Reflector lateral supporting mechanism based on flexible element

Abstract

The invention provides a reflecting mirror lateral supporting mechanism based on a flexible element, which is applied to a large-aperture reflecting mirror and comprises an annular base which is integrally formed by indium steel and is assembled in a blind hole in the back of the reflecting mirror; the flexible bonding unit and the annular base are integrally formed, the flexible bonding unit comprises a bonding block and a flexible piece, the two ends of the flexible piece are fixedly connected with the bonding block and the annular base respectively, and the flexible piece is configured to finely adjust the position of the bonding block through elastic deformation so that the outer surface of the bonding block can share the circumferential surface and can be attached to the inner wall of the blind hole; the bonding block is provided with a sealing ring groove, a glue injection hole channel and an exhaust hole channel, and the glue injection hole channel and the exhaust hole channel penetrate through the bonding block and the binding face of the inner wall of the blind hole. The sealing ring is embedded in the sealing ring groove and is configured to form a semi-closed glue injection space together with the annular base and the inner wall of the blind hole; and the glue layer is formed by injecting optical structural glue into the semi-closed glue injection space through the glue injection hole channel and then solidifying the optical structural glue, and is used for fixing the bonding block and the inner wall of the blind hole.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of large-aperture telescope technology, and more specifically, to a mirror lateral support mechanism based on flexible elements. Background Technology

[0002] Reflectors are optical elements used to collect and reflect light in ground-based large-aperture telescopes, including primary mirrors, secondary mirrors, and tertiary mirrors, with the primary mirror being the largest in diameter. As a core component of the optical system, the surface accuracy of the reflector directly determines the system's imaging quality, and the design of the lateral support mechanism is crucial to the surface stability of the reflector. In existing reflector lateral support technologies, the support structure located on the side of the reflector is easily limited by installation space and cannot adapt to scenarios with tight side space. Traditional back supports often use one-piece molded gaskets for bonding, which suffers from problems such as uncontrollable adhesive amount and uneven adhesive layer thickness. While some split support structures can avoid the problems of uncontrollable adhesive amount and uneven adhesive layer thickness, the assembly process is complex, and the positional accuracy is difficult to guarantee, failing to meet the requirements of high-precision optical systems. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a reflector lateral support mechanism based on flexible elements that combines precise bonding, thermal deformation compensation, and simplified assembly. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this application is to address the technical problems in related technologies by providing a lateral support mechanism for a reflector based on flexible elements. The specific solution is as follows:

[0004] A first aspect of this application provides a lateral support mechanism for a mirror based on a flexible element, applied to a large-aperture mirror, comprising: an annular base, assembled within a blind hole on the back of the mirror, the annular base having a connecting ring platform in the middle; and a flexible bonding unit, integrally formed with the annular base, comprising a bonding block and a flexible sheet, the two ends of the flexible sheet being fixedly connected to the bonding block and the annular base respectively, configured to finely adjust the position of the bonding block through elastic deformation, such that the outer surface of the bonding block is concentric and... The adhesive block is fitted to the inner wall of the blind hole; the adhesive block has a sealing ring groove, an injection channel and an exhaust channel, the injection channel and the exhaust channel are both composed of a connected radial hole and an axial hole, and extend to the mating surface of the adhesive block and the inner wall of the blind hole; the sealing ring is embedded in the sealing ring groove and configured to form a semi-closed injection space together with the annular base and the inner wall of the blind hole; the adhesive layer is formed by optical structural adhesive being injected into the semi-closed injection space through the injection channel and then solidifying, and is used to fix the adhesive block and the inner wall of the blind hole.

[0005] In some embodiments, the flexible adhesive units are evenly distributed along the outer sidewall of the annular base to ensure uniform support.

[0006] In some embodiments, the axial opening of the injection channel is located in the non-adhesive area of ​​the adhesive block, and the radial opening of the injection channel is located at the edge of the adhesive surface between the adhesive block and the inner wall of the blind hole.

