EP3384237A1

EP3384237A1 - Method for orienting a device axis in a defined state

Info

Publication number: EP3384237A1
Application number: EP16800936.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sasha Lukic
Original assignee: Hilti AG
Current assignee: Hilti AG
Priority date: 2015-11-30
Filing date: 2016-11-23
Publication date: 2018-10-10
Also published as: EP3173737A1; WO2017093087A1; US20180356220A1; US10677592B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for orienting a device axis of equipment in a defined state by means of a levelling unit, the method having the steps: storing, in a control device, a characteristic curve of zero positions (υ) of a tilt sensor of the levelling unit according to an operating temperature (T) of the equipment; measuring the operating temperature (T); determining the zero position (υ) of the tilt sensor associated with the measured temperature (T) with the aid of the characteristic curve; and using the levelling unit to orient the device axis in the defined state which has been established by the zero position (υ) determined with the aid of the characteristic curve.

Description

Method for aligning a device axis in a defined state Technical field

The present invention relates to a method for aligning a device axis in a defined state according to the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 9.

Background Art The accuracy of equipment, such as rotary lasers, is influenced by ambient conditions, such as the storage temperature or operating temperature of the apparatus, by an external force on the apparatus in the event of falls or heavy impacts, and by aging processes of the equipment components of the apparatus. The aging of the device components takes place on a long time scale and alters the accuracy of an apparatus very slowly. The external impact on an apparatus by a fall or a strong impact is an event that is unpredictable to the operator and therefore difficult to take into account. In contrast, the operating temperature of an apparatus is a quantity that always affects the accuracy of the apparatus. With each use or operation of the apparatus, environmental conditions prevail which influence the accuracy of the apparatus.

Rotary lasers can be arranged in different device layers, which are designed as horizontal position and vertical position. In this case, a distinction is made between horizontally usable rotary lasers, which are used exclusively in the horizontal position, and horizontally and vertically usable rotary lasers, which are used in horizontal position and vertical position. Horizontal usable rotary lasers have as device axes on a first horizontal axis and a second horizontal axis, which are perpendicular to each other and span a horizontal plane. Horizontally and vertically usable rotary lasers have as device axis in addition to the first and second horizontal axis on a vertical axis which is perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the first and second horizontal axis. The device manufacturers of rotary lasers define in their operating instructions for the operating temperature of the rotary laser, a temperature range in which the rotating laser may be operated. The operation of rotary lasers is typically allowed in a temperature range of -20 ° C to + 50 ° C. The adjustment of a rotary laser and the calibration of the device axes are performed by the device manufacturer under specified ambient conditions; The calibration of the device axes is typically carried out at a normal temperature of + 20 ° C. In order to ensure the accuracy of a rotating laser during operation, the accuracy must be regularly checked by the operator and a calibration of the rotary laser must be carried out if a maximum difference, which has been defined by the device manufacturer, is exceeded. The accuracy of the rotation laser for each device axis is checked separately. Methods are known for checking and / or calibrating a horizontal axis, which are used in all horizontally applicable rotary lasers, and methods for checking and / or calibrating a vertical axis, which are used exclusively in vertically usable rotary lasers. In a first method, the first horizontal axis is checked and in a second method the second horizontal axis, wherein the order in which the first and second methods are performed is arbitrary. In the case of horizontally and vertically usable rotary lasers, following the verification of the first and second horizontal axes, a check of the vertical axis takes place in a third method.

The alignment of the device axes in a defined state by means of a leveling device, which is arranged in a device housing of the rotary laser. The defined state of the device axes may be a horizontal state or a vertical state. The leveling device comprises a first leveling unit, which aligns the first horizontal axis in a first defined state, a second leveling unit, which aligns the second horizontal axis in a second defined state, and in a vertically insertable rotary laser, a third leveling unit, the vertical axis in a aligns third defined state. The leveling units each comprise a tilt sensor which measures the inclination of the device axis, and an adjusting element with which the inclination of the device axis is adjustable. Ideally, the inclination sensors are aligned parallel to the assigned device axes. If a tilt sensor is not aligned parallel to the associated gantry, the gantry axis will have a tilt error.

For horizontal or vertical alignment of equipment such as rotary lasers usually dragonflies are used as tilt sensors. A tilt sensor formed as a bubble includes a housing filled with a liquid and a gas bubble, a light source, and one or more photodetectors. The housing is closed off by a convexly curved cover layer and the gas bubble moves along the cover layer when the inclination sensor is opposite a horizontal or vertical reference frame. level is inclined. The light source preferably emits divergent light (eg LED) and is centered with an optical axis of the tilt sensor, which simultaneously forms the axis of symmetry of the dragonfly. The gas bubble in the sealed liquid indicates the orientation of the bubble. The gas bubble is always at the highest point of the liquid. The dragonfly is connected to the apparatus so that the gas bubble is in the defined state of the apparatus at a certain point of the dragonfly. The defined state of the apparatus can be made or restored with the help of the dragonfly with little effort. The defined state does not necessarily have to be a horizontally or vertically oriented state of the apparatus. In principle, any desired angle of inclination for the defined state can also be predetermined by an inclined arrangement of the bubble level on the apparatus.

