Optical path compensating device

Claim 2

A lens mount having an ambient temperature compensation control comprising: a housing; a fluid-containing reservoir positioned intact in said housing; a closure member positioned in said housing and adapted to retain the fluid within said reservoir; a hydraulically actuated reciprocable piston and attached piston rod operatively associated with said reservoir and with a portion of said piston rod extending exteriorly of the housing through an aperture in said closure member, said piston with the attached piston rod adapted to move in response to expansion or contraction of the fluid within said reservoir depending on the ambient temperature; a lens cell slidably positioned adjacent said housing; linkage means pivotally connecting the portion of said piston rod extending exteriorly of the housing with said lens cell for moving the lens cell in Response to the expansion and contraction of the reservoir fluid; and a lens supported by said lens cell, whereby changes in volume of the reservoir fluid will actuate the piston and piston rod, thus adjusting the lens according to ambient temperature variations.

Claim 3

A lens mount as defined in claim 1 wherein: a cylinder is axially located in said housing adjacent one end of the reservoir and communicating therewith; a closure plug having an axially directed aperture therein is adapted to close one end of said cylinder, said hydraulically actuated piston being operatively positioned in the cylinder with a portion of the piston rod extending through said aperture in the plug.

Claim 4

A lens mount as defined in claim 2 wherein: a spring is positioned in said cylinder and is adapted to tension the piston in a resting position.

Claim 5

A lens mount as defined in claim 1 further comprising: an electric heating coil positioned adjacent the reservoir thus enabling temperature control of the fluid therein from a remote source and independently of the ambient temperature.

Claim 6

A temperature-compensating arrangement for an optical system having an optical path which is altered as a result of variations in ambient temperature comprising: a housing structurally mounted alongside the optical instrument containing the optical elements subject to displacement by temperature variations, said housing containing a reservoir area; a supply of fluid in said reservoir said fluid expanding when the reservoir area is heated and contracting when it is cooled; said reservoir having a movable wall member directly displaceable in response to expansion and contraction of said fluid; a movable optical element forming a part of said optical path and serving when moved to correct for optical errors introduced by ambient temperature variations; and means pivotally linking said movable wall and said movable optical element so that expansion of said fluid causes movement of said optical element in one direction and contraction of said fluid causes movement of said optical element in the opposite direction; whereby changes in said optical path characteristics as a result of ambient temperature fluctuations are compensated for by opposite movements of said movable element to eliminate optical inaccuracies resulting from such changes in optical path characteristics.

Claim 7

A temperature-compensating arrangement for an optical system having an optical path which is altered as a result of variations in ambient temperature comprising: a housing structurally mounted alongside the optical instrument containing the optical elements subject to displacement by temperature variations, said housing containing a reservoir area; a supply of fluid in said reservoir said fluid expanding when the reservoir area is heated and contracting when it is cooled; said reservoir having a movable wall member directly displaceable in response to expansion and contraction of said fluid; a movable optical element forming a part of said optical path and serving when moved to correct for optical errors introduced by ambient temperature variations; and means pivotally linking said movable wall and said movable optical element so that expansion of said fluid causes movement of said optical element in one direction and contraction of said fluid causes movement of said optical element in the opposite direction; whereby changes in said optical path characteristics as a result of ambient temperature fluctuations are compensated for by opposite movements of said movable element to eliminate optical inaccuracies resulting from such changes in optical path characteristics.