U.S. patent application number 09/353151 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-09 for laser plumbing device, long member plumbing device and long member plumbing method.
Invention is credited to MATSUMOTO, YUUJI, MINAMI, TATSUSEI, TANABE, AKIRA, YODA, OSAMU.
Application Number | 20020053144 09/353151 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 16400668 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020053144 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MATSUMOTO, YUUJI ; et
al. |
May 9, 2002 |
LASER PLUMBING DEVICE, LONG MEMBER PLUMBING DEVICE AND LONG MEMBER
PLUMBING METHOD
Abstract
A laser plumbing device including a laser beam emitting device;
a supporting device for supporting the laser beam emitting device
and allowing swinging movements of the laser beam emitting device
in a first direction X1 and a second direction Y1; a two-direction
drive device for swinging the laser beam emitting device in the
first and second directions X1 and Y1; an inclination angle
detecting device for detecting an inclination angle of the laser
beam emitting direction with respect to the vertical direction; and
a controller for controlling the position of the laser beam
emitting device by the two-direction drive device so as to change
the laser beam emitting direction toward the vertical direction
based on the angle detected by the inclination angle detecting
device. The long member plumbing device and method utilizing the
laser plumbing device.
Inventors: |
MATSUMOTO, YUUJI;
(SANDA-SHI, JP) ; MINAMI, TATSUSEI; (OSAKA,
JP) ; YODA, OSAMU; (KANAGAWA, JP) ; TANABE,
AKIRA; (OSAKA, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARENT FOX KINTNER PLOTKIN & KAHN, PLLC
1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE
SUITE 600
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-5339
US
|
Family ID: |
16400668 |
Appl. No.: |
09/353151 |
Filed: |
July 14, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
33/283 ;
33/391 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 33/21 20130101;
G01C 15/105 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
33/283 ;
33/391 |
International
Class: |
G01C 009/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 14, 1998 |
JP |
199013/1998 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A laser plumbing device for use in a plumbing operation of
arranging a long member in a substantially vertical position and
plumbing the arranged long member, comprising a laser beam emitting
device; a supporting device for supporting said laser beam emitting
device arranged in a position for emitting downward a laser beam,
and allowing swinging movements of said laser beam emitting device
in a first direction crossing a laser beam emitting direction and a
second direction crossing the laser beam emitting direction and
being perpendicular to said first direction; a two-direction drive
device for swinging said laser beam emitting device in said first
and second directions; an inclination angle detecting device for
detecting an inclination angle of said laser beam emitting
direction with respect to the vertical direction; and a controller
for controlling the position of said laser beam emitting device by
said two-direction drive device so as to change said laser beam
emitting direction toward the vertical direction based on the angle
detected by said inclination angle detecting device.
2. The laser plumbing device according to claim 1, wherein said
supporting device of said laser beam emitting device has a leveling
base carrying said laser beam emitting device; a spherical member
provided on said leveling base, projected upward and having a
spherical or nearly spherical top surface; a spherical surface
contact member being in contact with the top surface of said
spherical member and located above said leveling base; and a spring
elastically pushing and supporting said leveling base upward for
keeping the top surface of said spherical member in contact with
said spherical surface contact member and allowing swinging
movements of said leveling base around the contact point between
said spherical member and said spherical surface contact member in
said first and second directions.
3. The laser plumbing device according to claim 2, wherein said
two-direction drive device includes a first motor for swinging said
leveling base in said first direction; a first transmission
mechanism for transmitting a drive force of said first motor to
said leveling base for swinging said leveling base in said first
direction; a second motor for swinging said leveling base in said
second direction; and a second transmission mechanism for
transmitting a drive force of said second motor to said leveling
base for swinging said leveling base in said second direction.
4. The laser plumbing device according to claim 1, wherein said
controller allows the turn-on of said laser beam emitting device
and the control of the position of said laser beam emitting device
by said two-direction drive device when said angle detected by said
inclination angle detecting device is lower than or equal to the
predetermined angle, and stops the operation of said laser beam
emitting device and said two-direction drive device when the angle
detected by said inclination angle detecting device is larger than
said predetermined angle.
5. A long member plumbing device comprising: a laser plumbing
device for use in a plumbing operation of arranging a long member
in a substantially vertical position and plumbing the arranged long
member, including a laser beam emitting device; a supporting device
for supporting said laser beam emitting device arranged in a
position for emitting downward a laser beam, and allowing swinging
movements of said laser beam emitting device in a first direction
crossing a laser beam emitting direction and a second direction
crossing the laser beam emitting direction and being perpendicular
to said first direction; a two-direction drive device for swinging
said laser beam emitting device in said first and second
directions; an inclination angle detecting device for detecting an
inclination angle of said laser beam emitting direction with
respect to the vertical direction; and a controller for controlling
the position of said laser beam emitting device by said
two-direction drive device so as to change said laser beam emitting
direction toward the vertical direction based on the angle detected
by said inclination angle detecting device; and an arm member
provided with a reference position to be opposed to a laser beam
outlet of the laser beam emitting device in said laser plumbing
device, being capable of carrying said laser plumbing device such
that the laser beam outlet is opposed to the reference position,
and allowing fixing to an upper portion of said long member.
6. The long member plumbing device according to claim 5, wherein
said supporting device of said laser beam emitting device in said
laser plumbing device has a leveling base carrying said laser beam
emitting device; a spherical member provided on said leveling base,
projected upward and having a spherical or nearly spherical top
surface; a spherical surface contact member being in contact with
the top surface of said spherical member and located above said
leveling base; and a spring elastically pushing and supporting said
leveling base upward for keeping the top surface of said spherical
member in contact with said spherical surface contact member and
allowing swinging movements of said leveling base around the
contact point between said spherical member and said spherical
surface contact member in said first and second directions.