[0007] In some embodiments, the flexible element-based reflector lateral support mechanism further includes a cutting groove disposed on the base and configured to separate the adhesive block and the flexible sheet from the base structure.

[0008] In some embodiments, the flexible sheet is an elastic sheet structure configured to elastically deform relative to the annular base to achieve self-positioning of the adhesive block.

[0009] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional diameter of the sealing ring is D. mh The depth of the sealing ring groove on the adhesive block is s; the outer diameter of the annular base is D. y The inner diameter of the blind hole on the back of the reflector is D. f ;in, And satisfy D y <D f and D y -2·s+2·D mh >D f The configuration is such that the sealing ring is press-fitted against the inner wall of the blind hole.

[0010] In some embodiments, the annular base is integrally formed from indium steel and configured to absorb thermal stress caused by temperature changes.

[0011] In some embodiments, the flexible element-based reflector lateral support mechanism further includes: a flexible diaphragm, the outer ring of which is fixedly connected to the connecting ring platform, and the inner ring which is used to connect to an external support base, configured to provide stable support for the reflector.

[0012] In some embodiments, the axial stiffness of the flexible diaphragm is less than its radial stiffness, and it is configured such that the outer ring can translate relative to the inner ring along the z-axis and rotate about the x-axis and y-axis, wherein the z-axis passes through the center of the flexible diaphragm and is perpendicular to the surface of the flexible diaphragm; the x-axis and the y-axis coincide with the center plane of the flexible diaphragm.

[0013] In some embodiments, the rotational symmetry axis of the flexible diaphragm is collinear with the rotational symmetry axis of the annular base.

[0014] Compared with related technologies, the above-described solutions of this application have at least the following beneficial effects:

[0015] The reflector support mechanism provided in this application is based on a flexible element design. The flexible sheet allows for fine-tuning the position of the adhesive block, ensuring a tight fit with the inner wall of the blind hole. The sealing ring, along with the injection and venting channels, forms a closed injection space. Due to the inclusion of the injection and venting channels, the reflector support mechanism can be installed by first inserting it into the blind hole and then injecting adhesive, achieving controllable adhesive injection and complete air removal. This results in a uniform adhesive layer without air bubbles, and the adhesive layer thickness is controllable. This solves the problems of uncontrollable adhesive layer thickness, wasteful adhesive injection, and cumbersome cleaning associated with traditional solutions. Multiple sets of flexible adhesive units are evenly distributed, which can uniformly transfer the supporting force to the reflector. Combined with the rigid fixation of the adhesive layer, a stable force transmission path is formed, providing precise lateral support for the reflector. The one-piece molded structure design simplifies the assembly process and improves assembly efficiency.

[0016] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a lateral support mechanism for a mirror based on a flexible element, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an annular base according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a top view of an annular base according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a partial radial cross-sectional view of a mirror lateral support mechanism based on a flexible element, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a partial axial cross-sectional view of a mirror lateral support mechanism based on a flexible element, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0023] Figure 6 This is an axial cross-sectional view of a mirror lateral support mechanism based on a flexible element, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0024] Figure label:

[0025] Mirror 100, reflecting surface 101; blind hole 102, back plate 103;

[0026] Annular base 200, connecting ring platform 210, flexible bonding unit 220, bonding block 230, flexible sheet 240, cutting groove 201, sealing ring groove 202, bonding surface 231, radial hole 203, axial hole 204, sealing ring 250, adhesive layer 260;

[0027] Flexible diaphragm 300, diaphragm pressure ring 310, first bolt 311, diaphragm pressure block 320, second bolt 321;

[0028] Support base 400, third bolt 410, mirror chamber 500. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0030] The terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. “Multiple” generally includes at least two, and other quantifiers are similar.

