Re: [ATM] Unique New Equatorial Platform Design

["Mel Bartels" <mbartels@bbastrodesigns.com>]

> where I formally announced the release of the invention into the public

Hmm, Richard Berry discussed this type of mount conceptually in an Astronomy
magazine article early on, where he described how the various types of
equatorial mounts each have mirror equivalents in the equatorial platform
world.  Here, we're talking the Yoke or English Yoke design.  Also, this
type of mount is sometimes used in the Siderostat world.  And I wouldn't be
surprised to find references to this type of mount in the '50's and '60's
where there was a great deal of experimentation on mountings.

The gravity or hydraulic drive working on an offset telescope was
demonstrated at RTMC years ago with an equatorial platform and featured in a
Telescope Making article.  This was where the builder also experimented with
deflating tires using a needle gauge I believe.  The conclusion was that
controlling the hydraulic release of pressure for precision tracking was too
tough a nut to crack using simple means.

Mel Bartels


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