7. The long member plumbing device according to claim 6, wherein
said two-direction drive device includes a first motor for swinging
said leveling base in said first direction; a first transmission
mechanism for transmitting a drive force of said first motor to
said leveling base for swinging said leveling base in said first
direction; a second motor for swinging said leveling base in said
second direction; and a second transmission mechanism for
transmitting a drive force of said second motor to said leveling
base for swinging said leveling base in said second direction.
8. The long member plumbing device according to claim 5, wherein
said controller in said laser plumbing device allows the turn-on of
said laser beam emitting device and the control of the position of
said laser beam emitting device by said two-direction drive device
when said angle detected by said inclination angle detecting device
is lower than or equal to the predetermined angle, and stops the
operation of said laser beam emitting device and said two-direction
drive device when the angle detected by said inclination angle
detecting device is larger than said predetermined angle.
9. The long member plumbing device according to claim 5, wherein
said arm member is provided with a magnet device for fixing said
arm member to the long member.
10. The long member plumbing device according to claim 6, 7 or 8,
wherein said arm member is provided with a magnet device for fixing
said arm member to the long member.
11. A long member plumbing method for use in a plumbing operation
of arranging a long member in a substantially vertical position and
plumbing the arranged long member, comprising the steps of:
preparing a laser plumbing device including a laser beam emitting
device; a supporting device for supporting said laser beam emitting
device arranged in a position for emitting downward a laser beam,
and allowing swinging movements of said laser beam emitting device
in a first direction crossing a laser beam emitting direction and a
second direction crossing the laser beam emitting direction and
being perpendicular to said first direction; a two-direction drive
device for swinging said laser beam emitting device in said first
and second directions; an inclination angle detecting device for
detecting an inclination angle of said laser beam emitting
direction with respect to the vertical direction; and a controller
for controlling the position of said laser beam emitting device by
said two-direction drive device so as to change said laser beam
emitting direction toward the vertical direction based on the angle
detected by said inclination angle detecting device; fixing an arm
member for carrying said laser plumbing device on an upper portion
of the long member, said arm member being provided with a reference
position to be opposed to a laser beam outlet of the laser beam
emitting device in said laser plumbing device, and said reference
position and a central axis of said long member being spaced from
each other by a predetermined distance .alpha. in a predetermined
direction X perpendicular to said central axis and by a
predetermined distance .beta. in a direction Y perpendicular to
said central axis and said predetermined direction X; mounting said
laser plumbing device on said arm member such that the laser beam
outlet of said laser beam emitting device is opposed to said
reference position; providing a lower reference mark on a
horizontal surface continuing to the lower portion of said long
member or a horizontal surface lower than said horizontal surface,
said lower reference mark being spaced from a point P to be
coincident with said central axis of said long member by said
distance .alpha. in a predetermined horizontal direction X'and by
said distance .beta. in a horizontal direction Y' perpendicular to
said direction X'; and emitting the laser beam downward from said
laser beam emitting device of said laser plumbing device while
keeping the central axis of said long member on said foregoing
point P, and plumbing said long member by adjusting the position of
the long member such that the laser beam is projected onto said
lower reference mark.
12. The long member plumbing method according to claim 11, wherein
said supporting device of said laser beam emitting device in said
laser plumbing device has a leveling base carrying said laser beam
emitting device; a spherical member provided on said leveling base,
projected upward and having a spherical or nearly spherical top
surface; a spherical surface contact member being in contact with
the top surface of said spherical member and located above said
leveling base; and a spring elastically pushing and supporting said
leveling base upward for keeping the top surface of said spherical
member in contact with said spherical surface contact member and
allowing swinging movements of said leveling base around the
contact point between said spherical member and said spherical
surface contact member in said first and second directions.
13. The long member plumbing method according to claim 12, wherein
said two-direction drive device includes a first motor for swinging
said leveling base in said first direction; a first transmission
mechanism for transmitting a drive force of said first motor to
said leveling base for swinging said leveling base in said first
direction; a second motor for swinging said leveling base in said
second direction; and a second transmission mechanism for
transmitting a drive force of said second motor to said leveling
base for swinging said leveling base in said second direction.
14. The long member plumbing method according to claim 11, wherein
said controller in said laser plumbing device allows the turn-on of
said laser beam emitting device and the control of the position of
said laser beam emitting device by said two-direction drive device
when said angle detected by said inclination angle detecting device
is lower than or equal to the predetermined angle, and stops the
operation of said laser beam emitting device and said two-direction
drive device when the angle detected by said inclination angle
detecting device is larger than said predetermined angle.
15. The long member plumbing method according to claim 11, wherein
said arm member is provided with a magnet device for fixing said
arm member to the long member.
16. The long member plumbing device according to claim 12, 13 or
14, wherein said arm member is provided with a magnet device for
fixing said arm member to the long member.
Description
[0001] The invention is based on patent application No. 10-199013
Pat. filed in Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a laser plumbing device
which is used, e.g., in a construction site of a structure for
plumbing long members such as a column (e.g., a steel column) and
others, and in other words for arranging such a long member in a
vertical position (i.e., in a position perpendicular to a
horizontal surface), and particularly is used for plumbing the long
member which is already arranged or installed in a nearly vertical
position. The invention also relates to a long member plumbing
device employing the laser plumbing device as well as a method of
plumbing a long member.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] For example, in a construction site of a structure, a steel
column or another column is arranged perpendicular to a horizontal
surface. In this operation, the column member is first arranged in
a predetermined position so that it extends substantially
perpendicularly to the horizontal surface, and thus the column
member is in the substantially vertical position. Then, plumbing of
the column member is performed.
[0006] In the prior art, this plumbing operation is performed by
using a plumb-bob line or a surveying instrument such as a transit.
Further, the plumbing may also be performed by arranging a laser
beam emitter on a leg portion of the column member and arranging a
target internally provided with a TV camera on an upper portion of
the column member.
