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WO2001013065A1 - Niveau a bulle a precision reglable - Google Patents

Niveau a bulle a precision reglable Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001013065A1
WO2001013065A1 PCT/IL2000/000390 IL0000390W WO0113065A1 WO 2001013065 A1 WO2001013065 A1 WO 2001013065A1 IL 0000390 W IL0000390 W IL 0000390W WO 0113065 A1 WO0113065 A1 WO 0113065A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bubble
spirit level
bubble vial
channel
vial
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/IL2000/000390
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Shimon Yahav
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gotit Ltd
Original Assignee
Gotit Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gotit Ltd filed Critical Gotit Ltd
Priority to AU55623/00A priority Critical patent/AU5562300A/en
Publication of WO2001013065A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001013065A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
    • G01C9/18—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using liquids
    • G01C9/24—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using liquids in closed containers partially filled with liquid so as to leave a gas bubble
    • G01C9/26—Details

Definitions

  • Spirit levels are well known instruments used for setting horizontal or vertical surfaces
  • the level includes a sealed vial containing an air bubble floating in a liquid
  • the particular surface is considered horizontal or vertical when the air bubble rests between predetermined graduated marks in the vial Spirit levels are available with different accuracies
  • Inexpensive commercial levels typically have an accuracy of 1 mm per meter
  • Professional grade spirit levels are highly accurate, and are typically available with an accuracy of 0 03 mm per meter
  • Such highly accurate levels are quite expensive
  • Circular tube levels suffer from the drawback that their accuracy, //?ter alia, is dependent upon how accurately the liquid half-fills the circular tube Tubular bubble vials must also be accurately filled with the liquid
  • the present invention seeks to provide a novel spirit level with adjustable accuracy
  • the spirit level is preferably provided with a bubble vial having a generally U-shaped channel partially filled with a liquid forming a bubble therein
  • the length of the bubble in the channel is adjustable by an adjustment screw which, when suitably turned, tilts the bubble vial and increases the length of the bubble within
  • the spirit level of the present invention can be easily manufactured to have an accuracy that ranges from 1 mm per meter to 0 01 mm per meter and even better than 0 01 mm per meter
  • the spirit level can easily be made at the price of non-precision commercial levels, and can thus attain and even surpass the accuracy of expensive high precision levels at a fraction of the manufacturing cost.
  • a spirit level including a bubble vial having a channel formed therein, the channel including at least two arms generally extending along a first axis fluidly connected to each other by a third arm which extends between the at least two arms along a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, the channel being partially filled with a liquid forming a bubble therein
  • the at least two arms are arcuate in shape
  • the bubble vial is mounted in a body, the body including a level face
  • the bubble vial is pivotally attached to the body, and the bubble vial is tillable with respect to the level face of the body about the longitudinal axis, wherein a length of the bubble in the channel changes in accordance with a tilt of the bubble vial
  • an adjustment screw attaches the bubble vial to the body, the screw being operative to be turned so as to change a tilt of the bubble vial with respect to the level face of the body
  • the bubble vial is transparent Alternatively, the bubble vial may be translucent or opaque Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the bubble vial is formed with graduations
  • a biasing device is provided against which the bubble vial is biased
  • an additional bubble vial is mounted on the body
  • the additional bubble level may be a bull's eye vial or a tubular bubble vial
  • Fig 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a spirit level constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig 2 is a simplified sectional illustration of the spirit level of Fig 1, taken along lines II-II in Fig 1 ,
  • Fig 3 is a simplified exploded illustration of the spirit level of Fig 1
  • Fig 4 is a simplified top-view illustration of the spirit level of Fig 1
  • Fig 5 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the spirit level of Fig 1 with a bubble vial tilted, thereby providing the spirits level with a greater accuracy, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig 6 is a simplified sectional illustration of the spirit level shown in the orientation of Fig 5, taken along lines VI- VI in Fig 5,
  • Fig 7 is a simplified illustration of the bubble vial of the spirit level of Fig 1 generally horizontal