Known rotating lasers, such as the Laser Beacon LB-400 rotary laser, have a temperature sensor that measures the temperature inside the instrument housing of the rotary laser. If the measured temperature exceeds the upper limit of the permissible temperature range during operation, the operation of the rotary laser is interrupted by switching off the motors and the beam source. Once the measured temperature falls below the upper limit, the operation of the rotary laser can be resumed. The temperature sensor ensures that the motors and the beam source are only operated within the permissible temperature range and protects these device components from damage due to increased temperatures. The temperature of the rotary laser is not taken into account when calibrating the device axes of the rotary laser.

DE 10 2013 217 479 A1 discloses a rotary laser in which the influence of the temperature, the influence of accelerations or forces acting on the rotating laser, and the aging of the device components of the rotary laser are taken into account. The rotary laser comprises a monitoring unit and a sensor unit with a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor and a real-time sensor. The temperature sensor measures a storage or operating temperature of the rotating laser, the acceleration sensor measures occurring forces and accelerations by falls or strong shocks and the real-time sensor measures the time since the last proper calibration of the rotary laser. The measured values of the sensors are recorded with the help of the monitoring unit at regular intervals and forwarded to a control and evaluation device. Limit values are defined for each measurand and the measured values of the sensors are compared with the limit values. If a measured value is outside the limit value, a warning message is generated for the operator with the aid of the monitoring unit. The warning message is visually or acoustically displayed and includes a prompt for the operator to calibrate the rotating laser. For the measurand "temperature" is defines a limit interval having a lower limit and an upper limit, wherein the lower limit corresponds to the minimum temperature and the upper limit corresponds to the maximum temperature of the allowable temperature range. For the measured quantities

"Acceleration" and "Duration" are upper limits. The known from DE 10 2013 217 479 A1 method for aligning a device axis has the disadvantage that the temperature sensor can be attached to any position in the device housing of the rotary laser. DE 10 2013 217 479 A1 makes no statements about the type of temperature sensor and the spatial arrangement of the temperature sensor in the device housing of the rotary laser. In the case of rotary lasers, which are used outdoors, temperature differences can occur due to solar radiation within the rotating laser. In this case, the temperatures in regions of the rotating laser with direct solar radiation can differ by several degrees Celsius from temperatures in shaded areas and the measured temperature depends on the spatial arrangement of the temperature sensor in the device housing of the rotary laser. The measured temperature is not taken into account when calibrating the device axes of the rotary laser and only represents a criterion when calibration of the device axes of the rotary laser is required.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the present invention is to develop a method for aligning a device axis in a defined state, in which the operating temperature of the apparatus is taken into account when aligning the device axis.

This object is achieved in the aforementioned method for aligning a device axis in a defined state according to the invention by the features of independent claim 1 and in the aforementioned apparatus by the features of independent claim 9. Advantageous developments are specified in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the method for aligning a device axis in a defined state comprises the steps:

^Storing a characteristic curve of zero positions of an inclination sensor of a leveling unit as a function of an operating temperature of the apparatus or of an operating temperature-dependent measured variable in a control device,

^■ measuring the operating temperature or the measured variable,

^■ Determining the associated zero position of the inclination sensor to the measured operating temperature or measured variable based on the characteristic curve and ^■ Aligning the device axis by means of the leveling unit in the defined state, which is determined by the determined by the characteristic zero position.

The inventive method for aligning a device axis in a defined state has the advantage that the operating temperature of the apparatus is taken into account when aligning the Gerätachese in the defined state and the temperature dependence of the zero position of the tilt sensor is eliminated. The operating temperature of the apparatus is the temperature which occurs during operation of the apparatus. The operating temperature is measured inside the device housing of the apparatus with the aid of a temperature sensor or the operating temperature is determined by means of a measurement variable which is dependent on the operating temperature. The defined state, in which the device axis of the apparatus is aligned by means of the leveling unit, may be a horizontal state, a vertical state or a tilted state of the device axis. The characteristic stored in the control device of the apparatus establishes a relationship between the operating temperature or the measured variable and the temperature-dependent zero position of the inclination sensor for the device axis. As the zero position of the inclination sensor, the inclination angle is defined, which corresponds to the defined state of the device axis. From the characteristic, a zero position can be read for each operating temperature from the permitted operating temperature range. In the characteristic curve, a distinction can be made between temperatures at which the device axis was calibrated and temperatures at which no calibration of the device axis has yet been made.

The method according to the invention can also be carried out with a measurement variable dependent on the operating temperature. In this case, not the operating temperature of the apparatus is measured, but the temperature-dependent variable. Suitable parameters for the method according to the invention are temperature-dependent sizes of the apparatus whose temperature dependence is known. The measurement of a measurement variable dependent on the operating temperature is useful when a measurement is used that is already being measured for other purposes, so that no additional measurement effort exists, or when a measurement is used that can be measured with existing sensor elements, so that there is no additional expenditure on equipment. The gas bubble of the inclination sensor has a bubble length that is temperature-dependent and therefore suitable as a measure of the operating temperature. The bubble length can be measured by means of the light source and the photodetector of the inclination sensor, so that no further sensor element is required for the measurement.