[0007] However, the plumbing method using the plumb-bob line
requires an excessively long time until the line stops its
movement. Further, the line is likely to move due to wind.
Therefore, the plumbing requires a long time. In the case where the
surveying instrument such as a transit is used, measurement must be
carried out in two directions, which requires a long time. Further,
many temporary obstacles are often present on the ground of the
construction site so that it is often difficult to arrange the
measuring instrument in a desired position. According to the
operation employing the laser beam emitter and the target
internally provided with the TV camera, the laser beam emitter
arranged on the leg portion of the column member emits the laser
beam in the vertical direction to the target which is internally
provided with the TV camera and is arranged on the upper portion of
the column member, and the plumbing is performed while monitoring
the laser beam by the TV camera. Therefore, the plumbing accuracy
is high. However, the target internally provided with the TV camera
is expensive, and installation of the camera on the column member
requires a long time and a much cost.
[0008] The above problems arise not only in connection with the
column members but also in various cases where a long member is
plumbed in a predetermined position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a
laser plumbing device, which can be used in a plumbing operation of
arranging a long member such as a column member in a substantially
vertical position and plumbing the provisionally arranged long
member, and particularly a laser plumbing device which allows easy
handling, and easy and accurate plumbing of the long member.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a long member
plumbing device, which can be used in a plumbing operation of
arranging a long member such as a column member in a substantially
vertical position and plumbing the provisionally arranged long
member, and particularly a plumbing device which allows easy
handling, and easy and accurate plumbing of the long member.
[0011] Further, an object of the invention is to provide a long
member plumbing method, which can be used in a plumbing operation
of arranging a long member such as a column member in a
substantially vertical position and plumbing the provisionally
arranged long member, and particularly can easily and accurately
plumb the provisionally arranged long member.
[0012] For achieving the above objects, the invention provides a
laser plumbing device, a long member plumbing device and a long
member plumbing method which will be described below.
[0013] (1) Laser Plumbing Device
[0014] A laser plumbing device for use in a plumbing operation of
arranging a long member in a nearly (in other words, substantially)
vertical position and plumbing the arranged long member,
including
[0015] a laser beam emitting device; a supporting device for
supporting the laser beam emitting device arranged in a position
for emitting downward a laser beam, and allowing swinging movements
of the laser beam emitting device in a first direction crossing a
laser beam emitting direction and a second direction crossing the
laser beam emitting direction and being perpendicular to the first
direction; a two-direction drive device for swinging the laser beam
emitting device in the first and second directions; an inclination
angle detecting device for detecting an inclination angle of the
laser beam emitting direction with respect to the vertical
direction; and a controller for controlling the position of the
laser beam emitting device by the two-direction drive device so as
to change the laser beam emitting direction toward the vertical
direction based on the angle detected by the inclination angle
detecting device.
[0016] (2) A Long Member Plumbing Device
[0017] A long member plumbing device including:
[0018] the above laser plumbing device according to the invention;
and
[0019] an arm member provided with a reference position to be
opposed to a laser beam outlet of the laser beam emitting device in
the laser plumbing device, being capable of carrying the laser
plumbing device such that the laser beam outlet is opposed to the
reference position, and allowing fixing to an upper portion of the
long member.
[0020] (3) Long Member Plumbing Method
[0021] A long member plumbing method for use in a plumbing
operation of arranging a long member in a nearly (in other words,
substantiall) vertical position and plumbing the arranged long
member, including the steps of:
[0022] preparing the above laser plumbing device according to the
invention;
[0023] fixing an arm member for carrying the laser plumbing device
on an upper portion of the long member, the arm member being
provided with a reference position to be opposed to a laser beam
outlet of the laser beam emitting device in the laser plumbing
device, and the reference position and a central axis of the long
member being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance
.alpha. in a predetermined direction X perpendicular to the central
axis and by a predetermined distance .beta. in a direction Y
perpendicular to the central axis and the predetermined direction
X;
[0024] mounting the laser plumbing device on the arm member such
that the laser beam outlet of the laser beam emitting device is
opposed to the reference position;
[0025] providing a lower reference mark on a horizontal surface
continuing to the lower portion of the long member or a horizontal
surface lower than the foregoing horizontal surface, the lower
reference mark being spaced from a point P to be coincident with
the central axis of the long member by the distance .alpha. in a
predetermined horizontal direction X' and by the distance .beta. in
a horizontal direction Y' perpendicular to the direction X';
and
[0026] emitting the laser beam downward from the laser beam
emitting device of the laser plumbing device while keeping the
central axis of the long member on the foregoing point P, and
plumbing the long member by adjusting the position of the long
member such that the laser beam is projected onto the lower
reference mark.
[0027] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description of the present invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is an elevation showing an example of a laser
plumbing device according to the invention with a certain part cut
away;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the structure in FIG. 1
including a laser beam emitting device, a support device thereof
and a two-direction drive device;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the laser plumbing device shown
in FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a plan showing an example of an operation of
arranging a steel column in a predetermined position and plumbing
the same;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a plan of a ground before arranging the steel
column;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a side view showing the steel column plumbing
operation shown in FIG. 4;
[0034] FIG. 7 is a side view showing a plumbing operation for a
column jointed to a plumbed column;
[0035] FIG. 8(A) is a schematic block diagram of an electric
circuit of the laser plumbing device shown in FIG. 1,
[0036] FIG. 8(B) is a flow chart showing by way of example an
operation a controller in the laser plumbing device, and
[0037] FIG. 8(C) is a flow chart showing another example of the
operation of the controller; and
[0038] FIG. 9 is a plan showing an operation of arranging a steel
column made of H-section steel in a predetermined position and
plumbing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0039] A laser plumbing device of an embodiment of the invention
includes a laser beam emitting device, a supporting device for
supporting the laser beam emitting device, a two-direction drive
device for the laser beam emitting device, an inclination angle
detecting device for detecting an inclination angle of a laser beam
emitting direction of the laser beam emitting device with respect
to the vertical direction, and a controller for controlling a
position of the laser beam emitting device.
