Focusing System Rolling Members Coaxial Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing focusing systems in telescopes face challenges with image drift due to relative radial movement between the moving and fixed tubes, and they often require high machining accuracy and increased manufacturing costs to maintain a small clearance gap, which can lead to mechanical failures.
Innovation Solution
A focuser system that incorporates a padding element with slots and rolling members to facilitate relative movement between the first and second tubes in a longitudinal direction, maintaining a substantially co-axial relationship to mitigate image drift, while using an orthogonal biasing system to maintain contact and reduce sliding movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a small clearance gap is maintained between the fixed tube and moving tube, then image drift is reduced, but machining accuracy requirements increase and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bearing as an intermediary component between the fixed tube and moving tube. The bearing maintains a small effective clearance gap to prevent image drift while absorbing manufacturing tolerances and wear, eliminating the need for high-precision machining of the tube surfaces themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of clearance gap from a fixed dimensional requirement to a functional characteristic maintained by the bearing. The bearing allows for larger clearance gaps without compromising co-axial stability, thereby reducing machining precision requirements.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a small clearance gap is maintained between the fixed tube and moving tube, then image drift is reduced, but mechanical failure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing serves as a mediator that protects the tube surfaces from direct contact and wear. It maintains the small clearance gap necessary for stability while being itself replaceable and less critical to overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing shocks and misalignments before they can cause mechanical failure of the tube assembly. It prevents direct contact between the tube surfaces that would lead to wear and failure.
3Reliability
If a large clearance gap is used between the fixed tube and moving tube, then mechanical failure risk is reduced, but image drift increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing mediates between the conflicting requirements of large and small clearance gaps. It allows for larger physical gaps while maintaining small effective clearance through its internal geometry, thereby preventing image drift while reducing mechanical failure risk.
4Stability of the object's composition
If high machining accuracy is used to maintain small clearance gap, then image drift is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing as an intermediary component absorbs the manufacturing cost of high precision. Instead of machining the expensive tube surfaces to tight tolerances, the bearing itself is manufactured with high precision and installed between the tubes, which can be made with standard tolerances.
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
The solution effectively reduces image drift and mechanical failures, while maintaining a simple and cost-effective structure by ensuring the moving and fixed tubes remain co-axial during longitudinal movement, thus improving the overall performance and reliability of the focusing system.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of rolling members are provided, with at least one rolling member located in each slot to make contact with the outer surface of the first tube and the bore-defining surface of the second tube. Relative movement between the first and second tubes in the longitudinal direction is facilitated by rolling movement in the longitudinal direction of the rolling members, in their respective slots, along the outer surface of the first tube and the bore-defining surface of the second tube.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
AI summary
A focuser comprising a first tube, a second tube comprising a bore-defining surface shaped to define a bore wherein the first tube extends into the bore, an optical element coupled to one of the first and second tubes for movement therewith, a plurality of rolling members, with at least one rolling member located in each of a plurality of slots or grooves to make contact with the outer surface of the first tube and the bore-defining surface of the second tube, wherein relative movement between the first and second tubes is facilitated by rolling movement in a longitudinal direction of the rolling members, in their respective slots or grooves, along the outer surface of the first tube and the bore-defining surface of the second tube.