SE2050829A1 - Laser tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A tool (1) for pipe installation, comprising a frame (3,4), a laser (2), arranged on said frame (3), wherein the tool (1) is arranged to be placed on an inside of a pipe opening in an initial position and, due to the force of gravitation, automatically adjust its position to be in a final position, and wherein the laser (2), when the tool (1) is in its final position, is disposed vertically above the bottom of the pipe opening at a position coinciding with the longitudinal centerline axis of the pipe.

Description

LASER TOOL Technical field 1. 1. id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1" id="p-1"

[0001] The present invention relates generally to tools used during installation ofpipes. More specifically it relates to a laser tool used in connection to a pipeopening.

Background art 2. 2. id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2"

[0002] Pipes are common building elements in many areas of construction.They can for example be ventilation pipes or plumbing pipes. A pipe is oftendivided into several pipe elements and, during the installation of the pipes, fixatingmeans are used to fasten each pipe element to a wall or a ceiling. For example,ventilation pipes are often fastened to the ceiling using a fixating means with twocomponents, a roof fastening and a so-called pendulum between the rooffastening and the pipe. lt is important that the pipes are installed along the samehorizontal axis, however, the roof from where the fastening means extend may notbe completely horizontal. Therefore, it is up to the installer to adjust the length ofeach pendulum to make sure that every pipe element follows the same horizontalaxis. To his/her aid, the installer often uses a cross laser, providing horizontal andvertical lines showing where the fastening means should be placed and how farout the pendulum should extend. The cross laser often stands on the ground or ona platform and when the installer moves to install each new fastening means, thelaser has to be moved as well. Therefore, for each move, the cross laser needs tobe re-positioned and adjusted so that the pipes' horizontal axis is maintained. Thisis tedious and time consuming and furthermore presents a possibility foraccumulated errors if the cross laser is not positioned in the right place every time. 3. 3. id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3"

[0003] lt is possible to avoid moving the laser by positioning it in connection to afirst pipe, an using the first pipe as a reference for the installation of subsequentpipe elements. One such solution is disclosed in patent document US6823600 B1which discloses an adjustable fit laser projecting tool which is clamped to an outersurface of a cylindrical object, and allows a laser diode to be moved to the {F1o} centerline of the cylindrical object to aid in the alignment of additional cylindricalobjects. 4. 4. id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4"

[0004] However, pipes are often installed in cramped places, sometimes highabove the ground. Therefore, it remains to be solved how to position the laserquickly and easily without excessive effort from the user, and without it taking upan unnecessary amount of space surrounding the pipe. Furthermore, it is important to lessen the impact of human error in the positioning of the laser.

Summary of invention[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to solve at least some of the issues outlined above. 6. 6. id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6"

[0006] This object is achieved in a first aspect of the invention, in which there isprovided a tool for pipe installation, comprising a frame, a laser arranged on saidframe, wherein the tool is arranged to be placed on an inside of a pipe opening inan initial position and, due to the force of gravitation, automatically adjust itsposition to be in a final position, and wherein the laser, when the tool is in its finalposition, is disposed vertically above the bottom of the pipe opening at a position coinciding with the longitudinal centerline axis of the pipe. 7. 7. id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7"

[0007] An advantage of the tool is that the laser does not have to berepositioned during the course of installing several pipe elements, because itprovides reference laser beams emanating from the pipe opening. A furtheradvantage is that the final position of the tool is dependent on the force ofgravityand does not rely on the initial position in which the tool is placed, the impact ofhuman error is thus decreased, compared to other tools. 8. 8. id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8"

[0008] ln one embodiment, the laser, when the tool is in its final position, is directed out from the pipe opening. 9. 9. id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9"

[0009] The laser may thereby emit reference laser beams in the surrounding ofthe pipe that emanate from the centerline axis of the pipe. These reference laserbeams can then be utilized by a user to find suitable positions for pipe fixating {F1o} means which will cause subsequent pipes to follow the Iongitudinal centerline axis of the pipe. . . id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10"

[0010] ln one embodiment, the tool further comprises a rolling element, andwherein automatically adjusting the position comprises rolling of the rollingelement along the inside of the pipe opening to a bottom of the pipe opening. 11. 11. id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11"

[0011] Due to the rolling element, the adjustment from the initial to the finalposition along the inside of the pipe opening is done in a way which allows for verysmall displacements, meaning that even if a user places the tool in an initialposition which is very close to the final position, the rolling element would stilladjust the position to be at the final position. 12. 12. id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12"

[0012] ln one embodiment, the tool further comprises a weight arranged on saidframe. 13. 13. id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13"

