Curved Telescope Support Arms Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibrations and differential expansions in telescopes, particularly those used in vehicle-mounted observation systems, limit their performance by causing mechanical stress and deformation in the mirrors, affecting the quality of the light flux and image clarity.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates arms that connect the secondary mirror to the primary mirror, reducing vibration transmission and stress, while a mechanical decoupling mechanism and strategic glue application minimize thermal expansion-induced stress. The secondary mirror is positioned with play in an internal ring and glued using structural glue, and positioning references on the plate facilitate precise alignment with an image capture device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the secondary mirror is rigidly connected to the primary mirror, then the structural stability is improved, but the transmission of vibrations to the secondary mirror increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the primary and secondary mirrors is segmented into multiple independent arms rather than a single rigid structure. Each arm acts as an independent vibration isolation element, allowing the system to maintain structural stability while reducing vibration transmission to the secondary mirror.
Solution Approach 2:
The arms connecting the mirrors are made of composite materials or structures that provide both mechanical stability and vibration damping properties. This allows the connection to be both rigid enough for structural stability and compliant enough to isolate vibrations.
2Manufacturing precision
If the arms are made straight and rigid, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the area of the primary mirror obscured by the arms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arms are designed with curved geometries rather than straight lines. This curvature allows the arms to achieve the required structural rigidity and manufacturing precision while minimizing their projected area and the obscuration they cause on the primary mirror surface.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the secondary mirror is firmly fixed in the support, then the positioning stability is improved, but the transmission of stresses from support expansion increases
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary layer of structural glue is introduced between the secondary mirror and the support. This glue layer acts as a stress-distributing medium that maintains firm fixation for positioning stability while accommodating thermal expansion stresses without transmitting them directly to the mirror.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical properties of the glue layer are specifically selected to change with temperature, allowing it to remain firm enough for positioning stability while becoming more compliant under thermal stress to prevent stress transmission to the secondary mirror.
4Strength
If excessive glue is used to fix the primary mirror to the plate, then the bonding strength is improved, but the thermal expansion stress on the primary mirror increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using excessive glue throughout the entire bonding area, the invention uses a limited amount of glue applied strategically at specific locations. This partial action provides sufficient bonding strength while minimizing the total glue volume that would otherwise generate thermal expansion stress.
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 configuration significantly improves telescope performance by reducing mechanical stress and deformation, enhancing image quality and stability, especially in vehicle-mounted applications.
Implementation Method 1
The arms then hold the secondary mirror in position relative to the primary mirror, limiting, on the one hand, the transmission of vibrations to the secondary mirror
Implementation Method 2
The third section is received in the bearing with a sliding fit and is glued into the bearing by means of a structural glue
Implementation Method 3
Since the amount of glue is limited, the influence of its expansion under the effect of thermal variation is small, so that the glue does not generate sufficient stress on the primary mirror to cause deformation
Implementation Method 4
the secondary ring includes an outer ring and an inner ring coaxial with the outer ring and connected to it by symmetrically distributed mechanical decoupling elements
Implementation Method 5
the secondary mirror is received with play in the inner ring and is glued therein by means of a structural glue
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a telescope comprising an attachment plate (1), a primary mirror (100) borne by a front face (2) of the plate, and a secondary mirror (200) held opposite the primary mirror by a support (300), characterized in that the support (300) comprises a primary ring (310) mounted around the primary mirror (100), a secondary ring (320) mounted around the secondary mirror (200), and arms (350) connecting the secondary ring to the primary ring, and in that the arms (350) are curved towards the primary mirror (100).