Balanced Equatorial Mount Reduces Base Bending Moments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional German equatorial mounts are not balanced about the base, resulting in substantial bending moments that require heavy and large components to resist, affecting stability and necessitating special tools for latitude adjustments.

Innovation Solution

The improved equatorial mount design features a right ascension support extending downwardly and backwardly from a counterweight assembly to a declination support, balancing the telescope about its right ascension axis and base, allowing for smaller, lighter components and manual operation without leverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional German equatorial mount design is used, then the telescope can be mounted and tracked, but substantial bending moments are applied to the base requiring heavy and large components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase strengthVSAvoidbase weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies counterweight principles by positioning the counterweight assembly such that it balances not only the optical assembly about the right ascension axis but also about the base. The right ascension support extends downwardly and backwardly from the counterweight assembly, creating a configuration where the counterweight's position and orientation generate opposing moments that reduce the net bending moment on the base, thereby reducing the strength and weight requirements for the base components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Reliability

If conventional equatorial mount is used, then tracking is enabled, but large bending moments affect stability and may cause the telescope to tip forward

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking reliabilityVSAvoidmount stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The counterweight assembly is strategically positioned and oriented to provide stabilizing counter-moments that oppose the destabilizing bending moments. By extending the right ascension support downwardly and backwardly from the counterweight assembly, the design creates a more favorable moment arm configuration that enhances stability and prevents the telescope from tipping forward during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional latitude adjustment mechanism is used, then latitude can be adjusted, but special tools with leverage are required to operate it

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelatitude adjustment capabilityVSAvoidlatitude adjustment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The reduced bending moment on the base, achieved through the optimized counterweight configuration, directly reduces the operational torque required for the latitude adjustment mechanism. This allows the latitude adjustment to be operated by hand without requiring special tools or excessive leverage, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining full latitude adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

4Manufacturing precision

If heavy base components are used to resist bending moments, then the mount can hold latitude adjustments accurately, but the overall mount becomes heavier and less portable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelatitude adjustment precisionVSAvoidmount weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the counterweight assembly and its specific geometric configuration to reduce the bending moments acting on the base, thereby reducing the strength requirements for the base components. This weight reduction does not compromise the ability to hold latitude adjustments accurately, because the reduced moments minimize sagging and positioning errors, thus maintaining manufacturing precision while improving portability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design reduces bending moments, enabling lighter, more portable, and stable telescope mounts that are easier to align, with smaller and lighter base components that can be operated by hand.

Implementation Method 1

causing a substantial bending moment 158 to be applied about the point 154

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBending moment:

Implementation Method 2

The resulting arrangement causes the act of balancing the telescope about its right ascension axis also substantially to balance the telescope about the base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBalance:

Data Source

PatentUS9507140B2Balanced equatorial mount technique for telescope

Publication Date: 2016.11.29 NANJING IOPTRON SCI

AI summary

A technique for equatorially mounting a telescope includes a right ascension support having a first end coupled to a counterweight assembly and a second end coupled to a declination support. The right ascension support is coupled to a base and extends downwardly and backwardly from the first end to the second end. The resulting arrangement causes the act of balancing the telescope about its right ascension axis also substantially to balance the telescope about its base.