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US3655274A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Gravity operated liquid prism

Assignee: Ingenuics Inc
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Filing: 1970-05-07
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Granted: 1972-04-11
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Expires: 1990-05-07
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Abstract

Abstract A gravity operated liquid prism attached to an optical system intended for vertical orientation either up or down. The liquid prism includes a floating boat which moves with the liquid to remain horizontal when the other surface follows the mechanical motion in any direction of its support thus forming an optical wedge which deviates the optical axis of the system.

Inventors

  • 👤 Dwin R Craig

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 18:38
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/64; G02B27/646; G02B27/648; G02B5/00; G02B5/04; G02B5/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 169 words
A gravity operated liquid prism comprising a cylindrical container, a pair of chambers formed in said container by three spaced apart optically flat glass plates sealed to said container, a fluid partially filling each of said chambers with said fluid having an index of refraction of substantially 1.500, a glass bottom circular boat floating on the fluid in each of said chambers for forming a variable optical wedge with said fluid and the underlying glass plate, and an upstanding side wall on each of said boats having an outer surface corresponding to a section of a surface of a sphere having a radius slightly less than the inside radius of said cylindrical container, the space between said outer surface of saiD side wall and the inner surface of said cylinder being sufficiently small to produce capillary action to at least partially fill said space with said fluid, said fluid serving as a lubricant between said boat and said cylinder to insure free movement of said boat in said cylinder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 169 words
A gravity operated liquid prism comprising a cylindrical container, a pair of chambers formed in said container by three spaced apart optically flat glass plates sealed to said container, a fluid partially filling each of said chambers with said fluid having an index of refraction of substantially 1.500, a glass bottom circular boat floating on the fluid in each of said chambers for forming a variable optical wedge with said fluid and the underlying glass plate, and an upstanding side wall on each of said boats having an outer surface corresponding to a section of a surface of a sphere having a radius slightly less than the inside radius of said cylindrical container, the space between said outer surface of saiD side wall and the inner surface of said cylinder being sufficiently small to produce capillary action to at least partially fill said space with said fluid, said fluid serving as a lubricant between said boat and said cylinder to insure free movement of said boat in said cylinder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical container is opaque.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR1254479A Cited
FR1356208A Cited
US3242792A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-04-11 1975-10-11 1976-04-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-04-11 1979-10-11 1980-04-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-04-11 1983-10-11 1984-04-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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