Aerial observation device continuous zoom infrared lens and method for maintaining gravity center

Abstract

This invention discloses a continuous zoom infrared lens for airborne sights and a method for maintaining the center of gravity, belonging to the technical field of airborne sights. It includes an infrared base, a large objective lens component, a zoom component, a compensation component, a focusing component, a fixed lens component, a reflector component, a system connector, and a center of gravity adjustment module. The center of gravity adjustment module includes a counterweight component, a counterweight guide rail, and a belt drive assembly. The counterweight guide rail is arranged parallel to and opposite to the zoom guide rail. The counterweight component is mounted on a slide of the counterweight guide rail and can perform linear reciprocating motion along the counterweight guide rail. The upper and lower drive belts of the belt drive assembly are connected to the counterweight component and the zoom component, respectively. Driven by a zoom drive device, the zoom component moves linearly along the zoom guide rail, while simultaneously driving the counterweight component to move linearly in the opposite direction via the belt drive assembly. This invention, by driving the counterweight component to move in the opposite direction through the zoom component, ensures that the center of gravity of the infrared sight does not change significantly during continuous zooming.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of airborne observation and aiming technology, specifically relating to a continuous zoom infrared lens for airborne observation and aiming and a method for maintaining the center of gravity. Background Technology

[0002] To meet the requirements of aircraft night vision observation and targeting capabilities, high-magnification continuous zoom red-light sights have been frequently used in airborne electro-optical turrets in recent years. These sights achieve high-magnification continuous zoom functionality through the coordinated movement of zoom, compensation, and focusing lenses. Simultaneously, to enable target observation, identification, and tracking functions on airborne electro-optical turrets, positioning devices such as gyroscopes are typically installed on the turret platform. When the target moves relative to the turret, the gyroscope dynamically adjusts the azimuth and pitch angles of the platform within the turret based on the relative position, ensuring that the tracked target remains centered within the turret's field of view.

[0003] However, the gyroscope and its servo control system are quite sensitive to changes in the platform's center of gravity. When the continuous zoom red-light sight continuously zooms in and out, it will cause a change in the position of the platform's center of gravity inside the optoelectronic turret, thus affecting the control accuracy of the gyroscope and its servo control system, and may lead to target loss, tracking failure, and other issues. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved:

[0005] To avoid the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a continuous zoom infrared lens for airborne sights and a method for maintaining the center of gravity position. The infrared lens solves the problem of unstable center of gravity of the infrared sight through a center of gravity adjustment module. The counterweight steel belt drives the zoom component and the counterweight component to perform balanced movement, thereby compensating for the change in center of gravity caused by the movement of the zoom component 3 and ensuring that the center of gravity of the whole machine is maintained within a certain range.

[0006] The technical solution of this invention is: a continuous zoom infrared lens for an airborne observation and aiming device, comprising an infrared base, a large objective lens component, a zoom component, a compensation component, a focusing component, a fixed lens component, a reflector component, and a system connector. The infrared base serves as a support structure for mounting the other components. The zoom component is mounted on a slide of a zoom guide rail and is driven to reciprocate linearly along the zoom guide rail by a zoom drive device. The compensation component and the focusing component are mounted on a slide of a compensation and focusing guide rail and are driven to reciprocate linearly along the compensation and focusing guide rail by compensation drive devices and focusing drive devices, respectively.

[0007] It also includes a center of gravity adjustment module, which comprises a counterweight component, a counterweight guide rail, and a belt drive assembly. The counterweight guide rail is arranged parallel to and opposite to the zoom guide rail. The counterweight component is mounted on a slide of the counterweight guide rail and can perform linear reciprocating motion along the counterweight guide rail. The upper and lower drive belts of the belt drive assembly are respectively connected to the counterweight component and the zoom component. Under the drive of the zoom drive device, the zoom component moves linearly along the zoom guide rail, while simultaneously driving the counterweight component to move linearly in the opposite direction through the belt drive assembly.

[0008] A further technical solution of the present invention is: the belt drive assembly includes a counterweight wheel, a counterweight wheel bearing, a wheel axle, and a counterweight steel belt; the two counterweight wheels are respectively mounted on the infrared base through the counterweight wheel bearing and the wheel axle, and are arranged parallel to each other axially; the counterweight steel belt is a drive belt, which is fitted on the two counterweight wheels to realize synchronous motion transmission.

