DE4013507A1 - Liq. container esp. for spirit lever - has phototransmitter and photoreceiver producing signal evaluated to determine container position w.r.t. vertical or horizontal - Google Patents

Abstract

A liq. filled container, esp. forming the bubble (2) of a spirit level, has a phototransmitter (4) which illuminates the liq. and an associated photoreceiver (7). The photoreceiver's output signal corresponds to the type, quality and/or level (6) of the liq. and/or the position of the container w.r.t. the liq. The phototransmitter and photoreceiver are positioned to enable evaluation of the container position relative to the vertical or horizontal. ADVANTAGE - Increased operating convenience and ease of use and expanded range of applications.

Description

The invention relates to a filled with liquid Container that mainly as built into a spirit level Dragonfly can be used.

For checking the horizontal, vertical with respect to the plumb line or inclined position of components, walls, pieces of furniture or Objects have been used so far, in whose hollow profile so-called dragonflies are used. At this liquid-filled glass tube shows in the Rule an air bubble the horizontal, vertical or - at curved course with graduation - inclined position. The position to be checked or desired is reached when the air bubble within a visually detectable mar on the dragonfly. The acquisition by means of However, eyes require a sufficient amount from the user Degree of visual acuity and concentration, the latter then for other handling of the spirit level not for ver is standing. At least in the dark are the mentioned optical markings on the dragonfly no longer visible.

There is therefore a considerable need for spirit levels with increased ease of use, easier handling speed and expanded scope.

According to the invention, a river is used to solve these problems liquid container proposed that the at least one Liquid-emitting or translucent photo transmitter has one or more photo receivers in such a way arranges that the photo receiver output signals the Type, nature and / or the level of the liquid  and / or the position of the liquid relative to the container represent. The liquid including its Boundary surfaces are scanned optoelectronically, and that Ab in the form of electrical signals Keying results can be evaluated for a variety of purposes be such. B. to determine the level, the Nei of the liquid (if the photo transmitter or receiver are arranged according to a degree), the Liquid density or transparency (based on the Absorp efficiency), the flow and flow rate, the diameter or cross section of the container u. a.

In particular, one can be only partially filled with liquid ter container with the optoelectronic according to the invention Scanners serve as a level for spirit levels, whereby through electronic evaluation and further processing processing of the photo receiver output signals the desired increased ease of use and extended area of application can be achieved in the position measurement. It is in the Framework of the invention when on the partially filled and consequently air bubbles or liquid level containers send photo transmitters and photo receivers so the area on both sides of the clear, remaining surface of the Are arranged to irradiate or penetrate liquid, that the photo receiver output signals to determine the Position of the liquid surface with respect to the container and hence the position of the container relative to the horizontal are valuable. The liquid level or the interface the liquid is in this training on top or transmitted light method optoelectronically scanned, wherein the photo receiver output signals the location of the container  regarding the liquid in it and therefore the horizontal play.

The are particularly suitable for use in spirit levels container according to the invention if it is a sphere, circle cylindrical or prismatic, in particular elongated cuboid shape own and made of transparent material, for example Plexiglass, are manufactured; in this case, photo senders and photoreceptor shielded from the liquid in Operational connection with the outer walls of the container be brought and yet due to the transparent Communicate materials. To use as dragonflies in It is especially important to meet spirit levels in part if photo senders and receivers are in the area of (predefined) liquid level of the container ters are arranged horizontally; it is appropriate from a container that may be held horizontally in the longitudinal direction going out.

With the envisaged use of the aforementioned So far it has been a container as a dragonfly in spirit levels known to present a separate dragonfly for each location to be checked watch; with conventional spirit levels this means in usually two dragonflies, the horizontal and the vertical right location are assigned. To this effort - installation several dragonflies in a spirit level - save too can, there is a particularly advantageous training of Invention therein, a plurality of optoelectronic devices with photo transmitters and associated photo receivers to be attached to the container so that the connecting lines two photo elements (photo transmitter or receiver) that  different photo transmitter / photo receiver arrangement belong, intersect; this can happen all be done in such a way that the sections on both sides the intersection of each connecting line and / or the Angles that they enclose with each other, are consistently the same.

