Levelling System

Abstract

A system includes a power tool that has a rotation output shaft for rotationally driving a levelling mechanism for a structural attachment and has a rotation drive mechanically connected to the rotation output shaft to rotationally drive the rotation output shaft. The system further includes a remote unit that has a first structural attachment contact structure where the first structural attachment contact structure is contactable with the structural attachment and where the remote unit is detached from the power tool. The system additionally includes a control arrangement that has an orientation device configured to provide orientation data relating to an orientation of the first structural attachment contact structure and has a drive controller which is connected to both the rotation drive and the orientation device where the drive controller is configured to influence action of the rotation drive in response to orientation data provided by the orientation device.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A system, comprising: a power tool (50) comprising a rotation output shaft (51) for rotationally driving a levelling mechanism for a structural attachment (1), and a rotation drive (59) mechanically connected to the rotation output shaft (51) to rotationally drive the rotation output shaft (51); a remote unit (20) comprising a first structural attachment contact structure (28), wherein the first structural attachment contact structure (28) is contactable with the structural attachment (1) and wherein the remote unit (20) is detached from the power tool (50) such that the remote unit (20) is movable independently of the power tool (50) by a distance; and a control arrangement comprising an orientation device (21) configured to provide orientation data relating to an orientation of the first structural attachment contact structure (28), and a drive controller (53, 54) which is connected to both the rotation drive (59) and to the orientation device (21), wherein the drive controller (53, 54) is configured to influence action of the rotation drive (59) in response to orientation data provided by the orientation device (21).

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the orientation data is angular orientation data relating to an angular orientation of the first structural attachment contact structure (28).

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the drive controller (53, 54) is configured to stop the rotation drive (59) when the first structural attachment contact structure (28) reaches a threshold inclination.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the drive controller (53, 54) is configured to decelerate the rotation drive (59) when the first structural attachment contact structure (28) approaches a threshold inclination.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the threshold inclination is vertical alignment of the first structural attachment contact structure (28).

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the threshold inclination is vertical alignment of the first structural attachment contact structure (28).

22. The system according to claim 16, wherein the drive controller (53, 54) is configured to reverse the rotation drive (59) in response to orientation data provided by the orientation device (21).

23. The system according to claim 16, wherein the rotation drive (59) includes an electric motor (58) and wherein the drive controller (53, 54) is configured to modify a characteristic of electric power supplied to the electric motor (58) in response to orientation data provided by the orientation device (21).

24. The system according to claim 16, wherein the orientation device (21) includes at least one accelerometer (25′, 25″, 25′″) that is provided at the remote unit (20).

25. The system according to claim 16, wherein the first structural attachment contact structure (28) includes a plane.

26. The system according to claim 16, wherein: the remote unit (20) comprises a second structural attachment contact structure (29), wherein the second structural attachment contact structure (29) is contactable with the structural attachment (1); and the orientation device (21) is configured to provide orientation data relating to an orientation of the second structural attachment contact structure (29).

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the first structural attachment contact structure (28) and the second structural attachment contact structure (29) are disposed in a perpendicular relationship.

28. The system according to claim 16, wherein the control arrangement includes a wireless data transmitter (22) provided at the remote unit (20) and a wireless data receiver provided at the power tool (50).

29. The system according to claim 16, wherein at least a subunit of the drive controller (53) is removably attached to the power tool (50).

30. The system according to claim 16, wherein the power tool (50) is a drill or an impact wrench.

31. An adjustment arrangement, comprising: the system according to claim 16; and a levelling mechanism for a structural attachment (1), wherein the levelling mechanism comprises a screw drive configured to be rotationally actuated by the power tool (50).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 is a side view of a levelling arrangement, including a system according to the invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the structural attachment and of the remote unit shown in FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the remote unit shown in FIG. 1; and

[0035] FIG. 4 shows, in perspective view, another type of structural attachment that can be levelled by means of the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate an embodiment of a levelling arrangement, including a system according to the invention. The system can be used for vertically levelling a structural attachment 1 (a column in the shown embodiment), with respect to a base 9 (a concrete foundation in the present embodiment). The structural attachment 1 comprises a baseplate 3 and a beam 4 attached thereto. In the present embodiment, the beam 4 is, by way of example, a hollow square beam. However, other beam shapes are also possible, e.g., an I-beam, as shown in FIG. 4, or a hollow circular beam. The structural attachment 1 is mounted on the foundation by means of screws 6, which are anchored in the base 9, which project through the baseplate 3, and which are each provided with a shoulder 5, wherein the shoulders 5 each form a stop for the baseplate 3. Rotating a screw 6 with respect to the base 9 causes axial displacement of the shoulder 5 and therefore corresponding displacement of the structural attachment 1 resting on the respecting shoulder 5. The screws 6 thus provide a screw drive type levelling mechanism for the structural attachment 1, which levelling mechanism is operated by rotation.