[0031] It should be understood that although the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., may be used in the embodiments of this application, these descriptions should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish the described objects. For example, "first" may also be referred to as "second," and similarly, "second" may also be referred to as "first," without departing from the scope of the embodiments of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0032] It should be understood that the term "and / or" as used herein is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship. The singular forms "a," "the," and "the" are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0033] It is further understood that the terms “center,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “front,” “rear,” “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” and “outer,” 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 embodiment 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 the present invention.

[0034] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0035] Depending on the context, the words “if” or “suppose” as used here can be interpreted as “when” or “in response to determination” or “in response to detection.” Similarly, depending on the context, the phrases “if determination” or “if detection (of the stated condition or event)” can be interpreted as “when determination” or “in response to determination” or “when detection (of the stated condition or event)” or “in response to detection (of the stated condition or event).”

[0036] It should also be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that an article or device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such an article or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the article or device that includes said element.

[0037] In the related technologies of this field, the side support mechanism arranged on the back of the reflector needs to bond the cylindrical support pad to the blind hole on the back of the reflector. Most of the support pads used in the related technologies are integrally molded support pads or split support pads.

[0038] In the application of the integrally molded support pad in related technologies, a certain amount of optical structural adhesive needs to be applied to the outer cylindrical surface of the support pad first. Then, the support pad is pushed into the blind hole of the reflector along the cylindrical axis until the outer cylindrical surface of the support pad coincides with the bonding area of ​​the inner wall of the blind hole. During the pushing process, the outer cylindrical surface of the support pad is in continuous contact with and slides relative to the inner wall of the blind hole, causing some optical structural adhesive to adhere to the non-bonding area of ​​the inner wall of the blind hole, i.e., there is optical structural adhesive loss. In this process, since the amount of optical structural adhesive loss is uncontrollable, the amount of optical structural adhesive in the bonding area is also uncontrollable, and there is a possibility of insufficient adhesive, which will affect the bonding strength. In addition, it is necessary to clean the optical structural adhesive adhering to the non-bonding area. The optical structural adhesive has a high viscosity, and the cleaning work is time-consuming and labor-intensive. During the bonding process, there is also the problem of uncontrollable adhesive layer thickness, which may result in a thick adhesive layer in one radial direction of the cylinder and a thin adhesive layer in another direction, reducing the bonding strength.

[0039] The split-type support pad in related technologies consists of several pads and a ring. First, all the pads are glued to the inner wall of the blind hole in the reflector, and then the pads are connected and fixed to the ring. While this avoids waste of structural adhesive and allows for control of the amount of adhesive, this approach is labor-intensive. To ensure final accuracy, all pads need to be glued in precise positions, requiring complex tooling structures and processes. Gluing multiple pads separately inevitably introduces some positional error, and the overall shape and positional accuracy of the support pad may not be ideal.

[0040] Compared with the integrally molded support pad in related technologies, the flexible element-based reflector lateral support mechanism provided in this application has an injection hole and a vent hole structure. Therefore, it is possible to use the method of inserting blind holes first and then injecting adhesive, without the need to apply adhesive first and then push it in, avoiding the loss of optical structural adhesive in non-bonding areas. Thus, the amount of structural adhesive is stable and controllable. On the other hand, the optical structural adhesive will not stick to non-bonding areas, and the adhesive injection is completed in one step, avoiding time-consuming and laborious cleaning work. The optical structural adhesive is injected into the semi-closed space formed by the inner wall of the blind hole, the sealing ring, and the middle of the bonding surface. The adhesive layer thickness is controllable, and there will be no problem of the adhesive layer being very thick in one direction and very thin in another direction, resulting in good bonding effect.

[0041] In related technologies, split-type support pads require a complex process of first gluing the pads and then connecting and fixing the pads to the ring. However, the flexible element-based reflector lateral support mechanism provided in this application avoids the complex process of gluing multiple pads separately and does not require complex positioning fixtures, thus offering the advantage of a simple gluing process. Furthermore, since this application still uses a one-piece molding process, the overall shape and positional accuracy are superior.

[0042] The optional embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] In some embodiments, the reflector 100 is the core optical component of a ground-based large-aperture telescope, including a primary mirror, secondary mirror, and tertiary mirror, etc. It can be integrally formed or spliced ​​from multiple sub-mirrors. A cylindrical blind hole 102 is machined on the back plate 103 surface. The inner wall of the blind hole 102 is an adhesive mating surface. The reflecting surface 101 of the reflector 100 is used to collect and reflect light. The blind hole 102 is used to assemble a lateral support mechanism to achieve its own radial load bearing and stable positioning.

[0044] The mirror 100 support mechanism provided in this application includes an annular base 200, a flexible bonding unit 220, a sealing ring 250, and an adhesive layer 260, and is used in large-aperture telescopes.

[0045] In some embodiments, the annular base 200 is the core load-bearing component of the reflector 100 support mechanism. The outer diameter of the annular base 200 is smaller than the inner diameter of the blind hole 102 on the back of the reflector 100 to accommodate installation. Figure 1 As shown, the annular base 200 is assembled inside the blind hole 102 of the reflector 100.

[0046] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the annular base 200 has a centrally rotationally symmetrical structure and an integrally machined connecting ring platform 210. The connecting ring platform 210 is used for fixed connection with the flexible diaphragm 300. Multiple threaded holes are uniformly machined on the upper surface of the connecting ring platform 210 along the circumferential direction, and the number of threaded holes corresponds one-to-one with the number of mounting holes of the diaphragm pressure ring.

[0047] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, 3-6 flexible bonding units 220 are evenly distributed along the outer wall of the annular base 200. Each flexible bonding unit 220 includes an bonding block 230 and a flexible sheet 240, which are integrally formed with the base. The annular base 200 is also provided with a cutting groove 201, configured to allow the bonding block 230 and the flexible sheet 240 to be structurally separated from the annular base 200.

[0048] The cutting groove 201 is formed within the assembly groove on the outer wall of the annular base 200. It is machined by wire cutting after the annular base 200 is integrally formed. The depth and width of the cutting groove 201 precisely match the thickness of the flexible sheet 230, achieving structural separation of the flexible sheet 230 from the adhesive block 240 and the annular base 200 without compromising the overall rigidity of the annular base 200. It provides elastic deformation space for the flexible sheet, allowing it to undergo elastic deformation of 0.5mm to 2mm along the radial direction of the reflector. This enables the lateral support mechanism of the reflector to release thermal stress while ensuring adjustment accuracy, achieving self-positioning and thermal deformation compensation of the adhesive block, and laying the structural foundation for subsequent sealing and stable support.

[0049] The adhesive block 230 is an arc-shaped block. The outer surface of all adhesive blocks 230 is the adhesive surface 206. All adhesive surfaces 206 are located in the same cylindrical surface, which is also the outer cylindrical surface of the annular base 200. The outer diameter of the cylindrical surface is the outer diameter of the annular base 200, which is used to fit the inner wall of the blind hole 102.

[0050] The flexible sheet 240 is an elastic thin sheet with elastic deformation capability. Its two ends are rigidly connected to the adhesive block 230 and the base body, respectively, without relative sliding. It is configured to finely adjust the position of the adhesive block 230 through elastic deformation, so that the outer surface of the adhesive block 230 is cocircular and fits against the inner wall of the blind hole 102. The elastic properties of the flexible sheet 240 are used to realize the self-positioning and thermal deformation compensation of the adhesive block 230.

[0051] In some embodiments, the annular base 200 is integrally formed from indium ferrosilicon (IFS). IFS is an iron-nickel alloy, and its coefficient of thermal expansion can match that of most mirror blank materials for the mirror 100 within a certain temperature range; that is, the coefficients of thermal expansion of IFS and the mirror blank are essentially the same. Using IFS as a structural component can avoid thermal stress caused by temperature changes and uneven material expansion after bonding.

[0052] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 , Figure 4 As shown, the adhesive block 230 is provided with a sealing ring groove 202, an injection channel, and a venting channel. The sealing ring groove 202 is an annular structure and is located around the adhesive surface 206 of the adhesive block 230, that is, the adhesive surface 206 is the surface surrounded by the sealing ring groove 202. One side opening of the injection channel and the venting channel is located within the adhesive surface 206. A sealing ring 250 is installed in the sealing ring groove 202, configured to form a semi-closed injection space together with the annular base 200 and the inner wall of the blind hole 102 for external adhesive injection, thereby achieving bonding between the annular base 200 and the blind hole 102 of the reflector 100.

[0053] like Figure 5 As shown, both the glue injection channel and the venting channel are composed of an axial hole 204 and a radial hole 203. The axial hole 204 is provided in the adhesive block 230 and extends along the axial direction of the annular base 200. The opening of the axial hole 204 is in a non-adhesive area away from the inner wall of the blind hole 102, which facilitates the connection of the glue injection equipment. The radial hole 203 is provided in the adhesive block 230 and extends along the radial direction of the annular base 200. One end is connected to the axial hole 204, and the other end extends to the mating surface of the adhesive block 230 and the blind hole 102.

[0054] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5As shown, optical structural adhesive is injected through the injection channel. The adhesive reaches the semi-enclosed injection space formed by the inner wall of the blind hole 102 on the back of the reflector 100, the sealing ring 250, and the bonding surface 206. With continuous injection, the optical structural adhesive gradually fills the semi-enclosed injection space, and the air in the semi-enclosed injection space is expelled through the venting channel. After the structural adhesive fills the semi-enclosed injection space, it will continue to fill the venting channel. Injection must be stopped before the structural adhesive overflows from the venting channel. After the optical structural adhesive in the semi-enclosed injection space solidifies, it forms an adhesive layer 260. The adhesive layer 260 is configured to firmly connect the annular base 200 and the reflector 100, transmit radial support force, and the amount of adhesive and the thickness of the adhesive layer 260 are controllable to ensure stable bonding strength and avoid the problems of insufficient adhesive and uneven thickness in traditional bonding.

[0055] In some embodiments, the sealing ring 250 is an annular elastic component made of materials such as fluororubber or silicone rubber, with a circular cross-section. The sealing ring 250 is embedded in the sealing ring groove 202 of the adhesive block 230. When the annular base 200 is placed into the blind hole 102, it forms an interference contact with the inner wall of the blind hole 102 and is slightly compressed. Together with the inner wall of the blind hole 102 and the adhesive surface 206, it forms a semi-closed glue injection space to prevent glue from overflowing during glue injection. At the same time, it achieves temporary positioning of the annular base 200 in the blind hole 102, avoiding rigid contact that could scratch the inner wall of the blind hole 102.

[0056] In some embodiments, D y D is the outer diameter of the annular base 200. f Let D be the inner diameter of the blind hole 102 of the reflector 100, and D y <D f Therefore, after the indium steel annular pad 2 is placed into the blind hole 102 on the back of the reflector, the outer wall of the indium steel annular pad 2 does not directly contact the inner wall of the blind hole 102 on the back of the reflector.

[0057] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional diameter of the sealing ring 250 is D. mh The depth of the sealing groove 202 on the annular base 200 is s, where, That is, the depth of the sealing ring groove 202 must be less than the diameter of the cross-section of the sealing ring 250, and the depth of the sealing ring groove 202 must be greater than the radius of the cross-section of the sealing ring 250. Therefore, after all the sealing rings 250 are placed in the sealing ring groove 202, the sealing rings 250 can stay in the sealing ring groove 202, and the sealing rings 250 will slightly bulge relative to the outer cylindrical surface of the annular base 200. After the annular base 200 with the sealing rings 250 installed is placed into the blind hole 102 on the back of the reflector 100, the sealing rings 250 will contact the inner wall of the blind hole 102 on the back of the reflector 100. In addition, it is required that D y -2·s+2·D mh >D fThat is, the sealing ring 250 is compressed and configured to make the sealing ring 250 in interference contact with the inner wall of the blind hole 102 to ensure sealing strength and prevent air leakage during glue injection.