So it is possible, for example, two of the opto mentioned to provide electronic arrangements, the Verbin lines of photo transmitters or photo receivers on top of each other stand vertically. Becomes such a container used as a dragonfly in a spirit level, the first Photo transmitter / receiver arrangement for review for example the horizontal position, and the second photo Transmitter / photo receiver arrangement for checking the lower right layer serve, each based on a single Liquid level is done in a single container. In addition, more than two of the above optoelectronic arrangements provided in such a way that the resulting more than two verbs lines with respect to a common intersection sym metric, in particular radiating; in order to can also measure inclined positions with high accuracy be, the accuracy or resolution of the height the number of optoelectronic arrangements used or their connecting lines between similar photos elements depends.

The Pro comes up with optoelectronic components blem that their performance and output signals strong influenced by temperature influences and component tolerances is flowing, which can significantly reduce the measuring accuracy.  

In this regard, there is a further development of the invention in that a photo transmitter has two or more individual units otherwise arranged and / or structurally (e.g. in one common housing) integrated photo receivers are whose output signals are linked and / or compared to be evaluated. Let by comparison deviations of the Recognize optoelectronic component characteristics and / or compensate. The are particularly advantageous Output signals structurally integrated photo receiver in the Framework of a sum and / or difference formation with each other linked, so that in the individual components equally effective temperature or other Environmental influences can cancel each other out, so to speak be subtracted out. Other sources of error, such as e.g. B. due to evaporation of liquid in the container, can be compensated by difference or subtraction sieren.

According to another development of the invention Containers with a plurality of spaced apart and on the same container height arranged photo transmitter ver see each photo opposite are assigned to the receiver, the output signals from im Distance of the assigned photo transmitter attached photo recipients linked and / or compared, ins special can be evaluated by forming a difference. Especially when the container, as stated above, is on set as a dragonfly in spirit levels elongated cuboid only partially and to form a liquid level is filled, it is advisable to put the photo transmitter in  Space longitudinally from each other and in Transverse direction to communicate with the photo receivers to let. If this happens, the container will not be exactly level held right, result in spaced-apart photos transmitter / photo receiver pairs different output signal values whose deviation from each other is a measure of the inclination of the container in relation to the horizontal or perpendicular put. The deviation can be quantified by comparison or difference formation (subtraction) can be determined, whereby Equally effective sturgeon over the entire container volume influences from the environment (temperature, liquid ver vaporization etc.) compensated or canceled out will. Acted upon in further training of this idea each of the spaced photo transmitters several together bordering and / or structural (in a common Housing) integrated photo receiver, and the output signals several photo receivers either to a common Photo transmitter or each to a spaced-apart photo transmitters belong to their connection, to their ver same and / or for difference formation with an evaluation circuit connected. In other words, several immediately neighboring photo receivers detect the luminous flux of a single common photo transmitter that uses the liquid screened. According to the former alternative the output signals are structurally combined or immediate neighboring photo receiver together in comparison or in Difference formation evaluated; this makes it possible differing or varying over the container volume environmental disturbances (e.g. different temp temperatures at various container wall locations) light fluxes at each photo receiver location  measured (redundant) and the disturbance entered into it influences averaged or by forming differences against be canceled out. After the second Alternative embodiments are receiver output signals different and different from each other according to the photo transmitters spaced apart from each other evaluated, be it by positive or negative feedback (sum or difference formation) or other error compensation method; this will spread over the entire container volume uniform interfering influences eliminated.

With electrical measuring devices, the manageability and the Ease of use due to the possibility of a battery drive increased, which, however, a low current or Power consumption in sensors and downstream evaluators teelectronics requires. In this regard, there is one Training of the invention in that photo transmitter and / or Photo receiver activated in pulse mode, i.e. according to the rule moderate time intervals (briefly) for operation with a Control signal are applied. Photo will be useful transmitter or photo receiver synchronized with each other fourth, the evaluation electronics for the photo receiver Signal advantageous only after the photo has settled transmitter is activated. In practice, pulse frequencies between 5 and 50 Hz and duty cycle (ratio from pulse duration to pulse period) of less than 10% proven.

Finally, it is within the scope of the invention, the aforementioned Linking possibilities of the output signals from inte grated and / or arranged at spaced measuring points  To combine photo receivers several times: Sun. an advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in that the output signals of several photo receivers one or several summers and / or subtractors, the (from these if necessary jointly) resulting sum or difference signal aa plurality of window detectors with each other limited and preferably staggered value ranges, and the window detector outputs each one optical and / or acoustic display unit are supplied. In addition to one the summation is basically possible parallel arrangement rer or subtractor for compensation of component Tolerances and interferences preferably in several Steps (in series) arranged one behind the other. The windows detectors form components with two presets each th threshold values, the value range or interval one of the window detectors the horizontal position of the river liquid level or the liquid interface can be net. This window detector can be used to display the measuring correctly vertically or horizontally special optical and / or acoustic display unit with control special signal output.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the description below more preferred Embodiments of the invention and based on the Drawing. In it show:

