Levelling device with from above mounted sleeve and use

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a levelling device, which includes a top part and a lower part, where there in the top part is included a spindle, which includes a thread and an external cylindrical surface, a stop item and a sleeve, which includes at least one internal stop surface and that the spindle includes at least one track in which the stop item is placed. With the invention it is achieved that it is possible to manufacture a levelling device, where the sleeve, as a result of the stop surface on the sleeve and the stop item, which is mounted in the track on the spindle cannot be screwed so high up that parts of the thread on the spindle are exposed.

Claims

1. A levelling device for levelling and support of an item, comprising: a top part for fastening in the item and having a spindle and a sleeve mounted on the spindle, and a lower part separable from the top part for contact against a surface, wherein the spindle comprises a thread, a lower end surface, an external cylindrical surface in the area between the thread and the lower end surface, a center axis for the thread, the lower end surface and the sleeve, wherein the sleeve includes a first end surface closest to the lower part, an upper end surface on the opposite end of the sleeve and an internal thread in an area at the upper end surface and designed to engage with the thread on the spindle to control axial movement of the sleeve with respect to the spindle, wherein the sleeve further comprises an internal cylindrical surface between the internal thread and the first end surface having a larger circumference than the external circumference on the thread of the spindle and an internal stop surface positioned perpendicular relative to the center axis and positioned between the internal thread and the first end surface on the sleeve, wherein the internal stop surface extends radially inwardly from the internal cylindrical surface and is limited by an inner surface positioned between the external cylindrical surface of the spindle and the internal cylindrical surface on the sleeve, wherein the spindle further comprises a track which extends perpendicular to the center axis, proceeds all the way around the spindle, and is placed where the thread and the cylindrical surface on the spindle meet, wherein the spindle further comprises a stop item mounted in the track on the spindle and extending outwardly over the inner surface to contact the internal stop surface of the sleeve, wherein the stop surface is axially movable along the external cylindrical surface below the stop item by rotating the internal thread with respect to the thread as the sleeve is turned, and wherein the stop item prevents axial movement of the stop surface beyond the cylindrical surface when the sleeve is moved along the center axis in the direction of the thread.

2. The levelling device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve further comprises an insert part and a shielding part having cylindrical surfaces on the sleeve, wherein the insert part comprises an external surface configured to form contact with a first internal surface of the shielding part, and wherein the insert part further comprises an end surface configured to form contact with a second internal surface of the shielding part.

3. The levelling device according to claim 2, wherein the insert part is comprised of a metallic or polymeric material.

4. The levelling device according to claim 2, wherein the shielding part is comprised of a metallic or polymeric material.

5. The levelling device according to claim 2, wherein the insert part is comprised of stainless steel.

6. The levelling device according to claim 2, wherein the shielding part is comprised of stainless steel.

7. The levelling device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve further comprises an insert part and a shielding part, which insert part and shielding part comprise at least one item selected from the list comprising thread, glue line, weld or press fit joint for providing a mechanical locking between the insert part and the shielding part.

8. The levelling device according to claim 1, wherein the stop item is a locking ring.

9. The levelling device according to claim 1, wherein that the stop surface on the sleeve is provided by a ledge placed in the area where the first end surface on the sleeve is found.

10. The levelling device according to claim 9, wherein the ledge is configured to support a lower sealing item, wherein the lower sealing item is configured to seal between the sleeve and the cylindrical surface of the spindle.

11. The levelling device according to claim 1, wherein there in the area at the lower end surface on the spindle is found a surface with a larger circumference in a plane perpendicular to the center axis of the spindle than the cylindrical surface on the spindle.

12. The levelling device according to claim 1, wherein the stop item includes a stop surface configured to be fixed positioned in relation to the spindle.

13. The levelling device according to claim 12, wherein the stop surface comprises the surface on the stop item, which faces in direction towards the lower surface and which is not engaged with the track.

14. The levelling device according to claim 1, wherein the leveling device is configured for use in locations with high requirements for hygiene such as locations for processing of foodstuffs or manufacturing of medicine and for supporting a machine.

