GB2575618A - Modular Telescope mount - Google Patents
Modular Telescope mount Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2575618A GB2575618A GB1805356.1A GB201805356A GB2575618A GB 2575618 A GB2575618 A GB 2575618A GB 201805356 A GB201805356 A GB 201805356A GB 2575618 A GB2575618 A GB 2575618A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- drive
- declination
- right ascension
- mounting apparatus
- modular
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
- G02B23/16—Housings; Caps; Mountings; Supports, e.g. with counterweight
- G02B23/165—Equatorial mounts
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Telescopes (AREA)
Abstract
A modular telescope mounting apparatus including a right ascension drive 1, a declination drive 2 and a clamp 3 for mounting the declination drive axis 8 perpendicular to the right ascension drive axis 20 in a first configuration (e.g. German Equatorial, figure 1), in which the declination drive axis is located as close to the right ascension drive bearings as possible to minimise the moment load on the bearings, and a second configuration (e.g. Single Arm Fork, figure 2), in which the declination drive axis provides maximum clearance for an attached astrophotography instrument 10. The drives may be used separately in a Camera Tracker configuration (figure 3) in which a respective drive wheel (6, 11) is fixed to a base 7 and an astrophotography instrument is mounted to clamping rails (18) on the drive, or vice versa. The axes may be oriented as altitude and azimuth axes. The modular mount reduces the overall equipment weight for travelling astrophotographers.
Description
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The modular telescope mount comprises a right ascension drive (1) and a declination drive (2), fixed perpendicular to one another with clamps (3). Each drive comprises a motor (4) driving a gearbox (5), which in turn rotates a drive wheel (6).
In one embodiment of the modular telescope mount - German Equatorial Configuration (Fig. 1), the right ascension drive (1) and declination drive (2) are mounted with clamps (3) such that the axes of rotation are perpendicular to one another. In said configuration, the right ascension drive wheel (6) is rigidly mounted to a fixed base (7) such that the right ascension drive (1) rotates about the the right ascension drive axis of rotation (20). The declination drive (2) is mounted with the declination drive axis of rotation (8) as close as possible to the right ascension drive unit, thereby minimising the moment load on the right ascension drive bearings and improving rigidity for the larger astrophotography instrument load possible in the German equatorial configuration. The astrophotography instrument (10) is mounted to the declination drive wheel (11). Counterweight bars (12) and counterweights (13) are mounted to the right ascension drive (1) to counteract the weight of the declination drive (2) and astrophotography instrument (10). Advantageously, the German Equatorial Configuration thus permits the first embodiment to carry the longest, and typically heaviest, possible astrophotography instrument.
In a second embodiment of the modular telescope mount - Single Arm Fork Configuration (Fig. 2), the right ascension and declination drives are mounted with clamps (3) such that the axes of rotation are perpendicular to one another. In said configuration, the right ascension drive wheel (6) is rigidly mounted to a fixed base (7) and the declination drive (2) is mounted with the declination axis of rotation (8) at its furthest distance from the right ascension drive (1), thereby providing maximum clearance for the attached astrophotography instrument (10). The clamps (3) are arranged such that the declination drive (2) and attached astrophotography instrument (10) can slide perpendicular to the right ascension axis of rotation (20) and parallel to the declination axis of rotation (8), thus permitting the astrophotography instrument load attached to the declination drive wheel (11) to be moved such that the combined centre of gravity (19) of the declination drive (2) and astrophotography instrument (10) is coincident with the right ascension drive axis of rotation (16) and the apparatus is balanced about the right ascension axis (20). Advantageously, this second embodiment utilises the same right ascension drive (1) and declination drive (2) as in the first embodiment, but negates the need for counterweight bars (12) and counterweights (13) found in the first embodiment, reducing overall equipment weight for the travelling astrophotographer.
In a third embodiment of the modular telescope mount - Camera Tracker Configuration (Fig.
3), the right ascension drive (1) and declination drive (2) are used separately. In said configuration, the right ascension drive (1) or declination drive (2) is mounted to a fixed base (7) by means of the right ascension drive wheel (6) or declination drive wheel (11). A small, lightweight astrophotography instrument (10) is mounted to the clamping rails (18) of the right ascension drive (1) or declination drive (2). Advantageously this permits the weight of the right ascension drive (1) or declination drive (2) to partially counterbalance the weight of the astrophotography instrument if offset from the right ascension drive axis or rotation (20). Alternatively, the right ascension drive (1) or declination drive (2) is mounted to a fixed base (7) by means of the drive clamping rails (18). A small, lightweight astrophotography instrument (10) is mounted to the right ascension drive wheel (6) or declination drive wheel (11). Advantageously, the third embodiment permits the travelling astrophotographer to carry the very minimum astrophotography equipment weight when using a dslr camera and widefield lens.
Claims (9)
1. A modular telescope mounting apparatus comprising a clamping means for mounting the declination drive axis perpendicular to the right ascension drive axis with the declination drive rotation axis either as close to the right ascension drive bearings or as far away as possible.
2. A modular telescope mounting apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the right ascension drive axis is mounted horizontally as an azimuth axis in the plane of the ground and the declination axis is mounted vertically as an altitude axis perpendicular to the plane of the ground.
3. A modular telescope mounting apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the right ascension and declination drives are identical.
4. A modular telescope mounting apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the right ascension and declination drives are non-identical.
5. A modular telescope mounting apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 to 4 in which the right ascension and declination drives are not mounted to one another and instead used separately.
6. A modular telescope mounting apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 in which the right ascension drive is mounted by means of the right ascension drive wheel to a fixed base and the astrophotography instrument mounted to the right ascension drive clamping rails.
7. A modular telescope mounting apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 in which the right ascension or declination drive is mounted by means of the it’s drive wheel to a fixed base and the astrophotography instrument mounted to the drive clamping rails.
8. A modular telescope mounting apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 in which the right ascension or declination drive is mounted by means of it’s clamping rails to a fixed base and the astrophotography instrument mounted to the drive wheel.
9. A modular telescope mounting apparatus, the apparatus being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1805356.1A GB2575618A (en) | 2018-03-31 | 2018-03-31 | Modular Telescope mount |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1805356.1A GB2575618A (en) | 2018-03-31 | 2018-03-31 | Modular Telescope mount |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201805356D0 GB201805356D0 (en) | 2018-05-16 |
| GB2575618A true GB2575618A (en) | 2020-01-22 |
Family
ID=62142382
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1805356.1A Withdrawn GB2575618A (en) | 2018-03-31 | 2018-03-31 | Modular Telescope mount |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2575618A (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20080062515A1 (en) * | 2006-09-11 | 2008-03-13 | Peter Aniol | Telescope Mount |
| US20120069434A1 (en) * | 2010-09-16 | 2012-03-22 | Dar Tson Shen | Altitude-azimuthal mount for optical instruments |
-
2018
- 2018-03-31 GB GB1805356.1A patent/GB2575618A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20080062515A1 (en) * | 2006-09-11 | 2008-03-13 | Peter Aniol | Telescope Mount |
| US20120069434A1 (en) * | 2010-09-16 | 2012-03-22 | Dar Tson Shen | Altitude-azimuthal mount for optical instruments |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201805356D0 (en) | 2018-05-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |