ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING OPTICAL COMPONENTS OF AN OPTICAL INSTRUMENT AND DEVICE ARRANGEMENT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an adjustment device for adjusting optical components of an optical instrument, comprising at least one adjustment screw by which the optical component arranged on a carrier can be fixed in a precise position relative to another component of the optical instrument. The invention further relates to a device arrangement for adjusting optical components, comprising an adjustment device with at least one adjustment screw.

[0002] The optical components, such as mirrors, image sensors and the like, of optical instruments must be positioned exactly within the optical instrument in order to be able to deflect optical rays in a targeted manner or, in the case of image sensors, to be able to record the optical rays exactly.

[0003] In practice, the adjustment of the optical components mounted on a carrier within the optical instrument is achieved using adjusting screws. These screws align and fix the carrier, equipped with the optical component, relative to another component of the optical instrument. Even with fine threads, the play present between the external thread of the adjusting screw and the internal thread that receives it can unintentionally affect the adjustment process. For example, hysteresis can occur during iterative adjustment steps, or the play can cause the optical instrument to deviate from its previously set adjustment position due to vibrations during subsequent operation.

[0004] To prevent such unintentional loosening of the adjustment position of an adjusting screw, it is known from DE 10 2016 102 469 B3 to provide an adjusting screw with a longitudinal bore extending through its entire length for the injection of an adhesive. The adhesive, which emerges from the screw tip, bonds the adjusting screw securely to the component being adjusted, preventing it from rotating. A disadvantage of this known adjustment method is that, firstly, the adjusting screw can only be used once, as the longitudinal bore is clogged with the adhesive, and secondly, after the adjustment has been loosened, the adhesive residue must be laboriously removed before it can be readjusted.

[0005] US2011 / 0185831A1 discloses an arrangement for adjusting optical carriers, comprising a spring-elastic inner sleeve, an outer sleeve and an inner screw which widens the inner sleeve.

[0006] US6,754,013B2 shows an optical mount made of metal with two sections connected by a solid-state joint. A slot between the sections can be widened by a transverse screw that engages a thread in one section and rests with its tip against the other section.

[0007] From US4,859,847 a bracket for mounting and adjusting a photodetector is known, comprising a plate movable relative to a base plate, the position of which can be adjusted by means of a screw passing transversely through the movable plate and the base plate.

[0008] Based on this, the invention is based on the Task The aim is to create an adjustment device of the type mentioned above, which, with easy handling, ensures safe adjustment of the optical components within the optical instrument.

[0009] The SolutionThis task is characterized according to the invention in that the adjusting screw, which is at least partially equipped with an external thread, is designed in cross-section to be spring-elastic in the radial direction, such that the adjusting screw can be clamped in an internal thread of the support or the other component with its external thread, and that the adjusting screw is supported with a screw tip on the other component or the support.

[0010] The radial spring elasticity of the adjusting screw causes at least partial jamming of the external thread of the adjusting screw with the internal thread receiving the adjusting screw, thereby completely compensating for any possible play between the two threads.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the adjusting screw has at least one slot extending from the screw head in the longitudinal direction towards the screw tip and open at least on one side radially outwards to form the radial spring elasticity.

[0012] Depending on the material of the adjusting screw, the formation of the longitudinal slot alone, due to the inherent elasticity of the screw material, causes a radial expansion of the parts of the screw shank separated by the slot. With stiffer materials, the radial expansion of the slot can also occur purely or partially mechanically, for example, by inserting and tilting a screwdriver. When an adjusting screw modified and radially expanded by means of the longitudinal slot is screwed into the corresponding internal thread, a preload is always present, so that any initial thread play is completely compensated. The adjusting screw can be made of metal or a plastic material. The screw is typically manufactured as a single piece.

[0013] The slot extends longitudinally from the outer surface of the screw head to the screw tip. The slot penetrates the adjusting screw only partially in the longitudinal direction; the adjusting screw is closed, particularly in the area of ​​its tip. For example, the slot runs primarily through the center of the adjusting screw in the section containing the external thread. However, the slot can also be shorter or extend slightly beyond this section towards the tip. The slot can have an approximately rectangular cross-section and maintain a constant cross-section along its length before the screw is inserted. Alternatively, the slot can taper towards the screw tip, meaning its cross-section becomes smaller.

[0014] In a practical embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the at least one slot be designed as a straight or angled slot. The exact shape of the slot has no significant effect on the radial spring elasticity. Crucial are the design of the longitudinal slot and the inherent elasticity of the screw material, which cause the radial expansion.

[0015] As an alternative to forming only one slot, the invention further proposes that the adjusting screw may have two intersecting slots. Here too, the separation of the shaft parts of the adjusting screw by the two intersecting slots causes the radial expansion of the screw's diameter, resulting in a backlash-free clamping action when screwed into the internal thread.