[0013] The weight has the advantage of forcing the tool downwards, helping itreach the final position quicker and with higher accuracy. The weight also works as a counterweight to the laser, so that it is kept in its vertical position. 14. 14. id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14"

[0014] ln one embodiment, the laser is arranged to be movable along the framebetween a plurality of positions corresponding to pipe diameters. . . id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15"

[0015] The plurality of positions ensures that the laser is in a position coincidingwith the centerline axis of the pipe, independently of the diameter of the pipe. Thishas the advantage that the tool can be used with pipes of different dimensions andstandards. 16. 16. id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16"

[0016] ln one embodiment, the frame comprises a main frame and a sliding bar arranged to slide along said main frame. 17. 17. id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17"

[0017] ln one embodiment, the laser is fixedly arranged on the sliding bar andthe rolling element and the weight are arranged on the main frame.

{F1o} 18. 18. id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18"

[0018] Due to the laser being arranged on the sliding bar, it can be movedbetween different positions, while the rolling element and the weight are not moved. 19. 19. id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19"

[0019] ln one embodiment, the tool oomprises a looking arrangement arrangedto look the sliding bar to the main frame into a plurality of positions. . . id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20"

[0020] The looking arrangement ensures that the laser, when it is in a desirableposition, does not slide and is not displaoed. The advantage is that it will remain inits position ooinoiding with the oenterline axis of the tool during use. 21. 21. id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21"

[0021] ln one embodiment the looking arrangement oomprises a plurality ofindents longitudinally arranged on the sliding bar and a ball spring arranged on themain frame, wherein sliding of the sliding bar in the main frame oauses the ballspring to slide into an indent and thereby look the sliding bar to the main frame. 22. 22. id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22"

[0022] ln one embodiment, the laser is a oross laser. 23. 23. id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23"

[0023] ln a seoond aspeot, there is also provided a method for using a laser toolaooording the first aspeot oomprising: determining a first pipe (8); plaoing the laser tool (1) in an initial position on an inside of a pipeopening of the first pipe (8) wherein the laser tool (1), due to the foroe ofgravitation, automatioally adjust its position to be in a final position, and the laser(2), when the tool (1) is in its final position, is disposed vertioally above the bottomof the pipe opening at a position ooinoiding with the longitudinal oenterline axis ofthe pipe.

Brief desoription of drawinqs 24. 24. id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24"

[0024] The invention is now desoribed, by way of example, with referenoe to the aooompanying drawings, in whioh:[0025] Fig. 1 displays a front view of a laser tool. 26. 26. id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26"

[0026] Fig. 2 displays a baok view of a laser tool.

{F1o} 27. 27. id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27"

[0027] Fig. 3 displays a laser tool during use.

Description of embodiments 28. 28. id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28"

[0028] ln the following, a detailed description of a laser tool used during pipeinstallation will be provided. The embodiments described herein should not beseen as limiting to the scope of the invention, but as examples provided to give abetter understanding of the claimed invention. 29. 29. id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29"

[0029] Fig 1 displays a front view ofa laser tool 1 used during pipe installation.Pipes may be ventilation pipes, plumbing pipes or other pipes or cylindricalconstruction elements. The laser tool 1 is arranged to be placed in connection to afirst pipe 8 (shown in Fig. 3). The first pipe 8 is used as a reference and thelongitudinal centerline axis of the first pipe 8 is used as the reference axis alongwhich subsequent pipes are aligned. More specifically, the laser tool 1 is arrangedto be placed on an inside of an opening of the first pipe 8. The pipe opening is theend-part of a pipe, where it is possible to connect a subsequent pipe. The lasertool 1, when it is placed on the inside of the pipe opening, may therefore providelaser reference lines emitting from the longitudinal centerline axis of the first pipe8. The laser reference lines can be used when determining desired positions offixating means that fixate the subsequent pipes to walls or ceilings or othersurfaces. The desired positions of these fixating means correspond to thepositions which causes the subsequent pipes, when installed, to be disposed along the longitudinal centerline axis of the first pipe 8. . . id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30"

[0030] The laser tool 1 is shown in Fig. 1.The laser tool 1 comprises a framewhich in turn comprises two parts, a main frame 4 and a sliding bar 3. The slidingbar 3 has a laser 2 arranged thereon. The main frame 4 has a rolling element 5and a weight 6 arranged thereon. The tool further comprises a lockingarrangement 7 for locking the sliding bar 3 to the main frame 4. The lockingarrangement 7a, 7b enables locking of the sliding bar 3 in a plurality of positions inrelation to the main frame 4.

