System for determining the height of a geodetic tool

• US 6,688,010 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Schwaerzler, Johannes Gallus
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Madeline
• Application Number:
  US09/889,613
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 332/90, 332/91, 332/92, 333/92, 333/93, 333/94, 332/81, 332/82, 337/55, 337/59, 337/60, 337/61, 337/65, 337/66, 337/69, 337/70, 332/75.R, 336/791, 337/58, 337/68
• US Class Current: 33/290
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2003/1064 Windows, e.g. lenses, glasses or cross-hairs
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/004 Scales; Graduations
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1003 characterised by structure or material; characterised by layout or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1041 characterised by casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1046 Details of external structure thereof, e.g. shapes for ensuring firmer hold
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for determining the height of a tripod-mounted geodetic tool using a reference area. Said system comprises a spacer element (20) to be mounted on the tripod (25) and means (2) for linear measurement which are to be applied on the spacer element (20). A scale is disposed on the means (2) in such a manner as to directly indicate the height (h) of the tool (28). The means are preferably configured as a tape measure (2) or a plumb bar (1′). The invention provides a means for measuring the height of the tool outside the plumb line (32) with a sufficient amount of exactness and without substantial additional costs and/or effort.

Claims

1. A system for determining a height (h) of a horizontally aligned geodetic tool (28) having a tool center (30) above a reference area, which tool (28) is set such that the tool center (30) is situated on a plumb line (32) passing through a reference point of the reference area, and which height (h) is the distance between the reference point and the tool center (30) comprising:

a spacer (20) having a retaining part (21), which spacer is removably, directly or indirectly fastenable to the tool (28) in such a way that the retaining part (21) is situated in a predetermined, unalterable, horizontal distance (b) and a predetermined, unalterable, vertical distance (d) to the tool center (30);

a means for measuring the height (h) by locating said means between the retaining part (21) and the reference point, said means having a nonlinear scale which is designed using the relationship h=d+{square root over (a²−

b²)}, wherein (a) is the distance between the retaining part (21) and the reference point;

whereby the height (h) is determinable without any calculation, just by reading the nonlinear scale.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tool (28) is mounted on a horizontally aligned tribrach (27) which is attached to a tripod plate (26) of a tripod (25) and wherein the spacer (20) is fastenable to the tribrach (27).

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for measuring the distance (a) is a roll-type tape measure having a measuring spindle (10) at one end for placing on the reference point.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for measuring the height (h) is a plumb bar (1′

) having a stop (10′

) at one end for placing on the reference point.

5. A spacer (20) for a system for determining the height (h) of a geodetic tool (28) having a tool center (30) above a reference area mounted on a horizontally aligned tribrach (27), which tool (28) is set such that the tool center (30) is situated on a plumb line (32) passing through a reference point of the reference area, and which height (h) is the distance between the reference point and the tool center (30);

which spacer (20) is removably fastenable to the tribrach (27) and has a retaining part (21) for retaining a means for measuring the height (h) by locating said means between the retaining part (21) and the reference point, said means having a nonlinear scale which is designed using the relationship h=d+{square root over (a²−

b²)}, wherein (a) is the distance between the retaining part (21) and the reference point; and

wherein the retaining part (21) is situated in a predetermined, unalterable, horizontal distance (b) and in a predetermined, unalterable, vertical distance (d) to the tool center (30)

wherein the spacer (20′

) comprises a clamp (24′

) for gripping a cap (19) of an adjusting screw provided for the horizontal alignment of the tribrach (27) and two feet (23′

) for engaging the underside of the tribrach (27).

6. A distance measuring device for determining a height (h) of a horizontally aligned geodetic tool (28) having a tool center (30) above a reference area, which tool (28) is set such that the tool center (30) is situated on a plumb line (32) passing through a reference point of the reference area, wherein a retaining part (21) is attached to the tool (28) in such a way that the retaining part (21) is situated in a predetermined, unalterable, horizontal distance (b) and a predetermined, unalterable, vertical distance (d) to the tool center (30), which distance measuring device comprising:

a means for measuring the height (h) by locating said means between the retaining part (21) and the reference point, said means having a nonlinear scale which is designed using the relationship h=d+{square root over (a²−

b²)}, wherein (a) is the distance between the retaining part (21) and the reference point;

whereby the height (h) is determinable without any calculation, just by reading the nonlinear scale.

7. The distance measuring device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means for measuring the distance comprises a scale support (1, 1′

) on which at least one first and one second scale are applied, at least one of the scales being applied in coded form not directly readable, which scale is indirectly readable by a reading means (3, 18) coordinated with the scale support (1, 1′

) and having a reading mark (7).

8. The distance measuring device as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one scale is coded in one of the following ways:

the scale is applied as a mirror image on the scale support;

the scale is provided with a color overprint.

9. The distance measuring device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the reading means is formed in one of the following ways:

the reading means is in the form of a mirror or prism;

the reading means is in the form of a color filter.

10. The distance measuring device as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of the scales is formed in such a way that each dimension specified numerically is coordinated with direction information directly indicating the ascending or descending measured value series, wherein said direction information is selected from the group consisting of:

a graduation mark sequence increasing in length,

a wedge-shaped mark, and

an arrow-shaped mark (23) provided between the dimensions.