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an idea for a new kind of reflecting telescope, anybody interested?
about 30 years ago back when i was a sign painter in Waco, texas, I had the opportunit to work with 8 ft. x 8 ft. plexi-mirror/lexan...we had to cut this in a circle for a decoration to be placed in a bar/lounge interior and at one point we sat this lexan mirror on a cattle water trough (TROF) which was metal and noticed that it sunk in the middle in a rather symetrical fashion which created a concave mirror by about 3 inches..at the time it didn't cathc my attention but later on down the line I made a drum and the head was Mylar with a silver coating, this drum was big and was more decorative than anything else. When it was place in it's back, the drum top sagged and again made a slightly concave surface and I saw a particluar cloud much closer.(cuz we were outside).....since then I've had this idea of creating a large drumlike structure that could be controlled for surface tension due to temperatures via a vaccuum and a recieving lens attached to the outside of the drum (which has a sealed back)......and the recieving lens could be adjusted by a computer. now, the diameter of this kind of telescope is simply ultrdeterminable in that it could be any size, from 4 feet to 400 feet (in space) depending on the materials used as opposed to the hubble telescope we use now and it would be a heck of alot cheaper and easier to build in space......I've tried this on the ground of course and it works except that I'm not a really great amateur astronomer and could use some help tweaking this thing.....the specs work but my machine has some weak spots, I need some really good machined parts which I can't afford to have made but I think the basic design is sound.....the large mirror is completely adjustable as far as it's concavity is concerned and the final lens is adjustable as are the final lenses in any tube type reflector scope......I worked only with a 4" scope to get the idea from and the 4 foot scope mirror with lexan mirror, I also tried it with a mylar emergency blanket, it surprised me how well the emergency blanket worked too but it had micro cracks in the coating and it showed up in the focusing (or so I though) but the idea works (on earth) but I think there are other materials that could work in soace and others that could work on earth too but I'm not sure what they are......just wondering if there are any Einstein guys out there among you who could add to this......offer away guys and gals. I'm all eyes and ears....by the way, this works off of a sealed round base tanks 2 feet high 4 feet dia- with the top being lexan mirror and a vaccuum pump to cause the defromation in the mirror to become concave, the gathering lense or secondary lense is a common one at the end of a square tube steel structure and works best with a ccd camera, it does vibrate alot in the wind so i have only used it in a still setting when the weather is static...........so please......offer away.
nathan
I know I could make this thing heavier but I don't really want to unless I can make this design work perfectly and also inexpensively,....we're in a depression afterall.
6 Answers
- blobranaLv 51 decade agoFavorite Answer
A great idea, that has unfortunately it has already been thought of.
(Although vacuum pressure seems a step backwards).
"Membrane concept mirrors are formed by a thin conductive and reflective membrane stretched over a solid flat frame. The membrane can be deformed electrostatically by applying control voltages to electrostatic electrode actuators that can be positioned under or over the membrane. If there are any electrodes positioned over the membrane, they are transparent. It is possible to operate the mirror with only one group of electrodes positioned under the mirror. In this case a bias voltage is applied to all electrodes, to make the membrane initially spherical. The membrane can move back and forth with respect to the reference sphere."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deformable_mirror#Def...
The Intellectual Property Office can help you get the right type of protection for your creation or invention.
Source(s): Jedi skill - KesLv 71 decade ago
First of all if you have a useful invention you should not reveal the details in public (public disclosure) unless you expect to apply for a patent within one year, or it will enter the public domain and you will lose all rights to exclusive use. It would be a good idea to make a pen & ink drawing and sign and date it and have it witnessed by an (non-relative) individual who understands your invention and also signs and dates it, to establish priority (who invented it first). You may need a patent attorney at some time to prepare a patent application in correct form and to have a patent search executed to establish novelty. Working models are not essential but may prove useful in obtaining a patent.
Your idea may be useful as a telescope only if it can focus distant images accurately. However it likely could focus solar energy which is in demand. Of course a vacuum will not work in space (because of the surrounding vacuum). However, a clear lid may allow it to be 'inflated' using a supply of gas again to concentrate solar energy.
Source(s): http://www.uspto.gov/ - AlanLv 71 decade ago
Interesting but not new,
An inflatable radio telescope working on similar principles was launched by the russians a few years ago.
There was an inflatable 'tyre' or inner tube to make it round. Inside the tyre were 2 discs, one of silver mylar, one of clear plastic film.
a low pressure gas between them made the mylar into a mirror.
There were problems and it did not inflate correctly but a really good idea, if a 100 metre dish were to orbit the moon we could listen to radio waves not available on earth due to noise from tv and comms channels
I doubt if the vacuum dish would ever be good enough for optical telescopes though
Source(s): 50 years observing - Anonymous5 years ago
Nope, they don't teach that in school. The "winners" write history, so we get history from the point of view of rich white settlers instead of native americans, slaves, or yeoman farmers. If you want a different perspective check out "A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present" by Howard Zinn. It will make you think differently. But yea I'm with you 100% of the way.
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- Anonymous1 decade ago
It appears to be a very good invention. Would it work in the vacuum of outer space by using a gas pressure on the outside?