[0009] A further technical solution of the present invention is that the axial direction of the counterweight wheel is perpendicular to the axial direction of the variable magnification component.

[0010] A further technical solution of the present invention is: the center of gravity adjustment module further includes counterweight steel belt pressure blocks and counterweight steel belt screws; the two counterweight steel belt pressure blocks are respectively fixedly connected to the counterweight steel belt by counterweight steel belt screws, and are respectively opposite to the installation positions of the counterweight component and the variable magnification component on the counterweight steel belt, so that the counterweight component and the variable magnification component are fixed in different directions of the upper and lower counterweight steel belts.

[0011] A further technical solution of the present invention is as follows: the tension of the counterweight steel belt is adjusted by a steel belt tension adjustment device; the counterweight steel belt screws for fixing the counterweight component pass through the counterweight steel belt pressure block and the counterweight steel belt in sequence, and are then screwed into the bottom of the counterweight component to achieve a fixed connection of the three parts; the counterweight steel belt screws for fixing the zoom component pass through the counterweight steel belt pressure block and the counterweight steel belt in sequence, and are then screwed into the mounting surface provided on the outer periphery of the zoom component to achieve a fixed connection of the three parts.

[0012] A further technical solution of the present invention is: it also includes a zoom positioning device, a compensation positioning device, and a focus positioning device. The three positioning devices provide positioning sensing signals for the sight and aiming device, and are used to control the zoom driving device, the compensation driving device, and the focus driving device to perform positioning.

[0013] A further technical solution of the present invention is that the system connector is the overall external electrical interface of the zoom positioning device, the compensation positioning device, the focus positioning device, the zoom drive device, the compensation drive device, and the focus drive device.

[0014] A further technical solution of the present invention is: the zoom drive device drives the zoom component through a lead screw and nut mechanism, the zoom component is fixedly installed on the lead screw and nut nut mechanism by an internal hexagonal screw, and the zoom component is driven to make linear motion by rotating the lead screw.

[0015] A further technical solution of the present invention is: the compensation drive device drives the compensation component through a lead screw and nut mechanism, the compensation component is fixedly installed on the lead screw and nut nut mechanism by an internal hexagonal screw, and the compensation component is driven to make linear motion by rotating the lead screw.

[0016] A continuous zoom infrared lens for an airborne observation and aiming device and a method for maintaining the center of gravity position are disclosed. When the observation and aiming device receives a zoom signal, the zoom component, compensation component, and focusing component operate under the control of the zoom drive device, compensation drive device, and focusing drive device, respectively. When the zoom component moves along the zoom track, it drives the counterweight steel belt to rotate around the axis, and at the same time pulls the counterweight component to move in the opposite direction to the zoom component, thereby compensating for the change in the center of gravity caused by the movement of the zoom component and ensuring that the center of gravity of the entire device is maintained within a certain range.

[0017] Beneficial effects

[0018] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: since the movement stroke of the compensation component and the focusing component is small and the weight is light, the impact on the change of the center of gravity of the infrared sight is minimal. Therefore, when the zoom function is realized, the change of the center of gravity of the entire infrared component is mainly caused by the movement of the zoom component.

[0019] (1) The present invention provides a continuous zoom infrared lens for an airborne sight that can maintain the position of the center of gravity. By driving the counterweight component to move in the opposite direction when the zoom component moves, the center of gravity of the infrared sight does not change significantly during the continuous zoom process.

[0020] (2) The driving and guiding of the counterweight component is accomplished by a belt drive assembly. Belt drive has the advantages of simple structure and smooth transmission, so it is a relatively simple driving and guiding scheme for the counterweight component.

[0021] (3) To prevent the counterweight steel belt from slipping, a steel belt tension adjustment device is designed to adjust the tension of the counterweight steel belt.

