Mounting devices with integrated alignment adjustment features and locking mechanisms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10670825-B2
Application number	US-201816110731-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2018
Priority date	Aug 23, 2018
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus includes a device mount configured to be coupled to a component. The apparatus also includes an inner hub coupled to the device mount by a first flexure, where the first flexure is configured to permit translational movement of the device mount within the inner hub along a first axis. The apparatus further includes an outer hub coupled to the inner hub by a second flexure, where the second flexure is configured to permit translational movement of the device mount and the inner hub within the outer hub along a second axis different from the first axis. The first and second flexures form a compound nested flexure. The outer hub is configured to be coupled to a support structure and to permit both (i) translational movement of the apparatus along a third axis different from the first and second axes and (ii) tip/tilt adjustment of the apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a device mount configured to be coupled to a component;
an inner hub coupled to the device mount by a first flexure, the first flexure configured to permit translational movement of the device mount within the inner hub along a first axis;
an outer hub coupled to the inner hub by a second flexure, the second flexure configured to permit translational movement of the device mount and the inner hub within the outer hub along a second axis different from the first axis, the first and second flexures forming a compound nested flexure, wherein the outer hub is configured to be coupled to a support structure and to permit both (i) translational movement of the apparatus along a third axis different from the first and second axes and (ii) tip or tilt adjustment of the apparatus;
a first lockable adjuster configured to control movement of the device mount within the inner hub in order to control the translational movement along the first axis;
a second lockable adjuster configured to control movement of the inner hub within the outer hub in order to control the translational movement along the second axis; and
third lockable adjusters configured to couple the outer hub to the support structure and to control the translational movement along the third axis and the tip or tilt adjustment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third lockable adjusters are configured to be locked in order to prevent unintended movement of the device mount, the inner hub, and the outer hub.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first lockable adjuster is configured to cause movement of the device mount only along the first axis and not along the second and third axes; and
the second lockable adjuster is configured to cause movement of the inner hub and the device mount only along the second axis and not along the first and third axes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the outer hub comprises:
a first opening located in a side of the outer hub and configured to receive the first lockable adjuster;
at least one second opening located in at least one other side of the outer hub and configured to receive the second lockable adjuster; and
multiple flanges extending from different sides of the outer hub, the flanges comprising third openings configured to receive the third lockable adjusters; and

the inner hub comprises a fourth opening configured to receive the second lockable adjuster.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first flexure comprises a first pair of support bars on opposite sides of the device mount and first and second connecting arms coupling the first pair of support bars to the device mount and the inner hub;
the second flexure comprises a second pair of support bars on opposite sides of the inner hub and third and fourth connecting arms coupling the second pair of support bars to the inner hub and the outer hub; and
the first and second pairs of support bars extend in transverse directions with respect to each other.

6. An apparatus comprising:
a device mount configured to be coupled to a component;
an inner hub coupled to the device mount by a first flexure, the first flexure configured to permit translational movement of the device mount within the inner hub along a first axis;
an outer hub coupled to the inner hub by a second flexure, the second flexure configured to permit translational movement of the device mount and the inner hub within the outer hub along a second axis different from the first axis, the first and second flexures forming a compound nested flexure, wherein the outer hub is configured to be coupled to a support structure and to permit both (i) translational movement of the apparatus along a third axis different from the first and second axes and (ii) tip or tilt adjustment of the apparatus; and
a backing plate configured to be fastened to the outer hub;
wherein the backing plate comprises posts configured to be inserted into post holes of the inner hub and the device mount; and
wherein each post comprises an injection channel configured to allow a bonding agent to pass through the post and into a corresponding one of the post holes.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
a first lockable adjuster configured to control movement of the device mount within the inner hub in order to control the translational movement along the first axis;
a second lockable adjuster configured to control movement of the inner hub within the outer hub in order to control the translational movement along the second axis; and
third lockable adjusters configured to couple the outer hub to the support structure and to control the translational movement along the third axis and the tip or tilt adjustment.

8. A system comprising:
multiple optical components configured to receive and process at least one optical beam; and
at least one mounting device configured to adjust a position, orientation, or alignment of one or more of the optical components;
wherein each mounting device comprises:
a device mount configured to be coupled to at least one of the optical components;
an inner hub coupled to the device mount by a first flexure, the first flexure configured to permit translational movement of the device mount within the inner hub along a first axis;
an outer hub coupled to the inner hub by a second flexure, the second flexure configured to permit translational movement of the device mount and the inner hub within the outer hub along a second axis different from the first axis, the first and second flexures forming a compound nested flexure, wherein the outer hub is configured to be coupled to a support structure and to permit both (i) translational movement of the mounting device along a third axis different from the first and second axes and (ii) tip or tilt adjustment of the mounting device;
a first lockable adjuster configured to control movement of the device mount within the inner hub in order to control the translational movement along the first axis;
a second lockable adjuster configured to control movement of the inner hub within the outer hub in order to control the translational movement along the second axis; and
third lockable adjusters configured to couple the outer hub to the support structure and to control the translational movement along the third axis and the tip or tilt adjustment.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first, second, and third lockable adjusters of each mounting device are configured to be locked in order to prevent unintended movement of the device mount, the inner hub, and the outer hub of the mounting device.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein, in each mounting device:
the first lockable adjuster is configured to cause movement of the device mount only along the first axis and not along the second and third axes; and
the second lockable adjuster is configured to cause movement of the inner hub and the device mount only along the second axis and not along the first and third axes.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein in each mounting device:
the outer hub comprises:
a first opening located in a side of the outer hub and configured to receive the first lockable adjuster;
at least one second opening located in at least one other side of the outer hub and configured to receive the second lockable adjuster; and
multiple flanges extending from different sides of the outer hub, the flanges comprising third openings configured to receive the third lockable adjusters; and

the inner hub comprises a fourth opening configured to receive the second lockable adjuster.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein in each mounting

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Foes Scott R
• Mcvey Ray

Classifications

• B29C65/56

  using mechanical means {or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits} · CPC title

• G02B7/003 Primary

  Alignment of optical elements (G02B7/001, G02B7/002 take precedence; for mirrors G02B7/1822) · CPC title

• F16M11/046

  adapted to upward-downward translation movement · CPC title

• B29C66/30325

  making use of cavities belonging to at least one of the parts to be joined · CPC title

• F16M11/045

  adapted to left-right translation movement · CPC title