Adjustment mechanism

• US 7,612,952 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schmidt & Bender GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Schmidt & Bender GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schafer, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson; Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US11/783,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20080007843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 359/822, 359/811, 359/819, 359/813, 359/826, 421/19, 356/247
• US Class Current: 359/813
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/18 Clicking-indicators with spring detents
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/38 Telescopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance telescopic sights in general G02B; Supports or mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/105 Sighting devices with light source and collimating reflector reflecting sights for small arms having light source F41G1/34
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/004 Manual alignment, e.g. micromanipulators
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/015 Arrangements for indicating the position of a controlling member means for continuously detecting pedal position G05G1/38; means for detecting position through tactile feedback G05G5/03
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels

Abstract

An adjustment mechanism to adjust a telescope sighting system comprises an adjusting muff rotatably supported on a connector part to drive the adjustment mechanism. The connector part is designed to transmit the motion of the adjusting muff to its connected components in order to adjust them. A first interlocking component is linked to the adjusting muff and fitted with first lock elements to constitute a first click array. A display means indicates the excursion of rotation of the adjusting muff, and a switch actuates the displays following a predetermined rotational excursion of the adjusting muff. A second interlocking component linked to the adjusting muff is provided with a second click array—different from the first click array—constituted by second lock components.

Claims

1. An adjustment mechanism (1) to adjust components to which it can be connected, in particular to adjust a telescope sighting system, comprising an adjusting muff (2) rotatably supported on a connector part (4) to drive the adjustment mechanism (1), the connector part (4) being designed to transmit the motion of the adjusting muff (2) to its connected components in order to adjust them, comprising a first interlocking component (5) linked to the adjusting muff (2) and fitted with first lock elements (A9) to constitute a first click array, further display means (3) to indicate the excursion of rotation of the adjusting muff (2), and a switch (6) to actuate the displays (3) following a predetermined rotational excursion of the adjusting muff (2), a second interlocking component (7) linked to the adjusting muff (2) being provided that is fitted with a second click array—

different form the first click array—

constituted by second lock components (A9).

4. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second interlocking component (7) comprises both a first snap-in part and a second snap-in part corresponding to and cooperating with said first part, said parts being designed to engage one another.

5. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first snap-in part is an interlocking annular slab (A3).

7. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lock elements (A9) of the first snap-in part are designed as a recess (A4, A8, A13) and/or an elevation (A6, A11, A12) and the lock elements (A9) of the second snap-in part are designed as elevations (A6, A11, A12) and/or (recesses (A4, A8, A13) corresponding to and engageable with the first snap-in parts.

8. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lock elements (A9) of the second snap-in part are designed as spherical elevations (A6) and the snoop-in parts (A9) of the corresponding first snap-in part are designed as spherical recesses (A4).

9. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the diameter of the spherical elevation (A6) is larger than that of the spherical recess (A4).

10. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ratio of the first click pitch to the second click pitch is selected from the group of ratios :

1;

2,1;

5, 1;

10, 1;

20, 1;

25, 1;

50, 1;

100, 1;

125, 1;

150, 1;

200, 1;

250, 1;

500, 1;

500, 1;

750, 1;

1000,1;

1250,1;

1500, 1;

2000, 1;

2500, 1;

5000,1;

7500;

1;

10000.

11. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second interlocking component (7) further comprises at least one prestressing element (A10) in order to bias the snap-in parts against each other.

12. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second interlocking component (7) comprises two biasing elements (A10) designed with oppositely acting biases in order to bias the snap-in parts against one another.

13. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the biasing elements (A10) are designed with different biasing forces.

14. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second interlocking component (7) further comprises a coupling displaceable in and/or opposite the direction of the force of the biasing element (A10) and configured between a snap-in part and the adjusting muff (2).

15. Adjustment means (1) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the biasing element (A10) exerting the larger bias force is configured between the connector part and the near-by snap-in part.

16. Adjustment means (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the display means (3) comprises an annular element (A2) fitted with a central, continuous borehole.

17. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting muff (2) comprises an annular recess (A16) at least partly receiving the annular element (A2).

18. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the annular element (A2) comprises an outer first surface pointing axially away from the adjusting muff (2) and a second surface pointing toward the surface of the adjusting muff (2)

19. Adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the offset (V) is situated within the range from the negative value of the width of the annular element (A2) to the positive value of the width of the annular element (A2).

20. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first position of the display means (3) is a position wherein the offset (V) is about zero.

21. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the other position is a second position wherein the offset (V) is other than zero.

22. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the other position includes more than one position wherein the offset (V) in each position is different from that in the other positions.

23. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the positions and hence the offset (V) are due to a discrete distribution.

24. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the positions and hence the offset (V) are due to a constant distribution.

25. A retrofitting kit to retrofit adjustment mechanisms (1), to adjust components which can be connected to the adjustment mechanism (1), in particular to adjust a telescope sighting system, comprising a second interlocking component (7) and/or at least one display means (3) as claimed in claim 1.

26. A sighting telescope fitted with an adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a tube housing containing tube mounts for an ocular and objective system and an optical inverting system receiving an associated crosshair.

27. Firing system comprising a firing device and a sighting telescope as claimed in claim 26.

28. A method to control components linked to an adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, comprising the stages:

fine control of the adjustment mechanism (1) using the detectable feedback from the first interlocking component (5),

coarse control of the adjustment mechanism (1) using the detectable feedback from the second interlocking component (7),

where the sequence of the above stages also may be inverted.

29. Method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the stage:

checking the position of the adjustment mechanism (1) using the display means (3), where such checks may be carried out any time during the implementation of the method.

2. An adjustment mechanism (1) to adjust its connected components, in particular to adjust a telescope sighting system, comprising an adjusting muff (2) rotatably supported on a connector part (4) to drive the adjustment mechanism (1), the connector part (4) being designed to transmit the motion of the adjusting muff (2) to components which can be connected to it in order to adjust said components, comprising a first interlocking component (5) linked to the adjusting muff (2) and fitted with first lock elements (A9) to constitute a first click array, further display means (3) to display the excursion of rotation of the adjusting muff (2), and a switch (6) to actuate the display means (3) following a predetermined rotational excursion of the adjusting muff (2), the display means (3) being displaceable relative to the adjusting muff (2) and linked in a manner to the switch (6) that at a first switch position the display means (3) assumes a first position and at another switch position the display means (3) assumes another position which can be sensed by touch.

6. Adjustment mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized the second snap-in part is an interlocking bush (A5).

3. An adjustment mechanism (1) to adjust components with which it can be connected, in particular to adjust a telescope sighting system, comprising an adjusting muff (2) rotatably supported on a connector part (4) to drive the adjustment mechanism (1), the connector part (4) being designed to transmit to connectable components the motion of the adjusting muff (2) in order to adjust said components, comprising a first interlocking component (5) linked to the adjusting muff (2) and fitted with first lock elements (A9) to constitute a first click array, further display means (3) to display the excursion of rotation of the adjusting muff (2), and a switch (6) to actuate the displays (3) following a predetermined rotational excursion of the adjusting muff (2), the display means (3) being displaceable relative to the adjusting muff (2) and linked in a manner to the switch (6) that at a first switch position, the display means (3) assumes a first position and at another switch position the display means (3) assumes another position which can be sensed by touch, and where a second interlocking component (7) linked to the adjusting muff (2) fitted with a second click array—

different from the first click array—

constituted by two second lock components (A9).