[0022] (4) The installation and fixing methods of the counterweight steel belt and counterweight components are reasonably set. The counterweight steel belt can be guaranteed to have a high working life by using the counterweight steel belt screws and counterweight steel belt pressure blocks. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a continuous zoom infrared lens for an airborne observation and aiming device that can maintain the position of the center of gravity.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 7 This is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 8 , Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the counterweight component and the variable magnification component in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the variable magnification component moving to another extreme position in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Infrared base; 2. Large objective lens assembly; 3. Zoom assembly; 4. Compensation assembly; 5. Focusing assembly; 6. Fixed lens assembly; 7. Reflecting mirror assembly; 8. Zoom drive device; 9. Zoom guide rail; 10. Zoom positioner assembly; 11. Compensation drive device; 12. Compensation positioner assembly; 13. Focusing drive device; 14. Focus positioner assembly; 15. Compensation focusing guide rail; 16. Counterweight assembly; 17. Counterweight guide rail; 18. Counterweight wheel; 19. Counterweight wheel bearing; 20. Wheel axle; 21. Counterweight steel belt; 22. Counterweight steel belt screw; 23. Counterweight steel belt pressure block; 24. System connector. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

[0033] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0034] The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 2 to 10 As shown, the present invention provides a continuous zoom infrared lens for airborne observation and aiming devices that can maintain the position of the center of gravity, including an infrared base 1, a large objective lens component 2, a zoom component 3, a compensation component 4, a focusing component 5, a fixed lens component 6, a reflector component 7, a zoom drive device 8, a zoom guide rail 9, a zoom positioner component 10, a compensation drive device 11, a compensation positioner component 12, a focusing drive device 13, a focusing positioner component 14, a compensation focusing guide rail 15, a counterweight component 16, a counterweight guide rail 17, a counterweight wheel 18, a counterweight wheel bearing 19, a wheel axle 20, a counterweight steel belt 21, a counterweight steel belt screw 22, a counterweight steel belt pressure block 23, a system connector 24, etc.

[0035] The infrared base 1 serves as the mounting platform for the continuous zoom infrared lens used in the entire airborne observation and aiming device. The infrared base 1 provides mounting surfaces and holes for the large objective lens component 2, fixed lens component 6, reflector component 7, zoom component 3 drive device, zoom guide rail 9, zoom positioner component 10, compensation drive device 11, compensation positioner component 12, focusing drive device 13, focusing positioner component 14, compensation focusing guide rail 15, counterweight guide rail 17, counterweight wheel 18, counterweight steel belt screw 22, system connector 24, etc.

[0036] The zoom component 3 is mounted and fixed to the slides of the two zoom guide rails 9 on the left and right sides by hex screws. The two zoom guide rails 9 guide the zoom component 3 to move back and forth. The zoom component 3 is mounted and fixed to the nut of the zoom drive device 8 by hex screws. The zoom drive device 8 drives the zoom component 3 to move back and forth.

[0037] The compensation component 4 is mounted and fixed on the slide of the bottom compensation focusing guide rail 15 by hexagonal screws, and the compensation focusing guide rail 15 guides the compensation component 4 to move back and forth. The compensation component 4 is mounted and fixed on the nut of the compensation drive device 11 by hexagonal screws, and the compensation drive device 11 drives the compensation component 4 to move back and forth.

[0038] The focusing component 5 is mounted and fixed on the slide of the bottom compensating focusing guide rail 15 by hexagonal screws, and the compensating focusing guide rail 15 guides the focusing component 5 to move back and forth. The focusing component 5 is mounted and fixed on the drive shaft of the focusing drive device 13 by hexagonal screws, and the focusing drive device 13 drives the focusing component 5 to move back and forth.

[0039] The counterweight guide rail 17 and the zoom guide rail 9 are arranged parallel to each other. The counterweight component 16 is fixed to the slide of the counterweight guide rail 17 by hexagonal screws and moves back and forth along the counterweight guide rail 17. The counterweight component 16 is connected to the counterweight steel belt 21 by the counterweight steel belt pressure block 23 and the counterweight steel belt screw 22. At the same time, the zoom component 3 is also connected to the counterweight steel belt 21 by the counterweight steel belt pressure block 23. The counterweight steel belt 21 is wound around the counterweight wheel 18. The counterweight wheel 18 is fixed to the infrared base 1 by the wheel axle 20 and the counterweight wheel bearing 19.