Preferably, the operating temperature of the apparatus is measured by means of the inclination sensor, which comprises a housing which is filled with a liquid and a gas bubble, a light source and at least one photodetector. The measurement of the operating temperature of Apparatus by means of the tilt sensor has the advantage that the operating temperature is measured exactly at the location in the device housing of the apparatus, which is relevant for the alignment of the device axis. The temperature measurement takes place with the aid of the components of the inclination sensor, so that no further sensor element is required and the expenditure on equipment for the temperature measurement is low.

Particularly preferably, a further characteristic of operating temperatures and bubble lengths of the gas bubble is stored in the control device, the bubble length of the gas bubble is measured by means of the light source and the photodetector of the inclination sensor and the operating temperature associated with the measured bubble length is determined on the basis of the further characteristic curve. The tilt sensor of the leveling unit comprises a housing which is filled with a liquid and a gas bubble, a light source and one or more photodetectors. The gas bubble of the inclination sensor has a bubble length which is temperature-dependent and therefore suitable as a measure of the operating temperature. The bubble length can be measured by means of the light source and the photodetector of the inclination sensor, so that no further sensor element is required for the temperature measurement.

In a further development of the method according to the invention, the accuracy with which the device axis of the apparatus is aligned by means of the leveling unit in the defined state, checked during operation of the apparatus by means of a predetermined test loop, with a deviation from the defined state of the device axis determined and with a maximum deviation is compared. The device manufacturer specifies a maximum deviation for the device axis of the device. As long as the deviation from the defined state of the device axis is less than the maximum deviation, the device can be used with proper use and with the accuracy specified by the device manufacturer. If the deviation from the defined state of the device axis is greater than the maximum deviation, the accuracy of the device specified by the device manufacturer is not met despite proper use and the device axis must be calibrated, taking the operating temperature into account when calibrating the device axis. The test loop differs in horizontal axes and vertical axes. If the device axis is formed as a horizontal axis, a method for checking a horizontal axis is performed; When the device axis is formed as a vertical axis, a method for checking a vertical axis is performed.

If the deviation from the defined state of the device axis is greater than the maximum deviation, a new zero position of the inclination sensor for the defined state of the device axis is calculated and the characteristic curve of zero position and temperature or of zero position and measured variable is updated. To improve the accuracy of the apparatus, the operator performs a calibration of the instrument axis and determines a new zero position of the instrument Tilt sensor for the defined state of the device axis. This new zero position is used to update the characteristic stored in the control device.

The further method steps of the method according to the invention depend on whether the characteristic curve stored in the control device for the measured operating temperature or measured variable has a stored zero position of the inclination sensor for the defined state of the device axis. The device manufacturer of the apparatus defines a temperature range for the operating temperature of the apparatus and calibrates the instrument axis at an operating temperature or at several operating temperatures. The measured zero position of the inclination sensor for the defined state of the device axis is stored together with the temperature or measured variable as a value pair. The accuracy of the equipment increases with the number of different operating temperatures or metrics that have been instrument axis calibrated. For each temperature in the operating temperature range of the apparatus can be determined from the characteristic a zero position, which is used for the alignment of the device axis in the defined state. In this case, a distinction is made between temperatures at which a calibration of the device axis has been made and temperatures at which no calibration of the device axis has yet been made. For the temperatures in the operating temperature range for which no calibration of the device axis has been made, interpolation takes place from the stored zero positions. If the characteristic curve for the measured operating temperature or measured variable has a stored zero position, the stored zero position of the inclination sensor for the defined state of the device axis in the characteristic curve is replaced by the new zero position. In this case, an old value pair in the characteristic curve is replaced by a new value pair, wherein the new value pair can also change the interpolated zero positions. The accuracy of the equipment increases with the number of different operating temperatures or metrics for which the instrument manufacturer has calibrated the instrument axis.

If the characteristic curve has no stored zero position of the inclination sensor for the measured operating temperature or measured variable, a new value pair of zero position and temperature or measured variable is added to the characteristic curve. Each value pair added in the characteristic increases the accuracy of the apparatus.

In a preferred embodiment, the manufacturer stores the characteristic over a temperature range between a lower temperature and an upper temperature in the control device when the device is delivered, wherein the characteristic curve has at least two pairs of values of zero positions of the inclination sensor for the defined state of the transmission axis and temperatures or Has measured variables. The accuracy of the apparatus increases with the number of different operating temperatures or measured variables for which the device manufacturer has calibrated the device axis.

The apparatus is inventively characterized in that in the control device a characteristic is provided which represents a zero position of the tilt sensor for the defined state of the device axis as a function of the operating temperature of the apparatus or a dependent of the operating temperature measurement. The characteristic curve establishes a relationship between the operating temperature and the device axis of the apparatus.