{F1o} 31. 31. id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31"

[0031] The sliding bar 3 is formed by a first and second elongated plate fixatedperpendicular to each other so that the sliding bar 3 essentially has a T-shapedcross-section. The main frame 4 is formed by one elongated plate having foldedlongitudinal edges, fitted to slidably receive the first plate of the sliding bar 3. Theframe may for example be formed by a metal, for example steel or aluminum, or it may be formed by another rigid material such as a thermosetting polymer material. 32. 32. id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32"

[0032] The locking arrangement 7 comprises a ball spring 7a arranged on themain frame 4. The ball spring 7a is arranged on the side of the main frame 4arranged to receive the sliding bar 3. Furthermore, the locking arrangement 7comprises a series of indents or recesses 7b, longitudinally arranged on the firstplate of the sliding bar, on the side facing the main frame 4. During use, as thesliding bar 3 is slid along the main frame 4 by a user, the ball spring slides into andout of the indents 7b. When the ball spring slides into a first indent of the indents7b, it locks the sliding bar 3 to the main frame 4 in a first locked position. When theuser slides the sliding bar 3 along the main frame 4, the ball spring slides into asecond indent of the indents 7b and locks the sliding bar 3 in a second lockedposition. Each indent 7b therefore represents a position in which the sliding bar 3may be locked to the main frame 4. 33. 33. id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33"

[0033] The laser 2 is fixedly arranged on the sliding bar 3. Therefore, as thesliding bar 3 is slid between the locked positions, the laser 2 is also movedbetween the locked positions. The locked positions, and thereby also the idents7b, correspond to pipe diameters, and what position is chosen by the userdepends on the diameter of the first pipe 8 which is to be used as reference for thesubsequent pipes. During use, the user slides the sliding bar 3 so that the ballspring 7a slides into that of the indents 7b which corresponds to the diameter ofthe first pipe 8. To this end, each of the indents 7b may be marked with a numberor other reference corresponding to pipe diameters of differently sized pipes, andthe user thus chooses the indent 7b which is marked with the number or referencecorresponding to the diameter of the first pipe 8. When the tool 1 is in the lockedposition corresponding to the diameter of the first pipe 8 and placed in the pipe {F1o} opening of the first pipe 8, the laser 2 coincides with the centerline axis of the firstpipe 8. 34. 34. id="p-34" id="p-34" id="p-34" id="p-34" id="p-34" id="p-34" id="p-34" id="p-34" id="p-34" id="p-34"

[0034] The rolling element 5 is rotatably arranged on a first end of the mainframe 4. The rolling element is formed by a cylinder which is arranged to rotatefreely on an axis extending perpendicularly from the side of the main frame 4opposite the side arranged to receive the sliding bar 3. On the opposite end of themain frame 4, the weight 6 is fixediy arranged. The weight 6 can have essentiallyany shape or size. ln the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1 it has the shapeof a cylinder extending perpendicularly from the main frame 4, however it may alsohave other shapes and may also be integrally formed with the main frame 4. . . id="p-35" id="p-35" id="p-35" id="p-35" id="p-35" id="p-35" id="p-35" id="p-35" id="p-35" id="p-35"

[0035] During use, the rolling element 5 is placed on an inside of a pipeopening. Due to its ability to rotate freely, it may roll along the inside of the pipeopening. Due to the weight 6 arranged on the opposite end of the main frame 4,the rolling element 5 rolls from an initial position where it is placed by a user, to afinal position at the bottom of the inside of the pipe opening. This means that theforce of gravitation will adjust the position of the rolling element 5 to be at thebottom of the pipe opening, irrespective of the initial position where a user placesit. The accuracy of the final position, meaning how close the rolling element 5 is tothe actual bottom of the pipe opening, is enhanced by the weight 6 forcing the tooldownwards. ln the final position of the rolling element 5, and thereby also the finalposition of the laser tool 1, the main frame 4 and the weight 6 extends verticallybelow the bottom of the pipe opening. 36. 36. id="p-36" id="p-36" id="p-36" id="p-36" id="p-36" id="p-36" id="p-36" id="p-36" id="p-36" id="p-36"

[0036] Fig. 3 shows the laser tool 1 during use. ln Fig. 3, the laser tool 1 is in itsfinal position and the rolling element 5 rests at the bottom of the pipe opening ofthe first pipe 8. The sliding bar 3 extends vertically above the bottom of the pipeopening and the laser 2 arranged thereon is in a position coinciding with thecenterline axis of the first pipe 8, the centerline axis is shown in Fig. 3 as a dottedline. The laser 2 is arranged on the sliding bar so that it, during use, faces out fromthe pipe opening. The laser 2 may for example be a cross laser emitting two {F1o} perpendicular laser beams or laser planes. The weight 6 works as a counten/veight to the laser 2 to balance the laser tool 1 and keep it in its vertical position. 37. 37. id="p-37" id="p-37" id="p-37" id="p-37" id="p-37" id="p-37" id="p-37" id="p-37" id="p-37" id="p-37"

