JP7466962B1 - Automatic level adjustment device and automatic level adjustment method - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a device that receives a base plate of a structure and automatically adjusts the level of the upper surface by raising and lowering it in small increments. [Solution] The automatic level adjustment device 1 includes a screw shaft 30 that has a vertical axial direction and is rotatable but immovable in the vertical direction, a ring-shaped large diameter portion 41 and a small diameter portion 42 that is a nut portion, the small diameter portion 42 being screwed into an upper portion 31 of the screw shaft 30, a lifting member 40 that moves vertically when the large diameter portion 41 receives the base plate B and the screw shaft 30 rotates during automatic level adjustment, a gear train 20 that transmits rotation to the screw shaft 30, and a rotary drive means 10 that imparts driving rotation to the gear train 20, and the rotary drive means 10 drives and rotates based on the output pulse of a digital level G that is installed to detect the horizontality of the upper surface of the base plate B until the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate B is completed. [Selected Figure] Figure 1A

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic level adjustment device and an automatic level adjustment method that are used when adjusting the level of a structure that requires level adjustment of the base plate, such as a machine tool, and installing the structure.

Conventionally, for example, in the manufacturing process of machine tools, it was necessary to adjust the level of the structure at each process, such as machining, assembly, and inspection. Specifically, for example, the machine tool was placed on a surface plate or the like for each process, and a level (also called a spirit level) was placed on the table or the like that served as the reference surface. While looking at this, the worker would turn the adjuster attached to the leg of the machine tool with a wrench so that the machine tool was level, relying on experience and intuition. The vertical alignment of the structure was also performed after the level of the workpiece placed on the surface plate or the like was adjusted.

Machines used for processing, assembly, inspection, etc. are designed to perform at their best when placed on a level (horizontal) surface. A level refers to the degree of horizontality, and for industrial machinery, achieving a highly precise horizontal surface for each process, such as processing, assembly, inspection, etc., is fundamental and essential for maintaining operational precision.

In various types of processing machines, manufacturing equipment, assembly equipment, etc. (hereafter referred to as structures), in order to fix a workpiece and perform highly accurate horizontal and vertical flat and hole machining on the workpiece, the base plate of the machining machine and the surface plate that fixes the workpiece must be installed with highly accurate level adjustment. Level adjustment is an essential task when installing equipment stands and base equipment frames, and in particular, measuring the floor level and adjusting the path line are important for transport equipment that transfers between equipment.

If the workpiece fixing plate is not precisely leveled, not only will it be impossible to precisely adjust the level of the wire cut of a wire cut electric discharge machine that precisely drills vertical holes, but it will also be impossible to precisely set it vertical, meaning that highly precise vertical hole drilling will not be possible.

In structures where level adjustment has not been performed with high precision, even the slightest error in the horizontality of the base plate or the top surface of the stand on which the workpiece is to be installed will prevent high-precision machining of the workpiece to create a horizontal surface or drilling of vertical holes, resulting in defective products and shortening the lifespan of machinery and tools. Furthermore, because the horizontality of industrial machinery changes due to its own weight, vibration, heat, etc. while it is in use, it is necessary to periodically adjust the level even after installation.

Similarly, highly precise level adjustments are also required in food processing machines, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and other industrial machines.

For many industrial machines, anchor bolts are basically embedded in the concrete floor of a factory, and the industrial machine is lowered so that the heads of the anchor bolts are inserted into bolt holes on the periphery of the base plate of the industrial machine. The base plate is supported by a double nut that acts as an adjuster and screws onto the bolts. Level adjustments are then performed manually by checking the height and angle by tightening and loosening the nuts while checking a level, dial gauge, laser marker, convex, etc. placed on the base plate.

Manual level adjustments often take a long time. When the weight of a structure is large, the force required to turn the wrench also increases, making fine adjustments difficult. Even an experienced worker would take several tens of minutes to level both the X and Y axes.

As for the level, a digital level (digital precision level) is used, which has a bubble tube and a monitor that digitally displays the measured value, and can read not only horizontal and vertical but also subtle values at various angles, and can also output pulses. In addition, the latest three-dimensional measuring machines are also used.

Therefore, an automatic leveling device has been proposed that can automatically perform high-precision leveling (synonymous with level adjustment) in a short time, regardless of the skill level of the operator (Patent Document 1).

This automatic leveling device is configured so that one of the three vertices of the planar triangle on the underside of a structure is supported by a fixed support with a support leg at the center of one side, and two points at each of the other corners are supported by jacks. A level is placed on the reference surface of the structure to measure the inclination angle on the X and Y axes, and the two jacks are controlled to rise and fall based on the sensor signal to level the structure. The jack has a structure in which a lifting unit (lifting mechanism) and a drive unit (servo motor with a reducer) that drives it are detachably connected. After leveling is complete, the drive units are removed, leaving each lifting unit of the two jacks as support legs, and the removed drive unit is combined with another jack and used to level another structure.

Patent Publication No. 2000-107962

[Second application of automatic level adjustment device]
In a manufacturing plant for a structure, the automatic leveling device of Patent Document 1 is used to perform a first leveling of the upper surface of the base plate of the structure, and a different level is used to further level the surface plate of the structure, level or plumb the cutting tool, plumb the wire cut line, etc. Then, when the structure that has been leveled as described above is transported and installed at a user company's plant and the second leveling of the base plate is performed, the level is placed on the base plate and the height is adjusted manually, completing the leveling in a short period of time. This is based on the recognition that handling the second leveling as described above will not cause any problems with the leveling accuracy of the surface plate of the structure after the first leveling, or the machining accuracy of the cutting tool.

The automatic leveling device of Patent Document 1 also has the following problems. The automatic leveling work is performed at the installation site of the user company, and the automatic leveling device of Patent Document 1 removes the drive unit (servo motor with reducer) that constitutes part of the jack after completing leveling, and continues to use the lifting unit as a support leg for two of the three vertices of the planar triangle on the underside of the base plate of the structure. This lifting unit includes a device frame, and a worm that can rotate around a horizontal axis is meshed with a worm wheel that can rotate around a vertical axis, so that the power rotation of the drive unit is input to the rotation axis of the worm, and a lifting body that cannot rotate around the vertical axis is screwed into the female screw at the center of the worm wheel and can be lifted and lowered, and a saddle is provided at the upper end of the lifting body. Therefore, when using the automatic leveling device of Patent Document 1, the lifting body alone cannot be separated from the worm or worm wheel, etc. and used as a support leg, and there is a problem that it is expensive and uneconomical because the structure allows only the servo motor with reducer to be separated. Additionally, the saddle only supports the base plate over a small area and is not connected to it.

Furthermore, in the pinpoint support state in which the three vertices of a planar triangle near the edge of the underside of the base plate of the structure are selected using the two automatic leveling devices of Patent Document 1 and one support leg, if there is a large lateral shake, for example due to a major earthquake, there is a risk of a large lateral shift occurring in the pinpoint support, which could result in an accident in which the structure falls. Therefore, it would be desirable to prevent accidents in which the structure falls by using the foundation bolt through holes provided on the periphery of the base plate as a fastening means, rather than simply supporting the structure at a point.

When developing the new automatic level adjustment device, the inventor envisioned two configurations: one in which automatic level adjustment can be performed by simply receiving the base plate of a structure, and after adjustment, the base plate is lifted up and separated for transport to the user company's factory, and another in which the base plate is received in a connected state and automatic level adjustment can be performed, and after adjustment, the base plate is lifted up and transported to the user company's factory in the connected state for a second automatic level adjustment.

More specifically, the following two implementation methods were assumed for the second level adjustment at the user company's factory for a structure that has completed the first automatic level adjustment. In the first implementation method, the multiple automatic level adjustment devices connected to the base plate in the company's manufacturing factory during the first automatic level adjustment are left in a connected state, and the structure is moved to the user company's installation site and the second level adjustment is performed in that state. In the second implementation method, the multiple automatic level adjustment devices are received on the base plate in a non-connected state in the company's manufacturing factory, the first automatic level adjustment is performed, the four lower corners of the base plate are received in a connected state with support legs having an adjuster function, the structure is then hoisted up, the automatic level adjustment devices are separated from the base plate, and the structure is moved to the user company's installation site with the support legs still connected to the four corners of the base plate, and the multiple automatic level adjustment devices are again installed in a state where they are receiving the lower surface of the base plate, the support legs are released from receipt, and the second level adjustment is performed, and after this adjustment, the support legs are returned to a receiving state again, or the multiple automatic level adjustment devices are not installed a second time, and the level adjustment is performed using support legs having an adjuster function attached to the four corners using a normal level.

Furthermore, when developing the new automatic level adjustment device, the inventor envisioned performing level adjustments in a manner that would allow the holes for the foundation bolts on the periphery of the base plate of the structure to be used as fastening means using the automatic level adjustment device in the manufacturing factory, thereby preventing accidents in which the structure would come off the automatic level adjustment device and fall, even if a large earthquake were to occur while automatic level adjustment was being performed.

The present invention was devised in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and its first objective is to provide an automatic level adjustment device and an automatic level adjustment method that have sufficient lifting capabilities and the ability to raise and lower in minute increments even when the structure requiring level adjustment is large and heavy, and that can receive the base plate of the structure within the manufacturing plant and work in conjunction with a digital level to raise and lower it in minute increments to perform automatic level adjustment.

A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic level adjustment method in which the base plate of a structure is received in a manufacturing factory in a connected state at multiple points, a first automatic level adjustment can be performed, and after this adjustment, when the structure is transported to the user company's factory, it is hoisted and installed at the destination factory while still connected to the base plate, where it can be subjected to a second automatic level adjustment.

A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic level adjustment method in which the four corners of a base plate of a structure are connected to a support leg having an adjuster function and installed in a plurality of locations in a manufacturing factory to perform a first automatic level adjustment, and then the first automatic level adjustment is performed on the base plate of the structure that is then transported to and installed at a user company's factory after this adjustment. A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic level adjustment method in which the holes through which the bolts pass at the four corners of the base plate can be used for the automatic level adjustment, and there is no need to modify the structure of the base plate of the structure at the manufacturing factory, such as by drilling holes, and an automatic level adjustment device can be attached to the holes through which the bolts pass at the four corners of the base plate to perform the first and second automatic level adjustments.