[0040] The zoom positioning device 10, compensation positioning device 12, and focus positioning device 14 provide positioning sensing signals for the infrared sight, controlling the zoom drive device 8, compensation drive device 11, and focus drive device 13 for positioning. The system connector 24 is the overall external electrical interface for the zoom positioning device 10, compensation positioning device 12, focus positioning device 14, zoom drive device 8, compensation drive device 11, and focus drive device 13.

[0041] Because the compensation component 4 and the focusing component 5 have small travel distances and are lightweight, their impact on the center of gravity of the infrared sight is minimal. Therefore, when implementing the zoom function, the movement of the zoom component 3 is the primary cause of the change in the center of gravity of the entire infrared assembly. When the infrared sight receives a zoom signal, the zoom component 3, the compensation component 4, and the focusing component 5 activate. Driven by the zoom component 3, the counterweight belt 21 pulls the counterweight component 16 to move in the opposite direction to the zoom component 3, thereby compensating for the change in the center of gravity caused by the movement of the zoom component 3 and ensuring that the center of gravity of the entire device remains within a certain range.

[0042] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the infrared base 1 is first fixed as an assembly platform. The zoom guide rail 9 and the compensation focusing guide rail 15 are then assembled and fixed onto the infrared base 1. The zoom component 3, the compensation component 4, and the focusing component 5 are respectively installed and fixed to the slides of the zoom guide rail 9 and the compensation focusing guide rail 15. The installation and fixing posture of the zoom guide rail 9 and the compensation focusing guide rail 15 is adjusted so that the coaxiality of the optical axes of the zoom component 3, the compensation component 4, and the focusing component 5 meets the optical index requirements. Next, the zoom component 3, the compensation component 4, and the focusing component 5 are respectively installed and fixed to the zoom drive device 8, the compensation drive device 11, and the focusing drive device 13 to ensure smooth movement throughout the entire stroke of the zoom component 3, the compensation component 4, and the focusing component 5. Finally, the large objective lens component 1, the fixed lens component 6, and the reflecting mirror component 7 are installed and fixed onto the infrared base 1.

[0043] Subsequently, the variable-amplitude component 3 is connected and fixed to the counterweight steel belt 21 using the counterweight steel belt pressure block 23. The counterweight steel belt 21 is then wound around the counterweight wheel 18, with both ends of the counterweight steel belt 21 concentrated at the mounting position of the counterweight component 16. The counterweight component 16 is then mounted and fixed to the slide block of the side counterweight guide rail 17 using hexagonal screws. The counterweight steel belt 21 is passed through the straight groove in the middle of the counterweight steel belt screw 22. By rotating the counterweight steel belt screw 22, the counterweight steel belt 21 is tightened to prevent it from slipping on the counterweight wheel 18.

[0044] Specifically, the counterweight wheel 18 is mounted and fixed on the wheel axle 20 via the counterweight wheel bearing 19, thereby enabling the counterweight wheel 18 to rotate relatively smoothly.

[0045] When the zoom drive device 8, compensation drive device 11, and focus drive device 13 receive a zoom signal, each drive device will drive the zoom component 3, compensation component 4, and focus component 5 to move back and forth along the zoom guide rail 9 and compensation / focus guide rail 15 according to the predetermined positional relationship of the system. Simultaneously, the zoom component 3 will drive the counterweight component 16 to move in the opposite direction via the counterweight steel belt 21. Since the weight of the counterweight component 16 is the same as the weight of the zoom component 3, the reverse movement of the counterweight component 16 will compensate for the change in center of gravity caused by the movement of the zoom component 3, thereby ensuring that the center of gravity of the entire machine is maintained within a certain range.

[0046] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A continuous zoom infrared lens for an airborne sight, comprising an infrared base, a large objective component, a zoom component, a compensation component, a focusing component, a fixed mirror component, a reflecting mirror component, a system connector, the infrared base serving as a support structure for mounting the other components; characterized in that: The zoom component is mounted on the slide of the zoom guide rail and is driven to reciprocate linearly along the zoom guide rail by the zoom drive device; the compensation component and the focusing component are mounted on the slide of the compensation and focusing guide rail and are driven to reciprocate linearly along the compensation and focusing guide rail by the compensation drive device and the focusing drive device, respectively. It also includes a center of gravity adjustment module, which comprises a counterweight component, a counterweight guide rail, and a belt drive assembly. The counterweight guide rail is arranged parallel to and opposite to the zoom guide rail. The counterweight component is mounted on a slide of the counterweight guide rail and can perform linear reciprocating motion along the counterweight guide rail. The upper and lower drive belts of the belt drive assembly are respectively connected to the counterweight component and the zoom component. Under the drive of the zoom drive device, the zoom component moves linearly along the zoom guide rail, while simultaneously driving the counterweight component to move linearly in the opposite direction through the belt drive assembly.

