Re: [ATM] Unique New Equatorial Platform Design

[<atm@hudler.org>]

Ok I've followed this thread somewhat and with some amusement. However, it's
time for reality (well to be fair at least it's my reality :-).

So far I do not see any patentable claims. 

The hydraulic nature of the drive system is just plain silly and it's not worth
any detailed discussion on my part.  

You'll end up having to compensate for all the other errors in the system that
you might as well slap a gear on it and do PEC, which is trivial compared to the
chaotic nature of fluid dynamics using (insert you favorite fluid here). 

Software like TPOINT easily handles everything from refraction to the harmonics
of ball bearing #10 on the inner race of the left polar support bearing (for
example).

Also, Dan overlooked the most basic error (it is to me) attempting to eliminate
the effects of periodic error on sidereal tracking rates; refraction. Google
"king rate" sidereal and you'll understand why this important, especially at
high zenith angles and on long focal length scopes.

Look at this way; strip away the water bottle and what are you left with?

In the end the examiner is going to rule that you've made nothing more than an
English/yoke mount (with some kinks and platform for a telescope) and attached a
crude 9th century water clock to it.

Nothing personal it's all I see here.

Jack

-----Original Message-----
From: atm-bounces@atmlist.net [mailto:atm-bounces@atmlist.net] On Behalf Of
donald.good@comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 9:46 AM
To: creator@subarcsec.com; atm@ATMList.net
Subject: Re: [ATM] Unique New Equatorial Platform Design

<snip>

Can it be built simply, inexpensively, and with basic skills? 

Can it be built strongly and sufficiently accurate?  

Can it be accurately polar aligned?  

Can it be accurately driven at the correct rate?  

In conclusion, IMHO, the device is sufficiently unique to warrant the claim as
an invention.  And in such case, it is generous of Dan to place it in the public
domain.  I cannot fault him for wanting credit for it uniqueness.  We all
appreciate credit where due.  

In particular, I have not seen a polar alignment mechanism on a portable
equatorial mount, platform or standard, with such fine alignment control.  I
would truly like to know if something of similar fineness exists?  And it is
true that any rotation around and in contact with the surface of two spheres on
the great circles (condition guaranteed by this geometry), is a rotation around
the line between the centers.  This has higher accuracy than a solid axel thru
bearings because it depends only on the accuracy or the two balls instead of all
the balls in the ball bearings and the roundness and straightness of the axel.

Don

P.S. I once came across a web site on polar alignment accuracy that had graphs
describing the alignment error tolerances as a function of exposure duration and
object declination.  Does anyone know of it?
Thanks.
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