Untitled record

Measuring device

The invention relates to a measuring device.

In construction, time-saving considerations make extensive use of prefab concrete elements and anchored steel structures, which are assembled into a building construction. In addition, it is of great importance that the various prefab concrete elements and steel structures, which are usually manufactured by different suppliers, fit together well at the construction site. For the purpose of assembly, metal (steel) cuttings or anchors are also poured into the concrete element. These fixing cuttings or anchors differ per structure or situation with regard to diameter and length. It is important to map the exact position of the center of the cuttings in order to ensure that the supplied parts fit properly with the correct bores.

The measurement of cuttings is usually done using non-contact measuring methods, whereby the position of a measuring device (signal reflecting mirror, pentaprism, sticker, etc.) is mapped in three dimensions relative to a reference point. This is later made visible in the computer and coordinates provide insight into the exact position of the measuring points.

The measurement of cuttings involves the difficulty that the center of the cuttings / anchor must be determined at floor level, ie on the surface where the cuttings / anchor comes out of the concrete, while this position is measured with a measuring instrument / mirror is not easily accessible.

In practice, measurements are often made on top of the cuttings / anchors. However, because the cuttings / anchors often protrude obliquely from the surface and / or are crooked, the measurement on top of the cuttings / anchor introduces a measurement inaccuracy. Moreover, the cuttings / anchors are usually not bendable in such a way that an exact perpendicular position relative to the surface (the floor) is still created.

The current working methods do not provide sufficient accuracy and require a great deal of expertise from the measuring person when approaching - visually - the heart position at floor level.

An object of the present invention is to provide a measuring device in which the disadvantages mentioned do not occur, or at least to a lesser extent. In particular, it is contemplated to be able to flexibly and accurately determine the heart position of a cutting or anchor in a variety of common situations, thereby reducing the risk of human error.

Said object has been achieved according to the invention with the measuring device according to claim 1, comprising:

- a stand with a stop;

- an arm for a measuring device;

- the measuring device is positioned above the stop.

Because the stop against the object to be measured (cutting / anchor / picket pole / etc.) can be placed and the measuring device is positioned above the stop, a high accuracy is achieved when measuring the object. The measuring device supports the employee in positioning the measuring device above the object to be measured, so that this employee does not have to rely as much on his visual assessment and skill. The accuracy of measurement increases as a result, and also enables employees with less experience to perform accurate measurements.

Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

In the following description, preferred embodiments of the present invention are further explained with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1: a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a measuring device according to the invention;

Figure 2: a side view of the measuring device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3: a front view of the measuring device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4: a top view of a stop of the measuring device shown in Figure 1, wherein a round object rests against a stop surface;

Figure 5: a top view of an arm of the measuring device shown in Figure 1 to which a measuring device can be fitted;

Figure 6: a top view of a stop of the measuring device shown in Figure 1, wherein a square object rests against a stop surface;

Figure 7: a side view of a second preferred embodiment of a measuring device according to the invention;

Figure 8: a side view of a third preferred embodiment of a measuring device according to the invention;

The measuring device 1 according to the invention is adapted to determine a center of an object 42 projecting from a substrate 40, such as a cutting or anchor projecting from a prefab concrete element, or a picket pole projecting from a bottom. In all embodiments shown, the measuring device 1 comprises a post 2 with a stop 4 and an arm 16 for a measuring device 18, wherein the measuring device 18 is positioned above the stop 4. In the embodiment shown, the measuring device 18 and the object 42 to be measured are both eccentric with respect to the upright 2.

