mirrors 3 can be used.

The adjustment device 100 is not on the

Use with secondary mirrors 3 limited. The

Adjusting means 31, 33 of the adjusting devices can also be used to a main mirror 2 of a Reflectors spatially by at least two axes

twist, swivel or tilt.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show an embodiment of an adjusting device for the primary mirror of FIG

Reflectors shown. Fig. 8 shows the telescope as a whole, Fig. 9 shows the storage of the primary mirror 2 in a disassembled position. The reflector adjustment device 100 has a mirror mount 90, a metal body 91, and three

Adjusting means 31, 32, 35, each with a ball joint and three wave springs. The ball joints are not shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

The main mirror 2 of the reflector is held and centered by a precisely fitting mirror cell within the optical tube of the telescope 1. These

Mirror cell has two main components.

1. The mirror mount 90, which receives the main mirror 2 of optical glass as tension-free as possible and the necessary mechanical breakpoints in the form of

Threaded holes or similar provides.

2. A metal body 91, which establishes the connection between the tube 1 and the mirror holder 90.

These two parts are connected by the illustrated 3-point bearing means of the adjusting means 31, 32, 35 with each other to allow adjustment of the main mirror 2 in at least two spatial axes for adjustment. Each of these three bearing points is provided with a respective adjusting means 31, 32, 35, which in the

End points in a play-free ball joint ends. This makes sense to allow a mechanical tilting tension-free and at the same time backlash-free. The required back pressure for a backlash-free

Movement in the direction of rotation reversal generated here in each case a wave spring 33, 34, 34 'between the mirror mount 90 and the metal body 91, which directly to the

Engagement points of the adjusting means 31, 32, 35 are used. A separate counter bearing is not here

required.

The adjustment device 100 is not on

Reflectors limited because the adjusting means 31, 32, 35 can also set a lens package of a refractor by rotation about at least two spatial axes. In Fig. 10 is a perspective view is shown on the opening of a refractor, wherein a

Lens package 80 is surrounded at the periphery of three adjusting means 31, 32, 35. The adjustment of the lens package 80 is carried out in an embodiment analogous to the adjustment of the primary mirror 2, which has been described in FIGS. 8 and 9. It is not an abutment, as in the storage of a secondary mirror 3 necessary. The wave springs 33, 34, 34 ', directly at the points of the

Adjusting means 31, 32, 35 is arranged.

In Fig. 11, the lens package 80 is shown in a developed state. The tube, not shown here, would be arranged above the lens package 80.

An actuating element 31 with a handle 36 engages with the contact surface 39 on a shoulder of the lens package. On the back of the paragraph, a wave spring 33 is arranged, which in the installed state on

Telescope housing supported.

In this case, three adjusting means 31, 32, 35 are arranged on the circumference in each case by 120 °. By turning the adjusting means 31, 32, 35 out and in, the lens package 80 can be tilted in the tube. Thus, primary mirror 2, secondary mirror 3 or lens devices represent different optical elements that can be adjusted.

In other embodiments, telescopes are also equipped with prisms, eg zenith prisms. These optical elements can also be adjusted with an embodiment of the adjusting device 100.

Reference sign list

1 telescope

2 primary mirrors (primary mirror)

3 secondary mirrors (secondary mirror)

4 opening of the telescope

5 beam path

6 eyepiece

10 optical axis of the telescope

11 Tilting axis of the telescope

12 yaw axis of the telescope

31 first actuating means (for tilting axis)

32 second adjusting means (for yaw axis)

33 first spring element

34 second spring element

34 'third spring element

35 third setting means (with refractor)

36 Handle of an actuating means

37 Screening of an actuating means

38 Rotary element of an actuating means

39 Contact surface of the adjusting element for the adjusting element

40 adjustment element

41 hole in rotary element

42 locking means

45 knurled screw

50 housing for adjusting element

51 fulcrum 52 attack point

60 Support for secondary mirror and adjustment device 70 Counter nut connection

75 threaded pin

80 lens package 90 mirror holder

91 metal body

100 adjusting device

Claims

1. Adjustment device for an optical element of a

Telescopes, wherein the optical element is rotatably mounted about at least two spatial axes, characterized by at least two adjusting means (31, 32, 35), with which the optical element (2, 3) in each case about a spatial axis (11, 12) is rotatable , wherein each of the adjusting means (31, 32, 35) has a latching means (42), with which a hearing and / or tactile screening can be generated during a movement of the adjusting means (31, 32, 35).

2. Adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized

in that the optical element (2, 3) has a mirror, a prism and / or a lens device.

3. Adjusting device according to claim 2, characterized

in that the mirror is a secondary mirror (3) or the primary mirror (2) of a reflecting telescope (1).

4. adjusting device for at least one of

The preceding claims, characterized in that the latching means (42) has a spring-loaded pressure pin and / or a ball which engages with a screening (37) of the actuating means (31, 32, 35).

5. adjusting device according to at least one of

preceding claims, characterized in that at least one adjusting means (31, 32, 35) is manually adjustable or driven by a motor.

6. Adjusting device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that with at least one of the adjusting means (31, 32, 35) is a rotational movement of the optical element (2, 3) about the one

Tilting axis (11), a yaw axis (12) or the optical axis (10) is executable.

7. adjusting device according to at least one of

preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting device (100), in particular the

Adjusting means (31, 32, 35), are formed so that they relative to the projection of the secondary mirror (3) in

Incident direction of the light along the optical axis (10) form no additional obstruction of an opening (4) of the telescope (1).

8. Adjustment device according to at least one of

preceding claims, characterized by a means for linear displacement of the secondary mirror (3) along the optical axis (10) of the telescope (1).

9. adjusting device for at least one of

preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed to be retrofitted for a telescope (1).

10. adjusting device according to at least one of

preceding claims, characterized in that the optical element (2, 3) with an adjusting element (40) is rigidly connected, wherein the adjusting means (31, 32, 35) via a contact surface (39) on the adjusting element (40) engage to a spatial tilt of the optical

Element (2, 3) to allow.

11. Adjusting device according to claim 10, characterized

characterized in that the adjusting element (40) in Is formed substantially rod-shaped and mounted in a housing (50).

12. Adjusting device according to claim 11, characterized

characterized in that the adjusting element (50) about a fulcrum (51) of the housing is tiltably mounted and at the opposite end to attack points (52)

Contact ierung by the adjusting means (31, 32, 35) takes place.

13. adjusting device for at least one of

preceding claims, characterized in that a first lever arm (A) from the center of the

Secondary mirror (3) extends to the fulcrum (51) and a second lever arm (B) extends from the fulcrum (51) to the point (52) of an actuating means (31), wherein the ratio of the first lever arm (A) to the length of the second Lever arm (B) in particular

between 1.1 and 1.3.

14. Adjusting device according to at least one of

preceding claims, characterized in that on the actuating means (31, 32, 35) respectively opposite side each spring elements (33, 34), in particular wave springs are arranged as biasing elements.