Measured variable and the temperature-dependent zero position of the inclination sensor ago. From the characteristic, a zero position of the inclination sensor can be read for each temperature from the permitted operating temperature range. The accuracy with which the apparatus is operated can be increased by the use of a temperature-dependent zero position of the inclination sensor. A calibration of the device axis is only required if the alignment of the device axis has been changed by an external force or by aging of the device components. Preferably, a further characteristic is provided in the control device, which represents the operating temperature of the apparatus as a function of a bubble length of the gas bubble of the inclination sensor. The tilt sensor includes a housing filled with a liquid and a gas bubble, a light source, and one or more photodetectors. The gas bubble of the inclination sensor has a bubble length which is temperature-dependent and therefore suitable as a measure of the operating temperature. The bubble length of the gas bubble can be measured with the aid of the light source and the photodetector, so that no further sensor element for the temperature measurement is required. In addition, the operating temperature is measured exactly at the location in the equipment housing of the apparatus that is relevant to the alignment of the device axis. In a preferred development, the apparatus has a first device axis, which can be aligned in a first defined state by means of a first inclination sensor and a first adjustment element, and a second device axis, which can be aligned by means of a second inclination sensor and a second adjustment element into a second defined state, A first characteristic curve and a second characteristic curve are provided on and in the control device, the first characteristic curve representing a first zero position of the first instrument axis in the first defined state as a function of the operating temperature of the apparatus or the measured variable dependent on the operating temperature, and the second characteristic curve second zero position of the second device axis in the second defined state as a function of the operating temperature of the apparatus or the dependent of the operating temperature measurement represents. The advantage of the apparatus according to the invention is that a separate characteristic is stored in the control device for each device axis of the apparatus, which represents the dependence of the zero position of the tilt sensor on the operating temperature or the measured variable. The apparatus has a first and a second axis of the device, which can be aligned with the aid of a first and second leveling unit in a defined state. The first leveling unit comprises a first inclination sensor and a first adjusting element and the second leveling unit comprises a second inclination sensor and a second adjusting element.

Particularly preferably, a further first characteristic curve and a further second characteristic curve are provided in the control device, the further first characteristic curve representing a first temperature of a first inclination sensor as a function of a first bubble length of a first gas bubble and the further second characteristic curve a second temperature of a second inclination sensor in FIG Dependence on a second bubble length of a second gas bubble represents. The advantage is that in the control device for each device axis of the apparatus a separate additional characteristic is stored, which represents the dependence of the temperature of a bubble length of a gas bubble. The first tilt sensor has a first gas bubble and the second tilt sensor has a second gas bubble. The first gas bubble of the first tilt sensor has a first bubble length, which is temperature-dependent and is therefore suitable as a measured variable for the first temperature of the first tilt sensor. The second gas bubble of the second inclination sensor has a second bubble length, which is temperature-dependent and is therefore suitable as a measured variable for the second temperature of the second inclination sensor.

The first and second tilt sensors are arranged in different areas of the device housing of the apparatus and can be exposed to different temperatures. The use of the tilt sensors as temperature sensors has the advantage that the temperatures in the areas in the device housing of the apparatus are measured, which are relevant for the alignment of the device axes. The dependence of the bubble length of the gas bubble on the temperature can also differ from each other with tilt sensors of the same sensor type and / or the same series. If a separate characteristic curve is created for each inclination sensor, the accuracy with which the equipment is operated can be increased. embodiments

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawing. This is not necessarily to scale the embodiments, but the drawing, where appropriate for explanation, executed in a schematic and / or slightly distorted form. It should be noted that various modifications and changes are made in the form and detail of an embodiment. can, without departing from the general idea of the invention. The general idea of the invention is not limited to the exact form or detail of the preferred embodiment shown and described below or limited to an article which would be limited in comparison with the subject matter claimed in the claims. For given design ranges, values lying within the specified limits should also be disclosed as limit values and be arbitrarily usable and claimable. For simplicity, the same reference numerals are used below for identical or similar parts or parts with identical or similar function.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 shows an apparatus according to the invention, which can be oriented horizontally and vertically

Rotary laser is formed with three device axes, wherein the device axes comprise a first horizontal axis, a second horizontal axis and a vertical axis;

FIGS. 2A, B show the essential components of the rotary laser of FIG. 1 comprising a leveling device having a first leveling unit for aligning the first horizontal axis, a second leveling unit for aligning the second horizontal axis and a third leveling unit for aligning the vertical axis;

FIG. FIG. 3 shows the structure of a tilt sensor for the leveling units of the rotary laser with a housing which is filled with a liquid and a gas bubble, a light source and a photodetector; FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a characteristic of zero positions of the inclination sensor of FIG. 3 as a function of a temperature; and

FIG. FIG. 5 shows a characteristic of temperatures of the tilt sensor of FIG. 3 depending on the bubble length of the gas bubble.

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 10 according to the invention, which is designed as a horizontally and vertically alignable rotary laser. The rotating laser 10 generates a first laser beam 12 rotating about a rotation axis 11 and a stationary second laser beam 13. The rotating first laser beam 12 generates a laser plane 14 which is perpendicular to the rotation axis 11 and the second laser beam 13 is perpendicular to the laser plane 14 of the laser beam first laser beam 12. The rotary laser 10 comprises a device housing 15 and a measuring device arranged in the device housing 15. The device housing 15 consists of a base housing 16, a rotary head 17 and a plurality of handles 18. The operation of the rotary laser 10 via an operating device 19, which is integrated into the base housing 16 and can be operated from the outside. In addition to the control unit 19 integrated into the base housing 16, a remote control 20 can be provided which can be connected to the rotary laser 10 via a communication connection.

