Window mounting for optical sensor
First Claim
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1. An aircraft optical sensor cover system comprising:
- an aircraft optics housing adapted to house an optical sensor therein and connect the optical sensor to an aircraft; and
a window connected to the optics housing by a removable connection,wherein the removable connection comprises thermal insulation between the window and the optics housing which comprises a heat transfer limiting system to limit heat transfer from the window from aerodynamic heating to the optics housing.
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Abstract
A window mounting system for optical sensors including a removable connection for window replacement, an alignment system to assure precision registration of the window or dome with the sensor internal optics, and thermal insulation to limit heat transfer from the window to the optics housing and sensor. The removable connection maintains precise optical alignment of curved domes with significant optical power, yet also is effective with simple flat windows.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aircraft optical sensor cover system comprising:
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an aircraft optics housing adapted to house an optical sensor therein and connect the optical sensor to an aircraft; and a window connected to the optics housing by a removable connection, wherein the removable connection comprises thermal insulation between the window and the optics housing which comprises a heat transfer limiting system to limit heat transfer from the window from aerodynamic heating to the optics housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An aircraft optical sensor cover system comprising:
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an aircraft optics housing adapted to house an optical sensor therein and connect the optical sensor to an aircraft; and a dome shaped window connected to the optics housing by a removable connection, wherein the dome window contacts the optics housing only along a concave interior surface at a protruding surface of the optics housing to align the dome window relative to the optics housing and limit aerodynamically generated conductive heat transfer from the dome window to the optics housing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of mounting a window to an optics housing in an aircraft optical sensor system, the method comprising steps of:
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bonding the window to a window frame such that the window is locatable at an exterior of an aircraft when the aircraft optical sensor system is connected to the aircraft; removably connecting the window frame to the optics housing at a removable connection, the removable connection comprising alignment members extending between the window frame and the optics housing to align the window relative to an open area of the optics housing; and providing heat transfer insulation between the window and the optics housing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An aircraft optical sensor cover system comprising:
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an aircraft optics housing adapted to house an optical sensor therein and connect the optical sensor to an aircraft; and a window connected to the optics housing by a removable connection; a heater assembly connected between the optics housing and the window, wherein the heater assembly is thermally insulated from the optics housing, wherein the removable connection comprises thermal insulation between the window and the optics housing which comprises a heat transfer limiting system to limit heat transfer from the window from the aerodynamic heating to the optics housing.
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Specification