CA2057365C - Spirit level and manufacturing process for producing it - Google Patents

Spirit level and manufacturing process for producing it Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2057365C
CA2057365C CA002057365A CA2057365A CA2057365C CA 2057365 C CA2057365 C CA 2057365C CA 002057365 A CA002057365 A CA 002057365A CA 2057365 A CA2057365 A CA 2057365A CA 2057365 C CA2057365 C CA 2057365C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
spirit level
thermosetting resin
level according
air element
filler
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA002057365A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2057365A1 (en
Inventor
Bernard Prouteau
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SICFO Stanley SA
Original Assignee
SICFO Stanley SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SICFO Stanley SA filed Critical SICFO Stanley SA
Publication of CA2057365A1 publication Critical patent/CA2057365A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2057365C publication Critical patent/CA2057365C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29CSHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C45/00Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C45/14Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29CSHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C33/00Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
    • B29C33/30Mounting, exchanging or centering
    • B29C33/301Modular mould systems [MMS], i.e. moulds built up by stacking mould elements, e.g. plates, blocks, rods
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29CSHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C45/00Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C45/0005Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor using fibre reinforcements
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29CSHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C45/00Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C45/0013Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor using fillers dispersed in the moulding material, e.g. metal particles
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29CSHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C70/00Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/68Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers, e.g. foam blocks
    • B29C70/74Moulding material on a relatively small portion of the preformed part, e.g. outsert moulding
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01CMEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C25/00Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01CMEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C9/00Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
    • G01C9/18Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using liquids
    • G01C9/24Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using liquids in closed containers partially filled with liquid so as to leave a gas bubble
    • G01C9/26Details
    • G01C9/28Mountings
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29KINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2105/00Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
    • B29K2105/06Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29KINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2105/00Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
    • B29K2105/06Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts
    • B29K2105/16Fillers
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29KINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2309/00Use of inorganic materials not provided for in groups B29K2303/00 - B29K2307/00, as reinforcement
    • B29K2309/08Glass

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Excavating Of Shafts Or Tunnels (AREA)
  • Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Jellies, Jams, And Syrups (AREA)
  • Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Antibodies Or Antigens For Use As Internal Diagnostic Agents (AREA)
  • Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)
  • Gas Separation By Absorption (AREA)
  • Sorption Type Refrigeration Machines (AREA)
  • Level Indicators Using A Float (AREA)
  • Electrostatic Charge, Transfer And Separation In Electrography (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Radiation (AREA)
  • Moulding By Coating Moulds (AREA)
  • Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

The spirit level comprising a body is made up of a preferably T or I section with a housing in which an air unit is fixed. According to the invention, the body is produced in thermosetting resin and the air unit is integrated into the section.