A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic level adjustment method that can receive the base plate of a structure and prevent the structure from falling even if a large earthquake occurs during automatic level adjustment.

To achieve the above objective, the automatic level adjustment device of the present invention supports the base plate of a structure that requires level adjustment, raises and lowers it in small increments, measures the horizontality of the top surface of the base plate with a digital level, and automatically adjusts the level based on the output pulses. The device is equipped with a lifting mechanism, a rotation direction changing mechanism, and a rotation drive means.

The automatic level adjustment device according to the invention aspect of this application is an automatic level adjustment device that receives the base plate of a structure that requires level adjustment, and automatically adjusts the level of the upper surface of the base plate by raising and lowering it in small increments.

An automatic level adjustment device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises:
A screw shaft whose axial direction is vertical and which is rotatable but immovable in the vertical direction;
a lifting member including a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion integrally (fixedly) provided on the upper or lower side of the large diameter portion, a female screw threaded through the center of at least the small diameter portion of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion and screwed into the upper portion of the screw shaft, the lifting member receiving the lower surface of the base plate with the end surface of the large diameter portion during automatic level adjustment and moving up and down when the screw shaft rotates;
a gear train that converts rotation about a horizontal axis into rotation about a vertical axis and transmits the rotation to the screw shaft;
a control motor with a reducer for providing a driving rotation to the gear train,
The control motor with a reducer is configured to drive and rotate until the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate is completed based on the output pulse of a digital level installed to detect the horizontality of the upper surface of the base plate.

The automatic level adjustment device according to a second aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the first aspect of the present invention, and further comprises:
The lifting member is
The large diameter portion is on the upper side and the small diameter portion is on the lower side. Of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion, at least the small diameter portion has a female thread that passes through the center and a male threaded portion at the upper part of the screw shaft is screwed into the female thread. The screw shaft further has a ring member that is concentrically placed on the large diameter portion and an engagement pin provided on the ring member, and during automatic level adjustment, the engagement pin engages with a hole provided in the base plate through which a bolt passes (see FIGS. 1A and 1B).

The automatic level adjustment device according to a third aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the first aspect of the present invention, and further comprises:
The lifting member is
The large diameter portion is on the upper side and the small diameter portion is on the lower side, and of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion, at least the small diameter portion has a female thread that passes through the center, and a male threaded portion at the upper part of the screw shaft is screwed into the female thread, and when automatic level adjustment starts, the upper end of the screw shaft is located at a midpoint within the large diameter portion (see FIG. 2).

The automatic level adjustment device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the first aspect of the present invention, and further comprises:
The lifting member is
The large diameter portion is ring-shaped and on the upper side, and the small diameter portion has a female thread on the lower side, the female thread of the small diameter portion is screwed into an upper portion of the screw shaft, and when automatic level adjustment starts, the upper end of the screw shaft is in a midway position within the large diameter portion,
Furthermore, a connector is provided which has a flange portion concentrically fixed on the large diameter portion, a pin portion protruding from an upper surface of the flange portion, and a male thread portion protruding further upward from the pin portion, and during automatic level adjustment, the flange portion supports the underside of the base plate, the pin portion fits into a hole provided in the base plate for passing a bolt, and a nut is screwed onto the male thread portion protruding upward from the hole for passing the bolt (see FIG. 3(A)).

The automatic level adjustment device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the first aspect of the present invention, and further comprises:
The lifting member is
The large diameter portion is ring-shaped and on the upper side, and the small diameter portion has a female thread on the lower side, the female thread of the small diameter portion is screwed into an upper portion of the screw shaft, and when automatic level adjustment starts, the upper end of the screw shaft is in a midway position within the large diameter portion,
Furthermore, it has a flange portion that is fixed concentrically on the large diameter portion and a male thread portion that is convexly provided on the flange portion, and during automatic level adjustment, the flange portion receives the underside of the base plate, and the male thread portion screws into a female thread provided on the base plate (see Figure 3 (B)).

The automatic level adjustment device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the first aspect of the present invention, and further comprises:
The lifting member is
The small diameter portion protrudes from the upper surface of the large diameter portion, and a male threaded portion protrudes further from it, and the male threaded portion of the upper half of the screw shaft is screwed into a female thread that penetrates through the center of the large diameter portion, the small diameter portion, and the male threaded portion, and during automatic level adjustment, the large diameter portion supports the underside of the base plate, and the small diameter portion fits into a hole provided in the base plate for passing a bolt, and a nut is screwed onto the male threaded portion that protrudes above the hole for passing the bolt (see FIG. 4(A)).

The automatic level adjustment device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the first aspect of the present invention, and further comprises:
The lifting member is
The shaft has a stepped shaft shape with the large diameter portion on the lower side and the small diameter portion on the upper side, and a male thread formed on the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion. The male threaded portion of the upper half of the screw shaft is screwed into a female thread provided through the center of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion. During automatic level adjustment, the large diameter portion supports the underside of the base plate, and the male thread on the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion screws into the female thread provided on the base plate (see FIG. 4(B)).

An automatic level adjustment device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention has the following features in addition to any one of the first to seventh aspects of the present invention:
When the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate is completed and the control motor stops driving rotation, a brake device is provided to disable the rotation shaft of the control motor so that the screw shaft does not rotate in reverse due to the load of the base plate of the structure.

An automatic level adjustment device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention has the following features in addition to any one of the first to seventh aspects of the present invention:
The lifting member is configured to include a guide block that engages with the outer surface of the lifting member and guides the lifting member so as to be non-rotatable and movable up and down.

The automatic level adjustment device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention has the following features in addition to the configuration of the ninth aspect of the present invention:
The configuration further includes height detection means for detecting an initial height at which the lifting member receives the lower surface of the base plate before the lifting member receives the base plate.

An automatic level adjustment device according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention has the following features in addition to any one of the first to seventh aspects of the present invention:
The structure is such that a radial bearing and a thrust bearing are provided on the bearing surface of the device frame which receives the driven gear in the gear train on which the thrust weight of the structure acts.

An automatic level adjustment device according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention has any one of the configurations of the eleventh aspect of the present invention, and further comprises:
The radial bearing and the thrust bearing are configured to use a drawn cup needle roller bearing and a drawn cup needle roller bearing, respectively.

The automatic level adjustment device according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention has any one of the configurations of the eleventh aspect of the present invention, and further comprises:
The bearing serving as both the radial bearing and the thrust bearing is a tapered roller bearing or a needle roller bearing with a thrust ball bearing.

An automatic level adjustment method according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention includes:
The structure is suspended in a level adjustment work space for the structure, and automatic level adjustment devices according to the tenth aspect of the invention are arranged at a plurality of predetermined positions below a base plate of the structure, and at this time, a lifting member screwed onto an upper part of the screw shaft of the automatic level adjustment device receives the underside of the base plate, or in addition to receiving the underside of the base plate, the lifting member engages with a hole or screw hole for receiving a bolt provided in the base plate, a first digital level that detects levelness in the X direction and a second digital level that detects levelness in the Y direction are arranged on the upper surface of the base plate, a pulse is output from one of the first and second digital level devices, automatic level adjustment is performed by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to the one digital level device, a pulse is output from the other digital level device, and automatic level adjustment is performed by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to the other digital level device, thereby performing level adjustments in the X and Y directions on the upper surface of the base plate.

An automatic level adjustment method according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention includes:
a first digital level detector that detects levelness in the X direction and a second digital level detector that detects levelness in the Y direction are disposed on the upper surface of the base plate; a pulse is output from one of the first and second digital level detectors and automatic level adjustment is performed by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to the one digital level detector; a pulse is output from the other digital level detector and automatic level adjustment is performed by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to the other digital level detector; thus, level adjustments in the X and Y directions of the upper surface of the base plate are performed and the support legs are fixed in position to receive the four corners of the base plate.

According to the present invention, the power rotation of the motor is transmitted to a vertical screw shaft that is rotatable but not axially movable via a gear train, thereby converting the power rotation into a significantly slower low rotation and high torque, and furthermore, a mechanical mechanism is adopted in which a lifting member that becomes imrotatable when the base plate is received is screwed to the upper end of the screw shaft, converting the power rotation into linear fine movement and high lifting force, and this is configured in conjunction with a digital level, so that even if the structure requiring level adjustment is a large and heavy object, it has sufficient lifting function and the ability to lift and lower in minute increments, and it is possible to provide an automatic level adjustment device and automatic level adjustment method that can receive the base plate of a structure in a manufacturing plant and lift and lower it in minute increments in conjunction with a digital level to perform automatic level adjustment.

In addition, according to the automatic level adjustment device of the present application, which is configured so that the base plate and the lifting member can be screwed together when the base plate is received approximately horizontally, a method can be provided in which the base plate of a structure is received in a connected state at multiple points at a manufacturing factory, and a first automatic level adjustment can be performed; after this adjustment, when the structure is transported to a user company's factory, it is hoisted and installed at the destination factory while still connected to the base plate, and the second automatic level adjustment can be performed.

In addition, according to the automatic level adjustment device of the invention aspect in the present application, in which the four corners of the base plate of a structure are connected to support legs having an adjuster function at a manufacturing factory, the device can be installed in a receiving state at multiple locations separate from the support legs of the base plate to perform a first automatic level adjustment, and after this adjustment, it is possible to provide an automatic level adjustment method that is used for a second automatic level adjustment of the base plate of the structure that is transported and installed at the user company's factory.

Furthermore, in the present application, according to the invention aspect in which the base plate and the lifting member are connected by a screw connection or a shaft and shaft hole connection structure when the base plate is supported approximately horizontally, it is possible to provide an automatic level adjustment method that can prevent accidents such as the structure falling even if a large earthquake occurs during automatic level adjustment while supporting the base plate of the structure.

