Level indicating and elevation indicating device

A pair of upright stands are provided and include enlarged bases by which the stands may be supported on variously elevated support surfaces. Each stand has a vertically elongated support mounted thereon for adjustable vertical positioning therealong and each stand has a scale thereon by which the positioning of the support therealong may be precisely determined and adjusted as desired. Each support includes an upstanding transparent tube section and the lower ends of the tube sections are connected by an elongated flexible connecting tube member including an expandable and contractable reservoir. One or both of the transparent tube sections may be provided with a float therein and the upper end of the float will have its position relative to its support and the position of its supporting liquid accurately determined either through the utilization of a scale supported from the upper end of the tube, a micrometer supported from the upper end of the support and/or a float actuatable switch carried by the upper end of the support. Further, one stand and the associated transparent tube may be omitted with the float actuatable switch provided on the retained transparent tube electrically connected to a signal generator provided for the remote end of the flexible connecting tube member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The level indicating device of the instant invention represents a highly 
specialized precision height measuring instrument. Even though such an 
instrument has been long sought for indicating precise elevations at 
horizontally remote points, few successful attempts have been made to 
provide such an apparatus. 
There are many instances in the building and construction trades wherein it 
is desired to establish similar or dissimilar elevations at horizontally 
remote points. Examples of previously known elevation indicating devices, 
including some of the general structural and operational features of the 
instant invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 327,564, 547,864, 
914,945, 1,042,248, 1,463,738, 1,599,347, 2,614,572, 2,789,364, 3,015,167, 
and Re. 13,240. In addition, a quite similar indicating device is 
disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,898, which discloses a technique 
other than those disclosed in the first mentioned prior U.S. patents. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The level indicating device of the instant invention comprises an 
improvement over the Elevation Indicating Apparatus of my above-noted 
prior patent in that considerably more precise readings in elevation may 
be determined. In addition, although most similar forms of level or 
elevation indicating devices require the utilization of two instruments 
and that each instrument be read for each elevation reading to be taken, 
the level indicating device of the instant invention includes structure 
whereby consecutive different elevation readings may be made by a single 
person adjacent only one of the instruments. 
The main object of this invention is to provide a level indicating device 
that may be utilized not only to indicate identical elevations at 
horizontally remote locations but also specific dissimilar elevations at 
the same locations. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a level indicating device 
utilizing a connecting hose having transparent opposite ends and 
containing a column of liquid therein, in order that the level of liquid 
in each hose end at horizontally remote locations establishes a relative 
position of supports, which can be verified by support adjustment to this 
indication and further liquid adjustment that positions the liquid to the 
indications of balance. 
Still another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately 
preceding object, is to provide an intermediate portion of the connecting 
hose with an expandable and contractable reservoir, that can regulate the 
effective column of liquid from a position adjacent one of the 
instruments, and a float actuatable switch mounted on the other instrument 
and electrically connected to a signal light on the instrument adjacent 
the reservoir. 
A further object of this invention is to indicate elevation differences of 
two planes simultaneously, in accordance to their heights. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a device that will 
repeatedly indicate the conditions of position without varying 
computations. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a more effective method of 
observing fixed points by means of a micrometer adjustment to a float end 
that activates and deactivates the signal light by the liquid, a second 
float and the actuatable switch. The micrometer indication could be that 
of a circuit break. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a level indicating 
device equipped with a micrometer support on the upper end of one of the 
slidably mounted hose supports and operative to render a micrometer 
reading of the associated float that is positioned by the action of the 
primary activating float. 
Another important object of this invention is to provide a level indicating 
device having various scales thereon to facilitate the use of the level 
indicating device in various environments. 
A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to 
provide a level indicating device in accordance with the preceding objects 
and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple 
construction and easy to use, so as to provide a device that will be 
economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in 
operation. 
These together with other objects and advantages which will become 
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation 
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to 
the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals 
refer to like parts throughout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally 
designates the level indicating device of the instant invention. The 
device 10 includes a pair of upright "remote" and "base" stands 12 and 14, 
respectively, including horizontally enlarged bases 16 to which the lower 
ends of the stands 12 and 14 are removably secured by means of fasteners 
18. The bases 16 include a first pair of apertures 20 through which the 
fasteners 18 may be secured in order to mount the lower ends of the stands 
12 and 14 adjacent marginal edge portions of the bases 16 and a second 
pair of apertures 22 through which the fasteners 18 may be secured if it 
is desired to mount the lower ends of the stands 12 and 14 in centered 
positions on the bases 16. Further, the four corner portions of the bases 
16 are provided with apertures 24 by which ground spikes 26 may be 
utilized to stationarily secure the bases 16 to supportive ground 
surfaces. 