Description

SPIRIT LEVEL AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS
FOR PRODUCING IT
This invention concerns a spirit level and a manufacturing process for producing such a spirit level comprising a body with a recess in which at least one bubble block is fixed.
A spirit level is a precision instrument, the manufacturing and adjustment of which must be handled with great care. The body of a modern spirit level is often an aluminum section. This section can be a hollow or I- or T-shaped section. Aluminum has the advantage of being rigid enough to ensure the necessary precision, but it is quite expensive and requires a surface treatment for its protection or colouring.
Plastic sections have been suggested as an alternative to an aluminum spirit level body, but plastic materials that lend themselves to low-cost manufacturing cannot give a spirit level base the required rigidity. That is the reason why composite spirit levels have been developed having a core and a base plate in the form of an aluminum section over which a plastic structure is molded to accommodate the air element and manipulate the spirit level. In that case, the plastic structure includes a cut-out where the air element is housed. Adjustment of the exact orientation of the air element against the base plate is achieved by screws. In the case of a perfect alignment, the air element is glued to the plastic structure.
This manufacturing process is long and tedious but the saving of aluminum compensates for the high manufacturing cost.
For this reason, the object of the invention is to create a spirit level of the type described above as well as to attain a simple and inexpensive manufacturing process that ensures the required precision and a low manufacturing cost.
The subclaims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.
According to the invention, the thermosetting resin of the spirit level can be coloured. Thus, even when it is prone to scratches, the section continues to have a clean appearance.
Necessary handling during the manufacturing process are limited to a minimum.
Other features and advantages of the invention can be seen more clearly in the following description, given only as an example but not restricted hereto, as well as the attached drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the spirit level and of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the injection mold for manufacturing a spirit level according to the invention.
The spirit level 1 shown in Fig. 1 is mainly composed of three parts: the base plate 2, the core of the body 3 and the air element 5. The base plate 2 forms one piece, called section, with the core of the body 3. The section has a cut-out showing a housing 4 for the air element 5. This housing 4 is located exactly in the middle of the body's core to improve the contact between the lateral faces and the bottom of the air element 5. The section is enlarged in the cut-out area so as to have the width of the air element 5.
Starting at element 5 positioned above the centre of the base plate 1, the core 3 of the sectional body is chamfered toward the ends of the spirit level.
The body of the spirit level shown in Fig. 1 is cast in a mold for casting by injection as shown in Fig. 2. The material to be cast is a polyester resin loaded with glass particles. These glass particles may either be long fibres or relatively short fibres or even glass marbles. The section of the glass particles' shape depends on the requirements placed on the spirit level or the ease of the manufacturing process.
The glass particles integrated in the resin give the thermosetting resin its required rigidity.
The thermosetting resin can be loaded with glass balls on the outside faces of the injected piece and loaded with core fibres.
Another essential feature of the invention is that the air element is permanently fixed to the spirit level's section during cooling of the resin in the injection mold.
Therefore, further adjustment is unnecessary.
As shown in Fig. 2, the injection mold 6 used to manufacture the spirit level 1 of the invention is composed of three parts: one base part 7, or alternatively two parts, and two lateral parts 8,9, that close up over the first one.
The injection mold 7 is schematically drawn to illustrate some essential features of the invention. These are the means for fixing an air element to one of the inside faces of at least one of the lateral parts 8,9 of the injection mold 7. The air element 5 is then set by these fixing means 10, i.e. by a set of small pins put in openings in at least one of the lateral parts of the injection mold 7 at the level of the lateral faces 8,9 and the base of the air unit 5. These externally removable pins are taken out of the mold before the resin is completely hardened. The injection mold 7 is partially cooled around the air element housing area so that injected resin temperatures do not rise to a point that could be destructive for the material forming the air element unit. This material is often transparent, shock resistant plastic, for example Altuglas (registered trade-mark). The material to be cast is injected when the mold is not yet completely closed. This method presents the following advantages:
The risk of cavities forming inside the material to be cast is reduced because the material repels the air contained in the partially open injection mold 7. Moreover, since the injection mold 7 is completely closed after the injection of the resin, burrs form. Burrs of a predetermined shape can be easily polished with a planing tool.
After the cooling of the thermosetting resin, the spirit level 1 is removed from the injection mold 7. The air element 5 is well joined to the section. To improve the visual appearance of the spirit level 1 and hide contact areas between the lateral faces or the base of the air element and the housing 4 in the section's core 3, it is possible to provide a frame 11 for the air element 5 with a case that still shows the central parts of the top surface and the lateral surfaces of the air element 5.
Since the air element 5 is carefully inserted into the injection mold 7, the adjustment of the spirit level 1 is no longer necessary and because it is joined to the section, a disturbance is no longer possible. The air elements 5 are completely immobilized and foolproof. The manufacturing process is very simple which leads to very low costs. The thermosetting resin ensures the required sturdiness and costs much less than aluminum.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and a person skilled in the art will be able to modify it without going beyond the scope of the invention, in particular with respect to the number of base plates.

Claims (12)