  • Fig 8 is a simplified illustration of the bubble vial of the spirit level of Fig 1 tilted down from the horizontal an angle ⁇ ,
  • Fig 9A is a simplified illustration of the spirit level of Fig 1 being used to set a surface, there being a difference in graduations between two ends of a bubble in two arms of a channel in the bubble vial,
  • Fig 9B is a simplified illustration of the spirit level of Fig 1 tilted to form two discrete bubbles, wherein the same difference in the number of graduations between the two ends of the bubble in Fig, 9A is maintained in the tilted configuration of Fig 9B
  • Fig 10 is a simplified illustration of a serpentine-like channel in a bubble vial, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig 1 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the spirit level of Fig 1 with an additional bubble vial, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig 12 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the spirit level of Fig 1 with a digital readout, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Spirit level 10 preferably includes a body 12 made of a sturdy, durable material, such as an aluminum alloy As seen in Fig 2, body 12 may have an I-beam cross section, although other shapes are of course possible and within the scope of the invention Body 12 has a bottom level face 14, preferably machined to a required degree of flatness and smoothness.
  • Recess 16 is configured to receive therein a bubble vial 18, described in detail further hereinbelow
  • Bubble vial 18 is preferably mounted in recess 16 by means of a rod 20 which protrudes from both sides of bubble vial 18 (longitudinally with respect to body 12), rod 20 pivotally being received in grooves 22 formed in recess 16
  • Rod 20 is preferably held in place by means of a pair of lugs 24 (Figs 3 and 4) which are clamped against rod 20 with screws 26
  • a soft pad 23, such as a rubber pad, is preferably placed underneath each end of rod 20
  • By adjusting the tightness of screws 26 one can adjust the rotational orientation of bubble vial 18 about a transverse axis 27 of body 12 (generally perpendicular to longitudinal axis 17), as indicated by a circular arrow 28 in Fig 1 In such a
  • bubble vial 18 is preferably constructed with a generally U-shaped channel 30 which is partially filled with a liquid 32 Liquid 32 may be introduced into channel 30 through a fill-hole 34 which can be plugged by a plug 36
  • Channel 30 may have any kind of cross shape (circular, rectangular, triagonal, etc ) This is in contrast with tubular bubble vials of the prior art which must generally have an internal arcuate, somewhat elliptical, shape at ends thereof
  • channel 30 of bubble vial 18 does not have to be accurately filled with liquid 32, as will be appreciated from the description hereinbelow, this being an important advantage over the prior art
  • a bubble 33 is formed in the liquid 32 and preferably extends into both arms 30A and 3 OB of channel 30
  • the size of bubble 33 determines the accuracy of the reading of bubble vial 18
  • the size of bubble 33 means its length and width (or diameter) Therefore, the length and cross-sectional size of channel 30 are factors which determine the size of bubble 33 and the accuracy
  • Bubble vial 18 is preferably transparent or translucent and as such is preferably constructed of a suitable plastic
  • Graduations 38 are preferably formed on bubble vial 18 as seen in the drawings It is noted that graduations 38 are not formed inside the bubble vial as is sometimes done in prior art levels, and thus graduations 38 do not interfere with flow of liquid 32 or bubble 33
  • bubble vial 18 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof by means of rod 20 in grooves 22
  • bubble vial 18 is attached to the base of recess 16 by means of an adjustment screw 40 which passes through a through hole 41 (Fig. 3) formed in the body of bubble vial 18 and which is threadedly received in a threaded hole 42 (Fig 3) formed in recess 16
  • an adjustment screw 40 which passes through a through hole 41 (Fig. 3) formed in the body of bubble vial 18 and which is threadedly received in a threaded hole 42 (Fig 3) formed in recess 16
  • a biasing device 46 such as a leaf spring mounted to the bottom of recess 16 by a screw 48 Biasing device 46 thus maintains bubble vial 18 at a selected rotational orientation about longitudinal axis 17 as determined by turning screw 40
  • spirit level 10 is placed on a level surface
  • bubble 33 in channel 30 of bubble vial 18 has a length of x in each arm of channel 30
  • the surface is considered level if the bubble 33 reaches the same graduation 38 in each of the arms of channel 30 If the surface is not level then the bubble 33 in one of the arms of channel 30 will be at a different graduation 38 than in the other arm
  • the surface to be set is slightly tilted such that the right side of spirit level 10 is higher than the left side (in the sense of the drawings)
  • the bubble 33 in the right side arm will be at a graduation 38 further towards the end of bubble vial 18 near screw 40 than the bubble 33 in the left side arm
