Schwem Instruments

Energy Dynamics, Inc.

Arnold J Schwemin

Luis W Alvarez

An optically stabilized camera lens system includes an objective lens mounted to the lens case and an optical train defining an optical path between the objective lens and a camera image plane. The optical train includes first a Humphrey prism, second a light reversing, cube corner element, third a zoom lens. Provision is made for replacement of the cube corner with a prism and use of a parity inverting prism such as a Dove or preferably a Pechan to provide an alternate path. Roll stabilization is provided by coupling the Pechan, Dove or equivalent parity reversing prism to a gyroscope so the prism becomes a derotating prism. The derotating prism rotates about the optical path at half the speed the case rotates about the optical axis to produce roll stabilization preferred in camera and video applications. The Humphrey prism is inertially mounted to the case, using a stabilizer to compensate for small accidental tilt and pan motions of the case. The tilt and pan stabilizer includes a Cardan suspension assembly including a first gimbal mounted to the case, a second gimbal pivotally mounted to the first gimbal and a precessor biased rotor mounted to the second gimbal. A third gimbal is pivotally mounted to the second gimbal; the Humphrey prism is pivotally mounted to the third gimbal. The Cardan suspension assembly provides a gyroscopically stabilized mount for the third gimbal.

Optically stabilized camera lens system

A stabilized binocular using a gimbaled and stabilized triple-reflecting compensator (such as that in Humphrey U.S. Pat. No. 3,475,073) having three reflecting surfaces for each binocular path is disclosed. Each of the binocular paths is in convergent light from an objective to and through gimbaled stabilizer assembly to a primary focus that is stabilized with respect to the case. The triple-reflecting surfaces disposed to reflect light in the manner corresponding to a single plane mirror at an effective mirroring plane with a displacement between the incident and reflected light beams. The compensator remains stabilized with respect to inertial space, while the instrument undergoes accidental angular motion. The reflecting property of the compensator brings the image back to the same place on the case despite the accidental angular motion. The displacing function of the compensator enables the image to be displaced to a location where the image does not interfere with the incoming light path. This image is then processed by conventional field optics, including a zoom relay lens. Provision is made to adjustably compensate for displacement and resultant angular velocity, acceleration, and jerk. Resonance is naturally avoided as torquing forces are not applied where inertial centering of the compensator is sufficient.

Stabilized zoom binocular

A stabilized binocular using a gimbaled and stabilized triple-reflecting compensator (such as that in Humphrey U.S. Pat. No. 3,475,073) having three reflecting surfaces for each binocular path is disclosed. Each of the binocular paths is in convergent light from an objective to and through gimbaled stabilizer assembly to a primary focus that is stabilized with respect to the case. The triple-reflecting surfaces disposed to reflect light inthe manner corresponding to a single plane mirror at an effective mirroring plane with a displacement between the incident and reflected light beams. The compensator remains stabilized with respect to inertial space, while the instrument undergoes accidental angular motion. The reflecting property of the compensator brings the image back to the same place on the case despite the accidental angular motion. The displacing function of the compensator enables the image to be displaced to a location where the image does not interfere with the incoming light path. This image is then processed by conventional field optics, including a zoom relay lens. Provision is made to adjustably compensate for displacement and resultant angular velocity, acceleration, and jerk. Resonance is naturally avoided as torquing forces are not applied where inertial centering of the compensator is sufficient.

A heat exchanger for use in a Stirling cycle engine includes a plurality of disc-like plates which are stacked in coaxial fashion within a cylindrical housing, and are supported thereby. The plates are all identical, and are provided with a matrix of perforations extending therethrough parallel to the axis of the heat exchanger. The plates are all parallel and spaced slightly apart, and each plate is rotated about the axis of the device approximately two percent from the adjacent plates. The cylindrical housing includes a plurality of radially extending fins which are disposed within an annular fluid jacket.

Heat exchanger

A drive mechanism for linking the pistons of a heat engine to a rotating drive shaft includes a housing through which the drive shaft extends in rotatable fashion. Secured to the drive shaft within the housing is a main bevelled gear. A plurality of bevelled drive gears engage the main gear, each drive gear being secured to a gear shaft which extends through the exterior of the housing. Secured to the exterior end of each gear shaft is a gear wheel, which meshes with a similar, free-wheeling gear wheel. A pair of eccentric arms are secured to each pair of meshing gear wheels, their distal ends being secured to a block. A piston rod is also secured to the block, so that the reciprocal motion of the piston rod may be transferred through the eccentric arms and the gear wheels to the drive gear and the main gear.

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Danville, CA, United States of America

Arnold J Schwemin