Sep 23, 2025

US12422219 - Auto locking turret

A turret is configured to adjust a position of an alignment stage coupled to the turret. The turret can include an adjustment knob configured to be actuatable in a plurality of adjustment directions to adjust the position of the alignment stage. The turret can further include a lock configured to prevent movement of the adjustment knob in the plurality of adjustment directions. The adjustment knob can be configured to be actuatable to transition the adjustment knob between a locked state in which the lock is engaged and an unlocked state in which the lock is released. With the adjustment knob in the unlocked state, the adjustment knob is actuatable in the plurality of adjustment directions.

Assignee: RAYTHEON CANADA LIMITED
Inventors: John Maxwell Connolly
Filing date: 2023-08-11

The patent describes an auto-locking turret designed to adjust the position of an alignment stage, featuring an adjustment knob that can be locked or unlocked for movement in multiple directions. Additionally, a biasing member is included to automatically return the adjustment knob to the locked state when not actively engaged.

Claim 1

A turret configured to adjust a position of an alignment stage coupled to the turret, the turret comprising: an adjustment knob configured to be actuatable in a plurality of adjustment directions to adjust the position of the alignment stage; a lock configured to prevent movement of the adjustment knob in the plurality of adjustment directions; wherein the adjustment knob is further configured to be actuatable to transition the adjustment knob between a locked state in which the lock is engaged and an unlocked state in which the lock is released wherein, with the adjustment knob in the unlocked state, the adjustment knob is actuatable in the plurality of adjustment directions; and a biasing member configured to exert a biasing force on the adjustment knob to bias the adjustment knob to the locked state when the adjustment knob is released from the unlocked state. an adjustment knob configured to be actuatable in a plurality of adjustment directions to adjust the position of the alignment stage; a lock configured to prevent movement of the adjustment knob in the plurality of adjustment directions; wherein the adjustment knob is further configured to be actuatable to transition the adjustment knob between a locked state in which the lock is engaged and an unlocked state in which the lock is released wherein, with the adjustment knob in the unlocked state, the adjustment knob is actuatable in the plurality of adjustment directions; and a biasing member configured to exert a biasing force on the adjustment knob to bias the adjustment knob to the locked state when the adjustment knob is released from the unlocked state.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12422219

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12422219