Optical mounting device for use in laser systems

Claim 2

A mounting device including: a frame; a diaphragm secured at its peripheral edge portions to said frame, said diaphragm having a central opening; a support tube secured in said central opening with its axis in substantial alignment with the normal to the plane of said diaphragm when in unstressed condition; means for holding a component having an axis to be axially aligned with a given axis, in one end portion of said support tube; and force applying means coupled to said frame for exerting a force on said support tube adjacent to its other end in a direction generally normal to the axis of said support tube, said diaphragm lying in a plane tilted to said given axis whereby said diaphragm is stressed to provide a reaction force in said support tube to the force applied by said force applying means, whereby the axis of said component may be exactly aligned with said given axis by said force applying means.

Claim 3

An optical mounting device for use in a laser system, comprising, in combination: a. a rigid housing frame having a central passage axially aligned so that laser light in said system can pass therethrough, one end of said passage terminating in a flat peripheral surface lying in a given plane; b. a metal diaphragm having a central opening to define a washer like shape secured to said flat peripheral surface to lie in said given plane when in an unstressed condition; c. a support tube secured in said central opening of said diaphragm and extending into said passage, the axis of said tube coinciding with the normal to said given plane when said diaphragm is in said unstressed condition; d. means adjacent to one end of said tube for holding an optical component used in said laser system; and e. adjustment screw means passing into said housing for applying a force to circumferentially spaced portions of said support tube adjacent to its other end spaced from the portion of said tube secured to said diaphragm so that individual adjustment of said adjustment screw means enables bending forces to be applied to said diaphragm through said support tube in directions to bring the axis of said support tube and that of said optical component into exact alignment with the optical axis of said laser system.

Claim 4

An optical mounting device for use in a laser system, comprising, in combination: a. a rigid housing frame having a central passage axially aligned so that laser light in said system can pass therethrough, one end of said passage terminating in a flat peripheral surface lying in a given plane; b. a metal diaphragm having a central opening to define a washer like shape secured to said flat peripheral surface to lie in said given plane when in an unstressed condition; c. a support tube secured in said central opening of said diaphragm and extending into said passage, the axis of said tube coinciding with the normal to said given plane when said diaphragm is in said unstressed condition; d. means adjacent to one end of said tube for holding an optical component used in said laser system; and e. adjustment screw means passing into said housing for applying a force to circumferentially spaced portions of said support tube adjacent to its other end spaced from the portion of said tube secured to said diaphragm so that individual adjustment of said adjustment screw means enables bending forces to be applied to said diaphragm through said support tube in directions to bring the axis of said support tube and that of said optical component into exact alignment with the optical axis of said laser system.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 2, in which said given plane is tilted with respect to the axis of said passage to define a skew plane, and in which said adjustment screw means comprise screws, said housing having threaded bores receiving said screws, said bores extending radially towards the axis of said passage at angles of 45* on either side of a plane including the axis of said passage and a normal to said skew plane so that the ends of said screws engage the support tube at points cicumferentially spaced 90*, said diaphragm being stressed and providing a reactive force to forces applied by such screws.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 2, in which the normal to said given plane is substantially aligned with the axis of said passage when said diaphragm is in unStressed condition and in which said adjustment screw means comprise screws having tapered shaft portions defining conical surfaces, said housing having bores receiving said screws in parallel relationship on either side of the axis of said passage; thread means in the lower portions of said bores threadedly receiving the screws below said tapered portions; ball bearings disposed between said conical surfaces and said support tube such that downward pressure by said screws urges said bearings against said support tube to apply force at points circumferentially spaced 90* degrees from each other; and a biasing means in said housing applying a reacting force at a third point on said support tube circumferentially spaced 135* from said points of engagement by said bearings.