Fig. 1 is a view of a spirit level with to the invention OF INVENTION fluid containers,

Fig. 2 shows a liquid container according to the invention in perspective view;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the liquid container according to Fig. 2 in the horizontal and in contrast, an inclined position,

Fig. 4 is a Fig. 1 corresponding view of a abge converted embodiment,

Fig. 5 shows a control arrangement for the inventive liquid container according to Fig. 1 to 3,

Fig. 6 is a pulse-time diagram for the output signals of the control arrangement according to Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is an opto-electronic scanning device with secondary switched evaluation electronics for the container according to Fig. 1 to 3, and

Fig. 8 shows a modification to the embodiment of Fig. 6.

Referring to FIG. 1 Lich cuboidal vials 2 are inserted into the level body 1 two Läng, one of which transversely to the vertical measurement of having its longitudinal direction and the other for the horizontal measurement of with their longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the level body 1 is inserted a. The dragonflies 2 are arranged adjacent to each other, a plurality of lighting units 3 , in the example five LEDs. In Fig. 2, the execution of a dragonfly 2 as a partially filled container in the form of an elongated cuboid housing can be seen, the material from transparent, transparent Mate, such as. B. plexiglass, manufactured and sealed liquid and gas tight. For the purposes of the invention, two photo transmitters 4 are mounted on the longitudinal side of the container on the outside of the container wall. Their light 5 passes through the area on both sides of the liquid level 6 , which corresponds to the fill level of the container. The light 5 from the photo transmitter 4 passes through the liquid below the liquid level 6 as well as through the free area above the liquid level surface 6 to photo receivers 7 , which are opposite the respective photo transmitters 4 on the (other) longitudinal outer wall of the container or the dragonfly 2 are attached. Due to the use of transparent material for the dragonfly 2 , neither the photo transmitter 4 nor the photo receiver 7 need to come into contact with the liquid to scan the liquid level 6 . In the example shown, two preferably communicate in a common housing under photo receivers 7 each with a single photo transmitter 4 , as explained in more detail below. The common housed photo receiver 7 are arranged in the vertical direction with each other and on both sides of the liquid level 6 .

In the position I shown in FIG. 3, the level 2 is in its almost completely horizontal position, so that the liquid level 6 runs approximately parallel to the upper longitudinal side of the level 2 . Due to their symmetrical arrangement with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the dragonfly, the pairs of photo receivers 7 are each covered in equal parts by the liquid, so that they are subjected to the same luminous flux when the photo transmitters 4 are active. As a result, the luminous flux proportional electrical output signals of the photoreceiver pairs are essentially the same, and the horizontal position can be determined by comparative evaluation. Each pair of photodetectors is composed of an upper photodetector 7 a and lower photodetector 7 b with respect to the liquid level 6 , which are arranged adjacent to one another. In position I according to FIG. 3, the upper photoreceptor 7 a is subjected to a greater luminous flux 5 than the lower photoreceptor 7 b, because the latter is covered by light-absorbing liquid. In position II, in which the dragonfly 2 is in an oblique or inclined position, the first (left in the drawing) photo receiver pair is almost completely covered by light-absorbing liquid, while the right photo receiver pair by Lich tem, free remaining container volume from the light current 5 is applied. This results in a significant difference in the photo receiver output signals, which can be recognized and evaluated by comparison or other link (see below). The under different coverage of the spaced-apart photo receiver pairs by liquid is based on the liquid level 6, which is always horizontal due to gravity, on the one hand, and the inclination of the dragonfly 2 with appropriately positioned photo transmitters 4 and photo receivers 7 . The photo elements 4 , 7 can either be attached to the spirit level 2 or to the scale housing or body 1 .

In the alternative exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, the level 2 (shown in the end view) has a flat circular cylindrical shape. On one (not shown) end or base of this circular cylinder are the (not visible) photo transmitters, and on the shown con gruent circular cylinder end face the visible photo receivers (pairs) 7 are attached. The photo transmitters and the photo receivers assigned to them are arranged opposite one another approximately axially parallel, approximately according to FIGS. 1 to 3. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, a total of four arrangements with photo transmitters and assigned photo receivers 7 are positioned relative to one another such that two photo transmitters or Photo receivers 7 different optolelectronic or photoelectric arrangements are diametrically opposite one another; consequently, the connecting lines 20 a, 20 b between them ( 20 b corresponds to the liquid level) run at right angles to one another. The each in line with these connecting lines 20 a and 20 b lying photo transmitter or photo receiver 7 can be used via the lighting units assigned to them 3 a and 3 b to measure the transverse attachment side 21 a or longitudinal attachment side 21 b of the spirit level 1 will. Consequently, in the exporting approximately example of FIG. 4, a single vial 2 to the off both the vertical and horizontal position measured from reaching.