In FIG. 1 of the drawings it may be seen that the stand 12 is supported 
from the ground 30 at a lower elevation than the stand 14. 
Each of the stands 12 and 14 has a tubular support sleeve 32 slidably 
mounted thereon and each support sleeve 32 includes a set screw 34 
threadedly engaged therewith by which the support sleeve 32 may be secured 
in adjusted vertical position on the corresponding stand. It may also be 
seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings that each of the support sleeves 
32 includes a level 36 whereby the stands 12 and 14 may be shimmed, if 
desired, in order to be disposed in exactly vertical position. 
The stands 12 and 14 are provided with vertical scales 38 with which the 
slidable support sleeves 32 may be registered in order to determine the 
elevation of the sleeves 32 above the bases 16 and each sleeve 32 includes 
a mounting flange 40 from upon which a pointer 42 is adjustably slidably 
mounted. The sleeves 32 have scales 44 thereon, including center indicia 
46, with which the corresponding pointer 42 is horizontally registrable 
and each flange 40 has an extension rod 45 removably supported therefrom 
by means of a spring clip 47 and the rods 45 may be vertically adjusted 
relative to the support sleeves 32 and include scale indicia 48 thereon by 
which the vertical adjustment of the height or extension rods 45 relative 
to the support sleeves 32 may be determined. 
A transparent tube section 50 is supported from one or both of the support 
sleeves 32 by means of a pair of spring clamps 52 and each tube section 
has upper and lower tubular fittings 54 and 56 mounted in its upper and 
lower ends by means of centrally apertured corks or stoppers 58 and the 
tubular fittings 54 and 56 are longitudinally corrugated, as at 60, and 
clampingly engaged by the clamps 52. 
The opposite ends of an elongated flexible transparent tube 62 are 
removably coupled over the tubular fittings 56 and the tube 62 has an 
expandable and contractable reservoir 64 serially connected therein and 
provided with a band-type clamp 66 by which the effective internal volume 
of the reservoir 64 may be adjusted. The reservoir 64 is disposed closely 
adjacent the "remote" stand 12 in order that an operator of the apparatus 
10 adjacent the stand 12 may make desired changes in the internal volume 
of the reservoir 64. Further, the end of the tube 62 adjacent one of the 
stands includes a slidable ring 61 thereon similar to that provided on the 
apparatus disclosed in my above noted prior U.S. patent. 
The upper end of the sleeve 32 supported from the "base" stand 14 includes 
an angle iron support 70 from which a vertically adjustable support rod 72 
is supported by means of a pair of wing nuts 74. The upper end of the 
support rod 72 has a horizontal plate 76 constructed of dielectric 
material supported therefrom and a pair of first and second spaced 
generally parallel semi-cylindrical contact bars 78 are supported from the 
underside of the plate 76. In addition, a very lightweight third spring 
contact 80 is suspended from the plate 76 by threaded fasteners having 
their upper ends adjustably secured through the plate 76 by threaded nuts 
84. The contact 80 is positioned closely adjacent and between the 
confronting lower surfaces of the contact bars 78 and the central portion 
of the third contact 80 may be urged slightly upwardly into contact with 
both of the contacts 78 in order to close the switch assembly defined by 
the contacts 78 and 80. 
A first conductor 85 is provided and is electrically connected to one 
contact 78 and a second conductor 86 is provided and is electrically 
connected to the second contact 78. A battery pack 87 supported from the 
bracket 70 is serially connected in one of the conductors 85 and 86 and 
the latter are electrically connected to a light assembly referred to in 
general by the reference numeral 90 removably supported from the flange 40 
of the support sleeve carried by the stand 12 by means of a spring clip 
92. 
At least one of the tube sections 50 has a float 94 mounted therein and the 
upper end 96 of the float 94 defines a vertical shank portion projecting 
upwardly through the upper end of the fitting 54 and is engageable with, 
for the upward displacement of, the contact 80. Therefore, an increase in 
the level of water within the tube section 50 may cause the float 94 to be 
elevated within the tube section 50 sufficiently to engage the upper end 
of the float 94 with the contact 80 in order to displace the latter 
slightly upwardly into contact with both of the contacts 78 to thereby 
electrically actuate the light assembly 90 carried by the stand 12. 
