Rotational constructional laser

Details Rotational constructional laser Rotational constructional laser

2000-10-25

2002-07-16

Scott, Jr., Leon (Department: 2828)

Coherent light generators

Particular beam control device

C372S098000, C372S107000, C372S108000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06421360

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotational constructional laser including a housing, a light source for emitting a laser beam and located in the housing, a housing unit at least partially projecting beyond the housing and having a least one beam hole for the laser beam, a laser beam deflection device located in the housing unit, a drive for rotating the deflection device, a device for tilting the rotational axis of the deflection device, a detection device for detecting a return laser beam reflected from a display mark and entering the housing unit through the at least one beam hole, and an evaluation and control unit connected with the detection device and controlling operation of the tilting device in accordance with detection data obtained in the detection device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Constructional lasers with a rotatable laser beam are primarily used in the constructional industry in installation and electrical handwork and in the associated trades as an auxiliary means for tracing horizontal and vertical lines on floors, ceilings and walls or for defining horizontal, vertical or arbitrary inclined planes in a space. They can be used, e.g., for aligning walls, door frames, windows and for determining the course of lighting installations. A conventional, prior art rotational constructional laser comprises a laser unit located in a housing and the emitted laser beam of which is deflected by about 90° by a deflection device. The deflection device rotates about an axis that coincides with the optical axis. Upon rotation of the deflection device, the laser beam, which propagates, as a result of its deflection, transverse to the rotational axis of the deflection device, describes a plane. A servo controlled device tilts the rotational axis of the laser beam in two mutually perpendicular planes in order to compensate the unevenness of the controlled surface or in order to define, if needed, inclination surfaces in a space.
Such lasers are disclosed, e.g., in European Publication EP-A-O 787 972 and EP-A-O 854 351 which describe different laser apparatuses which permit to recognize an error position of a rotational plane with respect to a reference line on a specially formed target plate. Upon occurrence of an error position, in EP-A-O 787 972, a signal is generated indicating to the user the direction in which the apparatus need be pivoted and with which the apparatus need be aligned in order to establish a correct position of a plane defined by the rotating laser beam. In EP-A-O 854 357, a servo system provides for an automatic alignment of the rotational plane of the laser beam in the direction of a reference line traced on a specially formed target plate.
As disclosed in the above-mentioned prior art publications, the conventional rotational constructional laser axis can be tilted in two directions. However, the position of the beam hole insures that the position of the plane remains stationary with respect to the laser. If, e.g., a plane, which is defined by a rotating laser beam should be displaced parallel to itself, the constructional laser itself should be displaced laterally. E.g., it may be necessary to constantly monitor the setting of a horizontal plane, which passes through a height mark on a structure, and to constantly adjust it when the position of the apparatus is unstable. In this case, usually, for height adjustment, the apparatus is mounted on a stativ, rail, or wall bracket. In case an error position is detected, the position of the apparatus is manually readjusted. If the target height mark is spaced from the laser by several meters, which can be the case when the laser is located in a center of a large space, the coincidence of the laser beam and the height mark is not always can be determined from a view point on a laser. In this case, either an auxiliary means need be used for the readjustment of the proper position of the laser, or the user has to run back and forth between the point the laser is located at and the height mark until the laser position is properly readjusted.
In another case of the use of a constructional laser, e.g., a vertical plane need be aligned in a horizontal direction of, e.g., an axis of a structure which is determined by one or two target marks provided on the structure. In this case, the constructional laser is placed on a floor or bottom of the structure and is aligned manually with respect to two marks provided on opposite walls. To this end, one mark is targeted by rotation of the laser about a vertical axis, and then the error position of a plane which is determined by the rotating laser beam, is measured with respect to the second mark. In accordance with the ratio of both deviations of the laser with respect to the two marks, the position of the laser is readjusted by displacing it by the largest distance. This process is repeated as many times as necessary until the plane, which is defined by the laser beam, passes through both marks. In the laser disclosed in the above mentioned publication, tilting of the laser rotational axis about a vertical axis can lead to an automatic alignment with respect to one of the target marks. However, this automatic alignment represents only a partial step of the entire process necessary for an exact alignment of a depictable vertical plane.
In another case of the use of a constructional laser, e.g., during renovation of old structures with generally inclined walls and/or ceilings, it can be necessary to depict a skew plane passing through three target marks provided on a structure. With a conventional laser, this is effected in a way similar to the alignment of a vertical plane with respect to the structure axis. Because there exist a third mark, more testing steps are needed, and the adjustment is effected more gradually.
The three case of the laser use, which were described above, belong to most often cases of the laser user and, with conventional lasers, their use is relatively complicated and time-consuming.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a rotational constructional laser which would permit to conduct the readjustment processes, which were described with reference to the three cases of the laser use in a more simple manner, more rapidly, and with more comfort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This and other objects of the present invention, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing a rotational constructional laser including a light source for emitting a laser beam and located in the laser housing, and a deflection device for deflecting the laser beam. The deflection device is rotated by a motor about a rotational axis of the laser. The deflection device is located in a housing unit that at least partially projects above the laser housing and has at least one laser beam hole for the laser beam. The inventive constructional laser further includes a device for tilting the rotational axis of the deflection device, and a detection device for detecting a return laser beam reflected from a display mark and entering the housing unit through the at least one beam hole. An evaluation and control unit is connected with the detection device and controls the operation of the tilting device in accordance with detection data obtained in the detection device. Still further, the laser includes an automatically actuatable device for adjusting an axial position of the deflection device with respect to its initial axial position in accordance with control signals generated by the evaluation and control unit in accordance with the detection data obtained in the detection device.
With a constructional laser according the present invention, there becomes available a further degree of freedom that simplifies the adjustment of the laser and an alignment with respect to a reference mark provided on a structure. The basic structure of the inventive constructional laser is similar to a basic structure of a conventional laser disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,155 and incorporated herein

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