GB2152726A - A method for the production of graphic representations - Google Patents

Abstract

The method comprises 1) preparing a free-hand sketch of the representation, e.g. a piping configuration, to be produced; 2) providing a base sheet (1) marked with a grid (2) of guide-lines; 3) overlying the base sheet with a transparent plastic sheet (6); 4) preparing and providing a set of precut parts having pre-printed thereon standard symbols or fascimiles of components to be represented (such as valves "a" and pipe lengths "b"); 5) selecting the parts necessary to provide the desired configuration; and 6) positioning and temporarily fixing said selected parts on the transparent sheet (6) with the aid of the guidelines showing therethrough and in accordance with the sketch. Temporary fixing may be achieved by the use of a low tack clear adhesive such that the parts may subsequently be removed for re-use after the making of a "master copy" by photostat procedures, if necessary after the overlaying on the fixed parts of a preprinted transparent plastic sheet providing further information. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method for the production of graphic representations of any kind This invention relates to a method for the production of graphic representations of any kind in such a manner that the need for costly, time consuming manual hand drafting is greatly reduced, and the quality of presentation of the resulting end product is maintained at a totally consistant high standard, normally unttainable by conventional manual hand drafting methods. The invention will be described by way of example, with particular reference to the production of a piping isometric drawing. A piping isometric drawing is conventionally, a non scalar three dimensional drawing, depicting any particular piping configuration necessary to achieve a desired result in relation to any particular process design concept.Said drawing being normally produced by a technical draftsman by means of manual hand drafting methods. The purpose of said drawing being to enable the piping configuration so depicted to be prefabricated in whole or in part, in an engineering fabrication workshop ready for installation as part of the overall concept of the particular process required. The vast majority of piping components used in the physical construction of any piping configuration are standard components, such as for example, valves, flanges, piping lengths, tees, elbows, reducers, etc.

Said components adjacent each to the other, being physically joined together by any one, or a combination of ways, such as for example butt welded, socket welded, screwed, or flanged and bolted etc. For drafting purposes said standard components are graphically represented by conventionally accepted symbols, said symbols also depicting the method of joining the adjacent component each to the other.

According to the invention the method of producing a piping isometric drawing is comprised of the following steps; 1) Preparing a free hand sketch of the piping configuration for which the piping isometric drawing is to be produced.

2) Preparing and providing a base sheet, marked with isometric grid guide lines.

3) Providing a plain sheet, preferably of transparent plastic material to overlay said base sheet 4) Preparing and providing a complete set of individual parts, upon which the standard symbol representing any one, or a combination of the said standard piping components, have been predrawn and preprinted, together with lead lines, tags, dimension lines and arrowheads, as appropriate.

5) Selecting from said parts the particular parts necessary to produce the piping isometric drawing as depicted on said free hand sketch according to step 1.

6) Jointly positioning and fixing said parts on said transparent overlay sheet mentioned in step 2, in the correct order of sequence so as to accurately produce said piping isometric drawing according to step 5.

7) Preparing and providing a final sheet, preferably of transparent plastic material, upon which north, south, east and west orientations, all relevant information capable of being predetermined and boxes to receive unpredetermined information, are all predrawn and preprinted.

The preparation of particular aspects of the invention together with method of use, and the end result obtained by said usage are hereinafter described with the aid of drawings, Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, schematically illustrating aforesaid steps.

Referring to Figure 1:-This depicts the free hand sketch according to step 1, and shows the required piping configuration, the parts required to produce isometric drawing, being identified by code letter and number, and the location of lead and dimension lines being indicated where appropriate.

Referring to Figure 2:-This depicts the base sheet 1, marked with the isometric grid 2, said grid comprising regularly spaced vertical lines 3, and oblique lines 4 and 5 respectively. Said oblique lines intersecting said vertical lines at an angle of approximately 60 to the vertical. Overlaying said base sheet 1, is shown the plain transparent plastic sheet 6.

Referring to Figure 3:-This depicts a small sample selection of parts preprinted with the particular standard symbol which depicts a particular piping component. Said preprinted parts representing namely, a row of valves 'a', a row of pipe lengths 'b', a row of tees 'c' and a row of elbows 'd'. Each valve 8 being identified by the code V1, each pipe length 9 by the code P1, each tee by the code T1 and each elbow 11 by the code El. The aforesaid symbols being preprinted on the upper surface of a sheet 7, preferably of transparent plastic material.Included in the preprinted content on said sheet 7 are tags 1 2 and 1 3 respectively, of any desired shape and size, lead lines 14, and dimension lines 1 5 and 1 6 respectively, together with arrowheads where appropriate. Said preprinted parts are individually cut to specially designed shapes as indicated by the broken lines 17, said special cut shapes being designed so as to minimise overlap of adjacent parts as used in the production of the piping isometric drawing. The code numbers V1, P1, T1 and El respectively would be marked on the said sheet 7, in such a manner, for example in a light blue colour, that the code number will not appear on a "Master Copy Reproduction" of the piping configuration composed with reference to Fig.

