GB2408020A

GB2408020A - Pair of compasses with computer for measurement of angle subtended by legs

Info

Publication number: GB2408020A
Application number: GB0326211A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erik Juel-Jacobsen; Martin Strandberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-11
Filing date: 2003-11-11
Publication date: 2005-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-11
Also published as: GB0326211D0; GB2408020B

Abstract

The invention provides a pair of compasses, with legs 5 of known length, at least one of which has a collared point (6, Fig. 2/13) and a computing means 1 associated therewith, said computing means including mechanical or electrical means for measuring the angle subtended by the legs of the compasses. The computing means can be toggled to display angular and linear displacement as well as preset ratios.

Description

Intelligent linear and angular data registration device Compasses and

rulers have traditionally been used to prepare plans for houses. Simple geometry shows that once a distance and the angle subtended by another line are known, it is possible to work out the distance to another line subtending at right angles to the first line, and vice versa.

Draughtsmen on construction sites, but also others, typically need to scale up or down measurements when preparing drawings. This can be a laborious process to do manually. The present invention seeks to make the process simpler to handle and to reduce or help obviate errors.

Devices using lasers are currently readily available for measuring distances and angles with sufficient accuracy for building construction use. If necessary, tape measurements can easily be taken to cross-check that measurements obtained therefrom are sufficiently accurate for most purposes.

Accordingly, the present invention comprises of a pair of compasses each with a leg and with a computing means associated therewith, said computing means including a mechanical or electronic means for measuring the angle subtended by the legs of the compasses. Attached to one leg may be a marking device such as a ball-point or fibre tipped pen which does not reduce in length in use, and so the length thereof is constant and known. The other leg ends in a fine point, with a collar displaced therefrom sufficiently to provide a datum point for the length while providing sufficient holding in the medium being scribed upon, such as paper. In use, the scribing means could naturally be substituted by another leg with a pointed end and a displaced collar. This is especially relevant for maritime applications. Naturally it would be possible to fit appropriately robust extension legs for different applications.

It is essential that the legs are of equal length and in use, a means may be included for fine adjustment of the length of one of the legs. It would be a simple matter for the compasses to be accompanied by a system for calibration, such as a square of plastics or other material with a hole drilled to accept the pointed end of the leg and a predefined distance to a scribing mark. In use, the data display should read a specific length with the leg in the pre-drilled hole and with the scribing means on the pre scribed mark. The length of the leg could then be adjusted until the compasses were calibrated.

In use, the angle subtended by the legs of the compasses can be easily registered on the display of the computing device, which is fitted with a means for toggling between several menus or modes. In scaling down from a measurement of a distance, such as a wall length taken by laser or tape measure, the appropriate scale, such as 1:50 for example, can be toggled on the computing device so that the legs of the compasses can be opened sufficiently until the reading on the display matches the given length to be scaled down. Since the length of the legs is known, the arc circumscribed by the compasses now represents the scaled down value of the given distance. The compasses can then be locked for repeat use. Obviously the obverse holds true.

Measuring a distance on a set of plans with the correct scale indicated on the display of the computing device would give a distance for a wall, say, on the ground.

In maritime applications of the present invention, in heavy sea states it can be time consuming and awkward repeatedly to have to measure off distances measured by dividers against the scale at the side of a chart, especially when working in cramped conditions with folded charts. A device according to the present invention can easily render distances measured on a chart into nautical miles for example on the display. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the computing means is programmed to take into account the different scales required as a result of changes in latitude.

In another embodiment of the invention, the computing means is associated with twin rulers which rotate about a fixed point, as in compasses. There may be fitted means for damping movement about the centre of rotation. One or both of the rulers may be fitted with a slider running in a groove so that the distance from the slider from a datum point, say at the point of rotation, can be registered mechanically or electronically on the computing device. Again, in use and with the correct scale set on the display, any distance measured using the slider can be read off and scaled up/down on the display. As the rules are opened, the angle so subtended is registered on the display. It is then possible to scribe the correct pitch, say, of a sloping roof on a drawing, or to read off from a plan drawing the correct distances to be measured on the ground or in a building, for example.

This can naturally be applied in a nautical or aviation context, since it is simple with the correct mode set on the display of the computing device to read off angles and distances, and indeed to compute the effect of current or wind, since the angle and speed thereof can be known. With appropriate linkage, and with another rule attached and rotating about the other end of one of the rules, they can also serve as parallel rules, with the angle subtended by the linkage allowing the physical distance between the parallel rules to be read off from the display at any given scale. In designing the computing means, the most common scales presently used in given applications are used, such as 1:50(),()()0 for aviation applications, etc. An adaptation would enable the angles measured by a sextant to be computed and the necessary corrections for refraction error, etc., made and a position displayed either on the display or remotely.

Scales may be scribed on the rules for cross-checking purposes, so as to ensure that the scale set on the computing means is appropriate.

It is also a simple matter to transfer the data so acquired to other data processing devices, for example by wireless or infrared means. The protocols for this are fully defined and currently in widespread use. Hence it is possible to transfer readings taking using the present invention or embodiments thereof directly to a laptop computer and indeed directly into a drawing programme, and vice versa.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a single or multiple laser unit is fitted atop the rulers, with a levelling means so that the vertical or horizontal angles taken from plan drawings could be accurately measured and applied on site. With the correct datum point obtained for example from GPS or a benchmark, it is a simple matter to ensure that markers for construction purposes are correctly placed, and with a remote reading facility, records of measurements taken or applied can be registered and stored. It can be dangerous and difficult, and hence often expensive, to measure physically distances and heights on church spires and other tall structures The present invention makes it also straightforward to be able to measure such remote vertical heights since with a multiple laser, with one illuminating the tip and a second illuminating the bottom say, and since the distance to both points can be sufficiently accurately determined by laser, the angle subtended by both arms of the invention can give the height and distance rapidly and safely.

