FR2481446A1 - Liq. level for separated level determination - has fine mercury filled tube between two reservoirs and membrane that moves coloured liq. into tertiary conical tank - Google Patents

Abstract

The level has a tube which is not deformable, that interconnects two low capacity chambers. These chambers are divided into two by flexible and rigid membranes. One chamber contains a coloured liquid while the second chamber allows the membranes to move. A reservoir (9) into which the coloured liquid travels is made of a transparent material to permit observation. A screw and membrane assembly in another reservoir allows a vol. of mercury to be adjusted in the tube and reservoirs. This allows the coloured liquid to just appear in the transparent reservoir to indicate level conditions. The vol. of the mercury can be adjusted by a screw such that the liq. just appears in the hollow of the reservoir.

Description

 The present invention relates to instruments of the "level" type and allows a single person to search for, con trict the level of different points with respect to a given point and this up to about fifteen meters apart so precise.

In known devices of this kind, it is the level of a liquid contained in a pipe and two plugs which indicates the horizontality. For some of these instruments, a larger tank is sometimes adapted, placed on tripods. Such instruments are, in practice, uncomfortable and imprecise to use and offer no seal.
The device according to the invention is an adaptation of the communicating vessels with an improvement in level control. It comprises a very fine channel pipe little or indeformable as to the liquid contained, two tanks filled with mercury and made tight by two membranes A horizontally, the membranes are perfectly flat, at different levels these swell or hollow alternately. This movement of membranes is used to expel or suck up a colored liquid contained in an upper tank, the bottom and tightness of which are obtained by this latter membrane. This colored and repressed liquid finds its place in a third shaped tank conical, tip down and communicating with the liquid reservoir colored by a conduit A window allows you to see the liquid appear or disappear in the hollow of the cone, the reading is therefore done above
According to another embodiment, the liquid, optical signal, is discharged into a transpatent conduit visible from the laughing ends through an orifice and joins a last reservoir, the lowest point of which corresponds to the upper part of the transparent conduit. The device is adjusted so that for example the horizontality is obtained when the colored liquid reaches a certain repair in the conduit.

 In these embodiments, a bulb, a switch, a battery can allow the signal to be illuminated and to operate in places with little light. Mercury can be replaced by a tut other liquid, in this cs the fixed tank should have a larger diameter, about 10 cm in order to keep good accuracy. The use of mercury allows a greater forecast when the mercury pushes the membrane, this one drives out an equal volume of colored liquid and can push back it to a higher level, that is to say approximately 10 times the variation of the membrane. This is due to the difference in density between the mercury and the colored liquid, so the control is refined. The shape of the tanks limits the movement of the membranes, 1mm above or below the horizontal, prevents the membranes from bursting and makes the faster search, about 10 seconds. In these different versions it is possible to add a magnifying glass effect for a better reading of the control. A very thin membrane allows compressed air in the last tank to relax, which is adjoined between this tank and the outside.

The drawing annexed for information and in accordance with the present invention illustrates an embodiment of this level. As shown in Figure A, this instrument comprises a solid and slightly deformable pipe (1), two prisms dividing into several parts receiving or forming two reservoirs (2 & 3), two flexible and solid membranes (4 & 5), a reservoir containing a colored liquid (6), a chamber (7) allowing the movement of the membrane (4), a conduit (8), a vent (11), a reservoir (9) in which appears or the liquid disappears (this control signal) which a transparent material (io) allows to control. (16) is one year for fixing one end of the instrument to a point on a wall for example. A dividing membrane between Id reservoir (9) and the exterior allows the air compressed by the liquid to relax (17),
An assembly (screw, membrane, reservoir, conduit) (18) makes it possible to adjust the volume of mercury contained in the pipe (1) and the reservoirs (2 & 3).

 Figure B illustrates a variant of the system described. The reservoir (12) replaces the reservoir (9), the conduit (8) is replaced by the transparent conduit (13), an orifice allows the movement of the colored liquid (14) to be seen.

 Figure C details what can be seen by ltorificel5) and the repair of the level (19).

 These variants can be combined together in order to have front control and control over. Similarly, a switch, bulb, battery, two electrodes brought into contact by the colored liquid or the like, when the latter appears in the hollow of the conical reservoir, indicates the level, this assembly can be adapted with the variants described. According to another embodiment, these assemblies (pipe, vases, membranes, reading systems) are incorporated into a large aluminum ruler, like a mason's ruler.

 The operation is as follows. Adjust the volume of mercury with the calibration screw (18) so that the colored liquid just appears in the hollow of the tank (9), when the two prisms A and B are at the same level. Place the upper part of the prism -D on the starting point, fix this prism with the handle. With the prism A to find the instant when the liquid disappears or appears from the reservoir (9), at this precise moment, the upper part of the prism A corresponds to the horizontal with respect to the given starting point.

This level, object of the invention can Other used in the building and only, for the tracing of the lines of oc level ...

By its precision, its speed (8 to 10 seconds), its maneuverability, this level can be advantageously used for the adjustment of false ceilings by operating lines by lines, and thus replace the cords and impractical rules. A ball or a small glass cone placed where the liquid appears (20) facilitates reading by widening the "spot" as well as the movement of the colored liquid.

Claims (11)

 1) Instrument allowing to know several horizontal points each other alone and quickly, characterized by the fact that it comprises a very fine channel tua and two reservoirs of small capacity, filled with mercury and made hermetic by two membranes which , on the horizontal mine, remain perfectly flat. One of these membranes, at different levels, sucks or discharges a colored liquid contained in a reservoir having in common the same membrane. The pumped liquid appears or disappears in a third conical tank, the tip down. a window covering this third reservoir allows the colored liquid which constitutes the control means to appear.  w) Instrument according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the conduit connecting the dye reservoir and the third ss reservoir is made of transparent material and visible from the outside through an orifice. A repair line indicates the level. 3) Instrument according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the movement of the membranes is limited by their reservoirs and upper chamber. 4) Instrument according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that an incorporated lighting allows a better reading of the optical signal. 4) Instrument according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises a magnifying glass effect for better reading.  5) Instrument according to claims 1; 2, 3 ,. 4, characterized by the fact that the mercury can be replaced by any other liquid and comprises a pipe and one of the reservoirs of a larger diameter.  6) Instrument according to claims 1, 2, 5, characterized in that the calibration is carried out by a conduit, connected to the circuit, a reservoir, a membrane, a screw more or less crushing this membrane.  7) Instrument characterized in that, according to claims 1,2, 5, the air compressed by the colored liquid expands using a membrane communicating with the outside.  8) Instrument characterized in that, according to claims 1,2,5, a ball or a small cone of glass or other placed in the hollow of the last tank improves the reading c3 level control and improves the circulation of the colored liquid  9) Instrument characterized in that, according to re vendications let 2, the system with control over and the system with front control can be combined together and receive the various accesolrs according to claims 733n4, 6,8.  10) Instrument characterized in that, according to claims 1 and 9, a switch, a battery, a bulb, two electrodes in contact with the liquid expelled by the membrane indicates the level at the instant of lighting.  11) Instrument characterized in that, according to any of claims 1 to 10, the various organs making up the level (pipe, vases, membrane) are adapted and incorporated into a mason's ruler and made of aluminum.