5. The whole of the aforesaid preprinted content on the upper surface of said sheet 7 is overlaid by a further sheet 18, of like material to said sheet 7. Said sheets 7 and 18 respectively being permanently joined together by for example a clear, transparent high tack adhesive, thus forming a composite sheet 1 9.

The aforesaid preprinted content, being 'sandwiched' between the contact surfaces of said sheets 7 and 1 8 respectively is thus afforded permanent protection from undue damage, wear and/or abrasion. Particular parts such as, by way of example, elbows 11 may, not from necessity, but by virtue of practical considerations, have lead lines 14, and dimension lines 1 5 and 16, together with arrowheads omitted from the preprinted content of such particular parts.

Referring to Figure 4:-This depicts the base sheet 1 together with the overlay sheet 6, and the aforesaid individual parts 8, 9, 10 and 11 positioned along the isometric grid guide lines 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Said parts 8, 9, 10 and 11 being in the correct order of sequence to accurately represent the piping configuration as required and depicted with reference to the free hand sketch as shown on Fig. 1. Said parts being positioned and fixed to the upper surface of aforesaid overlay sheet 6, in a secure, but temporary manner by, for example a low tack adhesive. Aforesaid parts, 8, 9, 10 and 11 being selected by their respective code numbers from the complete set of precut individual parts provided for such purpose, and precut by way of example from composite sheet 1 9.

Referring to Figure 5:-This depicts the whole of the piping configuration composed as aforesaid with reference to Fig. 4, being overlayed with a final sheet 22, preferably of transparent plastic material. Said sheet 22, having preprinted thereon north, south, east and west orientations 20, and boxes 21, to receive relavent information not capable of being predetermined and preprinted, together with all relevant information capable of being predetermined and preprinted. At this stage the aforesaid base sheet 1, may be omitted from the composition if so desired, and aforesaid plain transparent plastic sheet 6, with said parts 8, 9, 10 and 11 afixed thereto, overlayed by the said sheet 22, can be temporarily fixed together by for example, transparent adhesive tape 23 at the positions indicated.

Referring to Figure 6:-This depicts a partially completed "Master Copy" 26, reproduced from the piping configuration as composed with reference to Fig. 5. The "Master Copy" 26, may be reproduced, preferably on transparent plastic material, by means of photostat copying, or conventional drawing office copying techniques, or any convenient method that may from time to time become apparent. Indicated on said "Master Copy" 26, in broken lines, are lead lines 24 and dimension lines 25, which need to be added to "Master Copy" 26, as these lines were not preprinted on the individual part, elbow 11.

At this stage of use the whole of the piping configuration as composed with reference to Fig. 5, can be dismantled into its separate constituent individual parts. Said parts can then be reused any number of times to compose any other piping isometric drawing as required.

Referring to Figure 7:-This depicts the "Master Copy" sheet 26, now completed by the addition of the said lead lines 24 and dimension lines 25. Said lines being added by a draftsman or any other person so designated.

The invention as heretofore described has an extended field of application and use, as for example in the following disciplines; A) Architectural:-Office blocks and developments-housing layouts and detail drawingslandscape concepts and layout drawings B) Civil :-Batiments-buildings-cooling towers-foundations-reinforced concrete structures-sea walls.

C) Educational:-Demonstration wall boards-pretechnical education courses-technical education courses-visual aids.

D) Electrical:Circuit diagrams-distribution diagrams-equipment drawings-electronic circuit diagrams.

E) Heating, ventilating and air conditionin g:-Layout and detail drawings.

F) Mechanical:-Conveyor systems-production line layouts-stores and warehouse layouts.

G) Military:-Airfield and camp layoutslogistic charts-objective charts-strategic charts.

H) Piping :-Activety charts-critical path analysis-piping and instrument diagrams-pip ing spool drawings-piping hook up drawings piping rack drawings-piping support drawings instrument hook up and loop diagrams-hydraulic and pneumatic circuit diagrams-pres surised and unpressurised vessel drawings area and plot plan layout drawings-storage tank and tank farm layout drawings-under ground piping drawings.

