DE102005032208A1 - Spirit level for testing horizontality and verticality of object, has light source whose light beams are directed directly to user by level or by reflection at surface of level and/or indirectly impinging to user by blowhole inside of level - Google Patents

Abstract

The level has bubble levels having fixed connection with measuring surfaces, and a light source (11) arranged in proximity to each bubble level. Light beams of the light source are directed directly to a user by the bubble level or by reflection at a surface of the bubble level and/or indirectly impinging to the user by a blowhole (7) inside the bubble level. A light emitting diode (LED) and/or incandescent lamp and/or glow lamp and/or liquid crystal display (LCD) is used as light source in the wall of the bubble level, where the light source is activatable by an electric energy source.

Description

The The invention relates to a spirit level, in which one or several dragonflies in fixed relation to one or more measuring surfaces are located.

The Spirit level (also setting, Richtwaage or Maurer scales) is a Tool for checking the horizontality or verticality an object. It consists of a cuboid, elongated, stable body with one or more precisely machined measuring surfaces. Parallel and / or vertical to these measuring surfaces are in the cuboid casing so-called dragonflies admitted. A dragonfly is a transparent, curved Pipe that with a liquid filled so far is that only a small gas bubble remains unfilled. The curvature of the Dragonfly corresponds to a circular arc segment, the cross section of the Rohres should over the length be constant across the dragonfly.

The Working principle uses the buoyancy of a gas in a liquid out. The gas bubble in the liquid always moves to the "highest" point the dragonfly is adjusted so in the spirit level, that with exactly horizontal or exactly vertical position of the measuring surfaces with respect to the gravitational field Earth's position of the gas bubble on its left and right sides marked with a measuring line. The accuracy of the measurement will be determined by which tolerance these measuring strokes in the Production has been applied or adjusted.

A further possibility of error In the use of the spirit level is that the user through inadequate Lighting can not read off exactly where the gas bubble is inside the dragonfly is located.

The Invention has set as object, the readability of the spirit level even under difficult lighting conditions to improve.

to solution To this object, the invention teaches one in which one or more Dragonflies are in fixed relation to one or more measuring surfaces, characterized in that in the vicinity of the dragonfly, a light source is arranged, the light rays through the dragonfly through directly on the user are directed or by reflection on the surface of the Dragonfly and / or at the gas bubble inside the dragonfly indirectly to meet the user.

• – Wenn die Lichtquelle in die gleiche Richtung ausstrahlt, in der der Betrachter die Libelle sieht, dann werden ihre Lichtstrahlen von der Libelle reflektiert (indirekte Beleuchtung);
• – Wenn die Lichtstrahlen durch die Libelle hindurchtreten, treffen sie direkt beim Betrachter ein. Da die Libelle durchsichtig ist, damit die Gasblase erkennbar ist, wird bei dieser Art der Beleuchtung die Grenzzone zwischen Gasblase und Flüssigkeit mit einem hohen Wirkungsgrad ausgeleuchtet.
• – Die dritte Art der denkbaren Beleuchtung ist die Führung der Lichtstrahlen durch den Körper der Libelle selbst; für diesen Fall werden Reflektoren in der Libelle selbst erforderlich, welche die Lichtstrahlen umlenken und zum Auge des Betrachters hin führen. Dafür bieten sich zum Beispiel die beiden Messstriche an der linken und rechten Kante der Gasblase an.

A spirit level equipped in this way can still be used with the utmost accuracy even in poor lighting conditions. Since the (light-independent) sense of touch of the user is sufficient for positive fitting of the spirit level to the object to be checked, a proper measurement result is achieved, if only the dragonfly itself has sufficient lighting. These light sources can be effective in three different types of functions:

• - If the light source radiates in the same direction in which the viewer sees the dragonfly, then its light rays are reflected by the dragonfly (indirect lighting);
• - When the light rays pass through the dragonfly, they arrive directly at the viewer. Since the bubble is transparent, so that the gas bubble is visible, the boundary zone between gas bubble and liquid is illuminated with a high efficiency in this type of lighting.
• - The third type of conceivable illumination is the guidance of the light rays through the body of the dragonfly itself; In this case, reflectors in the dragonfly itself are required, which redirect the light rays and lead to the eye of the beholder. For example, the two measuring strokes are available at the left and right edges of the gas bubble.

• – LED (light emitting diode) (sehr hohe Lebensdauer, geringster Stromverbrauch, bruch- und erschütterungsfest) oder
• – Glimmlampen (falls die benötigte, hohe Spannung verfügbar ist, sehr hohe Lebensdauer, sehr robuste Bauart) oder
• – Glühlampe, sehr bewährt, sehr verbreitet oder
• – LCD (liquid crystal display) als flächiges, lichtabgebendes Element vor allem zur Integration in die Wandung der Libelle geeignet oder
• – Leuchtstoffröhre. In der geringen Größe vergleichsweise aufwändig, insbesondere durch das erforderliche Startgerät, jedoch von sehr hohem Wirkungsgrad.