The measuring device of the rotary laser 10 generates in the interior of the base housing 15 a laser beam which strikes a rotating about the axis of rotation 1 1 deflecting optics 21. A first part of the laser beam is deflected by the deflection optics 21 by 90 ° and forms the first laser beam 12 of the rotation laser 10. A second part of the laser beam passes through the deflection optics 21 and forms the second laser beam 13 of the rotation laser 10. Depending on the rotation speed, With the first laser beam 12 is rotated about the rotation axis 1 1, a rotation mode, a line mode and a point mode of the rotary laser 10 are distinguished.

FIGS. 2A, B show the essential components of the rotary laser 10 of FIG. 1 in a schematic representation, FIG. 2A the components in a vertical plane parallel to the axis of rotation 1 1 and FIG. 2B represents the components in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation 1 1. The rotary laser 10 comprises a laser device with a beam source 23, which generates a laser beam, and a collimation optics 24. The beam source 23 is formed for example as a semiconductor laser which generates the laser beam in the visible wavelength spectrum, for example, a red laser beam with a wavelength of 635 nm or a green laser beam having a wavelength of 532 nm. After the exit of the laser beam from the beam source 23, the laser beam is collimated with the aid of the collimation optics 24. Alternatively, the collimating optics can be integrated into the beam source or, with a beam source 23 with a high beam quality and low divergence, the collimation optics can be dispensed with.

The collimated laser beam strikes the deflection optics 21 which separate the first and second laser beams 12, 13. The deflection optics 21 is connected to a rotating device 25 which moves the deflection optics 21 about the axis of rotation 1 1. The rotary device 25 comprises a rotatable shaft 26, a motor unit 27 and a transmission device 28, which is designed for example in the form of a toothed belt and transmits the movement of the motor unit 27 to the shaft 26. The deflection optics 21 is coupled to the rotatable shaft 26 and formed rotatable about the axis of rotation 1 1. The shaft 26 is in a pivot bearing 29th a stator 30 mounted, which is connected to a spherical cap 31. The spherical cap 31 is mounted in a Kugelkalottenlagerung 32 in a housing-mounted mounting frame 33 about two to the plane of rotation (plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation 1 1) vertical pivot planes tilted. The rotary laser 10 comprises a measuring device 35, which measures the angle of rotation of the shaft 26 during rotation about the axis of rotation 1 1. The measuring device 35 is formed, for example, as an angle encoder and consists of a measuring disk, which is rotatably connected to the shaft 26, a scanning device with which the gauge wheel is scanned, and an evaluation and control.

The rotary laser 10 is designed as a horizontally and vertically usable rotary laser, wherein a horizontally and vertically usable rotary laser by an additional device axis differs from a horizontally usable rotary laser. The rotary laser 10 has as device axes on a first horizontal axis 36 and a second horizontal axis 37 which are perpendicular to each other and span a device level. The first and second horizontal axes 36, 37 are displayed on the rotary head 17 of the rotary laser 10 via display elements. The horizontally and vertically usable rotary laser 10 has, in addition to the first and second horizontal axis 36, 37 a further device axis, which is referred to as vertical axis 38 and is aligned in the ideal case perpendicular to the device level of the first and second horizontal axis 36, 37.

The rotary laser 10 is designed as a self-leveling rotary laser, which automatically levels when the device housing 15 of the rotary laser 10 within a

Self-leveling area is set up. The self-leveling range of rotary lasers is typically 5 °. The rotary laser 10 includes a leveling device 39, which aligns the device axes of the rotary laser 10 regardless of an orientation of the device housing 15 in a defined state. The leveling device 39 comprises a first leveling unit 40, which aligns the first horizontal axis 36 in a first defined state, a second leveling unit 41, which aligns the second horizontal axis 37 in a second defined state, and a third leveling unit 42, the vertical axis 38th aligns with a third defined state.

The first leveling unit 40 comprises a first inclination sensor 43 and a first adjusting element, the second leveling unit 41 comprises a second inclination sensor 44 and a second adjusting element, and the third leveling unit 42 comprises a third inclination sensor 45 and a third adjusting element. The adjusting elements of the leveling units 40, 41, 42 are integrated in a tilting device 46, which has a first adjusting motor 47 and a second adjusting motor 48. The first variable displacement motor 47 inclines the mounting frame 33 about a first pivotal axis coincident with the second horizontal axis 37, and the second variable displacement motor 48 inclines the mounting frame 33 about a second pivotal axis. which coincides with the first horizontal axis 36. The first Versteilmotor 47 forms the first adjustment of the first leveling unit 40 and the second Versteilmotor 48 forms the second adjustment of the second leveling unit 41. Since the vertical axis 38 is aligned perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the first and second horizontal axis 36, 37, the orientation of the vertical axis 38 be adjusted by means of the first and second Versteilmotors 47, 48. The first and second adjustment motors 47, 48 together form the third adjustment element of the third leveling unit 42.