I) Structural: Conventional and three di mensional steelwork drawings-bulk storage bins and hoppers.

J) Transport: Airport and terminal layouts marine docks, jetties and other layouts-railways and roads layouts.

K) General:-The method according to the invention as herein described can be applied to the production of any chart, diagram, draw ing, graphic representation, or art form where the component parts used in such production can be predrawn, preprinted facsimiles or symbols thereof. The aforesaid representations can then be selected and positioned in corela tion each to the other, in any order of se quence necessary to achieve the desired end result or representation as required.

Claims (1)

1. A method for the production of graphic representations of any kind, especially by way of example, the production of piping isometric drawings of piping installations, comprising the following steps; 1). Preparing a free hand sketch of the piping configuration to be represented, (on the basis that all the information necessary to prepare such sketch can be collected from all available documents, and/or the design concept of the piping configuration itself.) 2). Preparing and providing a base sheet marked with the necessary grid guide lines.

3). Overlaying said base sheet with a plain sheet, preferably of transparent plastic material.

4). Preparing and providing a complete set of precut individual parts, having preprinted thereon the standard symbols or fascimiles of the piping components to be represented by said parts. Said precut shapes being specially conceived and designed to minimise overlap of adjacent parts during their use.

5). Selecting from said set of parts, the parts to be used to produce a required graphic representation, so as to accurately depict the piping configuration as shown by the free hand sketch with reference to Fig. 1.

6). Jointly positioning and fixing said selected parts on the upper surface of said plain sheet of transparent plastic material, said parts being positioned as required along the isometric grid guide lines, marked on said underlaying base sheet. The fixation of said parts to said plain sheet of transparent plastic material, being of a secure but temporary basis, accomplished by way of example, by means of a low tack clear transparent adhesive.

2: A method according to claim 1, in which the steps listed therein are followed by these additional subsequent steps; 7). Preparing and providing a sheet, preferably of transparent plastic material, with preprinted thereon, north, south, east and west orientations, all relavent information that can be predetermined, and boxes to receive relavent information which is not capable of being predetermined.

8). Overlaying said preprinted transparent sheet, onto said plain transparent sheet, onto which said individual parts are fixed, and fixing both said sheets together by means of, by way of example, transparent adhesive tape, omitting if so desired, the aforesaid base sheet, upon which said grid guide lines are marked.

9). Reproducing by photostat copying, or other suitable convenient means, a "Master Copy", preferably on transparent plastic material, of the composition as described according to step 7.

10). Compieting said "Master Copy" by the addition of lead lines, dimension lines and arrowheads, omitted from the preprinted content of some of the individual parts, by virtue of practical considerations 3: A method according to claim 1, in which the individual parts as described according to step 4, will have the preprinted content printed on the upper surface of a sheet, preferably of transparent plastic material, the whole of said sheet being permanently attached to an overlay sheet of like material, by means of for example a high tack adhesive. Thus the said preprinted content is "sandwiched" between the contact surfaces of said lower and upper sheets, is afforded permanent protection from undue damage, wear and/or abrasion.

4: A method according to claim 2 in which all of the individual parts from which the graphic representation is composed, can be dismantled. After dismantling, said individual parts are then available to reuse, and compose any number of graphic representations of different piping configurations as and when required.

5: A method according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, in which every component part comprising the invention are adapted to expand the use of said parts for the production of graphic representations in the architectural disciplines, as applicable.

6: A method according to claim 5, in which said parts are adapted to expand the use of said parts in the educational fields, as applicable.

7: A method according to claim 5, in which said parts are adapted to expand the use of said parts in the electrical and electronic disciplines, as applicable.

8: A method according to claim 5, in which said parts are adapted to expand the use of said parts in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning disciplines, as applicable.

9: A method according to claim 5, in which said parts are adapted to expand the use of said parts in the mechanical engineering disciplines, as applicable.

10: A method according to claim 5, in which said parts are adapted to expand the use of said parts in the military disciplines, as applicable.

11: A method according to claim 5, in which said parts are adapted to expand the use of said parts to other aspects of piping disciplines as applicable.

12: A method according to claim 5, in which said parts are adapted to expand the use of said parts in the structural engineering disciplines, as applicable.

13: A method according to claim 5, in which said parts are adapted to expand the use of said parts in the field of transportation, as applicable.

14: A method according to claim 5, in which said parts are adapted to expand the use of said parts to the production of any chart, diagram, drawing, graphic representation or art form, where the component parts necessary for said productions are capable of being shown as predrawn preprinted facsimiles of said components, or symbols of said components, as applicable.