15. The levelling device according to claim 1, wherein the leveling device is configured for use in supporting a machine placed in areas with risk of earthquake.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an assembled top part according to the invention

(2) FIG. 2 shows a cut through the top part along the line A-A shown in FIG. 1

(3) FIG. 3 shows an exploded top part according to the invention

(4) FIG. 4 shows a cut through the top part along the line B-B shown in FIG. 2

(5) FIG. 5 shows an assembled levelling device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) In FIG. 1, with (3) indicated shown a top part, which includes a spindle (4), with a thread (5) on the upper part of the spindle (4) and a cylindrical surface (10) on the lowermost part of the spindle (4), the top part (3) furthermore includes a mostly cylindrical sleeve (6).

(7) The thread (5) on the spindle has an outer circumference with the same value as the circumference of the spindle's (4) cylindrical surface (10). In other embodiments the outer circumference on the spindle's (4) thread (5) can be both smaller and larger than the circumference on the cylindrical surface (10)

(8) With (15) therein indicated is a surface, which consists of a first end surface (15) on the sleeve (6). The first end surface (15) is in an assembled levelling device (1) placed closest to a lower part (2), which assembled levelling device (1) and lower part can be seen in FIG. 5. With (16) therein indicated is another surface, which consists of another end surface (16) on the sleeve (6) placed in the opposite end of the first end surface (15) on the sleeve (6).

(9) With (13) therein indicated is an upper sealing item, which is mounted on the sleeve (6) at the sleeve's (6) other end surface (16). This upper sealing item (13) is designed to seal between the sleeve (6) and the supported item and thereby ensures that filth and bacteria can not enter into the spindle's (4) thread (5) in this area.

(10) With (25) therein indicated is a lower end surface on the spindle (4), which lower end surface (25) in an assembled levelling device (1) is placed closest to the lower part (2).

(11) With (28) therein indicated is a sectional marking, where the sectional view image is shown in FIG. 2

(12) With (24) therein indicated is a center axis in the spindle (4).

(13) In FIGS. 2 and 4 (7) therein indicates an internal thread in the sleeve (6), which is designed to go in mesh with the thread (5) on the spindle (4). The thread (7) on the sleeve (6) is placed at the sleeve's (6) other end surface (16) and consists of a part of the internal geometry in the sleeve (6)

(14) In FIGS. 1 to 4 (10) therein indicates a cylindrical surface on the spindle (4), which is placed in the area between the spindle's (4) thread (5) and lower end surface (25). In a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical surface (10) is smooth with which there is understood that the surface is without thread and suited for forming contact for a sealing item (14).

(15) The circumference of this cylindrical surface (10) has the same value as the outer circumference on the spindle's (4) thread (5). In other embodiments, the outer circumference on the spindle's (4) thread (5) can be both smaller and larger than the circumference on this cylindrical surface (10). On the lower part of the cylindrical surface (10), there are two parallel plane surfaces on each side of the center axis (24). These surfaces are used for contact for a screw wrench such that it is possible to turn the spindle or to hold it fixed.

(16) In FIGS. 3 and 4 (20) therein indicates a track (20) in the cylindrical surface (10) on the spindle (4).

(17) In a preferred embodiment, the track (20) has a rotation symmetrical shape in relation to the center axis (24) and is suited to fix a locking ring.

(18) The track thus proceeds in a plane perpendicular to the center axis (24). The track (20) is not limited to this design shown here and can in another embodiment have other designs including being slanted in relation to the center axis (24) or be shaped as a hole through the spindle, designed to fix a peg or consists of several separate tracks.

(19) In a preferred embodiment, the track (20) is placed where the thread (5) and the cylindrical surface (10) on the spindle (4) meet, but can also be placed further down in direction towards the lower end surface (25) on the spindle (4).