1A is a partially cut-away front view of an automatic level adjustment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1A(A)。 FIG. 1A(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Ib-Ib in FIG. 1A(A), FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line Ic-Ic in FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1D is a bottom view of the device frame. FIG. 11 is a front view showing another automatic level adjustment device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10A is a front view of another automatic level adjustment device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10B is a partial view showing a modified example of the main part of the third embodiment. FIG. 10A is a front view of another automatic level adjustment device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10B is a partial view showing a modification of the main part of the third embodiment. 13A to 13C are schematic plan views showing an automatic level adjustment method according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view showing another automatic level adjustment method according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

The following describes an automatic level adjustment device and an automatic level adjustment method according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1A(A), 2, 3(A) and 4(A) show automatic level adjustment devices 1, 2, 3 and 4 according to the first to fourth embodiments. Each of these automatic level adjustment devices 1-4 supports the lower surface of base plate B of a structure (e.g., a machine tool) A that requires precise level adjustment with lifting members 40, 40A, 40B or 40C that cover the upper ends of screw shafts 30, 30A, 30B or 30C, measures the horizontality (inclination) of the upper surface of base plate B with a digital level (digital precision level) G, and drives control motor 11 based on the pulses output by digital level G to rotate screw shafts 30, 30A, 30B or 30C and raise lifting members 40, 40A, 40B or 40C by minute increments, thereby automatically leveling the upper surface of base plate B.

[First embodiment: automatic level adjustment device, FIG. 1A(A)]
1A shows an automatic level adjustment device according to a first embodiment. This automatic level adjustment device 1 has an equipment frame 5 that is grounded on the concrete floor of a factory, and a rotary drive means 10 including a control motor 11 and a reducer 12. The reducer output shaft is fixed to the vertical surface of the equipment frame 5 with the reducer casing fixed to the vertical surface of the equipment frame 5.

The automatic level adjustment device 1 further comprises a gear train 20 consisting of a driving gear 21 and a driven gear 22 that mesh with each other, a screw shaft 30 having, from the top to the bottom, a male threaded portion 30a, a flange portion 30b, and a cylindrical shaft portion 30c, and a lifting member 40 that screws into the male threaded portion 30a of the screw shaft 30.

In this embodiment, the driven gear 22 is attached using a power lock 22c. That is, the driven gear 22 includes a central cylindrical portion 22a that is fitted onto the cylindrical shaft portion 30c and connected by a key, an outer peripheral tooth portion 22b, and a power lock 22c that is inserted into the cylindrical gap between the central cylindrical portion 22a and the outer peripheral tooth portion 22b.

The power lock 22c is a unit part called a keyless bushing, in which the conical outer surface of the inner ring and the conical inner surface of the outer ring are fitted in the axial direction, and when a number of tightening bolts arranged in a circumferentially even arrangement on a flange provided on the end face of the inner ring or the outer ring are tightened, the conical outer surface of the inner ring slides in a direction expanding the diameter of the conical inner surface of the outer ring. Therefore, when the tightening bolts are tightened, the inner peripheral surface of the inner ring is tightly pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the center side cylindrical portion 22a, and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring is tightly pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral side toothed portion 22b. Thus, the power lock 22c integrates the center side cylindrical portion 22a and the outer peripheral side toothed portion 22b. However, the power lock 22c is not limited to fastening the center side cylindrical portion 22a and the outer peripheral side toothed portion 22b, and for example, the outer peripheral side toothed portion 22b and the center side cylindrical portion 22a may be fastened by a key connection.

The output shaft of the control motor 11 is connected to the input shaft of the reduction gear 12. The control motor 11 is equipped with a rotary encoder (not shown) and a brake device 14. A small bevel gear and a large bevel gear are used for the driving gear 21 and the driven gear 22. The driving gear 21 is fixed to the output shaft of the reduction gear. The cylindrical shaft portion 30c of the screw shaft 30 is inserted into the center hole of the driven gear 22 and is keyed. The brake device 14 may be provided so that a disk is provided above the driven gear 22 of the screw shaft 30 and the brake is applied to this disk.

The automatic level adjustment device 1 is therefore configured to include a rotary drive means (rotary drive source) 10 that outputs a low rotation speed, high torque drive rotation, a screw shaft 30 that has a vertical axial direction and is rotatable but not movable up and down, a gear train 20 that inputs the drive rotation of the rotary drive means 10 and transmits the rotation to the screw shaft 30, and a lifting member 40 that is screwed into the male threaded portion 30a in the upper half of the screw shaft 30, receives the base plate B during automatic level adjustment of the base plate B, and moves upward or downward by a small amount depending on the direction of rotation when the screw shaft 30 rotates.

The lifting member 40 has a ring-shaped large diameter portion 41 arranged on the upper side and a small diameter portion (nut portion) 42 with a female thread passing through the center arranged on the lower side. The large diameter portion 41 and the flange portion 42a of the small diameter portion 42 are overlapped and connected with a bolt 43a, and the female thread portion of the small diameter portion 42 is screwed into the upper part of the male thread portion 30a of the screw shaft 30. The female thread portion of the small diameter portion 42 and the male thread portion 30a of the screw shaft 30 are base threads. The lower part of the male thread portion 30a and the driving gear 21 are concealed by a cover 6.

The lifting member 40 further includes a ring member 44 that is placed concentrically on the large diameter portion 41 and connected by a bolt 43b, and a fitting pin 45 that is placed concentrically on the ring member 44 and fits from below into a hole C through which a bolt is passed, which is provided in the base plate B, during automatic level adjustment. The ring member 44 constitutes a part of the large diameter portion 41. In this embodiment, the ring member 44 supports the base plate B. The screw shaft 30 does not abut against the ring member 44.

The lifting member 40 may have a large diameter portion 41 and a small diameter portion 42 that are not connected by a bolt as shown in the figure, but may be integral and have a screw hole from the lower end to the upper end. The large diameter portion 41, the small diameter portion 42, the ring member 44, and the engagement pin 45 may be integral. The engagement pin 45 may be conical. In Figs. 5 and 6 described later, the hole for passing the existing bolt provided at the four corners of the base plate B is marked with the symbol C2, and the hole for passing the bolt provided separately from the hole C2 at the four corners is marked with the symbol C. However, the hole for passing the bolt provided in the base plate B in this embodiment may be either the hole for passing the existing bolt provided at the four corners of the base plate B, the hole for passing the bolt C2, or the hole for passing the bolt provided separately.

The lifting member 40 in this embodiment is therefore characterized in that the mating pin 45 fits from below into the hole C, through which the bolt is passed, provided in the base plate B during automatic level adjustment, and is therefore used in cases where there is a risk of slippage when receiving the base plate B.

[About Digital Level G]
The digital level G may be a digital level made by ANYDESIN or a digital level (Levelnic (registered trademark)) made by Niigata Seiki Co., Ltd. The procedure for detecting the horizontality of the digital level G varies depending on the manufacturer. In one example, the digital level G is adjusted so that the direction of horizontality detection is aligned in the X or Y direction on the upper surface of the base plate B, and when the zero setting button is pressed and the display memory shows zero, the direction is turned 180 degrees and the measurement button is pressed to show a value in the display memory, and when the half-value correction button is pressed, the half-value shown in the display memory shows the actual inclination. The digital level G can output a certain number of pulses by the pulse output setting button until the inclination becomes zero (horizontal), and these pulses can be used to drive a motor.

[Regarding the control motor 11]
The control motor 11 is a servo motor or a pulse motor. A servo motor is a motor used together with a servo mechanism that accurately realizes position/speed/torque (torque) and the like according to instructions, and is generally an electric motor with a detector that performs feedback control. In this example, the pulse output from a digital level G is input to a motor driver 13, where it is multiplied and motor drive pulses are output, and feedback control is performed so that the tilt angle output from the digital level G converges to zero. A pulse motor is a motor that moves and rotates at a fixed angle by switching the phase through which current flows, and can be positioned without a sensor, and is easier to control than a servo motor.

The control motor 11 continues to rotate until the level adjustment of the top surface of the base plate B is completed based on the output pulses of a digital level G that is installed to detect the horizontality of the top surface of the base plate B. The reducer 12 reduces the output rotation of the motor, amplifies the torque, and transmits it to the driving gear 21.

The digital level G installed on the top surface of the base plate B outputs output pulses (horizontal LEVEL signal) using a dedicated app until the level of the base plate B reaches zero. The motor driver 13 receives and processes the output pulses of the digital level G, and generates and outputs the drive pulses required to drive the control motor 11. The control motor 11 inputs the drive pulses output by the motor driver 13 and continues to rotate until the level adjustment of the top surface of the base plate B is completed.

The brake device 14 is provided at the rear end of the output shaft of the control motor 11. After the level adjustment of the top surface of the base plate B is completed and the control motor 11 stops driving rotation, the brake device 14 is designed to automatically activate the brake when the excitation is lost due to the power supply to the control motor 11 being stopped. This makes it possible to prevent the structure A from falling due to its own weight and to maintain a horizontal level.

In the automatic level adjustment device 1, the screw shaft 30 is screwed into the small diameter section (nut section) 42 of the lifting member 40, and the upper end of the screw shaft 30 is positioned halfway within the large diameter section 41 of the lifting member 40 (not protruding), and structure A is suspended on the upper surface of the large diameter section 41. When the screw shaft 30 rotates, the lifting member 40 receives the base plate B and can be raised.

When the control motor 11 is driven to rotate, this rotation is decelerated by the reducer 12 and transmitted to the driving gear 21, which rotates around the horizontal axis and transmits the rotation to the driven gear 22, which rotates around the vertical axis, causing the screw shaft 30 inserted and fixed in the center hole of the driven gear 22 to rotate at an extremely low rotational speed. The lifting member 40 moves upward or downward with a small change amount depending on the rotation direction of the screw shaft 30.

According to this embodiment, it is assumed that the lifting member 40 and base plate B are unlikely to slip, the lifting member 40 is configured to support the base plate B, the rotation of the control motor 11 is transmitted via the gear train 20 to the screw shaft 30, which is a vertical shaft that cannot move up and down, and the lifting member 40, which supports the base plate B with the rotation of the screw shaft 30 and cannot rotate, becomes a runner for the screw shaft 30, exerting a high lifting force and moving slightly upward to support the base plate B, and this prevents the structure A from falling off the automatic level adjustment device 1 even if a large earthquake occurs during automatic level adjustment. After automatic level adjustment, the lifting member 40 moves relatively away when the base plate B is lifted.