As a type of lighting, the invention prefers electric light sources. They are characterized by a good price / performance ratio, high reliability and high efficiency. Proposed

• - LED (light emitting diode) (very long life, lowest power consumption, resistant to breakage and vibration) or
• - Glimmlampen (if the required high voltage is available, very long life, very robust design) or
• - Light bulb, very well proven, very common or
• - LCD (liquid crystal display) suitable as a flat, light-emitting element especially for integration into the wall of the dragonfly or
• - Fluorescent tube. In the small size comparatively expensive, in particular by the required starting device, but of very high efficiency.

• – Batterie (auch Sammler genanntes Element zur einmaligen Benutzung) einfachste und am häufigsten verwendete Energiequelle für transportable Geräte
• – Akkumulator in ähnlicher Bauart wie Batterien, jedoch mehrfach wiederaufladbar
• – einen Kondensator, meist zusammen mit einem Spannungswandler
• – Anschluss an ein ortsfestes Elektronetz über eine Kabelverbindung als direkte Versorgung der Beleuchtungseinrichtung und/oder zum Wiederaufladen eines Energiespeichers.
• – Dipol zum Empfang elektromagnetischer Wellen (LC-Schwingkreis wobei die Induktivität L als gewickelte Drahtspule parallel zu einer Kapazität C geschaltet ist, welche aus 2 Drahtstäben am Ende der Induktivität besteht.) Geeignet zum Auffangen langwelliger, elektromagnetischer Felder, wobei die Langwelle erfindungsgemäß zum Empfang der Energie von einem speziellen Gerät, abgestimmt auf diesen Dipol gesendet werden.
• – Ein Piezokristall mit einem daraufwirkenden Hebel, welcher über die Messfläche herausragt (der Piezokristall gibt eine elektrische Spannung ab, wenn er mechanisch verändert wird. Dazu schlägt die Erfindung einen kleinen Hebel vor, der über die Messfläche hinausragt und bei Beginn des Messvorgan ges das Piezokristall entlastet und bei Ende des Messvorganges wieder belastet, z. B. durch Federkraft).
• – Einen gekapselten Generator mit Betätigung durch eine federnd aufgehängte Schwungmasse (der Benutzer muss vor Beginn der Messung durch „Schütteln" mit Hilfe des Generators Energie erzeugen, welche in einem Kondensator oder einer Batterie zwischengespeichert wird und für die Beleuchtung der Libelle zur Verfügung steht).
• – Generator mit manueller Betätigung, z. B. durch eine Handkurbel an einem rotierenden Generator oder ein linear bewegtes Element, das über eine Feder wieder zurückgezogen wird (linear reversierender Generator).

As an energy source for supplying the aforementioned electric bulbs, the invention proposes:

• - Battery (single use collector also called collector) simplest and most commonly used power source for portable devices
• - Accumulator similar in construction to batteries, but rechargeable several times
• - A capacitor, usually together with a voltage converter
• - Connection to a fixed electrical network via a cable connection as a direct supply to the lighting device and / or to recharge an energy storage.
• - Electromagnetic wave dipole (LC resonant circuit with the inductance L is connected as a wound wire coil parallel to a capacitor C, which consists of 2 wire rods at the end of the inductance.) Suitable for collecting long-wave electromagnetic fields, the long wave according to the invention for receiving the energy can be sent from a special device, tuned to this dipole.
• A piezocrystal with a lever acting thereon, which protrudes beyond the measuring surface (the piezoelectric crystal gives off an electrical voltage when it is mechanically changed.) For this purpose, the invention proposes a small lever which projects beyond the measuring surface and at the beginning of the measurement process the piezoelectric crystal unloaded and reloaded at the end of the measuring process, eg by spring force).
• - An enclosed generator operated by a spring-loaded flywheel (the user must generate energy by "shaking" the generator before starting the measurement, which is stored in a capacitor or a battery and is available for lighting the dragonfly).
• - Generator with manual operation, eg. B. by a hand crank on a rotating generator or a linearly moving element, which is retracted by a spring (linearly reversing generator).

A another alternative embodiment is the brief illumination of the dragonfly by the afterglow of the dragonflies housing and / or the liquid in the dragonfly. Therefore have to the housing or the liquid nachleuchtfähige Contain ingredients. The light that these components emit Must be taken directly before use of the ingredients have been. It is also advantageous in this case that no very heavily damaged Memory elements or no disturbing long charging time the readiness of the dragonfly lighting limits.

A Another basic alternative is the lighting of the dragonfly it, the transition between liquid and gas for to use a glow or partial discharge. For this, preferably at the ends the dragonfly integrated one electrode each and the (transparent) casing the dragonfly be constructed of high-voltage resistant material. In addition is also for the liquid in the dragonfly a certain minimum conductivity required.

