Apparatus and method for mounting a range finding instrument to a theodolite telescope
US5418609A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 14, 1993 |
| Grant date | May 23, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 14, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C1/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method for mounting a range finding instrument to a theodolite telescope incorporates the necessary geometry to enable a linear spring assembly to be able to accurately balance the mass of the range finder and theodolite combination rotating in a vertical plane about a pivot point defining a first axis. In a particular embodiment of the mounting system, two compression springs are mounted in a single straight spring tube which is attached to the range finder but is allowed to rotate about a second axis. The resultant geometry of the arrangement provides a substantially exact balance for the weight of the range finder irrespective of the vertical angle of the theodolite telescope.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.