For the control and sequence control of the photo transmitter 4 , the photo receiver 7 and the lighting units 3 in the spirit level 1 according to FIG. 1, the control arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5 is provided: a clock generator 8 with a square wave of 20 Hz controls the inputs of a parallel first monoflops 9 and a second monoflop 10 . The first monoflop 9 generates individual pulses with a pulse duration of 250 microseconds, which form the control or activation signal s for the photo transmitter. When triggered by rising or falling input edges, the second monoflop 10 generates individual pulses, each with a duration of 50 microseconds, which correspond to the photo transmitter settling time and form the waiting time by which the photo receivers are triggered with a delay. For this purpose, the outputs of the first and second monoflops 9 , 10 are linked via a NAND gate 11 , the output of which then forms the activation or control signal e for the photo receivers. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the receiver drive signal e starts by 50 microseconds compared to the transmitter drive signal s. delayed, and both control signals s, e end simultaneously after 250 µsec. or 200 µsec. According to Fig. 4 Finally, a position switch 12, Siert example, as a gravity pendulum switch or mercury switch reali, provided the level body 1 (see. Fig. 1) in the horizontal position I of water tial on electrically high Poten and to vertical, the vertical position the water scale body 1 is at electrical zero potential. From this, the horizontal signal h indicating the largely horizontal position of the level body and, on the other hand, the vertical signal v indicating the largely vertical position v are generated via an inverter 13 . The position-dependent switch 12 switches over when either the horizontal position or the vertical position of the spirit level body 1 predominates.

According to Fig. 7 said control signals are s, e, h and v are each ANDed (AND gate 14) for driving the photo transmitter 4 and the photoreceptor 7 and photo receiver pairs 7 a, 7 b used, wherein the Sendeansteuersignal s transmitters the photo , the reception control signal e the photo receivers, the horizontal position signal h the photo transmitters and receivers for the horizontal position and the vertical signal v which are assigned to the vertical position.

According to FIG. 7, the outputs of the photoreceivers 7 are evaluated linked together via first and second summers 15 and 16 arranged in cascade. Each first Summie rer 15 , the two output signals of two structurally integrated photo receivers 7 a, 7 b are supplied, the first output signal is not inverted (positive sign) and the second output signal is inverted (negative sign). The results from the first summers 15 , which correspond to a differential formation to compensate for interfering influences against one another, are each supplied in pairs to the second, downstream summer 16 , likewise with opposite signs for forming the difference. The outputs from the second summers 16 are each connected to an input of a switch 17 which, depending on the state of the horizontal / vertical position signals h, v, outputs the output of one of the second summers 16, either for the horizontal or the vertical measuring arrangement, in parallel with one another Window comparators or threshold comparators 18 performed . These determine whether the switched signal of one of the two summers 16 lies in their respective value range window; in such a case - linked to one of the position signals h, v by means of further AND gates 14 - the active output signal of the corresponding window comparator 18 is used to control an assigned lighting unit either for the horizontal or the vertical position area.

If, for example, one of the vials 2 is in a horizontal position I according to FIG. 3, according to the above statements, at the outputs of two interlinked first summers 15, the same difference amounts result, which cancel each other out in the downstream second summator 16 . As a result, the window comparator arrangement 18 is switched through in terms of amount to a "0" signal, which, for example, the middle window comparator SW 3 detects on the basis of its set upper and lower threshold values and, accordingly, the middle lighting unit 3 assigned to it either for horizontal or vertical measurement Lights up. Is located according to FIG. 3, the bubble in the inclined position II, a non-zero signal whose magnitude or amount produced at the output of the second summer 16 of an "outer" window comparator SW 1 or SW 5 identified as lying in its range of values becomes. This then activates the external lighting unit assigned to it, which shows the user the extreme inclination. The latter can then respond by approaching the horizontal position, to which it is then led by lighting up one of the lighting units which are adjacent to the middle one.