[0040] The support device for the laser beam emitting device
supports the laser beam emitting device arranged in a position for
emitting downward a laser beam, and allows swinging movements of
the laser beam emitting device in a first direction crossing the
laser beam emitting direction and a second direction crossing the
laser beam emitting direction and being perpendicular to the first
direction.
[0041] The two-direction drive device can swing the laser beam
emitting device in the first and second directions.
[0042] The controller controls the position of the laser beam
emitting device by the two-direction drive device so as to change
the laser beam emitting direction toward the vertical direction
based on an angle detected by the inclination angle detecting
device.
[0043] A long member plumbing device of the embodiment of the
invention includes the laser plumbing device described above; and
an arm member provided with a reference position to be opposed to a
laser beam outlet of the laser beam emitting device in the laser
plumbing device, being capable of carrying the laser plumbing
device such that the laser beam outlet is opposed to the reference
position, and allowing fixing to an upper portion of the long
member.
[0044] A long member plumbing method of the embodiment of the
invention includes the steps of preparing the above laser plumbing
device according to the invention; fixing an arm member for
carrying the laser plumbing device on an upper portion of the long
member, the arm member being provided with a reference position to
be opposed to a laser beam outlet of the laser beam emitting device
in the laser plumbing device, and the reference position and a
central axis of the long member being spaced from each other by a
predetermined distance .alpha.in a predetermined direction X
perpendicular to the central axis and by a predetermined distance
.beta. in a direction Y perpendicular to the central axis and the
predetermined direction X; mounting the laser plumbing device on
the arm member such that the laser beam outlet of the laser beam
emitting device is opposed to the reference position; providing a
lower reference mark on a horizontal surface continuing to the
lower portion of the long member or a horizontal surface lower than
the foregoing horizontal surface, the lower reference mark being
spaced from a point P to be coincident with the central axis of the
long member by the distance .alpha. in a predetermined horizontal
direction X' and by the distance .beta. in a horizontal direction
Y' perpendicular to the direction X'; and emitting the laser beam
downward from the laser beam emitting device of the laser plumbing
device while keeping the central axis of the long member on the
foregoing point P, and plumbing the long member by adjusting the
position of the long member such that the laser beam is projected
onto the lower reference mark.
[0045] The laser plumbing device described above may be directly
attached to an upper portion (typically, a top) of the long member.
This long member may be a column member such as a steel column or
another long member, which is already arranged in a predetermined
position or is not yet arranged in the predetermined position.
Alternatively, the laser plumbing device may be fixed to the long
member via an appropriate arm member or the like, which is fixed to
the upper portion of the long member and carries the laser plumbing
device.
[0046] This fixing of the laser plumbing device to the long member
is performed such that the laser beam outlet of the laser beam
emitting device is opposed to a reference position. The reference
position is spaced by the predetermined distance a from the
longitudinally extending central axis of the long member in the
predetermined direction X perpendicular to the central axis, and is
spaced by the predetermined distance .beta. from the central axis
in the direction Y perpendicular to both the central axis and the
direction X.
[0047] The long member plumbing device and the plumbing method
described above use the arm member, which is provided with the
reference position to be opposed to the laser beam outlet of the
laser beam emitting device. The arm member is fixed to the upper
portion of the long member. The arm member thus fixed is located
such that the reference position is spaced from the longitudinally
extending central axis of the long member by the predetermined
distance .alpha. in the predetermined direction X perpendicular to
the central axis, and is spaced from the same central axis by the
predetermined distance .beta. in the direction Y perpendicular to
both the central axis and the direction X.
[0048] After or before fixing the arm member to the long member,
the laser plumbing device is mounted on the arm member. The laser
beam outlet of the laser beam emitting device thus mounted is
opposed to the reference position.
[0049] The lower reference mark is provided on the horizontal
surface continuing to the lower portion of the long member
(typically, the leg of the long member). The lower reference mark
is located in the position, which is spaced by the predetermined
distance .alpha. in the predetermined horizontal direction X' from
the point P to be coincident with the central axis of the long
member, and is spaced by the predetermined distance .beta. in the
horizontal direction Y' perpendicular to the direction X' from the
point P.
[0050] When the plumbing is to be carried out on the long member
jointed to a plumbed long member, i.e., another long member which
is already plumbed, the lower reference mark may be provided on the
horizontal surface continuing to the lower portion (typically, the
leg portion) of the long member to be plumbed. The lower reference
mark alternatively may be provided on the horizontal surface in a
further lower position (usually, the horizontal surface continuing
to the lower portion of the plumbed long member). In this case, the
lower reference mark which was used when plumbing the first long
member may be utilized in the operation of plumbing the long member
jointed to the first long member.
[0051] In this manner, the long member is plumbed such that the
central axis thereof is coincident with the point P, and the
reference position (upper reference position) which is spaced by
the distances .alpha. and .beta. from the central axis of the long
member, and is opposed to the laser beam outlet, is substantially
vertically aligned with the lower reference mark, and thereafter
the laser beam emitting device of the laser plumbing device emits
the laser beam downward, and the plumbing is performed to project
the laser beam onto the lower reference mark.
[0052] In this plumbing operation, when the position of the long
member is adjusted, the position of the laser plumbing device
changes. Thereby, the controller operates the two-direction drive
device in the laser plumbing device so that the position of the
laser beam emitting device is controlled to emit the laser beam
downward in the vertical direction. Thus, the controller of the
laser plumbing device controls the position of the laser beam
emitting device by sending an instruction to the two-direction
drive device such that the inclination angle detected by the
inclination angle detecting device changes toward zero, and
therefore the direction of the laser beam changes toward the
vertical direction. Thereby, the position of the laser beam
emitting device is controlled, and the laser beam is always emitted
downward in the vertical direction. Thus, the laser beam is emitted
downward in the vertical direction similarly to a conventional
plumb bob which is always kept in the vertical direction.