[Function of the guide block 60 engaging with the lifting member 40]
In this embodiment, a guide block 60 is fitted onto the outer surface of the large diameter portion of the lifting member 40. This guide block 60 is a thick plate-like body having an elongated rectangular shape in a plan view, has a square guide hole 61 in the center, and is fixed at its four corners shown in Figures 1B (B) and (C) by two nuts 63 screwed into the threaded portions at the upper ends of four support members 62 rising from the device frame 5.

The lifting member 40 has a large diameter portion 41 whose outer surface is circular in plan view and whose four sides are cut flat, and this large diameter portion 41 is slidably fitted into the guide hole 61 of the guide block 60. The guide block 60 is therefore immovable as it is integral with the device frame 5, and has the function of guiding the lifting member 40 so that it cannot rotate but can move up and down. Therefore, when the large diameter portion 41 of the lifting member 40 is not receiving the base plate B, the lifting member 40 can be raised and lowered by driving the control motor 11 and rotating the screw shaft 30, and therefore the initial height at which the lifting member 40 receives the lower surface of the base plate when it is not receiving the base plate B can be set to any height.

[Function when guide block 60 is not provided]
Unlike the present embodiment, the present invention also includes an embodiment having a configuration that does not include the guide block 60. In the case of a configuration that does not include the guide block 60, the lifting member 40 screwed to the screw shaft 30 rotates together with the screw shaft 30 even if the control motor 11 is driven in a state in which the base plate B is not received, and no fluctuation in the vertical direction occurs. Therefore, in order to set the initial height at which the lifting member 40 receives the lower surface of the base plate, it is necessary to rotate the lifting member 40 by human power (operator) in a state in which the control motor 11 is not driven and the screw shaft 30 is not rotating. On the other hand, in a state in which the base plate B is received, the lifting member 40 cannot rotate due to the load and frictional resistance of the base plate B, so when the control motor 11 is driven and the screw shaft 30 rotates, the lifting member 40 is raised and lowered.

[Configuration for limiting the height position of the lifting member 40 to a state that is neither too high nor too low]
In this embodiment, when the screw shaft 30 and the lifting member 40 are screwed together as shown in Figures 1A and 1B, the upper end of the lifting member 40 and the upper end of the screw shaft 30 are separated by a distance S1, and the lower end of the lifting member 40 and the upper end of the driven gear 22 are separated by a distance S2. When the screw shaft 30 rotates from the state shown in Figure 1A (A) and the lifting member 40 descends by the distance S1, the upper end of the lifting member 40 and the upper end of the screw shaft 30 become flush with each other, and the lifting member 40 is no longer able to receive the lower surface of the base plate, and the height of the base plate cannot be adjusted. When the screw shaft 30 rotates from the state shown in Figure 1A (A) and the lifting member 40 descends by the distance S2, the lifting member 40 comes into contact with the driven gear 22 and becomes unable to rotate, and the height of the base plate cannot be adjusted. Therefore, when rotating the screw shaft 30 to lower the lifting member 40, it is necessary to stop the rotation of the screw shaft 30 to the extent that the upper end of the screw shaft 30 does not reach the upper end of the large diameter portion 41 of the lifting member 40 and the extent that the lifting member 40 does not abut against the driven gear 22.

On the other hand, when the screw shaft 30 rotates and the lifting member 40 rises from the state shown in FIG. 1A (A) where the above dimensions S1 and S2 are apart, smooth screwing is guaranteed until the upper end of the screw shaft 30 coincides with the upper end of the female thread of the small diameter portion 42 of the lifting member 40. However, if the lifting member 40 continues to rise after that, the screwing distance between the screw shaft 30 and the female thread of the small diameter portion 42 of the lifting member 40 becomes shorter, the load on the threaded surface increases, and smooth screwing becomes difficult. Therefore, when the screw shaft 30 rotates and the lifting member 40 rises, in order to ensure smooth screwing between the female thread of the small diameter portion 42 of the lifting member 40 and the screw shaft 30, it is necessary to stop the rotation of the screw shaft 30 to the extent that the upper end of the female thread of the small diameter portion 42 of the lifting member 40 coincides with the upper end of the screw shaft 30.

For the above reasons, the lifting member 40 is provided with a height detection means 64 for detecting the initial height at which the lifting member 40 receives the lower surface of the base plate B before the lifting member 40 receives the base plate B.

The height detection means 64 consists of a vertical rib 64a protruding from the outer surface of the small diameter portion of the lifting member 40 and a sensor 64c attached to a bracket 64b that hangs down from the guide block 60. The sensor 64c may be either a transmission type photointerrupter in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged opposite each other on both sides of the vertical rib 64a, or a reflection type photointerrupter in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged in parallel on one side of the vertical rib 64a. When a transmission type photointerrupter is used, a bifurcated portion is formed so that the lower end of the bracket 64b extends to both sides of the vertical rib 64a, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged to face each other at this bifurcated portion. In addition, the guide block 60, which is integral with the device frame 5, guides the lifting member 40 so that it cannot rotate but can move up and down, so that interference between the vertical rib 64a, the lower part of the vertical rib 64a, and the sensor 64c can be prevented.

When a transmissive photointerrupter is used, the control motor 11 is driven so that the lifting member 40 rises or falls when the light from the light-emitting element is blocked by the vertical rib 64a and the light-receiving element is OFF, and when the light from the light-emitting element reaches a position where it leaves the upper or lower end of the vertical rib 64a and the light-receiving element turns ON, the control motor 11 is driven so that the lifting member 40 stops rising or falling. When a reflective photointerrupter is used, the signals of the light-receiving element turning OFF and ON are reversed. The sensor may also be configured to use one or two proximity sensors. The proximity sensor is used by placing it opposite the side of the lifting member 40 and detecting one or both of the large diameter part and the small diameter part of the lifting member 40 to limit the upward movement limit position and the downward movement limit position of the lifting member 40. A distance-limited reflection sensor may be used instead of the proximity sensor.

A specific application of the height detection means 64 is, for example, in a configuration equipped with a guide block 60, driving the control motor 11 so that the lifting member 40 rises without being able to rotate, and when the sensor 64c detects the upper end of the vertical rib 64a, stopping the driving of the control motor 11, and then driving the control motor 11 in the reverse direction, the lifting member 40 descends by half the height dimension of the vertical rib 64a, and the driving of the control motor 11 is stopped, and this state is provisionally set as the initial height before the lifting member 40 receives the base plate B. In this way, in the method for leveling the base plate described later, multiple automatic level adjustment devices are used, and the initial height is set to half the height of the vertical rib 64a in one device, and a height 2 to 3 mm different from that in another device, and this can be done by driving the control motor 11 without the operator having to turn it manually. In addition, in a configuration that does not include a guide block 60, the specific application of the height detection means 64 is to use the above-mentioned proximity sensor or distance-limited reflection sensor to detect the upper and lower movement limits of the lifting member 40.

[Configuration for ensuring smooth rotation of driven gear]
The large weight of the structure A is transmitted from the lifting member 40 to the screw shaft 30, then to the driven gear 22, and finally to the device frame 5. Therefore, by providing a radial bearing 65 and a thrust bearing 66 on the bearing surface of the device frame 5 that receives the driven gear 22, the control motor 11 can smoothly drive and rotate the gear train 20.

In this embodiment, it is preferable to use a shell-type needle roller bearing for the radial bearing 65 and a shell-type needle roller bearing for the thrust bearing 66 so that the load on the radial bearing 65 and thrust bearing 66 is sufficient, especially when the weight of the structure A is extremely large. Furthermore, a tapered roller bearing or a needle roller bearing with a thrust ball bearing can be used as a single bearing that serves as both the radial bearing 65 and the thrust bearing 66. A snap ring for the shaft and/or hole can be used to attach the bearings.

[Necessity of performing the horizontal leveling method twice]
The concrete floor of the structure manufacturing factory and the concrete floor of the user company's factory are not at the same horizontal level. Therefore, even if a plurality of automatic level adjustment devices according to the first embodiment or the second to fourth embodiments described later are installed on the concrete floor of the structure manufacturing factory and a structure is placed on them to perform a first horizontal level adjustment, when the structure is reinstalled on the concrete floor of the user company's factory, the first horizontal level adjustment is hardly reflected accurately. Therefore, a second horizontal level adjustment is required in the same way as the first horizontal level adjustment method. Details of the first and second horizontal level adjustment methods will be described later in the automatic level adjustment methods according to the fifth and sixth embodiments.

[A device that allows the device frame 5 to be stably installed on a concrete floor: Fig. 1B(D)]
Furthermore, the concrete floor of the structure manufacturing plant and the concrete floor of the user company's plant may not be flat and may have many bumps and grooves, and in such a case, the equipment frame 5 may not be able to stably ground on the concrete floor. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1B(D), thick washers 5b are attached to three places on the underside of the equipment frame 5 by bolts 5c, so that the equipment frame 5 can be stably installed on the concrete floor even if the concrete floor is uneven. If the concrete floor is finished flat and the equipment frame 5 is in full contact with the concrete floor, the washers 5b are not necessary. The configuration shown in FIG. 1B(D) is also applicable to FIG. 2, FIG. 3(A), and FIG. 4(A) described later.

[Second embodiment: automatic level adjustment device, FIG. 2]
Fig. 2 shows an automatic level adjustment device according to a second embodiment. This automatic level adjustment device 2, like the automatic level adjustment device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1A, includes a rotary drive means 10A including a control motor 11 and a reducer 12, a gear train 20A including a driving gear 21 and a driven gear 22, a screw shaft 30A, a lifting member 40A, a guide block 60, and a height detection means 64, and is configured to perform drive rotation until the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate B is completed based on the output pulse of a digital level G installed to detect the horizontality of the upper surface of the base plate B, and to automatically adjust the level of the upper surface of the base plate B by receiving the base plate B of the structure A that requires level adjustment and lifting and lowering it by a small amount.

