IL130936A

IL130936A - Method of manufacturing a spirit level vial body

Info

Publication number: IL130936A
Application number: IL13093699A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Guido Scheyer Sola Messwerkzeu
Priority date: 1998-08-03
Filing date: 1999-07-14
Publication date: 2004-01-04
Also published as: ATE218203T1; IL130936A0; EP0987520B1; DE59901533D1; AT406307B; EP0987520A1; ATA133798A

Abstract

The method involves providing places in the wall (3) of a cylindrical hollow space (2) for markings, preferably recessed annular slots (4,5). The wall of the cylindrical hollow space and the slots are provided with a colored coating (6) and the cylindrical hollow space is bored-out to form a barrel shape. The color coating is then removed, with the exception of that part, which is found in the remaining slots.

Description

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A SPIRIT LEVEL VIAL BODY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a spirit level vial body with a drum-shaped hollow space and markings for a bubble in the interior of the drum- shaped hollow space which is to be filled partially with a liquid, wherein initially a body of synthetic material provided with a cylindrical hollow space is manufactured, particularly by injection molding. 2. Description of the Related Art Vials of water levels usually are composed of a vial body with a drum-shaped hollow space which is partially filled with a liquid, so that a bubble forms within the liquid, wherein the bubble is used for adjusting the horizontal position of the water level. For this purpose, the vial body is provided with markings which indicate the position of the bubble when the water level is aligned horizontally.

In accordance with a conventional method for manufacturing such a vial body, initially a body of synthetic material provided with a cylindrical bore is manufactured by injection molding.

Subsequently, the cylindrical bore is hollowed out by turning to provide the interior of the vial body with the shape of a drum. Two circular grooves which are spaced apart from each other are then cut into the wall of the drum-shaped interior and spring or retaining rings are placed in the grooves, wherein the spring rings serve as markings for the bubble in the vial .

German Patent 841,219 discloses filling the grooves with lacquer instead of placing spring rings in the grooves.

In connection with an embodiment disclosed in DE-AS 1 266 517, it is also known in the art to fill the drum-shaped hollow space together with the grooves formed in the hollow space with a solidifying substance and to subsequently remove once again the substance by chip-cutting processing with the exception of the portion of the substance located in the grooves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a method of the above-described type which makes it simpler to manufacture a vial body with a drum-shaped hollow space and the markings for the bubble.

In accordance with the present invention, preferably circular grooves are cut into the wall of the cylindrical hollow space at the locations intended for the markings, the wall of the cylindrical hollow space and the grooves are provided with a layer of color and the cylindrical hollow space is cut by turning to provide the hollow space with the shape of a drum, wherein the color coating is once again removed with the exception of that part which is located in the remaining grooves .

As compared to conventional methods, the method according to the present invention makes it possible to manufacture a vial body in a manner which saves significant time and material .

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing: Figs. 1 to 4 are sectional views taken through the longitudinal center plane of the vial body showing the vial body in various stages of manufacture in accordance with the method of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For manufacturing a vial body, initially a transparent body 1 of synthetic material, for example, of acrylic glass, is manufactured in the conventional manner by injection molding. The body 1 has a cylindrical hollow space 2.

As shown in Fig. 2, grooves 4, 5 are then cut into the wall 3 of the cylindrical hollow space 2 at the locations intended for the markings. The grooves 4, 5 extend annularly around the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical hollow space 2.

In the next work step, color is sprayed into the hollow space 2, so that the wall 3 of the cylindrical hollow space 2 and the grooves 4, 5 are provided with a color coating 6 which is indicated in Fig. 3 by thicker lines as compared to Fig. 2.

Subsequently, the cylindrical hollow space is hollowed out by turning until the hollow space 7 is drum-shaped as schematically indicated in Fig. 4. During turning of the cylindrical hollow space 2, a portion of the depth of the grooves 4, 5 is removed, wherein, however, the original depth of the grooves is selected such that the grooves do not completely disappear during turning. The color layer 6 previously applied stays in the remaining grooves 4, 5 and forms the desired markings, while the remaining color has been removed during the hollowing out of the cylindrical hollow space into the shape of a drum.

The drum-shaped hollow space 7 can then be filled with a suitable liquid, such that space remains for an air bubble. The hollow space 7 is then closed. A vial manufactured in this manner can then be mounted in a water level .

The invention is not limited by the embodiments described above which are presented as examples only but can be modified in various ways within the scope of protection defined by the appended patent claims .

Claims

130936/2 Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a spirit level comprising a barrel- shaped cavity and markers for a bubble inside the barrel-shaped cavity which is to be partly filled with a liquid, wherein first a plastics body provided with a cylindrical cavity is manufactured, in particular by injection moulding, and is then hollowed out into the shape of a barrel in a further working step, characterised in that, after the plastics body provided with the cylindrical cavity has been manufactured, first preferably circular grooves (4, 5) are cut into the wall (3) of the cylindrical cavity (2) at the points provided for the markers, next the wall (3) of the cylindrical cavity (2) and the grooves (4, 5) are provided with a coloured layer (6) and then the cylindrical cavity (2) is hollowed out into the shape of a barrel, during which the coloured layer (6) is removed, with the exception of that portion in the remaining grooves (4, 5).

2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that, to provide the remaining wall of the cylindrical cavity (2) and the grooves (4, 5) with a coloured layer, paint is sprayed into the cylindrical cavity (2) provided with the grooves (4, 5).