LOW-DRIFT OPTICAL MOUNT

Abstract

A low-drift optical mount comprising a first plate, a second plate, at least one drive rod, at least one collet. A first collet may extend through a bore of the second plate and has an inner screw matching the external screw of a first drive rod. The first drive rod may have a contact end with the first plate and a spring pulls the first plate back toward the second plate. The collet may have at least one slot that extends through the own inner thread surface. The slot can relieve the drift performance induced by grease which fills in the thread fit clearance and further improve the position stability of optical mount.

Claims

1. A low-drift optical mount, comprising a first plate, a second plate, a first drive rod comprising an external thread surface, the external thread surface further comprises an inner hexagonal slot on one side and a spherical tip on other side that engages the first plate; a collet attached to the second plate, the collet comprising an external cylinder surface with a shoulder on one end and an inner screw surface matching the external screw surface of the first drive rod, the external cylinder surface further comprises at least one slot evenly distributed in a circumferential direction and extending through entire internal thread length.

2. The low-drift optical mount as recited in claim 1, wherein grease is applied to the external thread surface of the drive rod.

3. The low-drift optical mount as recited in claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate are respectively mounted with pins on which two ends of a spring are respectively mounted pulling the first plate toward the second plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 shows the common optical mount in the prior art.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows the thread engagement diagram of the common optical mount when the spring is not tensioned.

[0015] FIG. 3 shows the thread engagement diagram of the common optical mount when the spring has been one-way tensioned.

[0016] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the low-drift mount of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 5 shows the specific fit structure of a drive rod and a collet of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 6 shows the thread engagement diagram of the low-drift optical mount of the present invention when the spring has been one-way tensioned.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] In connection with the attached figures, the present invention is further explained in details.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 4, a low-drift optical mount may include a first plate 1, a second plate 2, at least one drive rod 12, at least one collet 13, at least one spring 4, at least two pins 5 and pivot ball 14.

[0021] FIG. 5 shows the specific fit structure of a drive rod and a collet of the present invention. A drive rod 12 has an external thread surface 15 around the cylinder surface, an inner hexagonal slot 16 on one end surface and a spherical end 17 on the other end surface. The thread surface 15 is used to match the inner thread surface 20 of the collet 13. The hexagonal slot is used to adjust the position of the drive rod 12 and the spherical end 17 has a contact end with the first plate 1.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 5, the left side of the collet 13 is a cylindrical surface 18 forming a stationary fit with the corresponding hole surface of the second plate 2 and the right side is a short shoulder 19 which can achieve axial positioning of the collet 13 relative to the second plate 2. The thread surface 20 is machined to match the thread surface 15 of the drive rod 12. At least one slot 21 is evenly distributed in the circumferential direction of the inner screw thread 20 and extends through the entire internal thread length of the collet 13.

[0023] The collet 13 is first fixed to the second plate 2 by a cylindrical surface 18, and the drive rod 12 is screwed into the collet 13 until the spherical end touches the first plate 1. Before screwing into the collet 13, the external thread surface 15 of the drive rod 12 is applied enough grease. The first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are respectively mounted with pins 5 on which two ends of a spring 4 are respectively mounted pulling the first plate 1 toward the second plate 2. FIG. 6 shows the thread engagement diagram of a low-drift optical mount of the present invention when the spring 4 has been one-way tensioned. When the drive rod 12 is pulled against the first plate 1, the inner thread 23 of the collet 13 will press close to the external thread 22 of the drive rod 12 under the pre-tensioned force of the spring 4. Each time when the drive rod 12 is turned, the excess grease on the pressure side which hinders the one-way contact of the inner thread 23 and the external thread 22 is squeezed into the slot, achieving close fit of the thread surface. This can improve the non-rigid contact caused by grease, improving the position stability of the optical mount. At the same time a small amount of grease is carried into the thread surface to achieve lubrication of the screw.

[0024] The scope of the present invention is not limited by the detailed descriptions, and one of ordinary skill in the art could modify and change of the low-drift optical mount without departing from the scope of the present invention.