Self-leveling laser assembly
AssigneeLaser Alignment, Inc.
InventorsLarry D. Aldrink, Edward G. Nielsen, Willard G. Vogelaar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Self-leveling light beam projection apparatus for projecting and maintaining a beam of light along a predetermined path relative to the earth's vertical. A housing adapted for mounting in a predetermined plane includes a light source such as a laser generator for generating a collimated beam of light. A lens system including a pendulum mounting at least one lens is mounted for movement about mutually perpendicular axes to seek the vertical and to maintain the projected beam along the predetermined path despite the relative positions of the housing and light source.
Claims20
Self-leveling light beam projector apparatus for projecting and maintaining a beam of light along a predetermined path relative to the earth's vertical comprising:
- a housing adapted for mounting in a generally vertical plane;
- means in said housing for generating a beam of collimated light along a predetermined path relative to the longitudinal axis of said housing and emitting same through an exit end thereof, said exit end being located at an upper end of said housing when vertically mounted;
- first and second lens means in said housing for directing said light beam along said predetermined path;
- means in said housing mounting said first lens means for movement about mutually perpendicular axes in the path of said light beam along said axis of said housing, said mounting means including a pendulum mounted in said housing;
- gimbal means adjacent said exit end mounting said pendulum for movement about said mutually perpendicular axes, said second lens being fixed with respect to said housing for movement therewith, said first and second lenses being disposed along the axis of said housing to direct said emitted light beam along said predetermined path toward said exit end, whereby movement of said housing affecting said beam of light projected along said predetermined path is corrected by said first and said second lens for projection of said emitted beam along said predetermined path and through said exit end.
Self-leveling light beam projector apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a light beam generator mounted therein, said housing being adapted for generally vertical mounting and having an upper end thereof adapted to allow the emergence of a beam of light from said generator;
- first and second lens means in said housing adapted to direct said beam of light from said source through said upper end;
- and
- pendulous mounting means mounting said first lens for movement with respect to said source, said pendulous mounting means including an elongated frame member supporting said first lens adjacent said source, said frame member including means adjacent said upper end mounting said frame member for movement about mutually perpendicular axes with respect to said housing;
- means fixing said second lens with respect to said housing at a position intermediate said first lens and said upper end;
- said mounting means being adapted to assume a predetermined position with respect to the vertical wherein said beam directed to said first lens is directed through said second lens and is emitted at said upper end in a vertical path with deviations of said housing from the vertical.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.