The lifting member 40A has a ring-shaped large diameter portion 41 arranged on the upper side and a small diameter portion (nut portion) 42 with a female thread passing through the center arranged on the lower side. The large diameter portion 41 and the flange portion 42a of the small diameter portion 42 are overlapped and connected with a bolt 43a, and the female thread portion of the small diameter portion 42 is screwed into the upper part of the male thread portion 30a of the screw shaft 30.

The guide block 60 and the height detection means 64 have the same functions as the automatic level adjustment device 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1A. In this embodiment, the support member 62 that supports the guide block 60 is L-shaped to connect the guide block 60 to the upper end of the vertical part of the device frame 5A, but it is better to have a configuration in which it is supported by four rods and nuts as shown in FIG. 1B (B). In addition, this automatic level adjustment device 1A is equipped with a radial bearing 65 and a thrust bearing 66, just like the automatic level adjustment device 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1A.

In this automatic level adjustment device 1A, the device frame 5 has an arm portion 5a extending onto the upper surface of the driven gear 22, the flange portion 30b of the screw shaft 30 is placed on this arm portion 5a, and the cylindrical shaft portion 30c, which is the portion of the screw shaft 30 below the flange portion 30b, is inserted into the center hole of the driven gear 22 and keyed. The inclusion of the arm portion 5a is just one example, and the device frame 5 may not have the arm portion 5a, as in the first embodiment shown in Figure 1A.

The load of the structure A acting on the screw shaft 30A is received by the radial bearing 65 and thrust bearing 66 provided on the underside of the flange portion 30b of the arm portion 5a, and also by the radial bearing 65 and thrust bearing 66 provided on the underside of the driven gear 22 of the base portion of the device frame 5. The radial bearing 65 and thrust bearing 66 are the same as those in the automatic level adjustment device 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1A. The rotary drive means 10A, gear train 20A, screw shaft 30A, cover 6A, etc. are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1A.

According to this embodiment, the upper surface of the large diameter portion 41 of the lifting member 40A is configured to receive the base plate B, and when the screw shaft 30A is rotated while receiving the base plate B, the lifting member 40A is restrained by the guide block 60 so that it cannot rotate but can rise or fall, so that it can be applied to automatic level adjustment work of the structure A. The lifting member 40A in this embodiment is configured not to engage or screw into the bolt through hole or screw hole provided in the base plate B, and is adopted when there is no risk of slipping when receiving the base plate B. It is preferable to attach a plastic film with a large friction coefficient and high wear resistance to the upper surface of the large diameter portion 41. There is also an embodiment in which the guide block 60 does not exist, and in this case, when the upper surface of the large diameter portion 41 of the lifting member 40A receives the base plate B, if the screw shaft 30A is rotated, the lifting member 40A becomes unable to rotate due to friction with the base plate B, so the lifting member 40A rises or falls.

[Third embodiment: automatic level adjustment device, FIG. 3(A)]
Fig. 3(A) shows an automatic level adjustment device according to a third embodiment. As in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1A, this automatic level adjustment device 3 includes a rotary drive means 10B including a control motor 11 and a reducer 12, a gear train 20B including a driving gear 21 and a driven gear 22, a screw shaft 30B, and a lifting member 40B, and is configured to perform drive rotation until the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate B is completed based on the output pulse of a digital level G installed to detect the horizontality of the upper surface of the base plate B, and to automatically adjust the level of the upper surface of the base plate B by receiving the base plate B of the structure A that requires level adjustment and lifting and lowering it by a small amount. Here, the rotary drive means 10B, the gear train 20B, the cover 6B, etc. are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1A.

This automatic level adjustment device 3 is equipped with a guide block 60 and height detection means 64, which have the same functions as the automatic level adjustment device 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1A. In this embodiment, too, the support member 62 that supports the guide block 60 is provided in an L shape so as to connect the guide block 60 and the upper end of the vertical part of the device frame 5B. Note that there is also an embodiment that does not include the guide block 60 and the height detection means 64.

The rotary drive means 10B, gear train 20B, and screw shaft 30B of the third embodiment are substantially identical in configuration to the rotary drive means 10, gear train 20, and screw shaft 30 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, and the lifting member 40B is different in configuration from the lifting member 40 shown in FIG. 1A.

The driven gear 22 and the cylindrical shaft portion 30c of the screw shaft 30B are keyed together, and the rotation of the driven gear 22 is transmitted to the cylindrical shaft portion 30c. The screw shaft 30B is supported by the base block 23 via the thrust washer 25 that penetrates the center. Instead of the thrust washer 25, a combination of a radial bearing and a thrust bearing can be used for the base block 23 as in the first embodiment. The driven gear 22 slides and rotates on the upper surface of the thrust washer 25, and the thrust washer 25 slides and rotates on the upper surface of the base block 23. The base block 23 is fixed to the horizontal portion of the L-shaped device frame 5B with both leg bolts 24. The thrust washer 25 bears the load of the driven gear 22, and the flexibility of the thrust washer 25 ensures that the driving gear 21 and the driven gear 22 are in an appropriate meshing state.

The screw shaft 30B has a lower half shaft portion 30c with a smaller diameter than the upper half male thread portion 30a, and the step surface between the lower and upper halves abuts the driven gear 22. The shaft portion 30c is inserted and fixed into the shaft hole of the driven gear 22 and is further rotatably inserted into the shaft hole of the base block 23, facing the bottom recess 23a provided on the underside of the base block 23, and is fixed by a lock plate 30d and a lock bolt 30e. The screw shaft 30B, base block 23, and gear train 20B are hidden by a cover 6B.

The lifting member 40B is connected by a bolt 43 between a ring-shaped large diameter portion 41 and a small diameter portion (nut portion) 42 having a flange portion 42a, the small diameter portion (nut portion) 42 is screwed into the male thread portion 30a of the screw shaft 30B, and the upper end of the screw shaft 30B is located at a midway position within the large diameter portion 41 (same as the first embodiment up to this point).

The lifting member 40B further includes a connector 46 having a disk-shaped flange portion 46a that is concentrically placed on the large diameter portion 41 and fixed by a bolt 43, a pin portion 46b that protrudes from the upper surface of the flange portion 46a, and a male screw portion 46c that protrudes further upward from the pin portion 46b. The flange portion 46a constitutes a part of the large diameter portion 41.

The lifting member 40B is configured such that during automatic level adjustment, the flange portion 46a receives the base plate B, the pin portion 46b fits into a hole C provided in the base plate B through which a bolt passes, and the nut 47 screws into the male thread portion 46c protruding from the base plate B. Note that automatic level adjustment is performed after the nut 47 is screwed and tightened into the male thread portion 46c.

Therefore, the lifting member 40B is used when there is a risk of slippage when receiving the base plate B.

The large diameter portion 41, the small diameter portion 42, and the connector 46 may be integrally formed. Automatic level adjustment can be started when the flange portion 46a is in a state in which it is receiving the base plate B, but since there is a concern that the connector 46 may rotate, the nut 47 is screwed into the male thread portion 46c before starting the automatic level adjustment.

The automatic level adjustment device 3 of this embodiment can be applied to automatic level adjustment work for a large and heavy structure A, and can prevent the structure A from falling off the automatic level adjustment device 3 even if a large earthquake occurs during automatic level adjustment. In particular, since the lifting member 40B is configured to be connected to the base plate B, when the structure A is transported to another location after automatic level adjustment, the automatic level adjustment device 3 is lifted together with the base plate B when it is lifted, and is used for automatic level adjustment again when it is installed at the destination.

[Modification of the third embodiment: FIG. 3(B)]
Fig. 3(B) shows a modified example of the lifting member 40B shown in Fig. 3(A). In this modified example, instead of using the connector 46 in which the pin portion 46b protrudes from the upper surface of the flange portion 46a as shown in Fig. 3(A), a connector 46' in which the male screw portion 46c protrudes from the upper surface of the flange portion 46a is used. When suspending the structure A, the male screw portion 46c is aligned with the female screw D provided on the base plate B, and the connector 46' is screwed and moved upward relative to the male screw portion 30a of the screw shaft 30, so that the male screw portion 46c is screwed into the female screw D and the flange portion 46a is abutted against the lower surface of the base plate B, and automatic level adjustment can be started from this state.

[Fourth embodiment: automatic level adjustment device, FIG. 4(A)]
The automatic level adjustment device 4 of the fourth embodiment, like the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, is equipped with a rotary drive means 10C including a control motor 11 and a reducer 12, a gear train 20C including a driving gear 21 and a driven gear 22, a screw shaft 30C, and a lifting member 40C, and is configured to drive and rotate until the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate B is completed based on the output pulses of a digital level G installed to detect the horizontality of the upper surface of the base plate B, and to receive the base plate B of the structure A that requires level adjustment, and automatically adjust the level of the upper surface of the base plate B while lifting and lowering it by small changes.

In this embodiment, the rotary drive means 10C and the gear train 20C are substantially identical in configuration to the rotary drive means 10 and the gear train 20 shown in FIG. 1A, while the screw shaft 30C and the lifting member 40C are different in configuration from the screw shaft 30 and the lifting member 40 shown in FIG. 1A.

This automatic level adjustment device 4 is equipped with a guide block 60 and height detection means 64, which have the same functions as the automatic level adjustment device 3 of the third embodiment shown in Figure 3. In this embodiment, too, the support member 62 that supports the guide block 60 is provided in an L-shape so as to connect the guide block 60 and the upper end of the vertical part of the device frame 5C. Note that there are also embodiments that do not include the guide block 60 and the height detection means 64.

In this embodiment, the support mechanism for rotating the driven gear 22 by properly meshing with the driving gear 21 includes a base block 31 placed on the horizontal part of the L-shaped device frame 5C and fixed with bolts 32a, a base 33 placed on the base block 31 and fixed with bolts 32b, and a two-stage cylindrical shaft block 35 with a thrust washer 34 on the underside, similar to the thrust washer 25 in the third embodiment, placed on the base 33 via the thrust washer 34, and fitted and fixed to the shaft hole of the driven gear 22. The small diameter cylindrical part of the two-stage cylindrical shaft block 35 is fitted and fixed to the shaft hole of the driven gear 22. Instead of the thrust washer 34, a combination of a radial bearing and a thrust bearing can be used for the base block 23, as in the first embodiment.