[0016] To achieve maximum radial elasticity, a preferred embodiment of the invention proposes that the at least one slot be open radially outwards on at least two sides. This radial opening of the slot(s) on at least both sides, or more specifically on all sides, allows the full utilization of the spring-elastic properties of the adjusting screw material. The slot thus penetrates, for example, the outer wall of the adjusting screw on opposite sides, thereby dividing the adjusting screw longitudinally in the section where the slot runs.

[0017] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the radial spring elasticity of the adjusting screw is utilized such that the screw shank of the adjusting screw can be compressed radially inwards in the area of ​​the longitudinal slot. For this purpose, it is proposed according to the invention that the diameter of the adjusting screw in the area of ​​the at least one slot is larger than the inner diameter of the internal thread into which the adjusting screw can be screwed. When such an adjusting screw, modified with a radial interference in the area of ​​the slot and radially compressible, is screwed into the corresponding internal thread, a preload is always present due to the radial spring elasticity, so that any initial thread play is completely compensated.

[0018] If necessary, the adjusting screw can be further secured in a specific position by clamping, for example, by permanently inserting a suitably sized component into the slot of the adjusting screw. This component could be a pin or another screw inserted into the slot. Other components, such as washers, can be used, which, by applying downward pressure to the adjusting screw, cause it to expand and clamp in the thread of the support or other component.

[0019] Finally, the invention proposes a device arrangement for adjusting optical components of an optical instrument, comprising an adjustment device with at least one adjustment screw, wherein the support on which the optical component is arranged and the other component of the optical instrument, to which the optical component can be fixed in a precise position, are pivotably arranged relative to each other. The adjustment device is designed as described above.

[0020] The device arrangement allows the angle between the other component and the pivotable support to be adjusted precisely and without play by screwing the adjusting screw in and out.

[0021] According to the invention, the device arrangement is designed in such a way that the support and the other component are connected to each other via a connecting screw. The connecting screw is supported at one end (head end) in a through-hole in the support or the other component and at one end (tip end) is screwed into an internal thread of the other component or the support. The screw head of the connecting screw is supported on the support or the other component by a spring element. The adjusting screw is screwed with its external thread into an internal thread in the component of the optical instrument, namely the support or the other component, which has the through-hole for the connecting screw, and its tip rests against the other component or the support. The connecting screw and the adjusting screw are each appropriately dimensioned in length for this purpose.

[0022] The spring element, arranged coaxially on the connecting screw, preloads the components to be positioned relative to each other – namely the optical component carrier and the other component – ​​against each other. The spring force also acts on the adjusting screw, which allows the two components to be moved towards or away from each other.

[0023] The spring element is designed in particular as a coil spring, leaf spring or as another spring-like component, as is known to experts.

[0024] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings, in which an embodiment of an adjustment device for adjusting optical components of an optical instrument is shown only by way of example, without limiting the invention to this embodiment. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic sectional view of a device arrangement according to the invention for adjusting optical components of an optical instrument; Fig. 2 a schematic longitudinal section through an adjusting screw before installation in an adjusting device; and Fig. 3 a schematic longitudinal section showing the adjusting screw according to Fig. 2 Representing a position screwed into an adjustment device.

[0025] The illustration Fig. 1 Figure 1 schematically shows a sectional view of the structure of a device arrangement 1 for adjusting optical components of an optical instrument. The device arrangement 1 includes, as an essential component, an adjustment device 2 with at least one adjustment screw 3.

[0026] The optical components, such as mirrors or image sensors of optical instruments, must be positioned precisely within the optical instrument in order to be able to deflect optical rays in a targeted manner or, in the case of image sensors, to be able to record the optical rays precisely.

[0027] The optical components arranged on a carrier 4 within the optical instrument are adjusted using adjusting screws 3. These screws align and fix the carrier 4, equipped with the optical component, relative to another component 5 of the optical instrument. This other component 5, to which the carrier 4 must be aligned, could, for example, be a base body of the optical instrument.

[0028] As from Fig. 1As can be seen, the support 4 equipped with the optical component and the other component 5, to which the support 4 and thus also the optical component must be adjusted and fixed in an exact position, are pivotably mounted to one another about a pivot axis 6, whereby a pivot angle α is established between the two components that can be pivoted relative to each other, the support 4 and the other component 5.

[0029] At the in Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment of the device arrangement 1, the support 4 and the other component 5 are connected to each other via a connecting screw 7, wherein the connecting screw 7 is supported with a screw head end 8 in a through hole 9 in the support 4 and is screwed into an internal thread 11 of the other component 5 with a screw tip end 10.