The horizontal orientation of the laser plane or the device level represents a preferred defined state in which a rotary laser 10 is to be aligned in horizontal position, wherein the horizontally aligned device level is also referred to as a horizontal plane. The vertical orientation of the laser plane or the device level represents a preferred defined state, in which a rotary laser 10 is to be aligned in a vertical position, wherein the vertically aligned device level is also referred to as a vertical plane. The laser plane generated by the rotating first laser beam 12 can be tilted by means of the tilting device 46 relative to the horizontal plane or the vertical plane of the rotary laser 10. The rotary laser 10 may tilt the laser plane of the rotating first laser beam 12 in a tilt direction or in two tilt directions. The inclination of the laser plane takes place in the leveled state of the rotary laser 10. The rotary laser 10 can be tilted in the horizontal position or in the vertical position. The control and evaluation of the rotary laser 10 via control elements, which are connected to the beam source 23, the rotating means 25, the measuring device 35, the leveling device 40, 41, 42 and the tilting device 46. The control elements are integrated in a common control device 51, which is designed for example as a microcontroller, or can be designed as separate components. The rotary laser 10 additionally comprises a temperature sensor 52 which is arranged in the device housing 15 of the rotary laser 10. The temperature sensor 52 measures the temperature in the device housing 15 and transmits the temperature to the control device 51. Since the orientation of the tilt sensors 43, 44, 45, which align the device axes 36, 37, 38 of the rotary laser 10 in the defined state, is temperature-dependent and the rotary laser 1 1 in a wide temperature range, for example between -20 ° C and + 50 ° C can be used, it is advantageous if several zero positions υ are stored in the control device 51 of the rotary laser 10. For this purpose, a plurality of first zero positions υι for the first inclination sensor 43, a plurality of second zero positions υ ₂ for the second inclination sensor 44 and a plurality of third zero positions υ ₃ for the third inclination sensor 45 can be recorded as a function of the temperature and stored in a characteristic curve or table. The measured Temperature associated zero position is read from the characteristic curve or table and the device axis is aligned in the state defined by the zero position.

FIG. FIG. 3 shows the structure of an optical tilt sensor 60 structurally corresponding to the tilt sensors 43, 44, 45 for the leveling units 40, 41, 42 of the rotary laser 10. The tilt sensor 60 includes a housing 61 filled with a gas bubble 62 and a liquid 63, a light source 64, a photodetector 65, and a spacer 66.

The rotary laser 10 has three device axes, which are formed as first horizontal axis 36, second horizontal axis 37 and vertical axis 38. The leveling device 39 of the rotary laser 10 comprises, for each device axis 37, 38, 39, a leveling unit 40, 41, 42 with a tilt sensor 43, 44, 45 and an adjusting element. The inclination sensors 43, 44, 45 operate independently of one another and can have different temperatures during operation of the rotary laser 10.

The temperature of the rotary laser 10 can be measured by means of the temperature sensor 52 which is arranged in the device housing 15 of the rotary laser 10. In order to increase the accuracy of the temperature measurement, a plurality of temperature sensors 52 can be arranged in the device housing 15 and an average temperature can be determined. Alternatively, the temperatures of the tilt sensors 43, 44, 45 may be measured. The temperature of the first inclination sensor 43 is referred to as the first temperature Ti, the temperature of the second inclination sensor 44 as the second temperature T _2, and the temperature of the third inclination sensor 45 as the third temperature T ₃ .

The gas bubble 62 of the tilt sensor 60 has a bubble length L, which is temperature-dependent and therefore suitable as a measure of the temperature T of the tilt sensor 60. The bubble length L of the gas bubble 62 can be measured by means of the light source 64 and the photodetector 65. To distinguish the first, second and third tilt sensors 43, 44, 45, the components of the inclination sensors 43, 44, 45 are provided with an index, which is separated by a hyphen from the reference character. The first inclination sensor 43 has the index "1", the second inclination sensor 44 has the index "2" and the third inclination sensor 45 has the index "3". The first temperature Ti of the first inclination sensor 43 is determined by a first bubble length Li of the first gas bubble 62-1, the second temperature T _{2 of} the second inclination sensor 44 is determined by a second bubble length L _{2 of} the second gas bubble 62-2 and the third temperature T _{3 of} the third inclination sensor 45 is determined via a third bubble length L _{3 of} the third gas bubble 62-3.

The temperature measurement by means of the tilt sensors 43, 44, 45 has the advantage over a temperature measurement by means of the temperature sensor 52 that the temperature T ^ T ₂ , T ₃ is measured exactly at the location in the device housing 15 of the rotary laser 10, which is relevant for the alignment of the first horizontal axis 36, the second horizontal axis 37 and the vertical axis 38. The first inclination sensor 43 measures the first temperature ΤΊ and the first inclination angle of the first horizontal axis 36, the second inclination sensor 44 measures the second temperature T ₂ and the second inclination angle of the second horizontal axis 37, and the third inclination sensor 47 measures the third temperature T ₃ and the third one Inclination angle of the vertical axis 38.