(20) In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 (19) therein indicates a stop item (19). The stop item's (19) function is to provide a stop surface (19a), which is positioned fixed in relation to the spindle (4). The stop item (19) mounted in the track (20) on the spindle (4) stretches itself past another surface (9) on the sleeve (6) such that there occurs a stop surface (19a) on the stop item (19), which stop surface 19a forms contact with the sleeve's (6) stop surface (12) when the sleeve (6) is screwed so far up as possible. This stop surface 19a on the stop item (19) will thereby prevent the sleeve (6) from being screwed so high up that the whole or parts of the spindle's (4) thread (5) is exposed. The stop surface (19a) of the stop item (19) may include a locking ring, which faces in direction (axial) towards the lower surface (25) and which in radial direction is not encased in the track (20).

(21) The internal cylindrical surface (8), the other surface (9) and the stop surface (12) on the sleeve (6) are described in detail below.

(22) In a preferred embodiment, the stop item (19) has an exemplary design as a locking ring, which is designed to be able to be pressed into the track (20) on the spindle (4) but is not limited to this design and can also have other designs, including being shaped as a peg, be u-shaped or consisting of several parts.

(23) With (23) indicated is on the spindle (4) shown another surface in the area near the lower end surface (25) on the spindle (4) with a larger circumference than the cylindrical surface (10). This surface (23) is preferably cylindrical, but can in another embodiment have a non-cylindrical cross section in a plane perpendicular to the center axis (24), including polygonal, or it can be a conical surface.

(24) The larger circumference of the surface (23) near the lower end surface (25) and thereby a larger area on the lower end surface (25) is necessary in order to provide sufficient support and sealing towards the lower part (2). The larger circumference of the surface (23) near the lower end surface (25) results in that it is not possible to mount the sleeve (6) from below. The ledge (17) on the sleeve (6) and the sealing item (14), which is mounted on the ledge (17) and is to form contact towards the cylindrical surface (10) on the spindle (4), can thus not go past this surface (23).

(25) This larger circumference at the lower end surface (25) on the spindle thus entails that the sleeve (6) can not be mounted from below. It can apparently neither be mounted from above as an item, since the stop item (19) must be placed inside the sleeve (6) between the internal thread (7) and the stop surface (12) on the sleeve (6), which means that the stop surface (12) on the sleeve must be led past the area where the stop item (19) must be placed in direction towards the lower end surface (25) on the spindle (4), but must not be able to be led past the stop item (19) placed in the track (20) in direction away from the lower end surface (25) on the spindle (4).

(26) In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 (27) therein indicates a shielding part, which is a part of the sleeve (6).

(27) With (26) indicated is shown an insert part, which is a part of the sleeve (6). The insert part (26) and the shielding part (27) are designed to go in mesh with each other, such that they consist of an assembled sleeve (6).

(28) In a preferred embodiment, the two parts (26,27) are assembled by pressing the insert part (26) down in the shielding part (27).

(29) In FIGS. 2 and 4 (30) therein indicates an external surface on the insert part (26) and with (31) indicated an internal surface on the shielding part (27). These two surfaces (30, 31) are designed to go in mesh with each other and form a press fit joint and by use of friction between the two surfaces (30,31) ensure that the insert part (26) and the shielding part (27) are fixed connected to each other.

(30) In a preferred embodiment, the two surfaces (30,31) are conical with a cylindrical cross section in a plane perpendicular to the center axis (24) and designed to be pressed together, but they are not limited to this design and can thus also have other designs, including a polygonal cross section, be shaped as a thread, such that the insert part (26) can be screwed into the shielding part (27) and by application of a thread glue, the two parts (26,27) can be locked to each other, or the surfaces (30,31) can be designed for the insert part (26) can be glued together with the shielding part (27).

(31) The insert part (26) is positioned in the center axis' (24) direction by there being a lower end surface (21) on the insert part (26), which is designed to form contact with an internal ring shaped surface (22) on the shielding part (27). By pressing the insert part (26), these two surfaces (21,22) will meet and the insert part (26) will be correctly placed in relation to the shielding part (27).

(32) The lower end surface (21) on the insert part (26) and the ring shaped surface (22) on the shielding part (27) are here shown as perpendicular to the center axis (24) proceeding surfaces, but is not limited to this design and can in another embodiment have other shapes, including being conical.

