Articulated bearing supports for laser resonators

Abstract

In a bearing support ( 10 ) for a laser resonator, adjacent support sections ( 11 a, 11 b ) are directly and undetachably connected to each other by an articulated deflectable joint ( 12 ). An additional vertical safety on the bearing support is no longer necessary since the two support sections ( 11 a, 11 b ) are already held together in a vertically secure manner by the articulated joint ( 12 ).

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bearing support ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ;  110 ,  120 ,  130 ;  230 ;  310 ;  410 ,  420 ,  430 ;  510 ,  520 ,  530 ), for supporting a laser resonator or the like with at least two bearing support sections ( 11   a ,  11   b ;  21   a ,  21   b ,  21   c ;  31   a ,  31   b ,  31   c ;  111   a ,  111   b ;  121   a ,  121   b ,  121   c ;  131   a ,  131   b,    131   c ;  231   a ,  231   b ,  231   c ;  311   a ,  311   b ;  411   a ,  411   b ;  421   a ,  421   b ,  421   c ;  431   a ,  431   b ,  431   c ;  511   a,    511   b ;  521   a ,  521   b ,  521   c ;  531   a ,  531   b ,  531   c ) and an articulated deflectable joint provided between pairs of sections ( 12 ;  22 ,  23 ;  32 ,  33 ;  112 ;  122 ,  123 ;  132 ,  133 ;  232 ,  233 ;  312 ;  412 ;  422 ,  423 ;  432 ,  433 ;  512 ;  522 ,  523 ;  532 ,  533 ), characterized in that the adjacent bearing support sections ( 11   a ,  11   b ;  21   a ,  21   b ,  21   c ;  31   a ,  31   b ,  31   c ;  111   a ,  111   b ;  121   a ,  121   b ,  121   c;    131   a ,  131   b ,  131   c ;  231   a ,  231   b ,  231   c ;  311   a ,  311   b ;  411   a ,  411   b ;  421   a ,  421   b ,  421   c ;  431   a ,  431   b,    431   c ;  511   a ,  511   b ;  521   a ,  521   b ,  521   c ;  531   a ,  531   b ,  531   c ) are each directly connected together undetachably by said articulated deflectable joint ( 12 ;  22 ,  23 ;  32 ,  33 ;  112 ;  122 ,  123 ;  132 ,  133 ;  232 ,  233 ;  312 ;  412 ;  422 ,  423 ;  432 ,  433 ;  512 ;  522 ,  523 ;  532 ,  533 ).  
     
     
         2 . A bearing support according to  claim 1 , wherein adjacent bearing support sections ( 11   a ,  11   b ;  21   a ,  21   b ,  21   c ;  31   a ,  31   b ,  31   c ;  111   a ,  111   b ;  121   a ,  121   b ,  121   c ;  131   a ,  131   b,    131   c ;  231   a ,  231   b ,  231   c ;  311   a ,  311   b ;  411   a ,  411   b ;  421   a ,  421   b ,  421   c ;  431   a ,  431   b ,  431   c ) are each connected together as one piece by said articulated deflectable joint ( 12 ;  22 ,  23 ;  32 ,  33 ;  112 ;  122 ,  123 ;  132 ,  133 ;  232 ,  233 ;  312 ;  412 ;  422 ,  423 ;  432 ,  433 ).  
     
     
         3 . A bearing support according to  claim 1 , is comprised of several articulated individual sections.  
     
     
         4 . The bearing support according to  claim 3 , wherein said bearing support ( 310 ) is comprised of two identical halves ( 310   a ,  310   b ).  
     
     
         5 . The bearing support according  claim 1  wherein said articulated deflectable joint ( 12 ;  22 ;  32 ,  33 ;  112 ;  122 ;  132 ,  133 ;  232 ,  233 ;  312 ;  412 ;  422 ;  432 ,  433 ) is a deflectable joint able to tilt all around with at least two tilt axes rotated, in particular 90°, from each other. ( 13 ,  14 ;  24 ,  25 ;  34 ,  35 ;  36 ,  37 ;  113 ,  114 ;  124 ,  125 ;  134 ,  135 ;  136 ,  137 ;  234 ,  235 ;  236 ,  237 ;  313 ,  314 ;  414 ,  415 ;  424 ,  425 ).  
     
     
         6 . The bearing support according to  claim 5 , wherein two tilt axes ( 13 ,  14 ;  24 ,  25 ;  34 ,  35 ;  36 ,  37 ;  113 ,  114 ;  124 ,  125 ;  134 ,  135 ;  136 ,  137 ;  234 ,  235 ;  236 ,  237 ;  313 ,  314 ;  414 ,  415 ;  424 ,  425 ;  334 ) of the articulated deflectable joint ( 12 ;  22 ;  32 ,  33 ;  112 ;  122 ;  132 ,  133 ;  232 ,  233 ;  312 ;  412 ;  422 ;  432 ,  433 ) are disposed in the same plane.  
     
     
         7 . The bearing support according to  claim 5  wherein the articulated deflectable joint ( 412 ;  422 ;  432 ,  433 ) has a central deflection joint ( 413 ) that recedes relative to its adjacent support sections in each case ( 411   a ,  411   b ;  421   a ,  421   b ;  431   a ,  431   b ,  431   c ).  
     