FIG. 4 shows a characteristic curve representing the zero position υ of the tilt sensor 60 as a function of the temperature T. For the permitted temperature range of the rotary laser 10 from -20 ° C. to + 50 ° C., the characteristic curve establishes a relationship between the temperature T of the inclination sensor 60 and the zero position υ of the inclination sensor 60, which corresponds to alignment with the defined state of the inclination sensor 60 , her.

In order to align the rotary laser 10 in a defined state, the temperature T of the rotary laser 10 is measured by means of the temperature sensor 52 and transmitted to the control device 51. On the basis of the characteristic curve, the associated zero positions υ-ι, υ ₂ , υ _{3 of} the tilt sensors 43, 44, 45 are determined and the device axes 36, 37, 38 are aligned by means of the leveling units 40, 41, 42 in the defined state. The accuracy in aligning the tool axes 36, 37, 38 of the rotary laser 10 can be increased when the temperatures Ti, T ₂ , T _{3 of} the inclination sensors 43, 44, 45 are measured and / or for each inclination sensor 43, 44, 45 of the leveling device 39 a characteristic curve, which represents the zero position υ depending on the temperature T, is determined.

The temperatures Ti, T ₂ , T _{3 of} the tilt sensors 43, 44, 45 can be measured by means of the tilt sensors 43, 44, 45 themselves. The gas bubble of a tilt sensor has a bubble length L, which is temperature-dependent and therefore suitable as a measure of the temperature, wherein the bubble length L can be measured by means of the light source 64 and the photo detector 65 of the tilt sensor. The control device 51 of the rotary laser 10 has a first characteristic which represents the first zero position υι of the first inclination sensor 43 as a function of the first temperature Ti, a second characteristic which represents the second zero position υ _{2 of} the second inclination sensor 44 as a function of the second temperature T ₂ , and a third characteristic which represents the third zero position υ _{3 of} the third inclination sensor 45 as a function of the third temperature T ₃ .

In order to be able to measure the temperature of the inclination sensors without an additional temperature sensor, the relationship between the bubble length L of the gas bubble 62 and the temperature of the inclination sensor must be known. This is in the control device 51 of the Rotation laser 10 stored another characteristic that establishes a relationship between the temperature T and the bubble length L of the gas bubble 62 for the device axis.

FIG. FIG. 5 shows the further characteristic curve representing the temperature T of the inclination sensor 60 as a function of the bubble length L of the gas bubble 62. The further characteristic establishes a relationship between the temperature T of the inclination sensor 60 and the bubble length L of the gas bubble 62 for the permitted temperature range of the rotary laser 10 from -20 ° C. to + 50 ° C. The bubble length L of the gas bubble 62 changes linearly with the temperature T of the tilt sensor 60, and the bubble length L decreases as the temperature T decreases. The accuracy in aligning the device axes 36, 37, 38 of the rotary laser 10 can be increased if, for each tilt sensor 43, 44, 45 of the leveling device 39, a separate further characteristic, which represents the temperature of the tilt sensor depending on the bubble length of the gas bubble, is determined , The control device 51 of the rotary laser 10 has a further first characteristic which represents the first temperature Ti of the first tilt sensor 43 as a function of the first bubble length U of the first gas bubble 62-1, a further second characteristic which is the second temperature T _{2 of} the second Incident sensor 44 is dependent on the second bubble length L _{2 of} the second gas bubble 62-2, and another third characteristic, the third temperature T _{3 of} the third inclination sensor 45 depending on the third bubble length L _{3 of} the third gas bubble 62-3 represents on. FIG. 4 shows a characteristic in which the zero position υ of the inclination sensor 60 is shown as a function of the temperature T. The method according to the invention can also be carried out with a measured variable dependent on the temperature T. In this case, not the temperature of the equipment is measured, but the temperature-dependent variable. Suitable parameters are temperature-dependent sizes of the apparatus whose temperature dependence is known. The measurement of a temperature-dependent measured variable is useful if a measured variable is used that is already being measured for other purposes, so that no additional measurement effort exists, or if a measured variable is used that can be measured with existing sensor elements, so that no additional Apparative effort exists. The gas bubble of the tilt sensor has a bubble length, which is temperature-dependent and therefore suitable as a measure of the temperature of the tilt sensor. The bubble length can be measured by means of the light source and the photodetector of the inclination sensor, so that no further sensor element is required for the measurement.

If the method according to the invention is carried out with the temperature-dependent bubble length of the gas bubble as the measured variable, the characteristic of FIG. 4, the zero position υ of the inclination sensor 60 as a function of the temperature T, is replaced by a characteristic which represents the zero position υ of the inclination sensor 60 as a function of the bubble length L of the gas bubble 62. The control device 51 of the rotary laser 10 has a first characteristic which represents the first zero position υι of the first tilt sensor 43 as a function of the first bubble length U of the first gas bubble 62-1, a second characteristic curve, the second zero position υ _{2 of} the second tilt sensor 44 in Dependent on the second bubble length L _{2 of} the second gas bubble 62-2, and a third characteristic representing the third zero position υ _{3 of} the third tilt sensor 45 in dependence on the third bubble length L _{3 of} the third gas bubble 62-3.

