Quick-change shutter assembly

Abstract

A shutter assembly for an optical system includes a shutter housing that maintains optical alignments with adjoining parts of the optical system and a shutter mechanism that can be removed and replaced within the shutter housing without disturbing the optical alignments between the shutter housing and the adjoining parts of the optical system. The shutter mechanism can also include alignment features with the shutter housing for restoring the original optical alignment of the shutter mechanism with the adjoining parts of the optical system.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A light propagating system having a removable shutter, comprising: 
 a light-propagating element;    a shutter housing aligned with the light-propagating element along a common optical axis;    the shutter housing including a first end connected to the light propagating element, a second end spaced from the first end along the common optical axis, and a periphery between the two ends having a peripheral opening;    an aperture formed through the shutter housing for permitting the propagation of light along the common optical axis;    a shutter mechanism for regulating the propagation of light through the aperture; and    the shutter housing including mounting features that (a) are engageable with the shutter mechanism for mounting the shutter mechanism in an operative position for regulating the propagation of light through the aperture and (b) are disengageable from the shutter mechanism for removing the shutter mechanism through the peripheral opening without altering the optical alignment of the shutter housing with the light propagating element.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  in which the mounting features of the shutter housing are reengageable with the shutter mechanism for remounting the shutter mechanism in its operative position without altering the optical alignment of the shutter housing with the first light propagating element.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  in which the mounting features of the shutter housing optically align the shutter mechanism with the light propagating element along the common optical axis.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  in which the mounting features include at least two locating surfaces for engaging mating features of the shutter mechanism for centering the shutter mechanism within the aperture in alignment with the common optical axis.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11  in which a closure member surrounds a portion of the shutter mechanism and engages the shutter housing for closing the peripheral opening.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising a fastener for securing the closure member to the shutter housing.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising a shutter actuator coupling operative through the closure.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 11  in which the shutter housing includes a first shutter housing portion forming the first end of the shutter housing and a part of the housing periphery and a second housing portion forming the second end of the shutter housing, and the first and second housing portions are fastened together leaving a gap in the housing periphery forming the peripheral opening.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  in which a closure member surrounds the shutter mechanism and is engageable with both the first and second housing portions for closing the peripheral opening.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 11  in which the light propagating element is a first of two light propagating elements that are aligned along a common optical axis, the first end of the shutter housing is connected to the first light propagating element, and a second end of the shutter housing is connected to a second of the light propagating elements.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  in which the shutter housing maintains the optical alignment between the first and second light propagating elements while the shutter mechanism is engaged or disengaged from the shutter housing.  
   
   
       22 . A shutter assembly for mounting a removable shutter within an optical system, comprising: 
 a shutter housing mountable among components of the optical system that are aligned along a common optical axis;    a cartridge carrier including a shutter mechanism;    the shutter housing including an aperture for propagating light along the common optical axis and a peripheral opening through which the shutter mechanism can be inserted into an operative position for regulating the propagation of light along the common optical axis;    the cartridge carrier being (a) engageable with the shutter housing for securing the shutter mechanism in its operative position and (b) disengageable from the shutter housing for removing the shutter mechanism from the shutter housing.    
   
   
       23 . The assembly of  claim 22  in which the engagement of the cartridge carrier with the shutter housing closes the peripheral opening in the shutter housing.  
   
   
       24 . The assembly of  claim 22  in which the shutter housing and the cartridge carrier include mating features for locating the shutter mechanism in optical alignment with the components of the optical system along the common optical axis.  
   
   
       25 . The assembly of  claim 22  in which the shutter housing includes a cartridge case and a cartridge cover that are assembled together preserving the peripheral opening for removing the shutter mechanism from the shutter housing.  
   
   
       26 . The assembly of  claim 25  in which the cartridge case and the cartridge cover define between them a slot in communication with the peripheral opening for receiving the shutter mechanism in its operative position.  
   
   
       27 . The assembly of  claim 22  in which a first of the optical components is attached to a first end of the shutter housings a second of the optical components is attached to a second end of the shutter housing, and the cartridge carrier together with shutter mechanism is both disengageable from the shutter housing for removing the shutter mechanism from the shutter housing and reengageable with the shutter housing for securing the shutter mechanism in its operative position without altering an optical alignment between the first and the second optical components along the common optical axis.