(33) In a preferred embodiment, the insert part (26) in the sleeve (6) is placed in the area at the upper end surface (16) on the sleeve (6) and has an internal thread (7), which is designed to be able to go in mesh with the spindle's (4) thread (5).

(34) The insert part (26) is not limited to this placement and can in another embodiment be placed in the area near the lower end surface (15) on the sleeve (6). In this placement, the sleeve's (6) internal thread (7) will be placed on the shielding part (27) while the ledge (17), the stop surface (12) and support for the lower sealing item (14) are found on the insert part (26).

(35) The here shown sleeve (6) is assembled, as mentioned, by pressing the insert part (26) into the shielding part (27). Firstly, the shielding part (27) is led down over the spindle's (4) thread (5) and past the track (20) in the spindle (4). Subsequently, the stop item (19) is mounted in the track (20). Subsequently, the insert part (26) is screwed on the spindle's (4) thread (5) and the shielding part (27) is led up to the insert part (26) and the two items (26,27) are pressed together and consist the sleeve (6) such that the stop item (19) is enclosed by the sleeve (6) and is placed between the internal thread (7) and the stop surface (12) on the sleeve (6).

(36) In a preferred embodiment, the insert part (26) and the shielding part (27) are made from stainless steel, but they are not limited to these materials. The insert part (26) can thus in another embodiment be manufactured in other materials, including brass or a plastic material, which results in advantages in connection with the friction between the internal thread (7) on the insert part (26) and the spindle's (4) thread (5).

(37) In a preferred embodiment, the insert part (26) consists of an item, but can also consist of several parts, including 2 half ring shaped parts, which are assembled around the spindle (4) and are together pressed in the shielding part (27).

(38) In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve (6) can consist of only one part. In such an other embodiment, the track (20) on the spindle and the stop item (19) will be able to have another design than the one shown here, including the stop item (19) will have to allow that the stop surface (12) on the sleeve (6) can be led in direction towards the lower end surface (25) on the spindle (4) past the, on the spindle (4), mounted stop item (19), but not allow that the stop surface (12) on the sleeve (6) is led back past the stop item (19) on the spindle, such that the sleeve (6) is prevented from being screwed too high up. Among these, the stop item (19) can have a design as a snap hook, a Seeger H-ring or a Seeger Springring RW DIN 7993.

(39) In yet another embodiment, the stop item (19) can be mounted in the track (20) on the spindle (4) through a hole in the side of the sleeve (6) when the sleeve (6) is screwed down on the spindle (4). The hole in the sleeve (6) will after mounting of the stop item (19) have to be closed in a way, which meets the hygiene and authority related requirements.

(40) In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 is with (14) shown a lower sealing item, which is mounted on the sleeve (6) in the area at the first end surface (15). This lower sealing item (14) seals between the sleeve (6) and the spindle's (4) cylindrical surface (10) below the thread (5) on the spindle (4) and thereby ensures that filth and bacteria can not enter into the spindle's (4) thread (5) in this area.

(41) In FIGS. 2 and 4 (8) therein is shown an internal cylindrical surface on the sleeve (6). This cylindrical surface (8) has a circumference, which is larger than the circumference on the spindle's (4) thread (5), such that the cylindrical surface (8) can be led up around the thread (5) on the spindle (4) when the sleeve (6) with the internal thread (7) is screwed up on the spindle's thread (5).

(42) The cylindrical surface (8) is placed between the thread (7) on the sleeve (6) and the first end surface (15).

(43) The surface (8) is in a preferred embodiment cylindrical, but can in another embodiment have a non cylindrical cross section in a plane perpendicular to the center axis (24), including polygonal.

(44) In FIGS. 2 and 4 (9) therein indicates a second inner surface on the sleeve's (6) shielding part (27), which is placed between the spindle's (4) external cylindrical surface (10) and the inner cylindrical surface (8) on the sleeve (6). The surface (9) is in a preferred embodiment cylindrical, but can in another embodiment have a non-cylindrical cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the center axis (24), including polygonal. In another embodiment, where the sleeve's (6) insert part (26) is placed at the lower end surface (15) on the sleeve (6), this inner surface (9) can be constituted by a surface on the sleeve's (6) insert part (26).

