IP Library Granted Patent US 9,249,860
Granted Patent B2
US 9,249,860 · App. 14/146,217 · Granted Feb 2, 2016

Follow focus

Inventor: James Elias (Eching, DE)
Assignee: VITEC VIDEOCOM GMBH
F16H1/14G03B13/32G03B17/568F16H2057/126Y10T74/19665
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,249,860
App. No.
14/146,217
Granted
Feb 2, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A follow focus for cameras, in particular film cameras, comprising a bevel gear having a first rotary axis ( 11 ) and a second rotary axis ( 13 ) arranged at an angle, in particular a right angle, to one another, a first transmission mechanism ( 26, 27 ) for transmitting the rotation of one of the axes ( 11 ) onto the other axis ( 13 ) by means of a positive locking connection acting in the direction of rotation of the axes, and a second transmission mechanism ( 28, 30 ) for transmitting the rotation of one of the axes ( 11 ) onto the other axis ( 13 ) by means of a frictional connection acting in the direction of rotation of the axes, wherein the rotation of the one axis ( 11 ) can be transmitted to the other axis ( 13 ) by means of the frictional connection of the second transmission mechanism ( 28, 30 ) until the frictional connection of the second transmission mechanism ( 28, 30 ) is overpowered and after the frictional connection has been overpowered it can be transmitted primarily by the positive locking connection of the first transmission mechanism ( 26, 27 ).

Claims (15)

1. A follow focus for cameras, in particular film cameras, comprising

a bevel gear having

a first rotary axis ( 11 ) and a second rotary axis ( 13 ) +arranged at an angle, in particular a right angle, to one another;

a first transmission mechanism ( 26 , 27 ) for transmitting the rotation of one of the axes ( 11 ) onto the other axis ( 13 ) by means of a positive locking connection acting in the direction of rotation of the axes; and

a second transmission mechanism ( 28 , 30 ) for transmitting the rotation of one of the axes ( 11 ) onto the other axis ( 13 ) by means of a frictional connection acting in the direction of rotation of the axes, wherein the rotation of the one axis ( 11 ) can be transmitted to the other axis ( 13 ) by means of the frictional connection of the second transmission mechanism ( 28 , 30 ) until the frictional connection of the second transmission mechanism ( 28 , 30 ) is overpowered and after the frictional connection has been overpowered it can be transmitted primarily by the positive locking connection of the first transmission mechanism ( 26 , 27 ).

2. The follow focus according to claim 1 , wherein the second transmission mechanism comprises a first contact surface ( 28 ) which is non-rotatably connected to the first axis ( 11 ) and a second contact surface ( 30 ) which is non-rotatably connected to the second axis ( 13 ), wherein the contact surfaces ( 28 , 30 ) are frictionally in contact with one another for transmitting the rotation.

3. The follow focus according to claim 2 , wherein the first contact surface ( 28 ) and the second contact surface ( 30 ) extend in cross section at an angle corresponding to the angle bisector of the angle between the first axis ( 11 ) and the second axis ( 13 ).

4. The follow focus according to claim 2 , wherein the first contact surface ( 28 ) and/or the second contact surface ( 30 ) is formed by at least one part of the surface area of a conical portion ( 29 , 31 ) formed of the same material as the corresponding first axis ( 11 ) or second axis ( 13 ).

5. The follow focus according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first axis ( 11 ) and the second axis ( 13 ) are slidably mounted in the axial direction and the first axis ( 11 ) is urged in the direction of the second axis ( 13 ).

6. The follow focus according to claim 5 , wherein the first axis ( 11 ) is mounted in a housing ( 10 ) of the bevel gear by means of a first and a second bearing ( 15 , 16 ) and the second axis ( 13 ) is radially guided by means of a pilot bearing ( 21 ) and a third bearing ( 20 ) is mounted in the housing ( 10 ) of the bevel gear, wherein the first axis ( 11 ) is urged in the direction of the second axis ( 13 ) by a spring element ( 19 ) acting between the first and second bearings ( 15 , 16 ) such that the first, second and third bearings are axially pre-loaded.

7. The follow focus according to claim 6 , wherein furthermore an adjustment device ( 32 ) is provided, by means of which the axial position of the third bearing ( 20 ) of the second axis can be adjusted.

8. The follow focus according to claim 7 , wherein the first transmission mechanism comprises a first gear wheel ( 26 ) which is non-rotatably connected to the first axis ( 11 ) and a second gear wheel ( 27 ) which is non-rotatably connected to the second axis ( 13 ), which are engaged.

9. The follow focus according to claim 8 , wherein the first gear wheel ( 26 ) and/or the second gear wheel ( 27 ) is formed of the same material as the corresponding first axis ( 11 ) or second axis ( 13 ).

10. The follow focus according to claim 3 , wherein the first contact surface ( 28 ) and/or the second contact surface ( 30 ) is formed by at least one part of the surface area of a conical portion ( 29 , 31 ) formed of the same material as the corresponding first axis ( 11 ) or second axis ( 13 ).

11. The follow focus according to claim 1 , wherein the first transmission mechanism comprises a first gear wheel ( 26 ) which is non-rotatably connected to the first axis ( 11 ) and a second gear wheel ( 27 ) which is non-rotatably connected to the second axis ( 13 ), which are engaged.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 13, 2023
From: VITEC PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS GMBH
To: VIDENDUM PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 063071/0036 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 2, 2023
From: VITEC VIDEOCOM GMBH
To: VITEC PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 062913/0862 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2014
From: ELIAS, JAMES
To: VITEC VIDEOCOM GMBH
Reel/Frame 032984/0637 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 20 2013 000 087 U · Jan 4, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140190299A1 · Jul 10, 2014