[0037] Following is a description of how a user may use the laser tool 1 during pipe installation. 38. 38. id="p-38" id="p-38" id="p-38" id="p-38" id="p-38" id="p-38" id="p-38" id="p-38" id="p-38" id="p-38"

[0038] The user determines a first pipe 8, along the centerline axis of which asecond pipe or plurality of pipes is to be disposed. The user determines thediameter of the first pipe 8 and slides the sliding bar 3 so that the sliding bar 3 andthe main frame 4 are in the locked position corresponding to said diameter. Theuser does so by sliding the sliding bar 3 along the main frame 4 so that the ballspring 7a is slid into one of the indents 7b corresponding to said position andthereby locking the sliding bar 3 in that position. The sliding bar 3 and the mainframe 4 are thus locked by the locking arrangement 7. The user then places thelaser tool 1 in an initial position at an opening of the first pipe 8 by placing therolling element 5 at the inside of the pipe opening. Due to the force ofgravitation,the rolling element 5 rolls to the bottom of the pipe opening. The accuracy isenhanced by the weight 6 pulling the laser tool 1 downwards. The user now turnson the laser 2, which is now disposed at a position coinciding with the centerlineaxis of the first pipe 8. Laser beams emitted from the laser 2 are thus emanatingfrom the centerline axis of the first pipe 8 and can therefore be used as referencewhen positioning the fixating means meant to fixate subsequent pipes to a wall ora ceiling during pipe installation. 39. 39. id="p-39" id="p-39" id="p-39" id="p-39" id="p-39" id="p-39" id="p-39" id="p-39" id="p-39" id="p-39"

[0039] Preferred embodiments of a laser tool have been disclosed above.However, a person skilled in the art realises that this can be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the inventive idea. 40. 40. id="p-40" id="p-40" id="p-40" id="p-40" id="p-40" id="p-40" id="p-40" id="p-40" id="p-40" id="p-40"

[0040] All the described alternative embodiments above or parts of anembodiment can be freely combined or employed separately from each otherwithout departing from the inventive idea as long as the combination is not contradictory.

Claims (11)

1. 1. A tool (1) for pipe installation, comprising: a frame (3,4), a laser (2), arranged on said frame (3),wherein the tool (1) is arranged to be placed on an inside of a pipe opening in aninitial position and, due to the force of gravitation, automatically adjust its positionto be in a final position, andwherein the laser (2), when the tool (1) is in its final position, is disposed verticallyabove the bottom of the pipe opening at a position coinciding with the longitudinalcenterline axis of the pipe.

2. A tool (1) according to claim 1, wherein the laser (2), when the tool (1) is in its final position, is directed out from the pipe opening.

3. A tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising arolling element (5), and wherein automatically adjusting the position comprisesrolling of the rolling element (5) along the inside of the pipe opening to a bottom of the pipe opening.

4. A tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising aweight (6) arranged on said frame.

5. A tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the laser (2)is arranged to be movable along the frame between a plurality of positionscorresponding to pipe diameters.

6. A tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said framecomprises a main frame (4) and a sliding bar (3) arranged to slide along said mainframe (4).

7. A tool (1) according to claim 6, wherein the laser (2) is fixedly arrangedon the sliding bar (3) and the rolling element (5) and the weight (6) are arrangedon the main frame (4). {F1o}

8. A tool (1) according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a Iockingarrangement (7a, 7b) arranged to lock the sliding bar (3) to the main frame (4) into a plurality of positions.

9. A tool (1) according to claim 8, wherein said Iocking arrangement (7)comprises a plurality of indents (7b) Iongitudinally arranged on the sliding bar (3)and a ball spring (7a) arranged on the main frame (4), wherein sliding of the slidingbar (3) along the main frame (4) causes the ball spring to slide into an indent of theplurality of indents (7b) and thereby lock the sliding bar (3) to the main frame (4).

10. A tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said laser is a cross laser.

11. A method for providing a laser reference during pipe installation using alaser tool (1) comprising the steps of: determining a first pipe (8); placing the laser tool (1) in an initial position on an inside of a pipeopening of the first pipe (8) wherein the laser tool (1 ), due to the force ofgravitation, automatically adjust its position to be in a final position, and a laser (2)arranged on the laser tool (1), when the laser tool (1) is in its final position, isdisposed vertically above the bottom of the pipe opening at a position coinciding with the longitudinal centerline axis of the first pipe (8).