The lower part of the screw shaft 30C is inserted through the shaft hole of the two-stage cylindrical shaft block 35 and the shaft hole of the base 33. The end plate 36, which abuts against the lower end of the screw shaft 30C and is welded, crimped, or bolted to the screw shaft 30C, is circular and has a required diameter larger than the screw shaft 30C and also abuts against the underside of the base 33 so that the screw shaft 30C cannot be pulled out upward from the base 33. The base 33 and the two-stage cylindrical shaft block 35 are fitted together, with a nut 37 welded and fixed to the screw shaft 30C interposed between them. This nut 37 fits into a hexagonal hole provided on the underside of the two-stage cylindrical shaft block 35. The screw shaft 30C, the nut 37, and the end plate 36 may be of an integral structure.

Therefore, the screw shaft 30C, the driven gear 22, the two-stage cylindrical shaft block 35, the nut 37, and the end plate 36 are fixedly connected so as to rotate together, and the screw shaft 30C is rotatably supported by the base 33. The downward load acting on the screw shaft 30C is supported by the nut 37 and the base 33. Since the screw shaft 30C is connected to the base plate B and cannot be pulled out upward from the base 33, when the structure A is lifted upward, the end plate 36 lifts the bottom of the base 33 and the entire device is lifted. The lower half of the screw shaft 30C, the gear train 20C, the two-stage cylindrical shaft block 31, and the base block 32 are hidden by the cover 6C.

The lifting member 40C is different from the lifting members of other embodiments in that the small diameter portion 42 protrudes from the upper surface of the large diameter portion 41, and further the male threaded portion 46c protrudes, and a female thread (no symbol) is provided penetrating the center of the large diameter portion 41, the small diameter portion 42, and the male threaded portion 46c, and the male threaded portion 30a of the upper half of the screw shaft 30C is screwed into this female thread. During automatic level adjustment, the end face of the large diameter portion 41 of the lifting member 40C receives the base plate B, the small diameter portion 42 fits into a hole C provided in the base plate B through which a bolt passes, and the male threaded portion 46c protrudes above the base plate B, and a nut 47 is tightened onto the male threaded portion 46c before the automatic level adjustment begins.

In this embodiment, the automatic level adjustment device 4 can start automatic level adjustment when the structure A is suspended, the end face of the large diameter portion 41 receives the base plate B, the small diameter portion 42 fits into the hole C for the bolt provided in the base plate B, and the nut 47 is tightened onto the male threaded portion 46c.

The automatic level adjustment device 4 of this embodiment can be applied to automatic level adjustment work for a large and heavy structure A, and can prevent the structure A from falling off the automatic level adjustment device 4 even if a large earthquake occurs during automatic level adjustment. In particular, since the lifting member 40C is configured to be connected to the base plate B, when the structure A is transported to another location after automatic level adjustment, the automatic level adjustment device 4 is lifted together with the base plate B when it is lifted, and is used for automatic level adjustment again when it is installed at the destination.

[Modification of the fourth embodiment: FIG. 4(B)]
Fig. 4(B) shows a modified example of the lifting member 40C shown in Fig. 4(A). In this modified example, the small diameter portion 42 protruding above the large diameter portion 41 is a male threaded portion having a male thread formed on the outer surface, and automatic level adjustment can be started in a state where the small diameter portion (male threaded portion) 42 is screwed into the female thread D provided on the base plate B and the large diameter portion 41 receives the base plate B.

[Automatic level adjustment method]
The automatic level adjustment method will be described separately for a form using three automatic level adjustment devices, two digital level gauges G1 and G2, and four support legs 50A-50D as shown in Fig. 5, and a form using two automatic level adjustment devices, two digital level gauges G1 and G2, and four support legs 50A-50D as shown in Fig. 6. Here, the four support legs (adjuster bolts) 50A, 50B, 50C, and 50D will be described with reference to Fig. 5(B). As shown in FIG. 5(B), the support leg comprises a base 51 in contact with the ground, a bolt post 52 fixed upright on the base 51 and passed through bolt holes C provided at the four corners of the base plate B of the structure A, a double tightening nut 54 screwed into the bolt post 52 and adjusted to abut against the underside of the base plate B to prevent the base plate B from descending when leveling is performed, and a tightening nut 54 screwed into the bolt post 52 and tightened and fixed to the upper surface of the base plate B after leveling and before the base plate B is suspended and moved.

[Fifth embodiment: automatic level adjustment method, Figs. 3 and 5]
FIG. 5 relates to a fifth embodiment of the present invention and shows an automatic level adjustment method using three automatic level adjustment devices 3 shown in FIG.

First, three automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C are placed at three points among the four corners of the level adjustment work space (rectangular planar space where base plate B of structure A is planned to be installed), namely, two corners on one short side and the middle position on the other short side, as shown in Figure 5. At this time, in order to ensure that the level adjustment work is carried out efficiently, the base plate support height is set to a relative support height in which the automatic level adjustment devices 3C, 3A, and 3B are placed in ascending order.

For example, the upper surface of the lifting member 40C of the automatic level adjustment device 3C is set to be 2 mm lower than the upper surface of the lifting member 40C of the automatic level adjustment device 3A, and the upper surface of the lifting member 40C of the automatic level adjustment device 3A is further set to be 2 mm lower than the upper surface of the automatic level adjustment device 3B. When setting in this way, as described below, the automatic level adjustment in the X direction is performed first by the automatic level adjustment device 3A, and then the automatic level adjustment in the Y direction is performed by the automatic level adjustment device 3C, so that the level of the base plate B of the structure A can be adjusted. If the automatic level adjustment in the X direction and the Y direction is performed smoothly by the automatic level adjustment devices 3A and 3C, it is not necessary to perform automatic level adjustment for the automatic level adjustment device 3B. Therefore, the automatic level adjustment device 3B may be replaced with a base (or support leg) having an adjustment function as shown in FIG. 5 (B).

When the structure A is hung so that the base plate B rests on the lifting members 40C of the three automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C set to the relative support heights described above, the flanges 46a of each lifting member 40C support the base plate B, and the pins 46b fit into the bolt holes C provided in the base plate B. Then, nuts 47 are tightened onto the male threads 46c of each lifting member 40C of the automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C. The three automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C are positioned at the three vertices of an isosceles triangle (a triangle in which the distance from 3A to 3C is equal to the distance from 3B to 3C) in a plan view, and the center of the area of the triangle in a plan view is close to the center of gravity of the base plate B, so they can be supported stably.

In this embodiment, the direction along the short side of base plate B is the X direction. A first digital level G1 that detects the horizontality in the X direction and a second digital level G2 that detects the horizontality in the Y direction are arranged on the top surface of base plate B of structure A to sequentially detect the horizontality in the X direction and the Y direction of the top surface of base plate B.

In this embodiment, the height of the upper surface of each lifting member 40C of the three automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C is set as described above before the structure A is lowered, so that the first level adjustment is performed by measuring the level with the first digital level G1, and then outputting a pulse. Based on this output pulse, the control motor 11 of the automatic level adjustment device 3A is driven to rotate the screw shaft 30C and raise the lifting member 40C little by little, adjusting it to the same height as the lifting member 40C of the automatic level adjustment device 3B. This allows the level adjustment in the X direction of the base plate B to be performed. Note that when the lifting member 40C of the automatic level adjustment device 3B is set lower than the lifting member 40C of the automatic level adjustment device 3A, the inclination degree is reversed in the first digital level G1, so in this case, the control motor 11 of the automatic level adjustment device 3B is driven to raise the lifting member 40C based on the output pulse from the first digital level G1.

After adjusting the level of base plate B in the X direction, the second digital level G2 measures the level of base plate B in the Y direction (measures the inclination), then a pulse is output. Based on this output pulse, the control motor 11 of the automatic level adjustment device 3C on the other side in the Y direction of the two automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B that have already had their level adjusted in the X direction is driven to raise the lifting member 40C and adjust it to the same height as the lifting member 40C of the automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B. This allows the level adjustment of base plate B in the Y direction.

After adjusting the level in the Y direction, level detection is performed again using the first digital level G1 and the second digital level G2, and if the detected level is not a zero value, level adjustment in the X and Y directions may be repeated.

Next, after completing the level adjustment of base plate B, the level and vertical adjustment of the surface plate, processing tools, etc. will be performed. After that, the support legs 50A-50D are attached to the four corners as shown in Figure 5 (B).

Next, the base plate B, to which the automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C and the support legs 50A-50D at the four corners are connected, is lifted using a crane or similar device, transported from the manufacturing plant to the user's plant, and installed on a specified concrete floor.

At this point, base plate B is again supported by the automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C and the support legs 50A-50D at the four corners, and a level other than the digital levels G1 and G2 shown in Figure 5 is placed on base plate B to check the horizontal level. If the predetermined horizontal level is obtained, a second level adjustment is not performed on base plate B using the automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C.

If the specified horizontal level is not achieved, loosen the double tightening nuts 54 and tightening nuts 54 on the support legs 50A-50D at the four corners significantly. Then, without removing or loosening the nuts 47 on the lifting members 40B of the automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C, operate the automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C to perform a second level adjustment using the same procedure as the first level adjustment performed at the manufacturing factory.

After completing the second level adjustment, tighten the double tightening nuts 54 and tightening nuts 54 on the support legs 50A-50D at the four corners to maintain the horizontality achieved by the second level adjustment. After completing the second level adjustment, the automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C can be removed, or if the manufacturing factory plans to periodically perform the third and subsequent automatic level adjustments, they can be left installed by tightening the nuts 47.

The only difference between the automatic level adjustment method using an automatic level adjustment device with a lifting member including a connector 46' that does not have a tightening nut 47, as shown in the modified example in Figure 3 (B), is that the male threaded portion 46c is screwed into a screw hole D provided in the base plate B.