If over the Electrodes at the two ends of the dragonfly to a high voltage the dragonfly is created and if that is within the dragonfly gas bubbles is tuned to, so allows the application of a high voltage to the left and to the right Electrode one for that equipped self-luminosity that it is at the transitional level between liquid and gas bubble comes to partial discharges. With correspondingly low ambient light this will make the gas bubble shine itself. Because of generating a high voltage at low current different methods are known which are used here, also promises this principle in large quantities to be a very advantageous variant in a future.

A Another advantageous configuration is the formation of the smears next to the gas bubble as a reflector for light, either through the case of the Dragonfly or from the outside is guided on the reflector.

The Most spirit levels have more as a dragonfly, thus measuring horizontality and verticality can be. As an advantageous configuration, the invention proposes the use of only a single light source for both dragonflies in front. For transmission the light beams are fiber optic cable and / or deflecting mirror and / or Called deflecting prisms and / or focusing optics. Advantageous At a decentralized light generation is that the light source without consideration of geometric situation nearby the dragonfly on low initial investment, good efficiency and long life can be tuned.

For all electrical lighting equipment, it is obvious, a To provide on / off switch with two stable switching positions. The Invention proposes about that In addition, to save energy, a time switch or time switch is used together with a motion detector. If after adjustable Time no movement of the spirit level more is done, the lighting shut down to save energy.

in the The following are intended to provide further details and features of the invention using examples explained become. However, the illustrated examples are not meant to be the invention restrict but only explain. In a schematic representation:

1 Image: View of a spirit level

2 Cross section of a dragonfly

In 1 is the cuboid basic body 1 the spirit level shown as a rectangle. It contains two dragonflies 2 , near each of which a light-emitting diode (LED) 3 is arranged. They are over a series resistor 4 and a switch 6 with two batteries connected in series 5 connected. After closing the switch 6 a current flows through the series resistor 4 is limited.

In 2 the section is represented by a dragonfly transverse to the direction of the viewer. Comprehensible, as in the case of the dragonfly 8th a gas bubble 7 is always pressed by its buoyancy force to the highest point. If the footprint of the dragonfly is exactly level, there is also the gas bubble 7 at the highest point. It then stands exactly between the two measuring strokes 10 , In 2 is a light source 11 registered, it acts on the mounting surface of the dragonfly. Their light is reflected on the surface of the dragonfly. As a result, it illuminates the distance between the measuring lines 10 and the gas bubble 7 ,

1

Basic body of Spirit level, cuboid

2

dragonflies

3

LED (light emitting diode)

4

dropping resistor

5

battery

6

switch On off

7

gas bubble

8th

Housing of Dragonfly, circular sector-shaped cross-section

9

liquid within the dragonfly

10

Measurements on dragonfly at left + right edge of the gas bubble 7

11

lighting

Claims (7)

Spirit level, in which one or more dragonflies 2 located in fixed relation to one or more measuring surfaces, as indicated by - near the dragonfly 2 a light source 11 or 12 is arranged, whose rays of light - through the dragonfly 2 directed directly at the user or - by reflection on the surface of the dragonfly and / or the gas bubble 7 within the dragonfly indirectly to the user. Spirit level according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the light source - an LED (light emitting diode) 2 and / or a glow lamp and / or - a light bulb and / or - a liquid crystal display (LCD) in the wall or within the dragonfly 2 or - a fluorescent tube is present and can be activated by an electrical energy source. Spirit level according to the preceding claims, characterized marked that as an electrical energy source - a battery and or - and or a rechargeable battery - and / or a capacitor - and or the connection to a fixed electrical network via a cable connection - and or a dipole for receiving electromagnetic waves - and or a piezocrystal with a lever acting thereon, which over the measuring surface protrudes - and or an encapsulated generator with actuation by a spring-mounted flywheel and / or - a generator with manually rotatable crank or with linearly movable, reversing element is available. Spirit level according to claim 1, characterized in that as a short-time light source, the housing 8th the dragonfly or the liquid in the dragonfly 9 is formed, with nachleuchtfähige Bestanteile in the housing 8th or liquid 9 are included. Spirit level according to claim 1, characterized in that the light source glow or partial discharges on the wall in the gas bubble 7 within the dragonfly 2 are, with a high electrical voltage applied to the two ends of the dragonfly and wherein the housing 8th the dragonfly is electrically isolated. Spirit level according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the dragonfly measuring strokes 10 for the position of the gas bubble 7 are arranged, which are designed as a reflector for incident or guided by the dragonfly housing light. Spirit level, characterized in that Fiber Optic cable and or Deflection mirror and / or Deflecting prisms and / or focusing optics several Connecting dragonflies with a central light source.