GB2272531A

GB2272531A - Angle measuring device

Info

Publication number: GB2272531A
Application number: GB9323343A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Dennis Evatt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-11-17
Filing date: 1993-11-12
Publication date: 1994-05-18
Also published as: GB9323343D0; GB9224114D0

Abstract

An angle measuring device is intended to enable two surfaces, lines or members which are angularly displaced from one another to have the extent of the angular displacement measured. The device includes two elongate elements 10, 11 which are pivoted together at one end to be adjusted as to their angular orientation. One of the elements carries an angular scale and the other carries visual indicating means (a window 19) for determining the relative angular orientation between the two elements. There may be a transducer, eg a potentiometer, to operate electronic angle indication means, e.g. an LCD display. The device finds application in the building trade or in producing drawings. <IMAGE>

Description

Angle Measuring Device This invention relates to angle measuring devices capable of measuring the angle between two elongate elements.

In the building industry it is sometimes required to measure quickly and accurately the angle between adjoining walls, the angle between a floor and wall, the angle between roof and wall, the angle of door frames and the angle between the parts of a roof truss. Instead of making a former or the like it is helpful to have a device for accurately measuring such angles in order to cut timber to the required shape.

There is also a requirement for a device for measuring angles for drawing work, for example when making drawings, avoiding the use of a protractor, and for measuring the angles on prepared drawings. By the provision of a suitable angle measuring device drawings may be more easily prepared and drawings may be more easily used for, for example building works.

According to the invention an angle measuring device comprises at least two elongate elements pivotally connected to one another by pivot means located towards respective ends of the elements, the elements carrying angular measuring means whereby the angular orientation of the longitudinal axes of the elements relative to one another can be determined, the measuring means being located around the pivot means and providing a visual indication of the relative angular orientation of the elongate elements.

Preferably the elements are provided one with an angular scale extending around the axis of the pivot means and the other element is provided with means for reading the relative position of said other element with respect to said scale.

Conveniently one of the angular elements is provided with an angular scale extending around the axis of the pivot means and inscribed on said one element, and the other elongate element includes a window through which the angular scale is viewable and a pointer to indicate the angular orientation of the longitudinal axes of the elements to one another.

Alternatively the angular scale on said one element is in the form of a variable resistor, potentiometer or transducer and the other element includes an electrical connector movable over the scale to take up a position according to the relative angular position of the elements, the position of the connector on the scale giving an electrical signal dependent on said position and the device includes indicating means arranged to receive said signal and provide a visual indication of said angular orientation.

Each elongate element may be in the form of a parallel sided rigid strip, the angle between the sides of the strip being the angle to be measured.

The elements are pivotally connected to one another towards one end of each element and at said interconnected ends the elements may be of arcuate shape, the arcuate profiles overlying one another.

Each elongate element may carry scales extending lengthwise of the element and along the sides of the element.

At least one of the elongate elements may have a series of spaced apertures extending longitudinally of the element.

Further features of the invention will appear from the following description of two embodiments given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of angle measuring device showing part of the device in enlarged view, Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing an angular scale on one part of the device of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the device disassembled and in an alternative form.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an angle measuring device formed of two elongate elements 10 and 11 each of strip form having long parallel sides and one 11 overlying the other 10. In each case the sides carry scales, 12 and 13 in the case of the element 10, and 14 and 15 in the case of the element 11.

The elements 10 and 11 are interconnected to one another by pivot means 16 having a pivot axis 17 which is located adjacent respective ends of the elements 10 and 11. The pivot means 16 may be of any convenient form incorporating a pivot to permit angular movement of one strip relative to the other and, if required, incorporating locking means (not shown) to lock the elements in their respective positions.

At the ends of the elements 10 and 11 adjacent the pivot means 16 the ends of the elements 10 and 11 are of semi-circular shape, the semi-circular portions having the axis 17 as their axis and being of the same radius as one another, so as to directly overlie one another.

The elements 10 and 11 are preferably. formed of rigid or semi rigid material such as plastics but they may also be made from wood or metal.

One of the elements 10 underlies the other element 11 and carries a circular scale having as its axis the axis of pivoting 17. The scale 19 is viewed through a window 20 formed in the element 11 and the window 20 being defined by a segment of a circle. The window 20 is also formed with pointers 21 on the inner and outer sides of the segment which are used to identify an angle on the scale 19 which is the angle between the longitudinal axes of the elements 10 and 11.

As shown in Fig. 1 the elements 10 and 11 are disposed at an angle of some 350 to one another, this angle being the angle between the respective inner and outer sides of the elements 10 and 11. Hence the angle between the elements 10 and 11 can be measured on a drawing, on an outwardly presented corner (between the inner sides of the elements), an inwardly presented corner between the outer sides of the elements, or between two angularly disposed members by aligning the inner or outer sides of the elements with such members.

Referring now to Fig. 3 another embodiment of the angle measuring device is shown in which the same reference numbers are used for similar parts. In this case the angular scale is formed by a variable resistor, potentiometer or transducer 25 arranged around and with its axis at the axis of pivoting 17. The scale 23 is electrically connected to a connector 24 on the element 11, the position of the connector 24 in relation to the scale 23 determining the relative angular positions of the elements 10 and 11. The pointer 24 is electrically connected to a visual indicator 25 carried on the element 11 and the signal to the indicator 25 is in accordance with the position of the pointer 24 along the scale 23. Conveniently the visual indicator is in the form of a liquid crystal display which directly indicates the angle between the elements 10 and 11.

In the Figure 3 arrangement one of the elements 10 is formed with a plurality of apertures 26 which are regularly spaced along the element 10 and form openings to receive a writing implement so that, when laid on a sheet of paper, circles or arcs of different radii can be drawn.

It will also be noted that the elements 10 and 11 in Fig. 3 are of somewhat different shapes compared with the Fig. 1 and 2 embodiments, the elements being somewhat narrower and having part-circular ends extending over 2700 so that when the angle between the elements 10 and 11 is 0 the parallel sided parts of the elements 10 and 11 are alongside one another.

The angle measuring device can be made in different sizes having different accuracies depending on the application.

Claims

1. Angle measuring device comprising at least two elongate elements pivotally connected to one another by pivot means located towards respective ends of the elements, the elements carrying angular measuring means whereby the angular orientation of the longitudinal axes of the elements relative to one another can be determined, the measuring means being located around the pivot means and providing a visual indication of the relative angular orientation of the elongate elements.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the elements are provided one with an angular scale extending around the axis of the pivot means and the other element is provided with means for reading the relative position of said other element with respect to said scale.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein one of the elongate elements is provided with an angular scale extending around the axis of the pivot means, and the other elongate element includes a window through which the angular scale is viewable and a pointer to indicate the angular orientation of the longitudinal axes of the elements to one another.

4. A device according to claim 2 wherein the angular scale on said one element is a variable resistor, potentiometer or transducer and the other element includes an electrical connector movable over the scale according to the relative angular positions of the elements, the position of the connector on the scale giving an electrical signal dependent on said position and the device includes indicating means arranged to receive said signal and to provide a visual indication of said angular orientation.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each elongate element is in the form of a parallel sided, rigid strip, the angle between the sides of the strips being the angle to be measured.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the elements are pivotally connected to one another towards one end of each element and at said interconnected ends the elements are of arcuate shape, the arcuate profiles overlying one another.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each elongate element carries scales extending lengthwise of the elements along the sides of the elements.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one the elongate elements has a series of spaced apertures extending longitudinally of the associated element.

9. An angle measuring device substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Fig. 3 of the drawings.