The present invention will now be described for illustration purposes only with reference to the accompanying annotated drawings 1-13.

The electronic data registration device (1) is fitted atop a pair of compasses (11).

There is a means for measuring the angular displacement of the legs (5) of the compasses. This may be done electronically or mechanically, with the movement of the extension pins (8) about a known point (14) on the legs (5) being registered and converted into an angle for display on the computing device (1). Depending on the software application loaded into the computing device (1), appropriate readings can be obtained on the display screen (7).

The legs (5) of the compasses may be fitted with extension pieces (2) if required. One leg ends in a pin with a collar displaced suitably from the end of the pin (12) so as to prevent the pin from piercing the medium, such as paper plans or a chart, for example.

The distance between the collar (6) and the point of rotation (14) is known. The other leg may also end in another pin and collar arrangement as in dividers, but may also be fitted with a scribing means, such as a fibre tipped pen, with ink reservoir (3), such that the overall length of the leg and scribing means (4) does not vary in use.

A knurled wheel (10) is provided to adjust the angular displacement of the legs. A friction damping means may be provided, for example at the point of rotation (14) to help prevent errors caused by inadvertent movement of the legs.

In use, the correct data set for the application is toggled (9) and the correct scale for the task in hand identified on the display (8). The legs (5) of the compasses are adjusted sufficiently to read off the distance of, for example, a given line in a set of plans. The distance is measured by way of the angular displacement of the legs and since the length of the legs from the point of rotation (14) to the collar (6) (or the tip of the scribing means (4) which is identical) is known, the computing device can calculate and display the appropriate value of the line on the ground. The obverse holds true, in that with the correct scale set, a distance measured on the ground can be read off as the distance to mark on a set of plans.

On the rear of the computing device (1), there is provided a connector (12), such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) socket, for transferring data to a computer. Accordingly, the data of measurements taken using the present invention can be transferred by cable to suitable applications on a laptop, say, or may be transferred using suitable wireless data transfer protocols.

The computing means is programmed so as to be able to register and process standard mathematical ratios such as tangents, sines, cosines, etc., and the most commonly used algebraic ratios and scales used in appropriate applications for maritime and construction site use. s

Claims

Claims 1. A device characterized in that it comprises a pair of

compasses, each with a leg and computer means associated therewith, when said computer means includes a mechanical or electronic means for measuring the angle subtended by the legs of the compasses.
2. A device according to Claim 1 characterized in that one of the legs comprises a marking device.
3. A device according to Claim 2 characterized in that the marking device consists of a ballpoint pen or a fibre/tipped pen.
4. A device according to any preceding claim characterized in that one leg terminates in a fine point and is fitted with a collar displaced therefrom by a distance sufficient to provide a datum point for the leg while providing sufficient holding in the material upon which the leg is situated.
5. A device according to Claim 1 in which one leg is provided with a pointed end and with a displaced collar.
6. A device characterized in that computing means is associated with twin rulers which rotate about a fixed point including means for damping movement about a centre of rotation, and a mechanical or electronic angular and linear measuring means.
7. A device according to Claim 6 characterized in that the rulers are further provided with a slider running in a groove in each rule so that the distance of the slider from the datum point can be measured.
8. A device according to any preceding claim characterized in that a single or multiple laser is provided.
9. A device according to any of Claims 6 to 8 characterized in that a GPS system or benchmarking system is provided on a construction site.
10. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 6 and 8 characterized in that a multiple laser is provided and can be adapted to measure distance and height.

10. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 6 and 8 characterized in that a multiple laser is provided and can be adapted to measure distance and height.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims I. A device comprising a pair of compasses, each with a leg and computer means associated therewith, said computer means including a mechanical or electronic means for measuring the angle subtended by the legs of the compasses characterized in that the computing means is associated with twin legs or rulers which rotate about a fixed point including means for damping movement about a centre of rotation and a mechanical or electronic angular or linear measuring means.

2. A device according to Claim 1 characterized in that one of the legs comprises a marking device.

3. A device according to Claim 2 characterized in that the marking device consists of a ballpoint pen or a fibre/tipped pen.

4. A device according to any preceding claim characterized in that one leg terminates in a fine point and is fitted with a collar displaced therefrom by a distance sufficient to provide a datum point for the leg while providing sufficient holding in the material upon which the leg is situated.

5. A device according to Claim 1 in which one leg is provided with a pointed end and with a displaced collar.

6. A device characterized in that computing means is associated with twin rulers which rotate about a fixed point including means for damping movement about a centre of rotation, and a mechanical or electronic angular and linear measuring means.

7. A device according to Claim 6 characterized in that the rulers are further provided with a slider running in a groove in each rule so that the distance of the slider from the datum point can be measured.

8. A device according to any preceding claim characterized in that a single or multiple laser is provided.

9. A device according to any of Claims 6 to 8 characterized in that a GPS system or benchmarking system is provided on a construction site.