  • spirit level 10 can be pre-calibrated and markings (not shown) can be provided which can indicate the amount of angular tilt of the surface to be set (Further herein
  • bubble vial 18 will be tilted about rod 20, for example, by an angle #(Fig 8), to the configuration shown in Figs 5 and 6. Because of the tilt of bubble vial 18, bubble 33 now has a length of v in each arm of channel 30, as seen in Fig 8, wherein y ⁇ x As is well known in the art of spirit levels, and as can be appreciated by a simple consideration of trigonometry, the larger the bubble the more accurate the measurement Put in another way, a larger bubble is more sensitive to a slight off-horizontal angular tilt about axis 27 than a smaller bubble As mentioned above, the surface to be set is considered level if the bubble 33 reaches the same graduation 38 in each of the arms of channel 30 If the surface is not level then the bubble 33 in one of the arms of channel 30 will be at a different graduation 38 than in the other arm However, since the bubble 33 is now less sensitive to a slight off-horizontal angular tilt, the bubble 33 in the configuration of Figs 5, 6 and 8 will move less graduations for
  • spirit level 10 With sufficiently long arms of channel 30, spirit level 10 can be easily manufactured to have an accuracy that ranges from 1 mm per meter to 0 01 mm per meter and even better than 0 01 mm per meter Spirit level 10, which can easily be made at the price of non-precision commercial levels, can thus attain and even surpass the accuracy of expensive high precision levels at a fraction of the manufacturing cost
  • channel 30 does not have to be partially filled with liquid 32 with any high degree of accuracy This saves on manufacturing costs and is a significant advantage over the prior art
  • An interesting feature of the present invention is that after one has placed the spirit level 10 on a surface to be plumbed or set, one can tilt the spirit level 10 so that the bubble 33 moves to the opposite end of the arms 30A and 30B and the same difference in graduations 38 is maintained even after the spirit level is removed from the surface that was plumbed or set.
  • spirit level 10 is placed on a surface 60.
  • One end of bubble 33 reaches a graduation 62 in arm 30A and the other end of bubble 33 reaches a graduation 64 in arm 3 OB
  • a graduation 62 in arm 30A there is a difference of two full graduations between graduations 62 and 64
  • the bubble 33 A in arm 30A reaches a graduation 66
  • the bubble 33B in arm 30B reaches a graduation 68
  • the difference in graduations between graduations 66 and 68 is exactly the same as the difference between graduations 62 and 64 - two full graduations
  • the bubbles 33A and 33B are "trapped" between the liquid 32 and the ends of each arms 30A and 30B of channel 30.
  • bubbles 33 A and 33B will remain in their positions shown in Fig 9B as long as the spirit level 10 is not tilted back to re-form a continuous bubble 33
  • bubble vial 18 can be integrated in many other systems that require leveling, such as machine tools or billiard tables, for example
  • spirit level 10 can be made with bubble vial 18 at a preset, non-movable angle, thereby providing spirit level 10 with a non-adjustable accuracy.
  • bubble vial 18 can be formed in other shapes
  • a bubble vial 128 can be formed with a serpentine-shape with arcuate arms
  • the bubble vial has a channel 129 formed therein, channel 129 including at least two arms 130 and 131 generally extending along a first axis 132 Arms 130 and 131 are fluidly connected to each other by a third arm 133 which extends between arms 130 and 131 along a second axis 134 generally perpendicular to first axis 132 Channel 129 being partially filled with a liquid 135 forming a bubble 136 therein.
  • the arms may be generally straight as in the embodiment of Fig. 1, or may be arcuate as in the embodiment of Fig 10 It is appreciated by the skilled artisan that spirit level 10 can be suitably fashioned and calibrated not just to set or plumb surfaces at 0° or 90°, but rather at any other angle as well
  • Fig 11 illustrates spirit level 10 with an additional bubble vial, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • the additional bubble vial may be a bull's eye vial 50 or a tubular bubble vial 52
  • Bubble vial 18 is generally used to level a surface about axis 27, whereas the additional bubble vial is used to level a surface about axis 17
  • the additional bubble vial may also be placed on a portion of bubble vial 18 itself, if desired
  • the additional bubble vial may another bubble vial 18 mounted on the spirit level in a different orientation than the first bubble vial 18
  • Fig 12 illustrates spirit level 10 with a digital readout 54, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Digital readout 54 can be operatively connected to bubble vial 18 in a number of ways as is readily appreciated by the skilled artisan
  • liquid 32 can be a conductive fluid and electrical contacts can be provided in bubble vial 18 which provide an electrical signal which is converted to an angular measurement and displayed on digital readout 54
  • bubble vial 18 can be opaque and the angular measurement read at digital readout 54 only