(45) In FIGS. 2 and 4, (12) therein indicates a stop surface on the sleeve's (6) shielding part (27) which is limited by the inner cylindrical surface (8) and the second surface (9). The stop surface (12) is here shown as a disc-shaped surface, between the two surfaces (8, 9).

(46) This limitation of the stop surface (12) ensures that the stop surface (12) will form contact with a surface/surfaces on the stop item (19) and prevents the sleeve (6) from being screwed too high up.

(47) The stop surface (12) is in a preferred embodiment plane and proceeding perpendicular to the spindle's (4) center axis (24), but is not limited to this orientation and shape, including it can in another embodiment be inclined in relation to the center axis (24) or consist of several separate surfaces.

(48) The stop surface (12) on the sleeve (6) is also in a preferred embodiment placed so close to the first end surface (15) on the sleeve (6) as possible, such that the distance between this stop surface (12) and the spindle's (4) stop surface (11) when screwing on of the sleeve (6) is started, is as large as possible, such that the sleeve (6) can be screwed as far up as possible up over the thread (5) on the spindle (4).

(49) In another embodiment, where the sleeve's (6) insert part (26) is placed at the lower end surface (15) on the sleeve (6), this stop surface (12) can consist of a surface on the sleeve's (6) insert part (26).

(50) In FIGS. 2 and 4 (17) therein indicates a ledge on the sleeve's (6) shielding part (27), which is limited by the internal cylindrical surface (8) and the other internal surface (9) on the sleeve (6). This ledge has an inner side, proceeding preferably perpendicular to the spindle's (4) center axis (24), which constitutes the stop surface (12).

(51) This ledge (17), in a preferred embodiment, also constitutes support for the lower sealing item (14).

(52) In another embodiment, this ledge (17) on the sleeve (6), which with its inner side constitutes the stop surface (12) can be placed in a greater distance from the first end surface (15) and thus the sleeve's (6) possibility of movement upwards is reduced since the distance between the stop surface (12) on the sleeve (6) and the stop surface (11) on the spindle (4) are reduced. The support of the lower sealing item (14) will thus have to consist of another element on the sleeve (6).

(53) In another embodiment, where the sleeve's (6) insert part (26) is positioned at the lower end surface (15) on the sleeve (6), this ledge (17) can be placed on the sleeve's (6) insert part (26).

(54) In FIG. 3 (29) therein indicates a cut marking, where the sectional view is shown in FIG. 4.

(55) In FIG. 5 (1) therein indicates an assembled levelling device, which includes a top part (3) and a lower part (2). On the figure, the sleeve (6) is turned a distance up on the spindle's (4) thread (5)

(56) In a levelling device (1), according to the invention, it is not possible to expose the whole or parts of the lowermost of the spindle's (4) thread (5) by a mistake, when the sleeve (6) is screwed up in order to seal against the item, which is to be supported, since there by adding a stop surface (12) in the sleeve (6) and a stop item (19) in the spindle (4) is provided an upper stop for the sleeve's (6) movement. Thereby, the expected future requirements from authorities can be met and the authority approvals, including from USDA, can be achieved.

(57) By adapting the length of the sleeve (6) in relation to the spindle's (4) thread (5) such that the spindle's (4) thread (5) is longer than the sleeve (6) it can be ensured that there is always sufficient free thread (5) at the top of the spindle (4) to fix an item, such as a machine, even though the sleeve (6) is screwed fully up.

(58) In another embodiment of the sleeve (6), the thread (7) on the sleeve (6) can continue to the stop surface (12) such that the internal cylindrical surface (8) does not exist.

(59) It is a part of the invention that the described levelling device (1) is used in locations with high requirements for hygiene such as locations for processing of foodstuffs or manufacturing of medicine and in areas where there is risk of earthquake.