Laser beam attitude control device

Claim 2

A light beam orientation control Apparatus comprising: a frame, a light source mounted relative to said frame to direct collimated light along an axis of incidence, a compensating mirror gimbal-mounted relative to said frame and disposed on said axis of incidence in the path of light from said source to reflect said light along an axis of reflection, a plumb mechanism freely depending from said frame to assume a plumb attitude relative to the earth, coacting means interposed between and coacting with said mirror and said plumb mechanism to effect an angular displacement of said mirror relative to said frame equal to half of any angular displacement of said plumb mechanism relative to said frame, so that said axis of reflection remains at a constant angle with the vertical despite angular shifts of the apparatus relative to the vertical, said light source being angularly adjustable relative to said frame to adjustably move said axis of incidence and thus, in equal degree, said axis of reflection to a desired angular orientation relative to the vertical.

Claim 3

A light beam orientation control apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said plumb mechanism is gimbal-mounted below said mirror, said coacting means includes a depending spindle connected to said mirror and abutting said plumb mechanism, the distance between the gimbal mounts of said mirror and said plumb mechanism being equal to the dimension between the gimbal mount of said plumb mechanism and the point of abutment between said plumb mechanism and said depending spindle.

Claim 4

A light beam orientation control apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said light source is mounted on an adjustment arm which is in turn mounted for rotation relative to said frame by means of a pivot near one of its ends and a screw-nut mechanism near the other of its ends, said screw-nut mechanism effective to move said adjustment arm in either direction about said pivot to effect an angular displacement thereof relative to said frame.

Claim 5

A laser beam orientation control apparatus including: a frame, a laser mounted relative to said frame to direct collimated light along an axis of incidence, a compensating mirror mechanism including a mirror gimbal-mounted at a first pivot plane relative to said frame and disposed in the path of light from said laser to reflect said light along an axis of reflection, said mirror mechanism including a depending spindle, a plumb mechanism gimbal-mounted at a second pivot plane below said first pivot plane relative to said frame to assume a plumb attitude relative to the earth, said plumb mechanism including a fulcrum sleeve supporting an inner peripheral fulcrum edge surrounding and in sliding contact with said depending spindle, the distances between said first and second pivot plane and between said second pivot plane and said fulcrum edge being equal whereby any angular displacement of said plumb mechanism relative to said frame is equal to twice the resulting angular displacement of said mirror relative to said frame, so that said axis of reflection remains at a constant angle with the vertical, said laser being mounted on an adjustment arm which is pivoted at one one and arcuately movable at the other, and means to effect the fine adjustment of said adjustment arm at its movable end so as to set said axis of reflection at a desired angle relative to the vertical.

Claim 6

A laser beam orientation control apparatus including: a frame, a laser mounted relative to said frame to direct collimated light along an axis of incidence, a compensating mirror mechanism including a mirror gimbal-mounted at a first pivot plane relative to said frame and disposed in the path of light from said laser to reflect said light along an axis of reflection, said mirror mechanism including a depending spindle, a plumb mechanism gimbal-mounted at a second pivot plane below said first pivot plane relative to said frame to assume a plumb attitude relative to the earth, said plumb mechanism including a fulcrum sleeve supporting an inner peripheral fulcrum edge surrounding and in sliding contact with said depending spindle, the distances between said first and second pivot plane and between said second pivot plane and said fulcrum edge being equal whereby any angular displacement of said plumb mechanism relative to said frame is equal to twice the resulting angular displacement of said mirror relative to said frame, so that said axis of reflection remains at a constant angle with the vertical, said laser being mounted on an adjustment arm which is pivoted at one one and arcuately movable at the other, and means to effect the fine adjustment of said adjustment arm at its movable end so as to set said axis of reflection at a desired angle relative to the vertical.