[0030] As can be seen further, the screw head 12 of the connecting screw 7 is supported on the carrier 4 via a spring element 13, the spring element 13 being arranged coaxially on the shaft of the connecting screw 7.

[0031] The adjusting screw 3, which serves to adjust the swivel angle α, is screwed with its external thread 14 into an internal thread 15 in the component of the optical instrument, namely the carrier 4, which is provided with the through hole 9 for the connecting screw 7, and rests with its screw tip 16 against the other component 5 which acts as a counter-support.

[0032] The spring element 13, arranged coaxially on the connecting screw 7, pre-tensions the components to be positioned relative to each other, namely the support 4 of the optical components and the other component 5. The spring force of the spring element 13 also acts on the adjusting screw 3, by means of which the two components 4 and 5 can be moved towards or away from each other to set the desired swivel angle α.

[0033] To compensate for thread play between the external thread 14 of the adjusting screw 3 and the internal thread 15 into which the adjusting screw 3 is screwed, as is particularly evident from Figs. 2 and 3 It can be seen that in the adjusting screw 3 a slot 18 is formed extending from the screw head 17 and in the longitudinal direction towards the screw tip 16 and open at least on one side radially outwards.

[0034] Depending on the material of the adjusting screw 3, the formation of the slot 18 alone causes a radial widening of the parts of the screw shaft separated from each other by the slot 18 due to the inherent elasticity of the screw material. In stiffer materials, the radial widening of the slot 17 can also occur exclusively or additionally mechanically, for example by inserting and tilting a screwdriver.

[0035] When an adjusting screw 3, modified by means of the longitudinally extending slot 18 and radially enlarged, is screwed into the corresponding internal thread 15, there is always a preload between the external thread 14 of the adjusting screw 3 and the corresponding internal thread 15, so that any initial thread play is completely compensated.

[0036] The length of the slot 18 extending from the screw head 17 must be designed such that sufficient radial spring elasticity of the adjusting screw 3 is provided in the area of ​​the slot 18 to ensure a secure and permanent clamping of the external thread 14 of the adjusting screw 3 in the internal thread 15. The length of the internal thread 15 into which the adjusting screw 3 is screwed can be a measure for the length of the slot 18 to be formed in the adjusting screw 3.

[0037] Since the support 4 and the other component 5 are spring-loaded towards each other via the spring element 7 arranged on the connecting screw 7, and since, on the other hand, the adjusting screw 3 screwed into the support 4 is supported with its screw tip 16 on the other component 5 as a counter-support, the swivel angle α can be set very precisely by turning the adjusting screw 3 and, due to the radial spring elasticity of the adjusting screw 3 caused by the slot 18, can also be fixed securely and without play in the desired position.

[0038] The in Fig. 1The illustrated arrangement of the connecting screw 7 and the adjusting screw 3 is only an example. The device arrangement 1 can, of course, also be designed such that the support 4 and the other component 5 are connected to each other via a connecting screw 7, wherein the connecting screw 7 is supported with one screw-head end 8 in a through-hole 9 in the other component 5 and with one screw-tip end 10 is screwed into an internal thread 11 of the support 4. In this alternative arrangement, the screw head 12 of the connecting screw 7 is supported against the other component 5 by a spring element 13.

[0039] In this alternative arrangement, the adjusting screw 3, which serves to adjust the swivel angle α, is screwed with its external thread 14 into an internal thread 15 in the other component 5 which has the through hole 9 for the connecting screw 7 and rests with its screw tip 16 on the support 4 which acts as a buttress.

[0040] The at least one slot 18 formed in the adjusting screw 3 can be straight or angled. The shape of the slot 18 has no significant effect on the radial spring elasticity. The crucial point is that the slot 18 enables radial spring elasticity of the adjusting screw 3.

[0041] As an alternative to forming only one slot 18, it is also possible to form two intersecting slots 18 in the adjusting screw 3. Here too, the separation of the shaft parts of the adjusting screw 3 by the two intersecting slots 18 causes the radial expansion of the diameter of the adjusting screw 3, which results in a backlash-free clamping when screwed into the internal thread 15.

[0042] To achieve maximum radial elasticity, the at least one slot 18 formed in the adjusting screw 3 is open radially outwards on at least two sides. This radial opening of the slot 18 on at least both sides, and in particular on all sides, allows the full utilization of the spring-elastic properties of the material of the adjusting screw 3.

[0043] According to an alternative embodiment, the radial spring elasticity of the adjusting screw 3 caused by the at least one slot 18 can also be used in such a way that the screw shaft of the adjusting screw 3 can be compressed radially inwards in the area of ​​the slot 18.

