Mounting system and method for night vision tubes
AssigneeBurle Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRobert Joseph McCreight, Jr., James G. Burke, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mounting system for night vision tubes includes a multi-part sleeve that opens in the manner of a clamshell to receive the tube. The sleeve includes a longitudinal seam or a partial longitudinal seam and opens around compliant hinge regions. The night vision tube engages a ramp section of the sleeve, urging the sleeve to open and then abuts against a front shoulder, causing the sleeve to clamp shut around the night vision tube. The tube is constrained between the front shoulder and a retaining shoulder. An indexing pin engages the night vision tube and the sleeve to maintain mutual rotational alignment. The sleeve and the tube are inserted into a housing of a night vision system.
Claims17
A night vision system, comprising:
- a night vision tube;
- and
- a sleeve for surrounding the night vision tube in a housing, wherein the sleeve has a seam that divides the sleeve into two parts, wherein said seam extends partially longitudinally along the sleeve and the sleeve opens around compliant hinge regions that attach the two parts.
A method of mounting a night vision tube in a housing, the method comprising:
- inserting the night vision tube into a multi-part sleeve for surrounding the night vision tube, wherein said multi-part sleeve has a sleeve opening around compliant hinge regions that connect the two parts of the sleeve to receive the night vision tube;
- and
- closing the sleeve around the night vision tube and inserting the sleeve with the night vision tube into the housing.
A night vision system, comprising:
- a night vision tube;
- and
- a sleeve for surrounding the night vision tube in a housing, wherein the sleeve has a seam along the sleeve that divides the sleeve into two parts, wherein the sleeve opens around compliant hinge regions that attach the two parts.
A night vision system, comprising:
- a night vision tube;
- and
- a sleeve for surrounding the night vision tube in a housing, wherein the sleeve has a seam that divides the sleeve into two parts, wherein the sleeve comprises a front compression buffer portion.
A night vision system, comprising:
- a night vision tube;
- a sleeve for surrounding the night vision tube in a housing, wherein the sleeve has a seam that divides the sleeve into two parts;
- and
- an indexing pin that engages the night vision tube and the sleeve to maintain mutual rotational alignment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.