Because the stop 4 can be placed against the object 42 to be measured (cutting / anchor / picket pole / etc.) and the measuring device 18 is positioned above the stop 4, a high accuracy in determining the location of the center of the object 42 becomes achieved. The measuring device 1 supports the worker in positioning the measuring device 18 above the object 42 to be measured, the measuring device 1 providing a known relationship between the position of the measuring device 18 and the position of the center of the object 42 to be measured. This means that an employee has to rely less on his visual assessment and expertise. This increases the accuracy of surveying and also enables employees with less experience to perform accurate measurements. Moreover, a measurement with the measuring device 1 according to the invention is faster than conventional measuring methods, whereby the measuring device 1 provides a time saving. One measuring device 1 is also sufficient for a wide variety of measurements, as a result of which an employee has to carry less material and less peripheral equipment is required. The measuring device 1 provides a higher measuring nature with less chance of errors than conventional measuring methods that rely on the expertise of an employee.

The arm 16 is provided with a length adjustment 22 with which the distance between the measuring device 18 and the upright 2 is adjustable. It is conceivable that the length of the arm 16 can be adjusted, or - as shown - the length adjustment 22 is provided in that the measuring device 18 can be moved along the arm 16 for a long time. This length adjustment 22 makes it possible to position the measuring device 18 above the stop 4, so that the relationship between the position of the measuring device 18 and the stop 4, more particularly a center of an object 42 to be measured against the stop 4 is known via the measuring device 1.

It is noted that the measuring device 18 is preferably positioned as accurately as possible right above the center of the object 42 to be measured. However, it is also conceivable that the measuring device 18 is positioned at a fixed position with respect to the stop 4, and that a calculation takes place for the size and shape of the object 42 to be measured in order to accurately determine the center of the object 42 to obtain. For example, if object 42 with a round cross-section rests against a flat stop surface of the stop 4, and the measuring device 1 is exactly above this stop surface, then a distance corresponding to half the diameter of the object 42 can be added to the position of the measuring device 18. .

The length adjustment 22 of the arm 16 preferably comprises a scale 24 (Figure 5). The stop 4 is also preferably provided with a scale 6 (figure 4). In a preferred embodiment the stop 4 comprises two separate scales 6, such as the first scale 6-1 for objects 42 shown in figures 4-6 with a round cross-section (such as cuttings and anchors), and a second scale 6-2 for objects 42 shown. with a square cross-section (such as picket posts). Figure 4 shows that the upper leg 12 shown in the figure is provided with a scale 6-1 for round objects 42, wherein a round object rests against the V-shape 10 of the stop 4. The lower leg 12 shown in Figure 4 is provided with a scale 6-2 for square objects 42, and the application thereof is shown in Figure 6.

Positioning the measuring device 18 relative to the object 42 is facilitated if the scale 24 of the lengthwise count 22 arranged on the arm 16 has a relationship with the scale 6 arranged on the stop 4. Figure 4 shows as an example how a cutting 42 with a diameter of 10 mm has a point of contact with the value "10" of the scale 6-1. The length adjustment 22 of the measuring device 18 is provided in Figure 5 with a corresponding scale 24-1. If an employee who observes the value "10" on the scale 6-1 of the stop and adjusts the scale 24-1 of the arm 16 accordingly, he is assured that the measuring device 18 and the cutting abutting the stop 4 42 are equally distant from the upright 2. If the stop 4 and the arm 16 extend on the same side of the upright 2, the measuring device 18 can thus be placed directly above the center of the object 42 to be measured. During measurement, the upright 2 is held perpendicular, and thus an accurate measurement result can be obtained.

Alternatively, it is conceivable that the stop 4 is provided with a length adjustment (not shown) with which the distance between a stop surface 9 of the stop 4 and the upright 2 can be adjusted. In that case, the measuring device 18 can, if desired, be arranged at a fixed position on the arm 16.

According to a still further alternative preferred embodiment, which is the subject of figure 8, the stop 4 is interchangeable with the upright 2 can be connected. By disconnecting the stop 4, which is provided with a coupling 8 with the upright 2, and replacing it with a stop 4 with a different length measure or a different accommodation for receiving an object 42 to be measured, it is possible to compensate for different shapes and dimensions of objects 42. The measuring device 18 is arranged in a fixed position on the arm 16 in Figure 8. It is also conceivable that the stop 4 with the V-shape 10 can be exchanged with a pin-shaped stop, so that the measuring device 1 becomes suitable for measuring inner corners.