Accordingly, the long member can be easily and accurately plumbed
by performing the plumbing so that the laser beam may be emitted
onto the lower reference mark.
[0053] In the plumbing method described above, (1) the step of
fixing the arm member to the upper portion of the long member, (2)
the step of mounting the laser plumbing device on the arm member,
and (3) the step of providing the lower reference mark may be
carried out in an arbitrary order, and some of these steps may be
performed at the same time provided that no disadvantage
occurs.
[0054] The arm member fixing step (1) and the laser plumbing device
mounting step (2) may be effected on the upper portion of the long
member which is already arranged in the predetermined position, and
alternatively may be effected on the long member, which is not yet
arranged in the predetermined position and thus is laid on a
ground. Thereby, the plumbing operation can be easily performed at
less expense in time and cost.
[0055] The supporting device of the laser beam emitting device in
the laser plumbing device is required to support the laser beam
emitting device to allow the swinging in the first direction
crossing the laser beam emitting direction as well as the swinging
in the second direction, which crosses the laser beam emitting
direction and is perpendicular to the first direction. For example,
the supporting device may have a simple structure formed of, e.g.,
a leveling base carrying the laser beam emitting device, a
spherical member provided on the leveling base, projected upward
and having a spherical or nearly spherical top surface, a spherical
surface contact member being in contact with the top surface of the
spherical member and located above the leveling base, and a spring
elastically pushing and supporting the leveling base upward for
keeping the top surface of the spherical member in contact with the
spherical surface contact member and allowing swinging movements of
the leveling base around the contact point between the spherical
member and the spherical surface contact member in the first and
second directions.
[0056] The two-direction drive device in the laser plumbing device
is merely required to allow the swinging movements of the laser
beam emitting device in the first and second directions, and may
include, for example, a first motor for swinging the leveling base
in the first direction, a first transmission mechanism for
transmitting a drive force of the first motor to the leveling base
for swinging the leveling base in the first direction, a second
motor for swinging the leveling base in the second direction, and a
second transmission mechanism for transmitting a drive force of the
second motor to the leveling base for swinging the leveling base in
the second direction.
[0057] The controller may have such a structure that allows the
turn-on of the laser beam emitting device and the control of the
position of the laser beam emitting device by the two-direction
drive device when the angle detected by the inclination angle
detecting device is lower than or equal to the predetermined angle,
and stops the operation of the laser beam emitting device and the
two-direction drive device when the angle detected by the
inclination angle detecting device is larger than the predetermined
angle.
[0058] In this case, when the direction of the laser beam emitted
from the laser beam emitting device is inclined by an angle
exceeding the predetermined angle with respect to the vertical
direction, the laser beam emitting device is not turned on, or will
be turned off when it has been turned on. Also, the two-direction
drive device does not operate. The state where the laser beam is
inclined by the angle exceeding the predetermined direction with
respect to the vertical direction is naturally caused by the state
where the arranged long member is inclined with respect to the
vertical direction to a large extent. As a result, the above
control can inhibit the start of the time-consuming and difficult
operation for correcting a large inclination of the long member
with respect to the vertical direction. Thus, the above control
tends to start the plumbing on the long member which is in the
position near to the vertical position. The long member may be
arranged in the predetermined position after the laser plumbing
device is attached to the long member which is, for example, laid
on the ground. In this case, the laser plumbing device does not
operate when the member is in the laid position, or will stop the
operation after a temporary operation.
[0059] The arm member carrying the laser plumbing device, which is
used in the foregoing long member plumbing device and method, may
be adapted to allow easy attachment and removal of the arm member
with respect to the long member (particularly, the long member such
as a steel column or the like made of a magnetic material), and for
this purpose, may employ a magnet device attracted onto the long
member. The magnet device may be a permanent magnet, or a known
magnet device to be turned on/off by a lever.
[0060] The arm member may be provided with a scale providing a
standard for positioning when fixing the arm member to the long
member.
[0061] Specific examples of the laser plumbing device, the long
member plumbing device and the long member plumbing method will now
be described with reference to the drawings.
[0062] FIG. 1 is an elevation showing by way of example the laser
plumbing device with a certain part cut away, and FIG. 3 is a
bottom view of the laser plumbing device.
[0063] The laser plumbing device 1 shown in the figures includes, a
laser beam emitting device 11 including a laser generator, a lens
and others (not shown), a supporting device 12 supporting the
device 11, a two-direction drive device 13 swinging the support
device 12 in two directions, an inclination angle detecting device
14 and a controller 15, which controls the operation of the
two-direction drive device 13 for controlling the position of the
laser beam emitting device 11 based on information of the
inclination angle detected by the inclination angle detecting
device 14. These are arranged within a casing 16. FIG. 2 shows a
right side of the structure including the laser beam emitting
device 11, support device 12 and two-direction drive device 13.
[0064] The casing 16 is provided with a battery box 17 and a switch
18 for turning on/off the power supply. The casing 16 has three
legs 161, each of which is provided at its lower surface with a
screw hole 161a (see FIG. 3).
[0065] The support device 12 is provided with a leveling base 121
carrying the laser beam emitting device 11 as shown in FIGS. 1 and
2. The device 11 fixed to the leveling base 121 has a vertically
long form extending through a central portion of the leveling base
121. The support device 12 has a spherical member 122 arranged on
the top of the device 11 fixed to the leveling base 121. The
spherical member 122 projects upward, and has an upper end surface
122a of a spherical form. The top spherical surface 122a of the
spherical member 122 is pressed by a spring 124 against a spherical
surface contact member 123 arranged in a fixed position above the
leveling base 121.
