Screw actuated night vision goggle tilt mechanism

• US 7,729,063 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elbit Systems of America LLC (Elbit Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Neff, Todd Michael, Willey, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stultz; Jessica T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sahle; Mahidere S
• Application Number:
  US11/945,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20090135506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 359/815, 359407-409, 359630-631, 2/62, 2/67, 345/8
• US Class Current: 359/815
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

A mechanism for adjusting the angular position of an optical device with respect to a field helmet is disclosed. The mechanism includes an optical device mounting component for coupling to the optical device. A field helmet mounting component is provided for coupling to the field helmet. The field helmet mounting component is rotatably coupled to the optical device mounting component about an axis of rotation. An angular adjustment mechanism is engaged between the optical device mounting component and the field helmet mounting component. The angular adjustment mechanism includes a translating member that is moveably translatable along an axis of translation for engaging a surface of either the field helmet mounting component or the optical device mounting component. Translation of the translating member along the axis of translation induces rotation of the optical device mounting component about the axis of rotation for adjusting the angular position of the optical device.

Claims

1. A mechanism for adjusting the angular position of an optical device with respect to a field helmet, said mechanism comprising:

an optical device mounting component for coupling to the optical device;

a field helmet mounting component for coupling to the field helmet, said field helmet mounting component being rotatably coupled to the optical device mounting component about an axis of rotation; and

an angular adjustment mechanism engaged between the optical device mounting component and the field helmet mounting component, said angular adjustment mechanism including;

a translating member being moveably translatable along an axis of translation for engaging a surface of either the field helmet mounting component or the optical device mounting component, said translating member being a pin having a substantially cylindrically shape, and

a threaded shaft being threadedly engaged with a threaded aperture of the pin,

wherein rotation of the threaded shaft directly induces translation of the pin in both directions along the axis of translation, and translation of the pin along the axis of translation induces rotation of the optical device mounting component about the axis of rotation for adjusting the angular position of the optical device with respect to the field helmet.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein translation of the pin along the axis of translation induces rotation of the optical device mounting component about the axis of rotation between a first position wherein the optical device is oriented distal to the user'"'"'s eye and a second position wherein the optical device is oriented proximal to the user'"'"'s eye.

3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the optical device is a night vision optical device.

4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the surface of either the field helmet mounting component or the optical device mounting component is defined by a slot that is sized for receiving the pin.

5. The mechanism of claim 4, said slot being substantially radially aligned with the axis of rotation and substantially orthogonal to the axis of translation.

6. The mechanism of claim 1, said angular adjustment mechanism further comprising a rotatable handwheel attached to the threaded shaft for rotating the threaded shaft.

7. The mechanism of claim 6, said angular adjustment mechanism further comprising a spring positioned between the rotatable handwheel and either the optical device mounting component or the field helmet mounting component for limiting translation of the shaft upon rotation of the shaft.

8. The mechanism of claim 1, said field helmet mounting component being rotatably coupled to the field helmet about the axis of rotation between a stowed position and a deployed position.

9. The mechanism of claim 1, said field helmet mounting component being releasably coupled to a mounting portion of the field helmet.

10. A night vision apparatus configured for attachment to a field helmet comprising:

a night vision device;

an optical device mounting component coupled to the night vision device;

a field helmet mounting component for coupling to the field helmet, said field helmet mounting component being rotatably coupled to the optical device mounting component about an axis of rotation, said field helmet mounting component defining a slot; and

an angular adjustment mechanism engaged between the optical device mounting component and the field helmet mounting component, said angular adjustment mechanism including;

a pin being moveably translatable along an axis of translation and positioned within the slot of the field helmet mounting component, and

a threaded shaft being threadedly engaged with a threaded aperture of the pin,

wherein rotation of the threaded shaft directly induces translation of the pin in both directions along the axis of translation, and translation of the pin along the axis of translation induces rotation of the optical device mounting component about the axis of rotation for adjusting the angular position of the optical device with respect to the field helmet.