Claims

claims

Method for aligning a device axis (36, 37, 38) of an apparatus (10) by means of a leveling unit (40, 41, 42) into a defined state, with the following steps:

^■ storing a characteristic curve of zero positions (υ) of an inclination sensor (60) of the leveling (40, 41, 42) as a function of an operating temperature (T) of the apparatus (10) or on the operating temperature (T) dependent measured variable (L) in a control device (51),

^■ measuring the operating temperature (T) or the measured variable (L),

^■ determining the corresponding zero position (υ) of the inclination sensor (60) to the measured operating temperature (T) or measured parameter (L) on the basis of the characteristic curve and

^■ Aligning the device axis (36, 37, 38) by means of the leveling unit (40, 41, 42) in the defined state, which is determined by the basis of the characteristic determined zero position (υ).

A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating temperature (T) of the apparatus (10) by means of the tilt sensor (60) having a housing (61) which is filled with a gas bubble (62) and a liquid (63) Light source (64) and at least one photodetector (65) is measured.

A method according to claim 2, characterized in that in the control device (51) a further characteristic of operating temperatures (T) and bubble lengths (L) of the gas bubble (62) is stored, the bubble length (L) of the gas bubble (62) by means of the light source ( 64) and the photodetector (65) of the inclination sensor (60) is measured, and the operating temperature (T) associated with the measured bubble length (L) is determined on the basis of the further characteristic curve.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the accuracy with which the device axis (36, 37, 38) of the apparatus (10) by means of the leveling unit (40, 41, 42) is aligned in the defined state during the operation of the apparatus (10) is checked by means of a predetermined test loop, wherein a deviation from the defined state of the device axis (36, 37, 38) is determined and compared with a maximum deviation.

A method according to claim 4, characterized in that a new zero position of the inclination sensor (60) for the defined state of the device axis (36, 37, 38) is calculated and the characteristic of zero position and operating temperature (T) or the characteristic of zero position and measured variable ( L) is updated if the deviation from the defined state of the device axis (36, 37, 38) is greater than the maximum deviation.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that in the characteristic a stored zero position (υ) of the tilt sensor (60) for the defined state of the device axis (36, 37, 38) is replaced by the new zero position (υ), if the Characteristic curve for the measured operating temperature (T) or measured variable (L) has a stored zero position (υ).

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that in the characteristic curve a new value pair of zero position (υ) of the inclination sensor (60) and temperature (T) or measured variable (L) is supplemented when the characteristic curve for the measured operating temperature (T) o- the measured variable (L) has no stored zero position (υ) of the inclination sensor (50).

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the state of delivery of the apparatus (10) from the manufacturer, the characteristic of zero position (υ) and temperature (T) or measured variable (L) over a temperature range (ΔΤ) between a lower temperature (Tmin) and an upper temperature (T _max ) in the control device (51) is stored, wherein the characteristic at least two pairs of values of zero positions (υ) for the defined state of the device axis (36, 37, 38) and operating temperatures (T) or measured variables (L ) having.

9. Apparatus (10) having at least one device axis (36, 37, 38), which can be aligned in a defined state, comprising:

^■ a control ^device (51);

■ a tilt sensor (43, 44, 45, 60) having a housing (61) filled with a gas bubble (62) and a liquid (63), a light source (64) and at least one photodetector (65) Inclination sensor (43, 44, 45, 60) is connected to the device axis (36, 37, 38) and measures the alignment of the device axis (36, 37, 38) to the defined state, and

■ an adjustment element (46, 47) which is connected to the device axis (36, 37, 38) and adjusts the alignment of the device axis (36, 37, 38),

characterized in that in the control device (51) a characteristic is provided, the zero position (υ) of the inclination sensor (43, 44, 45, 60) in dependence on an operating temperature (T) of the apparatus (10) or one of the operating temperature (T) depended on the measured variable (L).

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that in the control device (51), a further characteristic is provided, the operating temperature (T) of the apparatus (10) in response to a bubble length (L) of the gas bubble (62) of the tilt sensor ( 60).

1 1. Apparatus according to one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the apparatus (10) has a first device axis (36) which can be aligned by means of a first inclination sensor (43) and a first adjustment element (46) in a first defined state, and a second device axis (37), which is alignable by means of a second inclination sensor (44) and a second adjusting element (47) in a second defined state, and in the control device (51) a first characteristic and second characteristic are provided, wherein the first characteristic a first zero position (υ-ι) of the first device axis (36) in the first defined state as a function of the operating temperature (T) or measured variable (L) and the second characteristic is a second zero position (υ ₂ ) of the second device axis (37) in second defined state depending on the operating temperature (T) or measured variable (L) represents.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 1, characterized in that in the control device (51) a further first characteristic and a further second characteristic are provided, wherein the further first characteristic a first temperature (Ti) of the first tilt sensor (43) in dependence a first bubble length (U) of a first gas bubble (62-1) of the first tilt sensor (43) and the further second characteristic a second temperature (T ₂ ) of the second tilt sensor (44) in response to a second bubble length (L ₂ ) of a second gas bubble (62-2) of the second tilt sensor (44).