[0066] A frame 162 is arranged in the fixed position within the
casing 16, and is located under the leveling base 121. The laser
beam emitting device 11 fixed to the leveling base 121 is fitted
into the frame 162 with a sufficient space therebetween, and a
laser beam outlet 111 of the device 11 is opposed to a window 163
on the lower surface of the casing 16.
[0067] The spring 124 is arranged between the lower surface of the
leveling base 121 and the top surface of the frame 162, and
surrounds the shank or body portion of the laser beam emitting
device 11. In this manner, the spring 124 elastically pushes and
supports the leveling base 121 upward so that the top spherical
surface 122a of the spherical member 122 is pressed against the
spherical surface contact member 123. owing to the above structure
of the support device 12, the leveling base 121 and the laser beam
emitting device 11 mounted thereon are arranged such that the laser
beam emitting device 11, which is in the position for emitting the
laser beam downward as shown in FIG. 1, can swing and reciprocate
in first and second directions X1 and Y1 around a contact between
the spherical member top surface 122a and the spherical surface
contact member 123. The first direction X1 crosses the laser beam
emitting direction (i.e., the direction of the emitted laser beam).
The second direction Y1 crosses the laser beam emitting direction
and is perpendicular to the first direction X1.
[0068] The two-direction drive device 13 includes, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, a first motor M1, a first transmission mechanism 131
transmitting a drive force of the first motor M1 to the leveling
base 121, a second motor M2, and a second transmission mechanism
132 transmitting a drive force of the second motor M2 to the
leveling base 121. A combination of the motor M1 and the first
transmission mechanism 131 as well as a combination of the motor M2
and the second transmission mechanism 132 are arranged outside the
leveling base 121 with an angular space of 90 degrees from each
other, and each are mounted on the frame 162 in the fixed
position.
[0069] The first transmission mechanism 131 includes a bearing unit
1311 fixed to and projected upward from the frame 162, a
longitudinal screw rod 1312 rotatably carried by the unit 1311, an
internal thread member 1313 engaged with the screw rod 1312, and a
link mechanism 1314 coupling the internal thread member 1313 to the
outer periphery of the leveling base 121. The top end of the
longitudinal screw rod 1312 is coupled to the shaft of the motor M1
via a gear transmission mechanism 1315.
[0070] The second transmission mechanism 132 includes a bearing
unit 1321 fixed to and projected upward from the frame 162, a
longitudinal screw rod 1322 rotatably carried by the unit 1321, an
internal thread member 1323 engaged with the screw rod 1322, and a
link mechanism 1324 coupling the internal thread member 1323 to the
outer periphery of the leveling base 121. The top end of the
longitudinal screw rod 1322 is coupled to the shaft of the motor M2
via a gear transmission mechanism 1325.
[0071] According to the above structure, the two-direction drive
device 13 can operate such that the motor M1 vertically moves the
internal thread member 1313, and thereby swings via the link
mechanism 1314 the leveling base 121 and therefore the laser beam
emitting device 11 carried thereon in the first direction X1
against the spring 124. Further, the motor M2 can vertically move
the internal thread member 1323, and thereby can swing via the link
mechanism 1324 the leveling base 121 and therefore the laser beam
emitting device 11 carried thereon in the second direction Y1
against the spring 124.
[0072] The inclination angle detecting device 14, which detects the
inclination angle of the laser beam emitting direction with respect
to the vertical direction, is formed of two angle sensors 141 and
142 mounted on the leveling base 121. The sensor 141 detects an
inclination angle .theta.1 (see FIG. 1) in the first direction X1,
and sensor 142 detects an inclination angle .theta. 2 (see FIG. 2)
in the second direction Y1.
[0073] Each of the sensors 141 and 142 has a known structure, which
is generally referred to, e.g., as an "electrolyte detecting
device", although not restricted thereto. This structure includes a
liquid ball which can move in accordance with an inclination with
respect to the horizontal direction, similarly to a general level,
and can issue an electric signal corresponding to the position of
the moving liquid ball, whereby the inclination angle can be
accurately detected.
[0074] As shown in FIG. 8(A), the sensors 141 and 142 issue the
detected angle information to the controller 15, and each of the
motors M1 and M2 of the two-direction drive device 13 operates
based on the instruction issued from the controller 15.
[0075] The controller 15 performs the control based on the
inclination angles .theta.1 and .theta.2, which are defined in the
first and second directions X1 and Y1 by the direction of the laser
beam emitted from the laser beam emitting device 11 with respect to
the vertical direction, and are detected by the sensors 141 and 142
of the inclination angle detecting device 14, respectively. This
control is performed to reduce both the inclination angles .theta.1
and .theta.2 to zero, and therefore to change the direction of the
laser beam emitted from the laser beam emitting device 11 toward
the vertical direction. For this position control, the controller
15 arithmetically operates the amount of position control (i.e.,
the amount to be corrected) of the device 11, and drives the motors
M1 and M2 of the two-direction drive device 13 based on the result
of the arithmetic operation. In this manner, the controller 15
controls the position of the laser beam emitting device 11 to
change the laser beam emitting direction to the vertical
direction.
[0076] The laser plumbing device 1 described above can be used in
the long member plumbing operation, which will be described later,
by placing the battery B in the battery box 17 of the casing 16 and
turning on the switch 18.
[0077] Description will now be given on an example of the long
member plumbing device according to the invention as well as the
long member plumbing method according to the invention.
[0078] FIG. 4 is a plan showing an operation of arranging a steel
column 3 in a predetermined position and plumbing the same. FIG. 5
is a plan showing a ground before plumbing the steel column 3. FIG.
6 is a side view showing an operation of plumbing the steel column
shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is a plan showing an operation of arranging
a steel column 4 made of H-section steel, and then plumbing the
same.
[0079] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 9, a steel column plumbing
device A is formed of the foregoing laser plumbing device 1 and an
arm member 2.