[When using the automatic level adjustment device 4 according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 4]
The automatic level adjustment method using the automatic level adjustment device 4 shown in FIG. 4 will be described in the same manner as above, except that the automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C in the description of the automatic level adjustment method using the automatic level adjustment device 3 shown in FIG. 3 are replaced with automatic level adjustment devices 4A, 4B, and 4C.

[When using the automatic level adjustment device 2 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2]
The automatic level adjustment method using the automatic level adjustment device 2 shown in Fig. 2 will be described by replacing the automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C in the description of the automatic level adjustment method using the automatic level adjustment device 3 shown in Fig. 3 with the automatic level adjustment devices 2A, 2B, and 2C. In this automatic level adjustment method, since there is no nut 47, when the base plate B is lifted, the automatic level adjustment devices 2A, 2B, and 2C are separated from the base plate B, and the devices are transported to the user's factory with the support legs 50A-50D at the four corners hanging from the base plate B. When it is desired to use the automatic level adjustment devices 2A, 2B, and 2C for a second automatic level adjustment at the user's factory, they are transported to the user's factory separately from the base plate B and attached to the base plate B again.

[When using the automatic level adjustment device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1A]
The automatic level adjustment method using the automatic level adjustment device 1 shown in Fig. 1A will be described by replacing the automatic level adjustment devices 3A, 3B, and 3C with the automatic level adjustment devices 1A, 1B, and 1C in the description of the automatic level adjustment method using the automatic level adjustment device 1 shown in Fig. 3. In this automatic level adjustment method, the lifting member 40 does not engage with the base plate B even if the base plate B has holes C for passing bolts and screw holes D.

[Sixth embodiment: automatic level adjustment method, FIG. 6, FIG. 2, FIG. 3]
Fig. 6 shows an automatic level adjustment method according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In this automatic level adjustment method, four support legs (adjuster bolt devices) 50A, 50B, 50C, and 50D are used to support the four corners of the base plate B at a required height, and two automatic level adjustment devices, which may be either the automatic level adjustment devices 1 and 2 according to the first and second embodiments shown in Fig. 1A or Fig. 2, are used. In Fig. 6, two automatic level adjustment devices 2 according to the second embodiment shown in Fig. 2 are used (separately shown as 2A and 2B).

Bolt holes C for fitting the mating pins 45 of the lifting device 40A at the upper ends of the screw shafts 30A of the automatic level adjustment devices 2A and 2B are pre-drilled on the periphery of the base plate B, one on the inside of the support leg 50A and one in the middle of the support legs 50C and 50D. When using the automatic level adjustment device 1, there is no need to provide holes C for passing the bolts. The automatic level adjustment devices 3 and 4 according to the third and fourth embodiments may also be used, but it is necessary to provide threaded holes instead of the bolt holes C2.

In this embodiment, for example, the base plate receiving height of the double nuts of support legs 50C and 50D is set to be the same and the lowest, the base plate receiving height of the double nuts of support leg 50A is set to be 2 mm higher, and furthermore, the base plate receiving height of the double nuts of support leg 50B is set to be another 2 mm higher.

When the base plate B is hung down, the four bolt holes C2 in the base plate B are aligned with the bolt supports 52 of the four support legs 50A, 50B, 50C, and 50D. When the base plate B is hung down, the bolt supports 52 of the four support legs 50A, 50B, 50C, and 50D are inserted into the four bolt holes C2, and the base plate B is supported at three points by the double tightening nuts 54 (see FIG. 5B) of the four support legs 50A, 50B, and 50C. The tightening nuts 54 are lightly screwed onto the upper ends of the bolt supports 52 of the support legs 50A, 50B, 50C, and 50D.

Then, the automatic level adjustment device 2A is placed below, aligned with the bolt hole C near the support leg 50A, and the control motor 11 is chopper-driven to raise the lifting member 40A that screws into the screw shaft 30, so that the engagement pin 45 fits into the bolt hole C of the base plate B and the ring member 44 receives the base plate B. Similarly, the automatic level adjustment device 2B is driven to rise in alignment with the other bolt hole C.

Next, in this embodiment, automatic level adjustment can be performed in the same manner as the automatic level adjustment method according to the fifth embodiment. As the first level adjustment, the level is measured using the first digital level G1, and the control motor 11 of the automatic level adjustment device 2A is driven based on the output pulse of the first digital level G1 to raise the lifting member 40A and adjust the level of the base plate B in the X direction. After this level adjustment, the double tightening nut 54 of the support leg 50A, which has a gap with the underside of the base plate B, is manually rotated to make it tightly contact the underside of the base plate B.

Then, the second digital level G2 measures the level of the base plate B in the Y direction and outputs a pulse. Based on this output pulse, the lifting member 40A of the automatic level adjustment device 2B, which is aligned in the Y direction with respect to the automatic level adjustment device 2A and support leg 50B, whose level adjustment in the X direction has been completed, is raised, and the level of the base plate B in the Y direction is adjusted. After this level adjustment, the double nuts of the support legs 50C and 50D, which have a gap with the underside of the base plate B, are manually rotated to make them adhere to the underside of the base plate B. This allows the level of the base plate B of the structure A to be adjusted, and the tightening nuts of the support legs 50A-50D are tightened (the support height of the four corners of the base plate B, which has been leveled by the support legs 50A-50D, is fixed).

Next, for structure A, for which the level adjustment of base plate B has been completed, the level adjustment and vertical adjustment of the surface plate, processing tools, etc. are performed, so the level adjustment and vertical adjustment of the surface plate, processing tools, etc. are performed. After that, the unconnected structure A, which has been received by the automatic level adjustment device 2A, 2B, is lifted together with the support legs 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D by a crane or the like, and transported for shipping. In this way, only the structure A with the support legs 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D hanging down is moved from the manufacturing factory to the user's factory, and the level adjustment of base plate B is performed again by placing it on the concrete floor. This can be completed in a short time by simply manually adjusting the support legs 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D using a level, and the required high-precision level adjustment and vertical adjustment can be ensured without performing the level adjustment and vertical adjustment of the surface plate, processing tools, etc. again. In addition, the automatic level adjustment devices 2A and 2B used for the first automatic level adjustment may be transported separately to the user's factory and reassembled to perform the second automatic level adjustment.

As described above, the present invention provides an automatic level adjustment device that is suitable for attaching the device body to the underside of a base plate of a structure in a manufacturing plant to perform initial leveling, and can automatically perform highly accurate leveling in a short time regardless of the skill level of the operator.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, in a mode in which the device body is attached in a connected state to the underside of a base plate of a structure in a manufacturing factory to perform a first level adjustment, it is possible to provide an automatic level adjustment device that is also suitable for transporting the device in the connected state to a user's factory to perform a second automatic level adjustment.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, in a mode in which the device main body is attached in an unconnected state to the underside of the base plate of a structure in a manufacturing factory to perform a first level adjustment, it is possible to provide an automatic level adjustment device that is suitable for later transporting the device separately from the structure to a user's factory and reassembling it to perform a second automatic level adjustment.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, in a mode in which automatic level adjustment devices, rather than support legs having adjuster functions, are attached to the holes through which bolts are passed at the four corners of the base plate of a structure at a manufacturing factory, it is possible to provide an automatic level adjustment method that performs the first and second automatic level adjustments without providing additional holes in the base plate.

In addition, the present invention, particularly in a configuration in which the lifting member is fitted or connected to a hole or screw hole through which a bolt passes that is provided in the base plate, can provide an automatic level adjustment device that can prevent accidents in which the structure falls off the initial support surface even if a large earthquake occurs during automatic level adjustment.

According to the present invention, the power rotation of a motor that rotates around a horizontal axis is converted by a screw mechanism into fine movement, linear movement, and high torque, and then converted again by a screw mechanism into fine movement, linear movement, and high torque, thereby increasing the force with which the base plate B is received and lifted by a factor of two, thereby providing an automatic level adjustment device that can be used for automatic level adjustment of a large, heavy structure A.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, similar to the automatic leveling device of Patent Document 1, high-precision leveling can be achieved automatically in a short time, regardless of the skill level of the operator.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C...automatic level adjustment device,
2, 2A, 2B, 2C...Automatic level adjustment device,
3, 3A, 3B, 3C...Automatic level adjustment device,
4, 4A, 4B, 4C...Automatic level adjustment device,
5, 5A, 5B, 5C...Device frame,
5a...Arm portion,
5b...washer,
5c...Bolt,
6, 6A, 6B, 6C...Cover,
10, 10A, 10B, 10C...Rotational drive means (rotational drive source),
11...control motor,
12...Reduction gear,
13...Motor driver,
14...Brake device,
20, 20A, 20B, 20C... gear train,
21...Drive gear,
22... driven gear,
22a: central cylindrical portion,
22b...Outer circumferential tooth portion,
22c...Power lock,
23...Pedestal block,
23a...bottom recess,
24...Both leg bolts,
25...Thrust washer,
30, 30A, 30B, 30C...Screw shaft,
30a...male thread portion,
30b... flange portion,
30c...cylindrical shaft portion,
30d...lock plate,
30e...lock bolt,
30f: Two-stage large diameter section,
31...Pedestal block,
32a, 32b...Bolts,
33...Bass,
34...Thrust washer,
35...Two-stage cylindrical shaft block,
36...end plate,
37...Nat,
40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40C'...lifting members,
41...large diameter portion,
42...small diameter portion,
42a... flange portion,
43a, 43b...Bolts,
44...Ring member,
45...Mating pin,
46, 46'...connector,
46a... flange portion,
46b...pin portion,
46c...male thread portion,
47...Nat,
50A-50D...support legs,
51... pedestal,
52...bolt support,
53: Double nut 54: Clamping nut 60: Guide block 61: Guide hole 62: Support member 62A: Support member 63: Nut 64: Height detection means 64a: Bracket 64b: Vertical rib 64c: Sensor 65: Radial bearing 66: Thrust bearing A: Structure,
B...base plate,
C, C2: Bolt holes,
D: screw hole,
G, G1, G2...Digital level,

Claims (13)

