OPTICAL DEVICE WITH SYMMETRIC MOUNTING Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: optical instrumentation, large telescopes with symmetric altazimuth mounting. SUBSTANCE: optical device has center-piece with optical unit mounted for turn around guidance axis. Units for rotation of center-piece with optical unit come in the form of tubular half-axles entering corresponding bearings of mounting. Device is fitted with two adapters, each being releasably connected to center-piece and being mounted on corresponding tubular half-axle for limited movement and turn with reference to guidance axis. Each tubular half-axle has spherical bearing surface interacting with adjustable centering elements put on adapter on side facing center-piece. Each adapter is put on tubular half-axle with the aid of ring membrane. Center of spherical bearing surface of tubular half-axle is located on longitudinal axis of the latter and is geometrically aligned with point of crossing of this axis with plane in which ring membrane is positioned. Adjustable centering elements of each adapter has form of three balls as minimum which are mounted uniformly over circumference relative to longitudinal axis of adapter, each ball in proper seat, for movement along normal to spherical bearing surface of tubular half-axle. EFFECT: increased accuracy of optical device, potential to watch fast-moving objects. 2 cl, 4 dwg