[0080] The arm member 2 is formed of a long ruler member 21
provided at one of its side surfaces with a scale S (see FIG. 6) as
well as two laser plumbing device carrying plates 22 and 23, which
are perpendicular to each other and are arranged on one end of the
ruler member 21. The plates 22 and 23 arranged perpendicular to
each other are connected to the ruler member 21 such that the edge
line defined between them is substantially located on an extension
of the ruler member 21. The ruler member 21 is provided with a
magnet device 24, which is formed of a permanent magnet in this
embodiment.
[0081] The plates 22 and 23 are provided at their central positions
with reference through-holes 221 and 231 representing the reference
positions, respectively. Each of the plates 22 and 23 is provided
with three unthreaded bolt holes h.
[0082] According to this plumbing device A, the laser plumbing
device 1 is carried on one of the plates 22 and 23, and is fixed to
the arm member 2 by bolts b (see FIG. 6), which are inserted
through the unthreaded bolt holes h and are engaged with the
threaded holes 161a in the lower surfaces of the three legs 161 of
the plumbing device casing 16. In this fixed state, the laser beam
outlet 111 of the laser beam emitting device 11 in the laser
plumbing device 1 is opposed to the reference aperture 221 or 231
through the window 163 in the plumbing device casing 16.
[0083] In the plumbing operation shown in FIGS. 4 through 6, the
laser plumbing device 1 is mounted on the plate 22, and the ruler
member 21 is fixed by the magnet device 24 to a top surface of a
beam connecting member 31, which is already connected to the upper
portion of the column 3 and has an H-shaped section. The scale S is
utilized for positioning the arm member 2 when attaching the member
2 to the upper portion of the column.
[0084] In the plumbing operation shown in FIG. 9, the laser
plumbing device 1 is mounted on the plate 23, and the ruler member
21 is fixed by the magnet device 24 to one side surface 41 of the
upper portion of the H-section steel column 4. The scale S is also
used for positioning the arm member 2 on the upper portion of the
column.
[0085] The plates 22 and 23 of the arm member 2 can be selected for
use, depending on the form or the like of the upper portion of the
long member to which the arm member 2 is to be fixed.
[0086] Description is further given on the plumbing operation shown
in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The plumbing device A described above is
conveyed to an operation site, and is fixed to the steel column 3
which has a circular section and is laid on the ground. The beam
connecting members 31 are already fixed on the peripheral surface
of the upper portion of the column 3, and are projected in the four
radial directions of the column 3 angularly spaced by 90 degrees
from each other, respectively. The device A is fixed, e.g., to the
upper surface of one of the beam connecting members 31. This fixing
operation can be easily and simply performed by utilizing the
positioning line, scale or the like, which is provided in the
predetermined position on the upper surface of the member 31, as
well as the scale S on the ruler member 21 of the arm member 2.
[0087] Fixing of the arm member 2 is performed such that the
reference aperture 221 provided in the laser plumbing device
carrying plate 22 (more strictly, the center of the aperture 221)
is located in the position spaced from the central axis 30 of the
steel column 3 by the predetermined distance .alpha. in the
predetermined direction X perpendicular to the central axis 30 and
by the predetermined distance P in the direction Y perpendicular to
both the central axis 30 and the direction X.
[0088] The laser plumbing device 1 is fixed to the plate 22 such
that the laser beam outlet 111 of the laser beam emitting device 11
is opposed to the reference aperture 221, as already described.
[0089] The battery B is placed in the battery box 17.
[0090] On the ground L side, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower
reference mark 5 is provided in the position on the horizontal
surface (ground L in this example) continuing to the steel column
leg portion (steel column leg plate in this example). This position
is spaced from the intended point P of the central axis 30 of the
steel column 3 by the foregoing distance .alpha. in a predetermined
horizontal direction X' and the foregoing distance .beta. in a
horizontal direction Y' perpendicular to the direction X'. As shown
in FIG. 6, the ground L is provided at its upper surface with a
raised portion 300 having a spherical upper surface. Also, a
plurality of (four in this example) anchor bolts 33 are fixed to
positions outside the raised portion 300, and nuts 34 engaged with
the bolts 33 are located on the substantially same horizontal
surface.
[0091] The steel column 3 carrying the device A is arranged such
that the central axis 30 is coincident with the point P on the
ground side, the leg plate 32 of the column 3 is located on the
raised portion 300, and the reference aperture 221 spaced from the
central axis 30 of the column 3 by the distances .alpha. and .beta.
is located vertically above the lower reference mark 5. Before this
operation, the switch 18 of the laser plumbing device 1 is turned
on.
[0092] The anchor bolts 33 are fitted through the bolt apertures on
the four corners of the leg plate 32. The upper nuts 35 are loosely
engaged to the upper portions of the anchor bolts 33 projected from
the leg plate 32, respectively.
[0093] In this manner, the leg plate 32 is supported by the nuts 34
engaged with the anchor bolts 33 and the raised portion 300, and
thereby the column 3 is arranged in the nearly vertical or upright
position allowing the plumbing.
[0094] Then, the laser beam emitting device 11 of the laser
plumbing device 1 emits the laser beam Lb downward, and the
plumbing is performed such that the laser beam may be projected
onto the lower reference mark 5. This plumbing operation is
performed by raising or lowering each nut 34 on the anchor bolt 33,
if necessary. The raised portion 300 can carry a large part of the
column weight, and therefore facilitates the plumbing operation.
However, the raised portion 300 is not essential.
