BALANCED EQUATORIAL MOUNT TECHNIQUE FOR TELESCOPE

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A telescope mount for pointing an optical assembly, comprising:
a base; a right ascension support coupled to the base and having a first end and a second end, the second end being below and behind the first end when the base is oriented upright; a counterweight assembly, the counterweight assembly coupled to the right ascension support at the first end of the right ascension support; a declination support, the declination support coupled to the right ascension support at the second end of the right ascension support; a connecting member, the connecting member attached to the counterweight assembly at the first end of the right ascension support and to the declination support at the second end of the right ascension support to effect linked rotation of the counterweight assembly and the declination support together about a right ascension axis; and a worm gear assembly including a worm shaft coupled to the right ascension support and a worm wheel coupled to the connecting member, the worm shaft engaged with the worm wheel for effecting rotation of the connecting member relative to the right ascension support.