The combination of the output signals of the photo receivers 7 is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7. Thus, according to FIG 8 with the output signals a so-called "cross-coupling" takes place. The OFF output signals of structurally integrated photo receiver pairs 7 a, 7 b are not each other, but with one output signal of other structurally integrated photoreceiver preferably in difference to the first summers 15 linked. In other words, the output signal of a photo receiver 7 a, which is integrated in a first pair of photo receivers, is fed to a first summer 15 with a positive sign; the output signal of a second photo receiver 7 b, which is integrated in another, at the level 2 arranged spaced photo receiver pair, is entered in the same first summer 15 with a negative sign before. The processing of the outputs of the first summers 15 takes place in accordance with FIG. 7.

The circuitry-related implementation of the summers 15 , 16 can be done by differential amplifiers, in particular operational amplifiers, which the AND gate is made by analog switches connected in series. Luminescence or light-sensitive diodes are suitable for realizing the photo transmitter and / or photo receiver.

Claims (12)

1. Containers filled with liquid, in particular as a spirit level ( 2 ) for spirit levels ( 1 ), characterized by at least one photo transmitter ( 4 ) irradiating or illuminating the liquid, to which one or more photo receivers ( 7 ) are assigned such that the photo receiver output signals correspond to the type, condition and / or level ( 6 ) of the liquid and / or the position of the container relative to the liquid. 2. Container according to claim 1, only partially filled with liquid speed, characterized in that the photo transmitter ( 4 ) and photo receiver ( 7 ) are arranged so that the area on both sides of the light or free surface ( 6 ) of the liquid is irradiating or penetrating Photo receiver output signals for determining the position (I, II) of the container relative to the perpendicular or horizontal can be evaluated. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a spherical, circular cylinder or prismatic, in particular elongated cuboid shape made of transparent material, for example plexiglass, wherein the photo transmitter ( 4 ) and photo receiver ( 7 ) each preferably in parallel opposite one another on the outer sides of the container are attached. 4. A container according to claim 3, characterized in that the photo transmitter ( 4 ) and receiver ( 7 ) are each arranged horizontally in the region of the liquid level ( 6 ) of the container (I), which is optionally held horizontally in the longitudinal direction. 5. Container according to one of the preceding claims, marked records with a plurality of arrangements Derge photo transmitters and assigned photo receivers stalt that the connecting lines of two photo transmitters and / or recipients of different arrangements preferably intersect each other symmetrically, especially in their centers and / or below uniform, e.g. B. right angles. 6. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the photo transmitter ( 4 ) at least two individual, adjacent and preferably on both sides of the level ( 6 ) arranged and / or structurally integrated photo receiver ( 7 a, 7 b) are assigned, the respective Output signals are linked together and / or can be evaluated in comparison. 7. A container according to claim 6, characterized in that the output signals of the adjacent and / or integrated photo receiver ( 7 a, 7 b) are evaluated via one or more summation and / or difference formations ( 15 , 16 ). 8. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a plurality of mutually spaced in the longitudinal direction of the container and lying on the same container height arranged photo transmitter ( 4 ) with respectively opposite photo receivers ( 7 ), the output signals being arranged at a corresponding distance from one another Photo receivers ( 7 ) interlinked and / or compared, in particular using totals and / or differences ( 15 , 16 ) can be evaluated. 9. A container according to claim 8, characterized in that each photo transmitter ( 4 ) a plurality of adjacent and / or structurally integrated photo receivers ( 7 a, 7 b) are assigned, and output signals of several photo receivers, either a common photo transmitter or each other are assigned to spaced-apart photo transmitters, linked to one another, compared and / or evaluable via totals and / or differences ( 15 , 16 ). 10. Container according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized marked by a control system, the photo transmitter ( 4 ) and / or photo receiver ( 7 ) in pulse mode (s, e) optionally synchronized with each other activated, in particular with a pulse frequency between 5 and 50 Hz and a pulse duration of less than ten percent of the pulse period. 11. The container according to claim 10, characterized by a relative to the associated photo transmitter (4) delayed by a delay time (w) sampled photo receiver (7) which corresponds to the settling time of the photo transmitter (4) and / or -empfängers (7). 12. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output signals of a plurality of photo receivers ( 7 ) one or more summers ( 15 , 16 ) and / or subtractors, optionally arranged in cascade, the resulting sum or difference signal of a plurality of window detectors ( 18 ) with delimited value ranges (SW 1 - SW 5 ) and the window detector outputs are each fed to an optical and / or acoustic display unit ( 3 ).