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un niveau à bulle (10) comprenant une fiole à bulle (18) munie d'un canal (30) formé à l'intérieur de celle-ci. Le canal (30) comporte au moins deux bras (30A, 30B), s'étendant généralement le long du premier axe (27), reliés l'un à l'autre de façon fluidique par un troisième bras s'étendant entre les au moins deux bras (30A, 30B) le long d'un second axe (17) généralement perpendiculaire au premier axe (27), le canal (30) étant partiellement rempli d'un liquide (32) y forme une bulle (33).
PCT/IL2000/000390 1999-08-16 2000-07-04 Niveau a bulle a precision reglable Ceased WO2001013065A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU55623/00A AU5562300A (en) 1999-08-16 2000-07-04 Spirit level with adjustable accuracy

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IL131428 1999-08-16
IL13142899A IL131428A0 (en) 1999-08-16 1999-08-16 Spirit level with adjustable accuracy

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001013065A1 true WO2001013065A1 (fr) 2001-02-22

Family

ID=11073153

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IL2000/000390 Ceased WO2001013065A1 (fr) 1999-08-16 2000-07-04 Niveau a bulle a precision reglable

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU5562300A (fr)
IL (1) IL131428A0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001013065A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11092435B2 (en) 2018-01-25 2021-08-17 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Digital level
US11193764B2 (en) 2019-01-17 2021-12-07 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Two datum vial mounting system and method
US11725936B2 (en) 2019-01-17 2023-08-15 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Two datum vial mounting system and method

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US182801A (en) * 1876-10-03 Improvement in spirit-levels
US377870A (en) * 1888-02-14 Spirit-level and inclinometer
US544587A (en) * 1895-08-13 Plumb and level
US811175A (en) * 1904-11-10 1906-01-30 John Thompson Rider Level.
US987182A (en) * 1910-08-31 1911-03-21 James B Smith Level.
US5313713A (en) * 1992-08-14 1994-05-24 Zircon Corporation Electronic level with display scale and audible tone scale
US5506759A (en) * 1993-10-05 1996-04-09 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Vehicular headlamp having aiming leveling device

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US182801A (en) * 1876-10-03 Improvement in spirit-levels
US377870A (en) * 1888-02-14 Spirit-level and inclinometer
US544587A (en) * 1895-08-13 Plumb and level
US811175A (en) * 1904-11-10 1906-01-30 John Thompson Rider Level.
US987182A (en) * 1910-08-31 1911-03-21 James B Smith Level.
US5313713A (en) * 1992-08-14 1994-05-24 Zircon Corporation Electronic level with display scale and audible tone scale
US5506759A (en) * 1993-10-05 1996-04-09 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Vehicular headlamp having aiming leveling device

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11092435B2 (en) 2018-01-25 2021-08-17 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Digital level
US11692820B2 (en) 2018-01-25 2023-07-04 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Digital level
US11193764B2 (en) 2019-01-17 2021-12-07 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Two datum vial mounting system and method
US11725936B2 (en) 2019-01-17 2023-08-15 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Two datum vial mounting system and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5562300A (en) 2001-03-13
IL131428A0 (en) 2001-01-28

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