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AssigneeSpectra-Physics, Inc.
InventorsJoseph F. Rando, Michael E. Kahn, Thomas E. Heumann, Scott S. Luebbers
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A system is disclosed for controlling the plane of a laser beam in either horizontal, vertical or selected grade angle attitudes. The system includes an assembly comprising a housing which carries the operative components in a water-tight enclosure. The laser beam is generated by a laser tube carried on a chassis which is mounted for a limited range of universal movement about orthogonally intersecting Y and X axes by means of a gimbal frame. Optics structure is provided to route the beam in a collimated path along a Z-axis longitudinally of the chassis. A beam reflector unit rotatably mounted on an end of the chassis reflects the beam in a plane orthogonal to the Z-axis through a lighthouse structure provided in an end of the housing. The system for controlling the beam plane attitude includes three level sensing vials which are carried on the chassis, as well as a pair of Y- and X-axis motors and associated drive trains.
In apparatus for projecting a laser beam in a plane which has a pre-determined orientation with respect to a vertical axis, the combination of a housing, a gimbal frame mounted on the housing for pivotal movement about a Y-axis, a chassis mounted on the gimbal frame for pivotal movement about an X-axis which orthogonally intersects said Y-axis, laser beam generating means carried on said chassis, optical means carried on said chassis for routing said laser beam in a path along a Z-axis which is orthogonal to said X and Y axes and thereafter projecting the beam in a plane which is orthogonal to said Z-axis, Y-axis control means including first level means mounted on the chassis for sensing the orientation thereof about said Y-axis with respect to a vertical axis, together with first operating means driveably connected between said gimbal frame and the housing for pivoting said gimbal frame about the Y-axis to a position at which the chassis is at a pre-determined orientation with respect to a vertical axis, and X-axis control means including second level means mounted on the chassis for sensing the orientation thereof about said X-axis with respect to a vertical axis, together with second operating means driveably connected between said chassis and the gimbal frame for pivoting the chassis about the X-axis to a position at which the chassis is at a pre-determined orientation with respect to a vertical axis.
Apparatus for projecting a laser beam in a horizontal plane, including an elongate housing, means forming a transparent window about one end of the housing, a gimbal frame mounted within said housing for pivotal movement about a Y-axis, said gimbal frame having a central opening concentric with a Z-axis, a chassis mounted on the gimbal frame within said opening for pivotal movement about the X-axis which orthogonally intersects said Y-axis, said chassis including an elongate hollow member which extends along the Z-axis, means carried on an outer side of said hollow member for emitting a laser beam in a path generally parallel with said Z-axis, first light beam reflector means carried on one end of said chassis for reflecting said emitted beam in a first path toward said Z-axis and thereafter in a second path along said Z-axis through the hollow member, second light reflector means rotatably mounted on an opposite end of said chassis for reflecting said light beam from the second path in a plane which extends outwardly through the window in a path orthogonal to said Z-axis, a first elongate level vial mounted on said chassis in a plane orthogonal with said Y-axis, said first vial containing a fluid which seeks a level position within the vial, a second elongate level vial mounted on the chassis and extending in a plane orthogonal with said X-axis and containing a fluid which seeks a level position within the vial, control means for sensing the position and movement of the fluids within said first and second level vials and responding thereto to generate Y and X error output signals when said chassis moves about respective Y- and X-axes from a vertical orientation therewith, and means responding to said error signals for moving said chassis about said respective Y- and X-axes to restore said chassis to said vertical orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.