2. The continuous zoom infrared lens for airborne observation and aiming devices according to claim 1, characterized in that: The belt drive assembly includes a counterweight wheel, a counterweight wheel bearing, a wheel axle, and a counterweight steel belt; the two counterweight wheels are respectively mounted on the infrared base via the counterweight wheel bearing and the wheel axle, and are arranged parallel to each other axially; the counterweight steel belt is a drive belt, which is fitted onto the two counterweight wheels to achieve synchronous motion transmission.

3. The continuous zoom infrared lens for airborne observation and aiming devices according to claim 2, characterized in that: The axial direction of the counterweight wheel is perpendicular to the axial direction of the variable magnification component.

4. The continuous zoom infrared lens for airborne observation and aiming devices according to claim 2, characterized in that: The center of gravity adjustment module also includes counterweight steel belt pressure blocks and counterweight steel belt screws; the two counterweight steel belt pressure blocks are respectively fixedly connected to the counterweight steel belt by counterweight steel belt screws, and are respectively opposite to the installation positions of the counterweight component and the variable magnification component on the counterweight steel belt, so that the counterweight component and the variable magnification component are fixed in different directions of the upper and lower counterweight steel belts.

5. The continuous zoom infrared lens for airborne observation and aiming devices according to claim 4, characterized in that: The tension of the counterweight steel belt is adjusted by a steel belt tension adjustment device; the counterweight steel belt screws that fix the counterweight component pass through the counterweight steel belt pressure block and the counterweight steel belt in sequence, and are screwed into the bottom of the counterweight component to achieve a fixed connection of the three parts; the counterweight steel belt screws that fix the zoom component pass through the counterweight steel belt pressure block and the counterweight steel belt in sequence, and are screwed into the mounting surface set on the outer periphery of the zoom component to achieve a fixed connection of the three parts.

6. The continuous zoom infrared lens for airborne observation and aiming devices according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a zoom positioning device, a compensation positioning device, and a focus positioning device. The three positioning devices provide positioning sensing signals for the sight and aiming device, which are used to control the zoom drive device, the compensation drive device, and the focus drive device to perform positioning.

7. The continuous zoom infrared lens for airborne observation and aiming devices according to claim 6, characterized in that: The system connector is the overall external electrical interface for the zoom positioner component, the compensation positioner component, the focus positioner, the zoom drive device, the compensation drive device, and the focus drive device.

8. The continuous zoom infrared lens for airborne observation and aiming devices according to claim 1, characterized in that: The zoom drive device drives the zoom component through a lead screw and nut mechanism. The zoom component is fixedly installed on the lead screw and nut nut mechanism by an internal hex screw. The zoom component moves linearly by rotating the lead screw.

9. The continuous zoom infrared lens for airborne observation and aiming devices according to claim 1, characterized in that: The compensation drive device drives the compensation component through a lead screw and nut mechanism. The compensation component is fixedly installed on the lead screw and nut nut mechanism by an internal hexagonal screw. The drive screw rotates to drive the compensation component to make linear motion.

10. A method for maintaining the center of gravity position of a continuous zoom infrared lens for an airborne observation and aiming device according to any one of claims 2-9, characterized in that: When the sight receives a zoom signal, the zoom component, compensation component, and focusing component operate under the control of the zoom drive device, compensation drive device, and focusing drive device, respectively. When the zoom component moves along the zoom track, it drives the counterweight steel belt to rotate around the axis, and at the same time pulls the counterweight component to move in the opposite direction to the zoom component, thereby compensating for the change in center of gravity caused by the movement of the zoom component and ensuring that the center of gravity of the whole machine is maintained within a certain range.

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