1 WE CLAIM:

1. A spirit level comprising a body with a recess in which at least one air element is fixed, characterised in that the body is made from a thermosetting resin having a glass particle filler to give the thermosetting resin its required rigidity and comprising specifically predetermined burrs only on the top parts of the level.
2. A spirit level according to claim 1, characterised in that the thermosetting resin is a polyester resin having a glass particle filler.
3. A spirit level according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the thermosetting resin has a glass fibre filler.
4. A spirit level according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the thermosetting resin has a glass ball filler.
5. A spirit level according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the thermosetting resin has glass ball filler on the outer surface of the injection molding and a fibre filler in its core.
6. A spirit level according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an air element is partially covered by a frame having a window at a level of a bubble and masking an edge of the air element and of the profile.
7. A spirit level according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the thermosetting resin is dyed in its mass.
8. A spirit level according to claim 1, characterised in that the body has the form of a T-profile.
9. A spirit level according to claim 1, characterised in that the body has the form of an I-profile.
10. A manufacturing process for producing the spirit level according to any one of the preceding claims, by injection of a thermosetting material having glass particle filler, characterised in that the air element is fixed by means of withdrawable pins to a part of an injection mold and in that the injection mold brought to a melting temperature of the material is partially cooled in a zone of the air element location.
11. A process for the production of the spirit level of claim 1, characterised by use of a mold in three or four parts, one or two partially forming a base plate and the other two closing above the base plate to form a top part of a profile with insertion of the air element.
12. A process for the production of the spirit level of claim 9, characterised in that complete closure of an injection mold is effected only after the injection mold has been filled with the thermosetting resin containing a filler, resulting in formation of specifically predetermined flashes only on top parts of the level.
CA002057365A 1990-12-12 1991-12-10 Spirit level and manufacturing process for producing it Expired - Lifetime CA2057365C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP90123896A EP0489955B1 (en) 1990-12-12 1990-12-12 Spirit level and procedure for manufacturing same
EP90123896.4 1990-12-12

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2057365A1 CA2057365A1 (en) 1992-06-13
CA2057365C true CA2057365C (en) 2003-03-18

Family

ID=8204829

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002057365A Expired - Lifetime CA2057365C (en) 1990-12-12 1991-12-10 Spirit level and manufacturing process for producing it

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0489955B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3157884B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE128226T1 (en)
AU (1) AU657718B2 (en)
BR (1) BR9105352A (en)
CA (1) CA2057365C (en)
DE (1) DE69022596T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2088947T3 (en)
PT (1) PT99788B (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5339530A (en) * 1993-02-09 1994-08-23 Wright Randall J Hand level instrument with composite metal and plastic body
ATE233171T1 (en) 1998-03-31 2003-03-15 Johnson Level & Tool Mfg CASTING METHOD WITH AN INSERTABLE LEVEL, FOR EXAMPLE FOR A SPIRIT LEVEL, AND MOLDED OBJECT
FR2785984B1 (en) * 1998-11-12 2000-12-22 Sicfo Stanley PROCESS FOR MOLDING THE BODY OF A BUBBLE LEVEL BY THERMOPLASTIC INJECTION
DE202004006643U1 (en) * 2004-03-12 2005-07-21 Stabila-Meßgeräte Gustav Ullrich GmbH Spirit level with an injection molded body that incorporates thermoplastic strengthening inserts which are at least partially enclosed by the injection molding process
AT509146B1 (en) 2009-11-16 2011-10-15 Sola Messwerkzeuge Gmbh SPIRIT LEVEL
US9625260B2 (en) 2014-04-16 2017-04-18 Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. Carbon fiber composite level and method of manufacturing same
KR101737686B1 (en) * 2015-04-30 2017-05-18 곽미영 Support device for microphone of earphone
KR101827677B1 (en) 2017-05-11 2018-02-08 곽미영 Support device for microphone of earphone

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2813349A (en) * 1953-01-02 1957-11-19 Creative Plastics Corp Level
FR1141672A (en) * 1956-02-16 1957-09-05 Spirit level
FR1448855A (en) * 1965-05-25 1966-08-12 O N M Soc Process for manufacturing vials for spirit levels, and new industrial products obtained by this process
US3878617A (en) * 1972-11-24 1975-04-22 Stanley Works Line level
US4332046A (en) * 1979-06-05 1982-06-01 Foley Clifford T Combined hammer and level

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2088947T3 (en) 1996-10-01
ATE128226T1 (en) 1995-10-15
DE69022596D1 (en) 1995-10-26
CA2057365A1 (en) 1992-06-13
DE69022596T2 (en) 1996-03-21
AU657718B2 (en) 1995-03-23
AU8964691A (en) 1992-06-18
EP0489955B1 (en) 1995-09-20
PT99788B (en) 2000-08-31
BR9105352A (en) 1992-08-25
EP0489955A1 (en) 1992-06-17
JPH0694453A (en) 1994-04-05
PT99788A (en) 1994-01-31
JP3157884B2 (en) 2001-04-16

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