Adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror assembly

Claim 2

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror assembly comprising, in combination a. a spring mirror member having an optically reflective front surface and a back surface; b. a set of two inner loading point means for contacting said front surface of said mirror member comprising parallel rods between two parallel, spaced yokes; c. a set of two outer loading point means spaced from and outside said inner loading point means contacting said back surface of said mirror member and comprising parallel rods mounted in a mounting block and forming with said two inner loading point means a four-point support system; and d. means to controllably move one set of said loading point means with respect to the other set thereby to impart a variable radius of curvature to said mirror member and form a cylindrical mirror.

Claim 3

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means to controllably move said one set of said loading point means comprises means to move said mounting block relative to said set of inner loading point means.

Claim 4

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means to move said mounting block comprises vernier means including rod means in thrust applying relationship with said mounting block and being mounted between said yokes, and spring means for maintaining contact between said rod means and said mounting block.

Claim 5

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror assembly in accordance with claim 3 including a base support, parallel upright supports affixed to said base support, and block support rods oppositely disposed on said mounting block and pivotally mounted in said upright supports whereby the axis of said block support rods is the pivot axis of said mounting block.

Claim 6

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror assembly in accordance with claim 4 including means to pivot said mounting block thereby to adjust the angle of elevation of said mirror member.

Claim 7

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means to pivot said mounting block comprises screw means extending through a portion of said base support in adjustable thrust applying relationship with the lower end of said mounting block and said spring means serving as means to maintain contact between said screw means and said mounting block.

Claim 8

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror in accordance with claim 4 including means to adjust the orientation of the beam reflected by said mirror means and to control the angle of focus of said mirror means.

Claim 9

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror in accordance with claim 7 wherein said upright supports are joined through a yoke which forms with the bottom edges of said upright supports an arcuate configuration and said means to adjust the orientation of said beam comprises arcuate slots in said upright supports and set screws extending through said slots to engage said base support whereby said yoked upright supports may be moved through an arc relative to said base support before being affixed thereto by said set screws.

Claim 10

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror in accordance with claim 4 including a pivot pin affixed to the front of said base support and oppositely disposed arcuate ridged slots cut in the back of said base support, whereby said base support along with said mirror member may be pivoted around said pivot pin to attain a desired orientation in the horizontal plane in which said assembly is positioned and be affixed at said desired orientation by means of set screws engaging the surfaces of said ridged slots.

Claim 11

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror in accordance with claim 9 wherein the axis of said pivot pin coincides with the nominal position of said reflective surface of said mirror member.

Claim 12

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror assembly comprising, in combination; a. a mirror mounting block having a front face and a back face and mounting rods attached to each side thereof, said front face having upper and lower notches; b. parallel yokes disposed on said sides of said mounting block and being slotted to slidably move on said mounting rods of said mounting block; c. outer parallel rods in said notches in said front face of said mounting block; d. inner parallel rods mounted in said yokes and extending across said front face of said mounting block; e. a spring mirror having a back surface in contact with said outer parallel rods serving as outer loading points for said mirror and a front optically reflective surface in contact with said inner parallel rods serving as inner loading points for said mirror; f. a stepped-shaped base member having lower and higher base sections; g. mounting block moving means for moving said block toward and away from said mirror whereby said mirror assumes a radius of curvature which determines its focal length; h. mounting block upright support means attached to said higher section of said base member for pivotally supporting said mounting block through said mounting rods; and i. means to adjust the angle of elevation of said mirror by effecting controlled pivoting of said mounting block.

Claim 13

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror assembly comprising, in combination; a. a mirror mounting block having a front face and a back face and mounting rods attached to each side thereof, said front face having upper and lower notches; b. parallel yokes disposed on said sides of said mounting block and being slotted to slidably move on said mounting rods of said mounting block; c. outer parallel rods in said notches in said front face of said mounting block; d. inner parallel rods mounted in said yokes and extending across said front face of said mounting block; e. a spring mirror having a back surface in contact with said outer parallel rods serving as outer loading points for said mirror and a front optically reflective surface in contact with said inner parallel rods serving as inner loading points for said mirror; f. a stepped-shaped base member having lower and higher base sections; g. mounting block moving means for moving said block toward and away from said mirror whereby said mirror assumes a radius of curvature which determines its focal length; h. mounting block upright support means attached to said higher section of said base member for pivotally supporting said mounting block through said mounting rods; and i. means to adjust the angle of elevation of said mirror by effecting controlled pivoting of said mounting block.

Claim 14

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein said mounting block moving means comprises vernier means including rod means in thrust applying relationship with said mounting block and being mounted between said yokes, and spring means anchored to said base member for maintaining contact between said rod means and said mounting block.

Claim 15

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror assembly in accordance with claim 12 wherein said means to adjust the angle of elevation of said mirror comprises screw means extending through said higher section of said base member in adjustable thrust applying relationship with the lower end of said mounting block and said spring means serving as means to maintain contact between said screw means and said mounting block.

Claim 16

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror in accordance with claim 11 including a pivot pin affixed to the front of said lower section of said base member and oppositely disposed arcuate ridged slots cut in the higher section of said base member, whereby said base member along with said mirror member may be pivoted around said pivot pin to attain a desired orientation in the horizontal plane in which said assembly is positioned and be affixed at said desired orientation by means of set screws engaging the surfaces of said ridged slots.

Claim 17

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror in accordance with claim 14 wherein the axis of said pivot pin coincides with the nominal position of said reflective surface of said mirror.

Claim 18

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror in accordance with claim 11 including means to adjust the orientation of the beam reflected by said mirror and to control the angle of focus of said mirror.

Claim 19

An adjustable focal length cylindrical mirror in accordance with claim 16 wherein said upright support means comprise parallel support members joined through a yoke which forms with the bottom edges of said support members an arcuate configuration and said means to adjust the orientation of said beam comprises arcuate slots in said support members and set screws extending through said slots to engage said base member whereby said yoked support members may be moved through an arc relative to said base member before being affixed thereto by said set screws.