×

Split-sphere observatory dome with a rotating oculus window

  • US 6,260,309 B1
  • Filed: 12/01/1999
  • Issued: 07/17/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. In a split-sphere observatory dome of the type comprising:

  • a cylindrical base having a circular peripheral edge, an antrum shell having a first circular peripheral edge rotatably supported on the circular peripheral edge of the cylindrical base and a second circular peripheral edge disposed at an acute angle with respect to said first circular peripheral edge, a rotor shell having a first circular peripheral edge rotatably supported on the second circular peripheral edge of the antrum shell and a second circular peripheral edge disposed at an angle with respect to said first circular peripheral edge of said rotor shell and tangential thereto at a point, said second circular peripheral edge of said rotor shell defining the periphery of a planar oculus;

    wherein upon rotation of the rotor shell said oculus revolves about an axis of rotation along a path wherein the orientation of the plane of the oculus varies between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation;

    the improvement comprising;

    a shutter lid fixed to said antrum shell proximate said second circular peripheral edge of said antrum shell, said shutter lid covering a portion of said rotor shell and exposing a portion of said rotor shell, said oculus being revolvable between a position wherein said lid completely covers said oculus and a position wherein said oculus is completely exposed; and

    an oculus window rotatably supported by the rotor shell and adapted to rotate to provide a predetermined orientation between the oculus window and an instrument housed within the split-sphere observatory dome, despite rotation of the rotor shell.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×