[0058] In some embodiments, the semi-enclosed space is used to accommodate the adhesive layer 260, the radial thickness of which is [missing information]. Let S be the area of ​​each bonding surface 206, then the volume of structural adhesive used for bonding at each bonding surface 206 is: This ensures that the amount of adhesive in the 260-layer adhesive layer is stable and controllable.

[0059] In some embodiments, the flexible diaphragm 300 is a circular metal sheet with an axial stiffness less than its radial stiffness. The outer ring of the flexible diaphragm 300 is pressed onto the base connecting ring platform 210 by a diaphragm pressing ring 310 and a plurality of uniformly arranged first bolts 311, and the inner ring is pressed onto the outer support base 400 by a diaphragm pressing block 320 and a plurality of second bolts 321, and is collinear with the rotational symmetry axis of the base.

[0060] In some embodiments, the support base 400 is a rigid block or column structure with high overall rigidity. The upper surface of the support base 400 is machined with a mounting surface and threaded holes for connecting the flexible diaphragm 300, and the lower surface is machined with a mounting structure for connecting to the mirror chamber 500 to ensure connection stability.

[0061] The upper surface of the support base 400 is fixedly connected to the inner ring of the flexible diaphragm 300 through the diaphragm pressure block 320 and the second bolt 321. Specifically, the diaphragm pressure block 320 is attached to the upper surface of the inner ring of the flexible diaphragm 300. After the bolt passes through the mounting hole of the diaphragm pressure block 320, it is tightened with the threaded hole on the upper surface of the support base 400, pressing the inner ring of the diaphragm pressure ring 310 onto the support base 400.

[0062] The lower surface of the support base 400 is fixed to the mirror chamber 500 by the third bolt 410. The mirror chamber 500 serves as the fixed base of the telescope. The support base 400 transmits the load of the entire lateral support mechanism and the reflector 100 to the mirror chamber 500 through the bolts, forming a complete force transmission path.

[0063] In some embodiments, the reflector 100, annular base 200, flexible diaphragm 300, diaphragm retaining ring 310, support base 400, and diaphragm retaining block 320 are all centrally rotationally symmetric structures, and these structural components are concentrically arranged, that is, the rotational symmetry axes of the reflector 100, annular base 200, flexible diaphragm 300, diaphragm retaining ring 310, support base 400, and diaphragm retaining block 320 all coincide. A spatial rectangular coordinate system is established to assist in subsequent explanations, such as... Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3As shown, the z-axis of the coordinate system coincides with the rotational symmetry axis, and the positive direction of the z-axis points from the reflecting mirror 100 to the mirror chamber 500. The x-axis and y-axis coincide with the center plane of the diaphragm pressure ring 310. The axial direction is z-direction, and the radial directions are x and y-direction.

[0064] In some embodiments, due to the low axial stiffness and high radial stiffness of the flexible diaphragm 300, the outer ring can translate relative to the inner ring along the z-axis and rotate about the x and y axes, while rotation about the z-axis and translation along the x and y axes are restricted. This satisfies the requirements for lateral support freedom control while stably transmitting radial support force. The fixed relationship between the base and the reflector 100 achieves the support requirements for radial anti-displacement and axial adjustability of the reflector 100.

