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US 5,806,789 AGranted
Optical apparatus for an aircraft
AssigneeLockheed Corporation
InventorsJesse M. Boulware, Roger F. Marquardt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fairing for an aircraft is provided, having a roll axis with a turret coupled to the front end of the fairing for rotation about the roll axis. An opening is formed through the front end of the turret in which a tracking member is supported for rotation between forward and rearward positions about a pitch axis transverse to the roll axis. The tracking member has a cavity with a primary optical mirror at one end and a transparent shield at an opposite end with a primary optical axis extending between the mirror and shield. The shield is slanted to minimize wind turbulence when the tracking member is located in a rearward position.
Claims51
An optical apparatus for an aircraft, comprising:
- an aircraft having an elongated body,
- a fairing member having a front end and a rear end and an outward facing side with an axis extending between said front and rear ends,
- said fairing member being attached to said aircraft such that said front end and said outward facing side are external of said aircraft and said front end extends in a forward direction relative to said aircraft,
- a turret having a front end and a rear end with said rear end of said turret being coupled to said front end of said fairing member,
- an opening formed through said front end of said turret between the first and second sides,
- a tracking member supported in said opening of said turret for rotation about a pitch axis transverse to said axis of said fairing member,
- said tracking member having a cavity with a primary mirror at one end and a planar transparent shield at an opposite end with a primary optical axis extending between said mirror and said transparent shield,
- said tracking member being rotatable between a forward position and a rearward position about said pitch axis such that in said forward and rearward positions, said primary optical axis from said primary mirror extends forward and rearward respectively, and
- means for rotating said tracking member about said pitch axis between said forward and rearward positions,
- said shield forms an acute angle relative to said primary optical axis.
7 more elements
An optical apparatus to be coupled to an aircraft, comprising:
- a fairing member to be attached to an aircraft and having a front end and a rear end with an axis extending between said front and rear ends,
- said fairing member having an outward facing side such that when said fairing member is attached to an aircraft, said front end and said outward facing side are external of the aircraft,
- a turret having a front end and a rear end with said rear end being coupled to said front end of said fairing member,
- an opening formed through said front end of said turret between first and second sides,
- a tracking member supported in said opening of said turret for rotation about a pitch axis transverse to said axis of said fairing member,
- said tracking member having a cavity with a primary mirror at one end and a planar transparent shield at an opposite end with a primary optical axis extending between said primary mirror and said transparent shield, said tracking member being rotatable between a forward position and a rearward position about said pitch axis such that in said forward and rearward positions, said primary optical axis from said primary mirror extends forward and rearward respectively, and
- means for rotating said tracking member about said pitch axis between said forward and rearward positions,
- said transparent shield forms an acute angle relative to said primary optical axis.
5 more elements
An optical apparatus to be coupled to an aircraft, comprising:
- a fairing member to be attached to an aircraft and having a front end and a rear end with a roll axis extending between said front and rear ends,
- said fairing member having an outward facing side such that when said fairing member is attached to an aircraft, said front end and said outward facing side are external of the aircraft,
- a rotatable turret having a front end and a rear end with said rear end being coupled to said front end of said fairing member for rotation about said roll axis,
- means for rotating said turret about said roll axis,
- an opening formed through said front end of said turret between first and second sides,
- a tracking member supported in said opening of said turret for rotation about a pitch axis transverse to said roll axis,
- said tracking member having a cavity with a primary mirror at one end and a planar transparent shield at an opposite end with a primary optical axis extending between said primary mirror and said transparent shield,
- said tracking member being rotatable between a forward position and a rearward position about said pitch axis such that in said forward and rearward positions, said primary optical axis from said primary mirror extends forward and rearward respectively, and
- means for rotating said tracking member about said pitch axis between said forward and rearward positions,
- said transparent shield forms an acute angle relative to said primary optical axis.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.