     
         8  The bearing support according to  claim 5  wherein said two tilt axes ( 13 ,  14 ;  24 ,  25 ;  34 ,  35 ;  36 ,  37 ;  113 ,  114 ;  124 ,  125 ;  134 ,  135 ;  136 ,  137 ;  234 ,  235 ;  236 ,  237 ;  313 ,  314 ) of said articulated joint ( 12 ;  22 ;  32 ,  33 ;  112 ;  122 ;  132 ,  133 ;  232 ,  233 ;  312 ) are provided by two deflectable elements ( 15 ,  16 ;  115 ,  116 ;  238 ,  239 ;  317 ) rotated 90° from each other.  
     
     
         9 . The bearing support according to  claim 5  wherein said bearing support ( 20 ;  120 ;  420 ) additionally has an articulated deflectable joint ( 23 ;  123 ;  423 ) able to tilt on two sides that is deflectable joint with at least one deflectable element ( 27 ;  127 ;  427 ) defining the joint axis ( 26 ;  126 ;  426 ).  
     
     
         10 . The bearing support according to  claim 5  wherein said bearing support ( 30 ,  130 ;  230 ;  430 ) has two deflectable joints ( 32 ,  33 ;  132 ,  133 ;  232 ,  233 ;  432 ,  433 ) arranged one above the other and able to tilt all around.  
     
     
         11 . The bearing support according claims  5  wherein said deflectable element ( 15 ,  16 ;  27 ;  115 ,  116 ;  127 ;  238 ,  239 ;  317 ) is formed by two slits situated opposite each other and open on the side ( 18 ,  19 ;  28 ;  118 ,  119 ;  128 ;  240 ,  241 ;  318 ).  
     
     
         12 . The bearing support according to  claim 1 , wherein said articulated joint ( 12 ;  22 ,  23 ;  32 ,  33 ;  112 ;  122 ,  123 ;  132 ,  133 ;  232 ,  233 ;  412 ;  422 ,  423 ;  432 ,  433 ) is produced by subsequent opening of connecting links ( 250 ;  319 ).  
     
     
         13 . The bearing support according to  claim 5  wherein said articulated joint is produced by subsequent closing of laterally open slits ( 18 ,  19 ;  28 ;  118 ,  119 ;  128 ;  240 ,  241 ;  318 ).  
     
     
         14 . The bearing support according to  claim 1  wherein said bearing support ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ;  110 ,  120 ,  130 ;  410 ,  420 ,  430 ) is a hollow body.  
     
     
         15 . The bearing support according to  claim 1  wherein said bearing support ( 230 ) is a casting.  
     
     
         16 . The bearing support according to  claim 1  wherein said articulated joint ( 512 ;  522 ;  532 ,  533 ) is a cardan joint.  
     
     
         17 . The bearing support according to  claim 16  is provided a deflectable joint ( 523 ) able to tile on two sides is provided at a distance from said cardan joint ( 522 ) in the longitudinal direction of the bearing support ( 520 ).  
     
     
         18 . The bearing support according to  claim 15  wherein said bearing section ( 511   a,    511   b ;  521   a ,  521   b ,  521   c ;  531   a ,  531   b ,  531   c ) and cardan body of the cardan joint ( 512 ;  522 ;  532 ,  533 ) are mounted able to shift in the direction of said at least one of said two axes ( 513 ,  514 ).  
     
     
         19 . The bearing support according the  claim 17 , wherein said bearing support ( 530 ) has two cardan joints ( 532 ,  533 ) arranged one above the other.  
     
     
         20 . The bearing support according to  claim 17  wherein said cardan body of the cardan joint is mounted able to shift in the direction of the two joint axes ( 513 ,  514 ).  
     
     
         21 . The bearing support assembly ( 1 ;  101 ;  401 ;  501 ) for a laser resonator of the like having three bearing supports each having at least two bearing support sections and an articulated deflectable joints between each pair of sections which are directly connected together undetachably by said articulated deflectable joints ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ;  110 ,  120 ,  130 ;  230 ;  310 ;  410 ,  420 ,  430 ;  510 ,  520 ,  530 ).  
     
     
         22 . The bearing support assembly according to  claim 21  wherein said three bearing supports ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ;  110 ,  120 ,  130 ;  230 ;  310 ;  410 ,  420 ,  430 ;  510 ,  520 ,  530 ) have at the same level an articulated deflectable joint able to tilt all around ( 12 ;  22 ;  32 ;  112 ;  122 ;  132 ;  232 ;  312 ;  412 ;  422 ;  432 ;  512 ;  522 ;  532 ), and wherein one bearing support ( 20 ;  120 ;  420 ;  520 ) additionally has an articulated deflectable joint ( 23 ;  123 ;  423 ;  523 ) able to tilt on two sides and another bearing support ( 30 ;  130 ;  230 ;  430 ;  530 ) additionally has a further articulated joint ( 33 ;  133 ;  233 ;  433 ;  533 ) able to tilt all around.  
     
     
         23 . The bearing support assembly according to  claim 19  wherein said bearing supports ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ;  110 ,  120 ,  130 ;  230 ;  410 ,  420 ,  430 ) are integrally fabricated as unitary elements.