Patent ID: 8611753

Claim:
The method of mounting an optical rotary joint on a supporting frame, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a tooling plate ( 60 ) having an annular inner portion ( 61 ) provided with a plurality of circularly-spaced radially-extending V-grooves ( 62 ), and having an arcuate outer portion ( 63 ) provided with a plurality of circularly-spaced pockets ( 64 ), each pocket being adapted to receive a reflector assembly in a predetermined position relative to the proximate V-grooves; (b) providing a plurality of optical reflector assemblies ( 50 ); (c) placing an optical reflector assembly in each pocket; (d) providing a plurality of assembled optical collimators, each assembled optical collimator having a fiber and a collimator assembly; (e) placing said plurality of assembled optical collimators in said tooling plate V-grooves; (f) testing the integrity of the optical connection between said fiber and collimator assembly and the proximate optical reflector assembly; (g) providing a stator segment; (h) placing said stator segment on said optical reflector assemblies; (i) mounting the optical reflector assemblies to the stator segment to form an assembled stator; (j) removing the said assembled stator from the tooling plate; (k) placing cylindrical gauge pins ( 65 ) in at least some of said V-grooves; (l) providing a plurality of rotor segments ( 66 ), each rotor segment having a plurality of circularly-spaced radially-extending V-grooves; (m) placing said rotor segments such that said gauge pins are received in said rotor segment V-grooves; (n) joining said rotor segments to form an assembled rotor ( 68 ); (o) removing said assembled rotor from said tooling plate; (p) inverting said assembled rotor; (q) providing a plurality of fiber and collimator assemblies; (r) mounting said fiber and collimator assemblies in said assembled rotor V-grooves; (s) providing a plurality of brackets; (t) attaching said assembled rotor to said assembled stator using said brackets; (u) mounting said assembled rotor and said assembled stator on said supporting frame; and (v) removing said brackets; thereby to mount said assembled rotor and stator on said supporting frame in the desired alignment with respect to one another.