US3873823A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alignment indicating beacon
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-06
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A beacon is described which can be quickly and easily mounted upon or demounted from the telescope of a surveyor''s transit. It projects a pattern of energy into a region of space in such a way as to divide the region into two or more sharply delineated portions which are distinguished by the different, readily recognizable characteristics of the energy projected into each. A typical example is the projection of red light into one half of the region and green light into the other half with their junction aligned with the vertical cross hair of the telescope. By this arrangement one need only observe the color of the light he is receiving in order to determine whether he is to one or the other side of the optical axis of the telescope.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard M Northrup
- 👤 Philip M Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C15/00; G01C15/002; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A beacon, particularly suitable for use with a surveying instrument, for projecting into a region of space a pattern of radiant energy having different, distinguishable characteristics in different portions of said region and including mounting means for installing said beacon so that it can be positioned and oriented to project said pattern into a selected region of space, characterized in that said beacon includes a housing enclosing equipment for directing radiant energy about a projection axis toward said region, and in that said mounting means includes a clamp for engaging a tube, said clamp including means for selectively permitting or preventing rotation of said clamp around said tube, and in that said mounting means also includes support means for mounting said housing on said clamp for rotation about a pivot axis which intersects said projectiOn axis and the axis of said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A beacon, particularly suitable for use with a surveying instrument, for projecting into a region of space a pattern of radiant energy having different, distinguishable characteristics in different portions of said region and including mounting means for installing said beacon so that it can be positioned and oriented to project said pattern into a selected region of space, characterized in that said beacon includes a housing enclosing equipment for directing radiant energy about a projection axis toward said region, and in that said mounting means includes a clamp for engaging a tube, said clamp including means for selectively permitting or preventing rotation of said clamp around said tube, and in that said mounting means also includes support means for mounting said housing on said clamp for rotation about a pivot axis which intersects said projectiOn axis and the axis of said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 1 in which said support means includes means for adjusting the angular position of said housing about said pivot axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 1 in which the pivot axis of said support means is perpendicular to both said projection axis and the axis of said tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 1 in which said support means includes an additional clamp for engaging the outer surface of said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
133 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 4 in which said support means includes a generally fork shaped member having a stem portion and two tines extending therefrom, said stem portion being formed with a cylindrical aperture therethrough, the axis of which is said pivot axis, said member being fastened to said generally cylindrical clamp with the axis of said aperture perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of said generally cylindrical clamp, a generally cylindrical bushing located within said aperture and making a sliding fit therewith, a tang including a generally circular portion and an extending portion, said generally circular portion being fastened to said bushing and to said additional clamp, and means cooperating with said tines and said extending portion for adjusting the angular position of said tang with respect to said member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 5 in which said means for adjusting includes a spring acting between one of said tines and said extending portion for urging said tang to rotate about said pivot axis and which also includes a thumb screw cooperating with the other of said tines for adjustably restraining rotation of said tang.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 5 including a spirit level mounted between said tines in such positions as to indicate verticality of said pivot axis of said generally cylindrical clamp is rotated about said tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 1 in which said housing is generally cylindrical in shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 8 in which said support means includes carrying means by which the angular orientation of said housing about its cylindrical axis may be selected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 9 in which said carrying means includes an additional clamp for engaging the outer surface of said housing and having means for selectively preventing or permitting rotation of said housing about its axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 10 including a projection lens mounted within said housing near one end thereof, said housing being formed with internal threads along a portion of the interior surface thereof including the focal plane of said lens, a generally cylindrical reticle holder formed with external threads engaging said internal threads of said housing, said holder being formed with a circular axial aperture, and a reticle mounted in said reticle holder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 11 including a source of radiant energy mounted within said housing in such a location as to illuminate said reticle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 12 in which said source of radiant energy is a source of visible light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 13 in which said reticle comprises a plurality of different colored filters positioned to divide said aperture into a like number of circular segments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 14 in which said reticle comprises two filters each of a different color and each having a straight edge and positioned in said reticle holder with said edges touching and lying substantially along a diameter of said housing so that each covers substantially one-half of said aperture in said holder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 14 in which said reticle comprises four filters each of a different color and each formed with two straight edges meeting at an inclined right angle, said reticles being mounted and positioned with the junction of said tow straight edges of each meeting at a common poInt substantially at the center of said aperture in said holder.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A beacon in accordance with claim 1 in which said tube is generally cylindrical and in which said clamp is a generally cylindrical clamp for engaging the outer surface of said tube so that said clamp and said tube are coaxial.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |