Measuring device

• US 20030131490A1
• Filed: 01/15/2003
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bergluns Patentbyra AB, JNE AB
• Original Assignee: JNE AB
• Inventors: Nilsson, Lars, Johansson, Hakan
• Granted Patent: US 6,769,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/608
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/08 extensible
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/0025 Measuring of vehicle parts G01B5/003 takes precedence

Abstract

In order to check and measure the skewness of crashed cars before as well as during and after repair it is known to use rulers provided with perpendicularly extending mandrels in both ends, and it is also known to use a ruler that is provided with a magnetic fastening means in one end. These devices are simple and easy to use and provide a surprisingly great precision in work. In reality however one must write down taken measures of remember them between measurements. Furthermore the precision is dependent of the skill or practice of the user of the device since an inclining of the device may change the result, also that the skill at reading a scale and the reading conditions exert a strong influence.

Claims

1. Measuring device or ruler intended for symmetry measurements of vehicles, characterized in that it is provided with built in measuring means for the extension of the ruler and transfer of these data or figures to a display.

2. Measuring ruler according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring means is constituted by a tape extending from one end of the ruler to the other end where the tape is wound on a drum spring biased in the winding direction, which drum is provided with cogs or teeth and that the passage of these is detected and counted by means of a light source and a photo diode and that the drum rotation detected in this way is used to provide a measure of the extending of the ruler.

3. Measuring ruler according to claim 2, characterized in that the spring bias is achieved by a band or thread wound on the same drum as the tape and fastened in a pull spring.

4. Measuring ruler according to claim 3, characterized in that the band or thread is wound onto a part of the drum that has a smaller diameter than the one where the tape is wound.

5. Measuring ruler according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the changing diameter of the tape when wound is taken into consideration before the measured values are presented on the display.

6. Ruler according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a spirit level arranged pivotable in one end and adjustable in the other end, which spirit level entity in its entirety in turn is able to swivel around a vertical axis between two relative each other 180°

turned positions.

7. Ruler according to claim 6, characterized in that the spirit level is arranged on the top of the ruler.

8. Ruler according to claim 6, characterized in that the spirit level is arranged on the side of the ruler.

9. Ruler according to claim 1, characterized in that the ruler in the end opposite to the display provided end is provided with a magnetic fastening means including a conical part that is connected to the ruler and that around the conical part a displaceable magnet is arranged lightly spring biased away from the tip of the conical part, and that the magnetic force is greater than the spring bias.

10. Ruler according to claim 1, characterized in that the display is arranged in one end of the ruler, in particular in the end with the measure mandrel.

11. Ruler according to claim 9, characterized in that the conical part is articulated on a ball essentially in level with for instance a hole.