[0065] Since the reflector 100 is bonded to the annular base 200 and the mirror chamber 500 is fixed to the support base 400 by bolts, the reflector 100 can translate relative to the mirror chamber 500 along the z-axis and rotate about the x and y axes. The degrees of freedom of the reflector 100 for rotation about the z-axis and translation along the x and y axes are restricted. Therefore, the lateral support mechanism of the reflector 100 can support the radial component of the reflector 100's gravity. While the radial movement and rotational degrees of freedom of the reflector 100 are restricted, the axial movement and rotational degrees of freedom of the reflector 100 are unrestricted, thus meeting the requirements for lateral support of the reflector 100.

[0066] In some embodiments, the lateral support mechanism of the reflector 100 further includes a diaphragm retaining ring 310, a diaphragm retaining block 320, and bolts, such as Figure 6 As shown, the diaphragm pressure ring 310 has an annular structure, and its outer diameter is adapted to the outer ring diameter of the flexible diaphragm 300, used to press the outer ring edge of the flexible diaphragm 300; the diaphragm pressure block 320 has a circular structure, and the diameter of the diaphragm pressure block 320 matches the inner ring diameter of the flexible diaphragm 300, used to press the inner ring edge of the flexible diaphragm 300; the bolts include a first bolt 311 and a second bolt 321, the first bolt 311 is used to press the diaphragm pressure ring 310; the second bolt 321 is used to press the diaphragm pressure block 320.

[0067] Combination Figure 6It is known that the diaphragm retaining ring 310 is attached to the upper surface of the outer ring of the flexible diaphragm 300. Multiple first bolts 311 are evenly distributed around the circumference of the diaphragm retaining ring. After passing through the mounting holes of the diaphragm retaining ring, the bolts are tightened into the threaded holes of the connecting ring platform 210, thus pressing and fixing the outer ring of the flexible diaphragm 300 onto the connecting ring platform 210. Simultaneously, the diaphragm retaining block 320 is attached to the upper surface of the inner ring of the flexible diaphragm 300. Multiple second bolts 321 are evenly arranged around the circumference of the diaphragm retaining block 320. After passing through the mounting holes of the diaphragm retaining block 320, the bolts are tightened into the threaded holes on the upper surface of the outer support base 400, thus pressing and fixing the inner ring of the flexible diaphragm 300 onto the support base 400. This configuration ensures that the fixing force of the outer and inner rings of the flexible diaphragm 300 is evenly distributed along the circumference, preventing excessive local pressure that could cause unexpected deformation of the flexible diaphragm 300, and ensuring that the flexible diaphragm 300 accurately controls the degrees of freedom of the reflector 100. Meanwhile, the detachable bolt connection method facilitates the maintenance, repair or replacement of parts in the later stage, effectively improving the practicality and maintainability of the entire support mechanism.

[0068] In some embodiments, the complete assembly method of the lateral support mechanism of the reflector 100 is as follows: First, the sealing ring 250 is embedded in the groove of the adhesive block 230 to complete the pre-assembly; then, the base is placed into the blind hole 102 and temporarily positioned by the sealing ring 250; then, the glue injection device is connected to inject glue into the semi-enclosed space through the channel; after the glue overflows into the vent channel, the channel is sealed; after the glue layer 260 solidifies, the outer ring of the diaphragm is fixed by the diaphragm pressure ring 310 and bolts; then, the inner ring of the diaphragm is fixed to the external support base 400 by the diaphragm pressure block 320 and bolts to complete the assembly.

[0069] In some embodiments, the lateral support mechanism of the reflector 100 works in concert to provide support during operation: the radial load of the reflector 100 is transferred to the annular base 200 via the adhesive layer 260, the adhesive block 230, and the flexible sheet 240, and then to the external support base 400 via the flexible diaphragm 300. The high radial stiffness of the flexible diaphragm 300 ensures anti-displacement. In temperature-changing scenarios, the difference in thermal expansion between the reflector 100 and the base is compensated by the deformation of the flexible sheet 240, avoiding thermal stress. When the optical system is adjusting its attitude, the diaphragm pressure ring 310 allows the reflector 100 to translate along the z-axis and rotate around the x and y axes, ensuring surface stability.

[0070] The specific structure, working principle, and beneficial effects of the lateral support mechanism for the reflector 100 provided in this application embodiment can be found in any of the above embodiments of the lateral support mechanism for the reflector 100, and will not be repeated here.

[0071] Finally, it should be noted that the various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. For the systems or apparatus disclosed in the embodiments, since they correspond to the methods disclosed in the embodiments, the descriptions are relatively simple, and relevant parts can be referred to the method section.

[0072] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A lateral support mechanism for a reflector based on a flexible element, characterized in that, Applications include large-aperture mirrors, including: An annular base is fitted into a blind hole on the back of the reflector, and a connecting ring platform is provided in the middle of the annular base; A flexible bonding unit, integrally formed with the annular base, includes an bonding block and a flexible sheet. The two ends of the flexible sheet are fixedly connected to the bonding block and the annular base, respectively. It is configured to finely adjust the position of the bonding block through elastic deformation, so that the outer surface of the bonding block is cocircular and fits against the inner wall of the blind hole. The adhesive block has a sealing ring groove, an injection channel and an exhaust channel. The injection channel and the exhaust channel are both composed of a connected radial hole and an axial hole, and extend to the mating surface between the adhesive block and the inner wall of the blind hole. A sealing ring is embedded in the sealing ring groove and configured to form a semi-closed glue injection space together with the annular base and the inner wall of the blind hole; The adhesive layer is formed by the solidification of optical structural adhesive injected into the semi-enclosed injection space through the injection channel, and is used to fix the adhesive block to the inner wall of the blind hole.

2. The lateral support mechanism for a reflector based on a flexible element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible bonding units are evenly distributed along the outer wall of the annular base to ensure uniform support.

3. The lateral support mechanism for a reflector based on a flexible element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The axial opening of the glue injection channel is located in the non-adhesive area of ​​the adhesive block, and the radial opening of the glue injection channel is located at the edge of the adhesive surface between the adhesive block and the inner wall of the blind hole.

4. The lateral support mechanism for a reflector based on a flexible element according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A cutting groove is provided in the base and configured to separate the adhesive block and the flexible sheet from the base structure.

5. The lateral support mechanism for a reflector based on a flexible element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible sheet is an elastic thin sheet structure configured to elastically deform relative to the annular base in order to achieve self-positioning of the adhesive block.

6. The lateral support mechanism for a reflector based on a flexible element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diameter of the cross-section of the sealing ring is D. mh The depth of the sealing ring groove on the adhesive block is s; the outer diameter of the annular base is D. y The inner diameter of the blind hole on the back of the reflector is D. f ;in, And satisfy D y <D f and D y -2·s+2·D mh >D f The configuration is such that the sealing ring is press-fitted against the inner wall of the blind hole.

7. The lateral support mechanism for a reflector based on a flexible element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The annular base is made of indium steel in one piece, and is configured to avoid thermal stress caused by temperature changes.

8. The lateral support mechanism for a reflector based on a flexible element according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The flexible diaphragm has an outer ring that is fixedly connected to the connecting ring platform, and an inner ring that is used to connect to an external support base, configured to provide stable lateral support for the reflector.

9. The lateral support mechanism for a reflector based on a flexible element according to claim 8, characterized in that, The axial stiffness of the flexible diaphragm is less than its radial stiffness. It is configured such that the outer ring can translate relative to the inner ring along the z-axis and rotate about the x-axis and y-axis. The z-axis passes through the center of the flexible diaphragm and is perpendicular to the surface of the flexible diaphragm. The x-axis and the y-axis coincide with the center plane of the flexible diaphragm.

10. The lateral support mechanism for a reflector based on a flexible element according to claim 8, characterized in that, The rotational symmetry axis of the flexible diaphragm is collinear with the rotational symmetry axis of the annular base.

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