Self leveling transmitter for laser alignment systems

A transmitter for an alignment system in wich a field of electromagnetic radiation is propagated, said transmitter comprising:

• a source for providing a beam of electromagnetic radiation directed along a beam axis;
• a bob having a bob longitudinal axis;
• means for supporting the bob within the beam with the bob longitudinal axis parallel to the beam axis in a plumb condition, the beam being redirected omni-directionally by the bob in the plumb condition to define a reference field of radiation in a level condition;
• wherein an angular error between the plumb condition and the beam axis results in the bob longitudinal axis deviating angularly from the plumb condition to maintain the orientation of the reference field in the level condition;
• a housing surrounding the bob, said housing having an inner surface and an outer surface and being made of a transparent material so that the reflected beam passes through the housing from the inner to the outer surface;
• and
• wherein the inner and outer surfaces of the housing are conical, the relationship between the respective angles of the inner and outer surfaces being such that temperature effects on the orientation of the reference plane are minimized.

A transmitter for an alignment system in which a field of electromagnetic radiation is propagated, said transmitter comprising:

• a source for providing a beam of electromagnetic radiation directed along a beam axis;
• a bob having a bob longitudinal axis;
• means for supporting the bob within the beam with the bob longitudinal axis parallel to the beam axis in a plumb condition, the beam being redirected omni-directionally by the bob in the plumb condition to define a reference field of radiation in a level condition;
• wherein an angular error between the plumb condition and the beam axis results in the bob longitudinal axis deviating angularly from the plumb condition to maintain the orientation of the reference field in the level condition;
• a housing surrounding the bob, said housing having an inner surface and an outer surface and being made of a transparent material so that the reflected beam passes through the housing from the inner to the outer surface;
• and
• sensor means for detecting when the angular error between the beam axis and the plumb condition is outside of an acceptable range.

A transmitter for an alignment system in which a field of electromagnetic radiation is propagated, said transmitter comprising:

• a source for providing a beam of electromagnetic radiation directed along a beam axis;
• a bob having a bob longitudinal axis;
• support means spaced a distance above the source;
• means for suspending the bob within the beam from the support means with the bob longitudinal axis parallel to the beam axis in a plumb condition, the beam being redirected omni-directionally by the bob in the plumb condition to define a reference field of radiation in a level condition;
• and
• a housing surrounding the bob, said housing having an inner surface and an outer surface and being made of a transparent material so that the reflected beam passes through the housing from the inner to the outer surface;
• wherein an angular error between the plumb condition and the beam axis results in the bob longitudinal axis deviating angularly from the plumb condition to maintain the orientation of the reference field in the level condition;
• and
• wherein the housing is filled with a transparent liquid to dampen movements of the bob.

A transmitter for an alignment system in which a field of electromagnetic radiation is propagated, said transmitter comprising:

• a source for providing a beam of electromagnetic radiation directed along a beam axis;
• a bob having a bob longitudinal axis;
• support means spaced a distance above the source;
• means for suspending the bob within the beam from the support means with the bob longitudinal axis parallel to the beam axis in a plumb condition, the beam being redirected omni-directionally by the bob in the plumb condition to define a reference field of radiation in a level condition;
• and
• a housing surrounding the bob, said housing having an inner surface and an outer surface and being made of a transparent material so that the reflected beam passes through the housing from the inner to the outer surface;
• wherein an angular error between the plumb condition and the beam axis results in the bob longitudinal axis deviating angularly from the plumb condition to maintain the orientation of the reference field in the level condition;
• and
• sensor means for detecting when the angular error between the beam axis and the plumb condition is outside of an acceptable range.