As shown in figures 4-6, which relate to all shown preferred embodiments of the measuring device 1, the stop 4 comprises a V-shape 10. The V-shape 10 comprises two legs 12 which are preferably at a substantially right angle with respect to each other. By applying an angle of at least 90 °, and preferably substantially 90 °, the V-shape 10 is suitable for accommodating both objects 42 with a square or rectangular cross-section (such as picket posts), and for accommodating objects 42 with a circular cross section (such as cuttings or anchors).

Cuttings or anchors provided in (prefab) concrete elements are generally made of metal (steel). By providing the stop 4 with at least one magnet 14, an abutment of the object 42 against the stop 4 is promoted. In particular, if both legs 12 of the V-shaped stop 4 are provided with a magnet 14, the object 42 can, as it were, be attracted in the V-shape, whereby a reproducible positioning of steel objects 42 in the V-shaped accommodation of the stop 4 is obtained.

The arm 16 is arranged along the upright 2 at a distance from the stop 4, so that there is sufficient space from the base 40 to the arm 16 for the object 42 (figures 1 and 2). The measuring device 18 is preferably positioned as low as possible near the object 42 to be measured, so that any inaccuracies due to a possible skew position of the upright 2 have a minimal effect on a deviation from the position of the measuring device 18. In practice, for example when the measuring device 18 comprises a pentaprism 20, it is, however, necessary that there is a clear view of the measuring device 18.

In order to be able to achieve a good combination of a clear view of the measuring device 18 and the lowest possible placement of the measuring device 18 at the object 42, the arm 16 can be moved in a longitudinal direction of the upright 2.

The arm 16 comprises a profile 26 slidable along the upright 2. The slidable profile 26 is concentric with the upright 2. Preferably, both the profile of the upright 2 and the slidable profile 26 arranged around it are round. A fixed relationship between the stop 4 and the arm 16 can hereby be achieved, i.e. preferably directly above each other. The non-circular shape can be achieved in various ways, such as with a square or U-profile, but also a post with a round cross-section that is provided with a longitudinal slot that introduces an unroundness. The roundness prevents a relative rotation between the upright and the stop on the one hand, and prevents a relative rotation between the upright and the arm for the measuring device on the other. As a result, a desired relationship, for example directly above each other, between the stop and the measuring device can be guaranteed.

The measuring device 18 preferably comprises a pentaprism 20. Figure 7 shows that the measuring device 1 of figure 1 can also be used as a conventional prism pole if the upright 2 is provided on the top with a further measuring device 30 and on the bottom with a tip 32. This is of course also possible with the embodiment of figure 8, wherein the stop 4 can be disconnected from the upright 2 if desired at the coupling 8. The stop 4 can therefore be releasably attachable to the upright 2.

The measuring device 1 shown in Figure 1 applies the principle according to the invention in duplicate, whereby the measuring device 1 with the V-shaped stop 4 is also made suitable for measuring inner angles. To this end, a further pin-shaped stop 34 is provided on the post, above which a further arm 36 positions a further measuring device 18. The pin-shaped stop 34 can for instance be placed against a curb, in a corner of curb, or in an inner corner of a shaft such as a lift shaft.

It is noted that, although figure 1 shows a remote control 28 that enables a single employee to take measurements, the invention can of course also be used without a remote control 28 for measurements by several employees.

The embodiments described above, although showing preferred embodiments of the invention, are only intended to illustrate the present invention and not to limit the description of the invention in any way.

When measures in the claims are followed by reference numerals, such reference numerals only serve to contribute to the understanding of the claims, but are in no way restrictive of the scope of protection. The rights described are defined by the following claims in the scope of which many modifications are conceivable.