[0037] The system comprises a power tool 50, an electric power tool and more specifically an impact wrench in the present embodiment, for rotationally driving the screws 6. The power tool 50 comprises a rotation output shaft 51 for rotationally entraining the screws 6 so as to rotate together with the rotation output shaft 51. The power tool 50 furthermore comprises a rotation drive 59 for rotationally driving the rotation output shaft 51 (together with a screw 6 engaged by the rotation output shaft 51). In the present embodiment, the power tool 50 is an electrical power tool and the rotation drive 59 thus includes an electric motor 58 for agitating the rotation output shaft 51. The power tool 50 is cordless, and as such, it includes a battery 55, which is in particular rechargeable, and which powers the relevant components, in particular the electric motor 58.

[0038] The system also includes a remote unit 20. The remote unit 20 and the power tool 50 are separate, and therefore, the remote unit 20 can be positioned independently of the power tool 50. The remote unit comprises a housing 27. This housing 27 is generally L-shaped, comprising a first arm 41 and a second arm 42, wherein the second arm 42 is are arranged in a generally perpendicular relationship with respect to the first arm 41. The remote unit 20 comprises a first structural attachment contact structure 28, which is provided on the first arm 41, as well as a second structural attachment contact structure 29, which is provided on the second arm 42. The first structural attachment contact structure 28 is a plane provided on the housing 27 of the remote unit 20 and also the second structural attachment contact structure 29 is a plane provided on the housing 27 of the remote unit 20, wherein the first structural attachment contact structure 28 extends perpendicular to the second structural attachment contact structure 29. Together, the first structural attachment contact structure 28 and the second structural attachment contact structure 29 form a L-shaped receptacle for the structural attachment 1, in particular for its beam 4. The first structural attachment contact structure 28 and the second structural attachment contact structure 29 are intended to be brought into physical contact with the structural attachment 1, in particular with the beam 4 thereof, when the system is used as intended.

[0039] The system further includes an orientation device 21 that is configured to provide orientation data, in particular tilt orientation data, of the remote unit 20. In the present case, the orientation device 21 includes three accelerometer 25′, 25″, 25′″ that are located at the remote unit 20, namely within the housing 27 thereof. These three accelerometers 25′, 25″, 25′″ form a three-axis accelerometer. In the present embodiment, the entirety of the orientation device 21, including a processor for processing the signal of the accelerometers 25′, 25″, 25′″, is located at the remote unit 20. The remote unit 20 further includes a wireless data transmitter 22 for transmitting the orientation data provided by the orientation device 21 to a wireless data receiver 52 provided on the power tool 50.

[0040] The power tool 50 comprises a drive controller 53, 54, which is connected to the rotation drive 59 so as to communicate with the rotation drive 59, and which is configured for controlling the rotation drive 59, in particular the electric motor 58 thereof. In particular, the drive controller 53, 54 can be configured to modify the characteristic of electric power supplied to the electric motor 58, which can for example be achieved by means of a H-bridge included in the drive controller 53, 54. The drive controller 53, 54 is also connected to the wireless data receiver 52 so as to communicate with the wireless data receiver 52, in particular for transferring orientation data from the wireless data receiver 52 to the drive controller 53, 54.

[0041] In the present embodiment, the power tool 50 comprises a removable unit 60, which can be removed from the remainder of the power tool 50 when no automatic levelling function is required. In the present embodiment, this removable unit includes the wireless data receiver 52 and a subunit, denoted with reference numeral 53, of the drive controller 53, 54.

[0042] The drive controller 53, 54 is configured to influence action, in particular rotation, of the rotation drive 59 in response to orientation data relating to the orientation of the first structural attachment contact structure 28, and preferably also to the orientation of the second structural attachment contact structure 29, as provided by the orientation device 21. In use, the remote unit 20 is placed at the structural attachment 1 so that the first structural attachment contact structure 28 and the second structural attachment contact structure 29 both touch the structural attachment 1, so that the orientation of the remote unit 20 corresponds to the orientation of the structural attachment 1. The rotation output shaft 51 is then brought into rotational engagement with the levelling mechanism, in particular with one of the screws 6 thereof, and the rotation drive 59 is then actuated to actuate the levelling mechanism. The drive controller 53, 54 can then automatically slow down rotation of the rotation drive 59 and therefore of the rotation output shaft 51 when a predefined threshold inclination of the remote unit 20 (and thus of the structural attachment 1) is approached, and fully stop rotation of the rotation drive 59 when the predefined threshold inclination is reached, wherein the predefined threshold inclination could be for example vertical alignment of the first structural attachment contact structure 28. The drive controller 53, 54 could also automatically reverse rotation of the rotation drive 59 and therefore of the rotation output shaft 51 in case of an overshoot of the threshold inclination.