[0095] In this plumbing operation, the position (i.e., angular
position) of the column 3 is adjusted, and thereby the position of
the laser plumbing device 1 changes. In this operation, the
two-direction drive device 13 in the laser plumbing device 1
operates under the control by the controller 15 to control the
position of the leveling base 121 so that the direction of the
laser beam changes toward the vertical direction. Thus, the
controller 15 of the laser plumbing device 1 sends the instruction
to the two-direction drive device 13 for controlling the position
of the leveling base 121 and therefore the position of the laser
beam emitting device 11 mounted thereon so that the inclination
angle detected by the inclination angle detecting device 14 may
change toward 0, and thus the direction of the laser beam may
change toward the vertical direction. In this manner, the laser
beam emitting device 11 is controlled so that the laser beam may
always be directed vertically downward. Similarly to a conventional
plumb bob which is always directed vertically downward, the laser
beam is directed vertically downward. Accordingly, by performing
the plumbing so that the laser beam may be emitted onto the lower
reference mark 5, the column 3 can be easily plumbed to be
accurately vertical. After the plumbing, the nuts 34 and 35 on the
anchor bolts 33 are tightened against the leg plate 32 while
keeping the plumbed position, whereby the plumbing of the column 3
is completed.
[0096] The controller 15 includes a computer, and the operation
thereof will now be described with reference to FIG. 8(B).
[0097] When the switch 18 and therefore the power supply are turned
on, the program starts, and initial setting is performed (step S1).
Here, the laser beam emitting device 11 is turned on. Then, the
inclination angle detecting device 14 performs the processing to
detect the inclination angle of the laser beam emitting direction
with respect to the vertical direction (step S2), and the amount of
the required position control of the laser beam emitting device 11
is calculated or arithmetically operated (step S3). Based on this
operation result, the two-direction drive device 13 executes the
angle correcting processing (position control processing) (step
S4). During the plumbing, the steps S2 through S4 are repeated.
[0098] The controller 15 may have such a structure that the
controller 15 allows the turn-on of the laser beam emitting device
11 as well as the position control of the laser beam emitting
device 11 by the two-direction drive device 13 when the inclination
angle detected by the inclination angle detecting device 14 (in
this example, at least one of the inclination angles detected by
the sensors 141 and 142) is lower than or equal to the
predetermined angle (2.5 degrees in this embodiment), and does not
operate the laser beam emitting device 11 and the two-direction
drive device 13 when the detected inclination angle exceeds the
predetermined angle.
[0099] In this case, when the direction of the laser beam emitted
from the laser beam emitting device 11 is inclined with respect to
the vertical direction by an angle larger than the predetermined
angle described above, the laser beam emitting device 11 is not
turned on, and the two-direction drive device 13 does not operate.
When the laser plumbing device 1 is attached to the column 3 laid
on the ground before being arranged in the upright position,
therefore, the laser plumbing device 1 does not operate while the
column 3 is in the laid position. Even after the column 3 is
arranged in the upright position before the plumbing, the direction
of the laser beam may be inclined with respect to the vertical
direction by an angle exceeding the predetermined angle, and this
situation occurs when the arranged column 3 is inclined with
respect to the vertical direction by a large angle. Consequently,
it is possible to inhibit the start of the operation when the
column 3 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction by a
large angle, and thus it is possible to inhibit the start of the
operation which will require a long time and will be difficult.
Thus, the plumbing operation can be effectively started from the
state that the column 3 is in the position closer to the vertical
position.
[0100] The controller 15 having the above structure operates as
shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8(C).
[0101] When the switch 18 and therefore the power supply are turned
on, the program starts, and the initial setting is performed (step
S11). Then, the inclination angle detecting device 14 detects the
inclination angle of the emitted laser beam with respect to the
vertical direction (step S12). When the detected angle is 2.5
degrees or less, the laser beam emitting device 11 is turned on
(steps S13 and S14), the amount of the required position control of
the laser beam emitting device 11 is arithmetically operated (step
S15). Based on this operation result, the two-direction drive
device 13 executes the angle correcting processing (position
control processing) (step S16). When the angle detected in the step
S13 is larger than 2.5 degrees, the laser beam emitting device 11
is turned off and the two-direction drive device 13 (motors M1 and
M2) stops. Then, the operation returns to the step S12. During the
plumbing, the above operations are repeated.
[0102] The structure of the controller 15 is not restricted to the
above. In summary, the structure is required as follows. The
control is performed based on the inclination angles .theta.1 and
.theta.2 of the laser beam, which is emitted from the laser beam
emitting device, in the first and second directions X1 and Y1 with
respect to the vertical direction. The arithmetic operation is
performed to obtain the amount of the position control (position
correction) of the device 11 which is required for changing each
inclination angle toward zero, and in other words, changing the
direction of the laser beam emitted from the laser beam emitting
device 11 toward the vertical direction. The motors M1 and M2 of
the two-direction drive device 13 are driven based on the result of
the arithmetic operation to control the position of the laser beam
emitting device 11 so as to change the laser beam emitting
direction toward the vertical direction.
[0103] Description has been given on the case where the column 3 is
plumbed on the ground L. As shown in FIG. 7, however, the column 3
to be plumbed may be a column jointed to another column 3 which is
already plumbed. In this case, the plumbing device A is mounted on
the upper portion of the upper column 3 to be plumbed. The lower
reference mark may be provided on the horizontal surface continuing
to the lower portion of the upper column 3 to be plumbed.
Alternatively, the lower reference mark which was used for plumbing
the first and therefore lower column 3 can be utilized also for
plumbing the upper column 3. In this plumbing operation, the lower
portion of the upper column 3 to be jointed is provisionally
jointed to the upper portion of the lower column 3, which is
already plumbed, via a joint J formed of bolts, nuts and joint
plates as shown in FIG. 7, and the plumbing is performed, e.g., by
applying a wedge or the like to an appropriate position between the
upper and lower columns. After the plumbing is completed, the bolts
and nuts for the joint J are tightened. If necessary, the upper and
lower columns may be welded together.
[0104] The plumbing operation for arranging and positioning the
column 3 as described above can be likewise executed on the column
4 having the H-shaped section shown in FIG. 9.
[0105] Although the present invention has been described and
illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by
way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way
of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being
limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
* * * * *