Re: [ATM] Unique New Equatorial Platform Design

[creator <creator@subarcsec.com>]

Greetings Mel and Friends!

I just received my ATM "daily digest"...

Mel, thanks so much for your interaction on this topic.

 > 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.

I would much appreciate a reference to and/or a copy of this
Berry discussion or article from you or anyone who may have a
copy or know where to find it. As someone who strongly believes
in "credit where credit is due" I would like to update my
"History" page ( http://subarcsec.com/4622/index.html ) with
appropriate references and credits as I learn about them, as
I have already done on that page insofar as I have been or have
become aware of similar devices.

 > Here, we're talking the Yoke or English Yoke design.

While I acknowledge similarities to the Yoke, my concept has
very clearly enumerated differences that make it superior in
significant ways.

 > Also, this type of mount is sometimes used in the Siderostat
 > world.

I will "google" Siderostat, but would appreciate any references
to specific instances you may be aware of. :)

 > 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.

Nor would I be surprised... :) and would welcome specific references
and / or articles from whatever source, thank you all!

 > 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 deflating tire inner-tube, brought to RTMC by Tom Fangrow in
I believe '86, was one of my acknowledged inspirations (see previous
history page reference). My specific improvement to the "hiss"
drive is to use an incompressible fluid (such as water), as the
regulating medium.

 > The conclusion was that controlling the hydraulic release of
 > pressure for precision tracking was too tough a nut to crack
 > using simple means.

I have it working pretty well, thank you! Although, admittedly not
yet perfectly, and it is one of the areas of my current intense
development efforts. I believe that it can be solved. While at
RTMC this year, I spoke with an acquaintance of Tom Fangrow who
told me that Tom had also experimented with liquids like water (BTW,
Tom, if you come across this, I would greatly enjoy communicating
with you, please do send an email! :)

 > Ok, found the same mount in an old Telescope Making magazine,
 > where it was called the box or corner equatorial mount.

Could you please send me the reference and/or a copy of the article?
I would very much like to examine the mount presented in that article
and compare it in detail with what I have designed.

As a final comment, for what it's worth, the ideas I've described and
claimed at http://subarcsec.com are original with me; inspired in some
cases from other acknowledged sources. As I have learned of other similar
ideas "after the fact" I have and intend to acknowledge and report them
appropriately on the "History" page. However, I will reserve judgement
as to the "equivalence" of these prior similar devices until I have
the chance to actually see or read about them and evaluate the similarities
and differences. :)

It's apparent to me that, even if there may have been similar devices
in the past -- in fact, even if there may have been something precisely
identical -- it's value must not have been clearly recognized or
elucidated.

 > Mel Bartels

And so, Mel, I thank you kindly for mentioning these references, and I
would be most grateful to you and/or anyone who could provide me with
article copies or cites that I could locate! Thanks!

Very best regards,

-Dann
================================================================
Dann McCreary http://flyinghouse.com    creator-at-subarcsec.com
SubArcSecond Tracking Accuracy!  --   Visit http://subarcsec.com
Read The Bills Act http://www.downsizedc.org/read_the_laws.shtml
================================================================
"The heavens are telling of the glory of God;  and their expanse
  is declaring the work of His hands"  -     Psalm 19:1    (NASB)
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