Patent ID: 6043879
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
An automatic laser level comprising:a laser assembly and a pendulum assembly rotatably mounted in an outer case;said laser assembly comprises a motor joined by an insulating joint to a rotating tube, and a laser module situated in said rotating tube,a mirror is installed on an adjustable stand to direct a light beam emitted from said laser module through a first window in said rotating tube, said adjustable stand is connected to an upper joint mounted in said rotating tube, an upper end of said upper joint is contained in a bearing so that said rotating tube rotates smoothly, an adjusting means is provided to adjust an angle of said mirror so that said beam is emitted at a 90.degree. angle to a longitudinal axis of said laser assembly and said pendulum assembly, and a second window is placed in said rotating tube opposite said first window so that said rotating tube is balanced properly;said pendulum assembly comprises a pendulum mounted on a self-levelling mounting means and a magnetic damping means; andsaid outer case comprises a narrow peripheral opening that allows said beam to be seen outside said outer case, said opening extends around said outer case and is broken only by support pillars that support an upper cap on a lower portion of said outer case; such thatwhen said level is placed on a non-horizontal surface, a swinging motion of said pendulum is damped by said magnetic damping means, thereby quickly establishing said longitudinal axis in a true vertical position, such that when said motor is activated to rotate said rotating tube, a level line is created by said light beam that covers an arc of rotation of said rotating tube.