[0044] In this embodiment, the diameter of the adjusting screw 3 in the area of ​​the at least one slot 18 is larger than the inner diameter of the internal thread 15 into which the adjusting screw 3 is to be screwed. When such an adjusting screw 3, modified with a radial interference in the area of ​​the slot 18 and radially compressible, is screwed into the corresponding internal thread 15, a preload is always present due to the radial spring elasticity, so that any initial thread play is completely compensated.

[0045] Since the essential element of the adjustment device 2 is the radially spring-elastic adjustment screw 3, which, due to its radial spring elasticity, ensures a secure and backlash-free clamping of the adjustment screw 3 in the associated internal thread 15, it is also possible, according to an alternative embodiment, to make the connection between the two components, namely the carrier 4 containing the optical component and the other component 5 of the optical instrument, solely by means of the adjustment screw 3, i.e., without the Fig. 1 shown connecting screw 7.

[0046] In this alternative embodiment of the adjusting device 2, it is necessary that the adjusting screw 3 can be clamped in the support 4 or the other component 5 by means of radial spring elasticity, while the adjusting screw 3 is connected with its screw tip 16 to the other component 5 or support 4 forming the abutment in such a way that the adjusting screw 3 is rigidly connected to this abutment component when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the adjusting screw 3, but this bearing simultaneously allows the adjusting screw 3 to rotate about its longitudinal axis in order to set the desired pivot angle α.

[0047] In this embodiment, the adjusting screw 3 is provided, for example, with two external threads 14 spatially spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the adjusting screw 3, namely one in the area of ​​the screw head 17 for clamping in the internal thread 15 and one in the area of ​​the screw tip 16 for screwing into a threaded bushing in the component forming the abutment. This threaded bushing must then in turn be rotatably mounted in the associated component.

[0048] Alternatively, a spring element could be provided in the area of ​​the pivot axis 6 between the other component 5 and the support 4, which pre-tensions the support 4 in the direction of the component 5.

[0049] An adjustment device 2 or device arrangement 1 designed as described above is characterized by the fact that, due to the radial spring elasticity of the adjustment screw 3, a permanently positionally accurate and backlash-free adjustment of the optical components to be adjusted is ensured. Reference symbol list

[0050] 1 Device assembly 2 Adjustment device 3 Adjusting screw 4 Support 5 Other component 6 Swivel axis 7 Connecting screw 8 Screw head end 9 Through hole 10 Screw tip end 11 Internal thread 12 Screw head (connecting screw) 13 Spring element 14 External thread 15 Internal thread 16 Screw tip (adjusting screw) 17 Screw head (adjusting screw) 18 Slot αSwivel angle

Claims

1. An adjustment device (2) for adjusting optical components of an optical instrument, having at least one adjustment screw (3), via which the optical component arranged on a carrier (4) can be fixed in an exact position relative to another component (5) of the optical instrument, characterised in, that the adjustment screw (3), which is provided at least in sections with an external thread (14), is designed to have spring elasticity in the radial direction when viewed in cross-section such that the adjustment screw (3) can be fixed by being clamped with its external thread (14) in an internal thread (15) of the carrier (4) or of the other component (5), and in that the adjustment screw (3) is mounted with a screw tip (16) on the other component (5) or the carrier (4).

2. The adjustment device (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one slit (18) running from the screw head (17) in the longitudinal direction towards the screw tip (16) and open radially outwards on at least one side is formed in the adjustment screw (3) to form the radial spring elasticity.

3. The adjustment device (2) according to claim 2, characterised in that the at least one slit (18) is designed as a straight or angled slit (18).

4. The adjustment device (2) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that two intersecting slits (18) are formed in the adjustment screw (3).

5. The adjustment device (2) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the at least one slit (18) is open radially outwards on at least two sides.

6. The adjustment device (2) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the diameter of the adjustment screw (3) in the region of the at least one slit (18) is larger than the internal diameter of the internal thread (15) into which the adjustment screw (3) can be screwed.

7. A device arrangement (1) for adjusting optical components of an optical instrument with an adjustment device (2) having at least one adjustment screw (3) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the carrier (4) on which the optical component is arranged and the other component (5) of the optical instrument, to which the optical component can be fixed in an exact position, are arranged so as to be pivotable relative to one another, characterised in that the carrier (4) and the other component (5) are connected to one another via a connecting screw (7), wherein the connecting screw (7) is mounted with a screw head-side end (8) in a through-hole (9) in the carrier (4) or the other component (5) and is screwed with a screw tip-side end (10) into an internal thread (11) of the other component (5) or the carrier (4) and the screw head (12) of the connecting screw (7) is supported on the carrier (4) or on the other component (5) via a spring element (13) and, wherein the adjustment screw (3) is screwed with its external thread (14) into an internal thread (15) in the component of the optical instrument provided with the through-hole (9) for the connecting screw (7), namely the carrier (4) or the other component (5), and bears with its screw tip (16) against the other component (5) or the carrier (4).