Geometrical instruments – Straight-line light ray type – Alignment device
Reexamination Certificate
2003-02-24
2004-11-30
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Straight-line light ray type
Alignment device
C033S373000, C033S412000, C033S529000, C033S520000, C033SDIG002
Reexamination Certificate
active
06823600
ABSTRACT:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OF PROGRAM
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a tool used to aid in the visual referencing of points or planes while manufacturing, fabricating, installing, dimension taking or similar activities involving the centerline axis of cylindrical objects.
2. Description of Prior Art
While cylindrical objects such as pipes, conduit, ductwork and equipment are used both commercially and residentially, there is a required amount of skill and effort that goes into their correct placement, fabrication, and installation. A person skilled in trades working around cylindrical objects commonly uses levels, tape rulers, string, plumb bobs, carpenter squares, and other straight and square edges to aid their activities. Using these tools can result in easy errors and requires additional manpower. In some cases, multiple persons may be required to aid in the placement, fabrication, installation and associated tasks while working with cylindrical objects. This adjustable fit laser projecting tool will improve the accuracy of these tasks and reduce manpower requirements for obtaining the desired results. The adjustable fit laser-projecting tool will allow a single user to generate visual reference points, plane, or planes projecting perpendicular to a cylindrical object's cross sectional plane within the outer diameter of said cylindrical object parallel to and including the longitudinal centerline axis of said cylindrical object, thus by making reference information easier and faster to obtain for the user. Both set up and utilization of this adjustable fit laser-projecting tool requires only one person. Therefore, a single user will not require the aid of additional persons to obtain information; which in the past was done with persons using levels, tape rulers, folding rulers, string, plumb bobs, carpenters squares, and other straight and square edges.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,461,793 to Melville (1995) and 5,359,781 to Melville (1994) show a self-centering pipe axis laser guide. This device uses three links separated by 120 degrees that can be inserted into a pipe and expanded outward until the links push against the internal surfaces of the pipe. Melville's device finds the center from pushing equally on the internal surfaces with three linkages. Melville's self-centering pipe axis laser guide contacts the internal surfaces of small diameter pipes, less than 6 inch diameter, which are not easily accessible to visual inspection with the device inserted. Melville's device makes it difficult to visually verify that the contact surfaces are correctly engaged. Differences, on the order of nude in single thousands of an inch, can greatly affect the angular offset of the visible laser reference beam as it is projected outward along the centerline axis off of the pipe face. Internal surface inconsistencies, such as a weld bead or extrusion mark, to the pipe, are not visually apparent and may cause Melville's device to engage the contact surfaces inaccurately, resulting in horizontal vertical or angular offset without the user being aware. Surface contact on the external side of any cylindrical object can be verified for correctness by checking the contact surfaces using visual inspection with thickness feeler gages or measuring devices.
Melville's self-centering pipe axis laser guide requires a specific internal contact surface length. The required contact length of the device limits the applications of the device. The device cannot be applied to applications having limited internal length or applications with internal obstructions. Melville's self-centering pipe axis laser guide can be “cradled” on top of the pipe for making alignment measurements when the interior is obstructed, however, used in this way the device would not project a beam along the centerline axis and cannot be considered self-centering as used in this way. A device using internal surfaces to center the device may not fit applications where internal components such as pump impellers, turbines, mixing baffles, vortex breakers, probes or other such items associated with pipefitting situations are present.
Melville's design uses linkages, which must have very close tolerances, on the order of magnitude of single thousands of an inch or less. Even with close tolerances, the more components a device has, the addition of all component tolerances will add up to adversely affect the device's achievable accuracy. The complexity of Melville's device may decrease achievable accuracy, decrease user friendliness, and has the potential to lead to mechanical problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,531 to Van Andel (1997) shows a self-alignment sewer pipe laser. Van Adel's devices utilize a retro reflective target and microprocessors, which aim the beam through line motors, adjusting the pipe laser automatically to the target. The self-aligning sewer pipe laser emits a scanning beam. The scanning is discontinued when the reflective portion is located and the beam is aimed in the direction related to the position of the retro reflective target. This device is not intended to be used in smaller pipe applications and is stated to be used in sewer pipe applications. Van Andel's device is to be used internally to pipe applications and is restricted from applications based on the device's size. The device is not suited for applications where self-aligning to a target is not required such as smaller pipes, ducts, and equipment. The complexity of Van Andel's device makes it unsuitable for applications requiring only a visual reference laser beam.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,219 to Palumbo, 11 (2001), shows a laser alignment method and apparatus where pipe and similar materials may be aligned. Palumbo's device incorporates the use of a preferred threaded mount holding a laser diode. When installed, the laser diode is capable of projecting a laser beam outward from the centerline axis of the threaded mount, and therefore the centerline axis of the pipe to which the mount is coupled. The device may only be used in mating relationships with pipes or devices having complimentary ends. This limits the Palumbo device from any application not having a connection complimentary to the device mount. The device is not readily adjustable to different size connections without changing the device mount. Each time the device is to be used, the laser diode needs to be mounted on the correctly sized complimentary fixture. It is stated, in a preferred embodiment, the laser apparatus mounting is threaded. Tolerances in standard thread design will cause inaccuracies in the laser beam projection; resulting in an offset for the centerline axis projection.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,124,935 (2000) and 5,568,265 (1996) to Matthews incorporate a threaded connection to a collimated, coherent, highly focused narrow light beam. This limits the device from any application not having a threaded connection complimentary to the device. The device is not readily adjustable to different size threaded connections. Each time the device is to be used the laser diode needs to be mounted on the correctly sized complimentary threaded fixture. Tolerances in standard thread design will cause inaccuracies in the beams projection in horizontal, vertical and angular directions; resulting in an offset for the centerline projected axis.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,119,382 (1978) and 4,053,238 (1977) to George is a device that operates internal to a conduit projecting a beam as a reference line for construction purposes. The device projects a beam vertically as adjusted to grade. The device uses adjustable legs for both horizontal and vertical movement. This device, could not be used in conjunction with the outer surface of the conduit to achieve a centered light beam reference point.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,788 (2000) to Cox is a device used for gun sight alignment by projecting a beam of light out of the gun barrel to be adjusted until it aligns with a dot formed by the beam on
Gonzalez Madeline
Gutierrez Diego
Vaughan Jason Michael
LandOfFree
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