SYSTEM FOR UNLOADING OPTICAL TELESCOPE MIRROR Russian patent published in 2013 - IPC G02B7/183 G02B23/00 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: system includes mechanical radial unloading and pneumatic mechanical unloading, where the base of the mirror at any inclination angle is pressed to axial bearings with a force equal to the weight of the mirror, created by evacuating air in a chamber bounded by the back surface of the mirror, a casing and a sealing ring. The side surface of the mirror is unloaded onto radial bearings through a row of windings of an elastic cylindrical chord, which encircle the side surface of the mirror on top of the sealing ring and enable the mirror to freely move in the axial direction.

EFFECT: reducing distortion of the surface of the mirror at any inclination angle thereof, positive or negative, and reducing requirements for hardness of the material of the mirror, enabling use of a casing in which optical treatment of the mirror is carried out, as a control casing in the optical production unit and as the working casing of the mirror of the telescope.

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