An automatic level adjustment device that receives a base plate of a structure that requires level adjustment, and automatically adjusts the level of an upper surface of the base plate by raising and lowering the base plate by a small amount of change,
A screw shaft whose axial direction is vertical and which is rotatable but immovable in the vertical direction;
a lifting member including a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion integrally or fixedly provided on the upper or lower side of the large diameter portion, a female screw threaded through the center of at least the small diameter portion of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion and screwed into an upper portion of the screw shaft, the lifting member receiving the lower surface of the base plate with an end surface of the large diameter portion during automatic level adjustment and moving vertically when the screw shaft rotates;
a gear train that converts the rotation of a driving gear that rotates about a horizontal axis into the rotation of a driven gear that rotates about a vertical axis and meshes with the driving gear, and transmits the rotation to the screw shaft;
a control motor with a reducer for providing a driving rotation to the gear train,
the control motor with a reducer is configured to drive and rotate until a level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate is completed based on an output pulse of a digital level device installed to detect the level of the upper surface of the base plate;
The lifting member is
The large diameter portion is on the upper side and the small diameter portion is on the lower side, and of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion, at least the small diameter portion has a female screw threaded through the center, and an upper portion of the screw shaft is screwed into the female screw, and further has a ring member concentrically placed on the large diameter portion and a fitting pin provided on the ring member, and during automatic level adjustment, the fitting pin fits into a hole provided in the base plate through which a bolt passes.
An automatic level adjustment device characterized by : An automatic level adjustment device that receives a base plate of a structure that requires level adjustment, and automatically adjusts the level of an upper surface of the base plate by raising and lowering the base plate by a small amount of change,
A screw shaft whose axial direction is vertical and which is rotatable but immovable in the vertical direction;
a lifting member including a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion integrally or fixedly provided on the upper or lower side of the large diameter portion, a female screw threaded through the center of at least the small diameter portion of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion and screwed into an upper portion of the screw shaft, the lifting member receiving the lower surface of the base plate with an end surface of the large diameter portion during automatic level adjustment and moving vertically when the screw shaft rotates;
a gear train that converts the rotation of a driving gear that rotates about a horizontal axis into the rotation of a driven gear that rotates about a vertical axis and meshes with the driving gear, and transmits the rotation to the screw shaft;
a control motor with a reducer for providing a driving rotation to the gear train,
the control motor with a reducer is configured to drive and rotate until a level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate is completed based on an output pulse of a digital level device installed to detect the level of the upper surface of the base plate;
The lifting member is
The large diameter portion is ring-shaped and on the upper side, and the small diameter portion has a female thread on the lower side, the female thread of the small diameter portion is screwed into an upper portion of the screw shaft, and when automatic level adjustment starts, the upper end of the screw shaft is in a midway position within the large diameter portion,
Furthermore, a connector is provided having a flange portion concentrically fixed on the large diameter portion, a pin portion protruding from an upper surface of the flange portion, and a male screw portion protruding further upward from the pin portion, and during automatic level adjustment, the flange portion supports the lower surface of the base plate, the pin portion fits into a hole provided in the base plate through which a bolt is passed, and a nut is screwed onto the male screw portion protruding upward from the hole through which the bolt is passed.
An automatic level adjustment device characterized by : An automatic level adjustment device that receives a base plate of a structure that requires level adjustment, and automatically adjusts the level of an upper surface of the base plate by raising and lowering the base plate by a small amount of change,
A screw shaft having a vertical axial direction and capable of rotating but not moving in the vertical direction;
a lifting member including a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion integrally or fixedly provided on the upper or lower side of the large diameter portion, a female screw threaded through the center of at least the small diameter portion of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion and screwed into an upper portion of the screw shaft, the lifting member receiving the lower surface of the base plate with an end surface of the large diameter portion during automatic level adjustment and moving vertically when the screw shaft rotates;
a gear train that converts the rotation of a driving gear that rotates about a horizontal axis into the rotation of a driven gear that rotates about a vertical axis and meshes with the driving gear, and transmits the rotation to the screw shaft;
a control motor with a reducer for providing a driving rotation to the gear train,
the control motor with a reducer is configured to drive and rotate until completing level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate based on an output pulse of a digital level device installed to detect the horizontality of the upper surface of the base plate;
The lifting member is
The large diameter portion is ring-shaped and on the upper side, and the small diameter portion has a female thread on the lower side, the female thread of the small diameter portion is screwed into an upper portion of the screw shaft, and when automatic level adjustment starts, the upper end of the screw shaft is in a midway position within the large diameter portion,
Furthermore, the device has a flange portion that is fixed concentrically on the large diameter portion, and a male screw portion that is concentrically protruded on the flange portion, and the flange portion receives the lower surface of the base plate during automatic level adjustment, and the male screw portion is screwed into a female screw provided on the base plate.
An automatic level adjustment device characterized by : An automatic level adjustment device that receives a base plate of a structure that requires level adjustment, and automatically adjusts the level of an upper surface of the base plate by raising and lowering the base plate by a small amount of change,
A screw shaft having a vertical axial direction and capable of rotating but not moving in the vertical direction;
a lifting member including a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion integrally or fixedly provided on the upper or lower side of the large diameter portion, a female screw threaded through the center of at least the small diameter portion of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion and screwed into an upper portion of the screw shaft, the lifting member receiving the lower surface of the base plate with an end surface of the large diameter portion during automatic level adjustment and moving vertically when the screw shaft rotates;
a gear train that converts rotation about a horizontal axis into rotation about a vertical axis and transmits the rotation to the screw shaft;
a control motor with a reducer for providing a driving rotation to the gear train,
the control motor with a reducer is configured to drive and rotate until completing level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate based on an output pulse of a digital level device installed to detect the horizontality of the upper surface of the base plate;
The lifting member is
an upper surface of the large diameter portion and a male threaded portion protruding further from the upper surface of the large diameter portion; a male threaded portion of an upper half of a screw shaft is screwed into a female thread provided passing through the center of the large diameter portion, the small diameter portion, and the male threaded portion; during automatic level adjustment, the large diameter portion supports the lower surface of the base plate, and the small diameter portion fits into a hole provided in the base plate for passing a bolt; and a nut is screwed into the male threaded portion protruding above the hole for passing the bolt. An automatic level adjustment device that receives a base plate of a structure that requires level adjustment, and automatically adjusts the level of an upper surface of the base plate by raising and lowering the base plate by a small amount of change,
A screw shaft whose axial direction is vertical and which is rotatable but immovable in the vertical direction;
a lifting member including a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion integrally or fixedly provided on the upper or lower side of the large diameter portion, a female screw threaded through the center of at least the small diameter portion of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion and screwed into an upper portion of the screw shaft, the lifting member receiving the lower surface of the base plate with an end surface of the large diameter portion during automatic level adjustment and moving vertically when the screw shaft rotates;
a gear train that converts rotation about a horizontal axis into rotation about a vertical axis and transmits the rotation to the screw shaft;
a control motor with a reducer for providing a driving rotation to the gear train,
the control motor with a reducer is configured to drive and rotate until a level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate is completed based on an output pulse of a digital level device installed to detect the level of the upper surface of the base plate;
The lifting member is
an automatic level adjustment device having a stepped shaft shape with the large diameter portion on the lower side and the small diameter portion on the upper side, with a male thread formed on the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion, the male threaded portion of the upper half of the screw shaft being threadedly inserted into a female thread provided passing through the centers of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion, and during automatic level adjustment, the large diameter portion supports the underside of the base plate, and the male thread on the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion is threaded into the female thread provided on the base plate. An automatic level adjustment device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a brake device is provided to disable the rotation shaft of the control motor so that the screw shaft does not rotate in reverse due to the load of the base plate of the structure when the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate is completed and the control motor stops driving rotation . 6. The automatic level adjustment device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide block that engages with the outer surface of the lifting member and guides the lifting member so as to be non-rotatable and movable up and down. 8. The automatic level adjusting device according to claim 7 , further comprising a height detection means for detecting an initial height at which the lifting member receives the lower surface of the base plate before the lifting member receives the base plate. The automatic level adjustment device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein a radial bearing and a thrust bearing are provided on the bearing surface of an apparatus frame that receives the driven gear in the gear train on which the thrust weight of the structure acts. 10. The automatic level adjusting device according to claim 9 , wherein the radial bearing and the thrust bearing are configured as a drawn cup needle roller bearing and a drawn cup needle roller bearing, respectively. 10. The automatic level adjusting device according to claim 9 , wherein a taper roller bearing or a needle roller bearing with a thrust ball bearing is used as the bearing serving as both the radial bearing and the thrust bearing. 10. An automatic level adjustment method comprising: suspending a structure into a level adjustment work space for the structure, and arranging the automatic level adjustment devices of claim 8 at a plurality of predetermined positions under a base plate of the structure, at which time an elevating member screwed onto an upper part of a screw shaft of the automatic level adjustment device receives an underside of the base plate, or in addition to receiving the underside of the base plate, engaging the elevating member with a hole or a screw hole for passing a bolt provided in the base plate, arranging a first digital level for detecting levelness in an X direction and a second digital level for detecting levelness in a Y direction on an upper surface of the base plate, outputting a pulse from one of the first and second digital level devices and performing automatic level adjustment by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to the one digital level device, then outputting a pulse from the other digital level device and performing automatic level adjustment by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to the other digital level device, thereby performing level adjustments in the X and Y directions on the upper surface of the base plate. an automatic level adjustment method comprising: suspending a structure into a work space for level adjustment of a structure, supporting four corners of a lower side of a base plate of the structure with support legs having adjuster functions, disposing the automatic level adjustment devices according to claim 8 at a plurality of predetermined positions of the base plate, engaging lifting members of the automatic level adjustment devices with an underside of the base plate, disposing a first digital level for detecting levelness in an X direction and a second digital level for detecting levelness in a Y direction on an upper surface of the base plate, outputting a pulse from one of the first and second digital level devices and performing automatic level adjustment by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to the one digital level device, then outputting a pulse from the other digital level device and performing automatic level adjustment by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to the other digital level device, thereby adjusting the levels of the upper surface of the base plate in the X and Y directions and fixing the support height of the four corners of the base plate by the support legs.

Images