JPH0442723Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] Industrial application field... The present invention relates to an automatic vertical correction mechanism using liquid in a surveying instrument such as a plumber.

Conventional technology: The optical path created by the irradiation light source in a plumber, and the laser optical path used to create one optical horizontal plane through a rotating pentagonal prism in a laser autoplaner, are always required to be in a vertical state. As described above, the vertical optical path that constitutes a part of the optical system of various surveying machines must always maintain a vertical state even if the machine body is tilted to some extent.

In order to meet this demand, conventional techniques have been used to utilize the action of gravity to support the collimator lens in a pendulum-like manner using gimbals or hanging wires so that its optical axis automatically maintains its vertical position at all times. Various automatic vertical correction mechanisms have been realized.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2a, the collimator lens 1
In an optical system in which a light source 2 such as a light emitting diode or a laser oscillator is arranged opposite to the collimator lens 1 to obtain parallel light as shown by an arrow, the collimator lens 1 is shaped like a pendulum by three hanging wires 3. The collimator lens is suspended from the machine body (not shown), and even if the machine body is slightly tilted, the collimator lens moves in a pendulum-like manner due to the action of gravity, and its optical axis always remains vertical, allowing for the desired vertical automatic correction. will be done. Also in figure b, 3
A lens is used for collimation to convert the irradiated light from the light source 2 into vertical parallel light as shown by the arrow, and a pendulum-shaped correction lens is used by a gimbal mechanism using four hanging wires 3 similar to the case of a. 4 is maintained to realize vertical automatic operation.

In either case, since the suspension wire 3 is used, errors due to expansion and contraction of the suspension wire due to temperature changes cannot be avoided. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 2c, a method is used in which the bubble 6 of the bubble tube 5 is used as a collimator lens, but it is difficult in practice to make the bubble 6 that functions as a lens into a predetermined size and shape. Another drawback was that bubble deformation due to temperature changes could not be ignored.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention: The present invention solves the drawbacks of the prior art as described above, and provides an automatic vertical correction mechanism that is not affected by temperature changes and has a simple structure. The purpose is to

[Structure of the idea]

Means for solving the problem... To achieve the above object, the present invention states that the surface of a free liquid always forms a horizontal plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and that the outer shape of a spherical container does not change even if it is tilted. It is characterized by using a liquid lens that takes advantage of this as a collimator lens.

In short, the present invention involves placing a liquid in a container made of dish-shaped glass that forms part of a spherical surface, and using a liquid lens defined by its surface (which becomes a horizontal surface) and bottom surface (which forms a spherical surface) as a collimator lens. This invention aims to realize automatic vertical correction by using the lens as a collimator lens, which is made of a glass container that forms part of a spherical surface and contains liquid at the bottom, to obtain vertical parallel light. The present invention is comprised of an automatic vertical correction mechanism using liquid, which is characterized by the following structure.

Function/Example: The principle of the present invention will be explained as follows using FIG. A liquid is injected into a transparent glass container 7 having a spherical surface, and a plano-convex lens 8 is formed at the bottom of the container 7. The light source 2 placed opposite to this is located at the center of this spherical surface, and the diameter of the sphere and/or the refractive index of the liquid are appropriately selected so as to coincide with the focal point of the convex lens 8. That is, the lens 8 is constructed so as to function as a collimator lens and obtain parallel light as indicated by the arrow.

With this structure, even if the glass container 7 and light source 2 fixed to the machine main body (not shown) are displaced from the solid line position to the broken line position as shown in FIG. The convex lens 8 made of liquid is subjected to the action of gravity so that the original solid line position, that is, the lens optical axis is always vertical. Therefore, in this optical system, even if the main body of the machine is slightly tilted, the same vertical parallel light is always obtained as shown in FIG. 1, and the desired automatic vertical correction mechanism is realized.

An example in which the above automatic vertical correction method is applied is shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. In a, the light source 2 is placed opposite the convex lens 8 formed by the liquid contained in the glass container 7 configured as described above, and the vertical parallel light as shown by the arrow is emitted (not affected by the slight inclination of the machine body). After obtaining this, it can be passed through a pentaprism 9 as shown in the figure to project horizontal parallel light. Therefore, pentaprism 9
If it is formed to rotate, for example, a so-called laser autoplaner that creates one optical horizontal plane that always keeps the laser beam horizontal regardless of the inclination of the machine can be easily constructed. In addition, with the configuration as shown in FIG. through the right angle prism 10 and reticle 11 to the eyepiece 12.
By observing the target, the line of sight can always be kept horizontal even if the main body of the machine is slightly tilted. That is, an automatic level can be provided by applying the present invention.

[Effect of idea]

According to the vertical automatic correction of this invention, the liquid displacement is performed smoothly and quickly without depending on the machine tilt, the measurement accuracy is high without being affected by temperature changes, and the automatic correction range is also wide. up,
This has the advantage that a separate braking mechanism can be omitted since it is possible to impart a braking effect by imparting an appropriate viscosity to the liquid.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the present invention,
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the conventional automatic vertical correction mechanism.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an application example. 2...Light source, 7...Glass container, 8...Collimator (liquid) lens, 9...Penta prism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A convex lens 8 consisting of a sealed glass container 7 having a spherical bottom and containing a liquid in the inner bottom, a light source 2 located on the focal plane of the convex lens, and a pentaprism that converts vertical light from the light source 2 into horizontal light. An automatic vertical correction mechanism using liquid consisting of 9.