In conjunction with the light assembly 90 mechanism and its actuating 
contacts 78 and 80, a second angle iron support 97 may be included on the 
stand 12 and support another horizontal plate 97' from which a micrometer 
98 is supported and the adjustable rod portion 100 of the micrometer 98 
may be utilized to accurately determine changes in the elevation of the 
upper end 96 of the float 94 relative to the sleeve 32 supported from the 
stand 12. Still further, the upper end of the fitting 54 on the stand 12 
may have a scale 102 supported therefore by means of a spring clip 104 and 
the scale 102 may be utilized to determine the height of the upper end 96 
of the float 94 above the upper end of the fitting 54. 
In operation, the stands 12 and 14 may be initially positioned at the same 
elevation of stand 14 in FIG. 2. Both supports 32 are adjusted flush with 
top of stands 12 and 14. The tube on stand 12 (which tube may comprise the 
corresponding end of hose 62) is adjusted to place the water level aligned 
with the "0" scale indicia 46. After this has been done, the support rod 
72 on stand 14 is adjusted to complete the electric circuit through the 
action member 80 and end 96 of float 94. This adjustment causes the signal 
light 90 of stand 12 to be actuated. The rod 72 is then adjusted until 
light just goes "off" when the water is at the "0" scale indicia 46 on 
stands 12 and 14. Signal light 90 is set so it will indicate this 
condition. The purpose of the signal light 90 is to indicate when the 
water level position is at the "0" scale indicia 46 on stand 14. This 
procedure is carried out entirely on stand 14 eliminating the need that 
both stands 12 and 14 be on the same elevation and that the only needed 
additive would be the use of the second clamp 52 at the top of support 
sleeve 32 of stand 14. Hose end 62 would be adjusted to place the liquid 
on scale 44 to center indicia 46. Even though the set up for the signal 
light is considered to be a pertinent adjustment, a visual confirmation 
from time to time is desired and would be done in this manner, with or 
without an additional clamp 52. 
When the stands 12 and 14 are on the same elevation and the sleeves 32 are 
in like positions, (visualize flush with tops of 12 and 14) pointers 42 
(when on like numbers) rods 45 (when on like indications) and bases 16 are 
all in a level position to each other and the tube sections 50. Then, one 
of the stands may be removed to a horizontally remote location and the 
difference in the elevation of the liquid within the tube section 50 
thereof may be noted. However, it may be necessary to adjust the 
adjustable clamp 66 so as to vary the internal volume of the reservoir 64 
until such time as the float 94 is again at the position on the stand 14 
to cause the switch comprising the contacts 78 and 80 to close and the 
light assembly 90 to be actuated. Precise adjustment of the internal 
volume of the reservoir 64 by the adjustable clamp 66 at which the light 
assembly 90 is actuated will place the level of liquid in the tube section 
50 of the stand 12 at the same level of the liquid in the tube section 50 
of the stand 14. In this manner, a single person may operate the level 
indicating device from a location remote from the stand 14. Still further, 
precise readings of the height of the float or floats 94 may be determined 
through the utilization of the micrometer 98 on the scale 102. The support 
sleeve 32 carried by the stand 12 may be equipped with a micrometer 98 or 
a scale 102 depending upon the type of reading instrument desired and 
smaller bases (not shown) may be used in lieu of bases 16 when the stands 
12 and 14 must be used in restricted areas and the O ring markers 61 may 
slidably mounted on each section of tube 62 and are frictionally 
maintained in adjusted positions thereon. 
Even though precise adjustments in the column of liquid connecting the tube 
sections 50 may be determined through the utilization of the switch 
comprising the contacts 78 and 80 in conjunction with the light assembly 
90 and through the utilization of the micrometer 98 or the scale 102, it 
is possible that differences in density of the opposite ends of the column 
of liquid connecting the tube sections 50 will render inaccurate readings 
of the liquid levels in the sections 50. Accordingly, it may be necessary 
to recheck the liquid levels on the stands 12 and 14 while the stands are 
disposed in the same locations, such as the location of the stand 14 in 
FIG. 1. 
If it is desired, the stand 12 and corresponding tube 50 may be omitted 
(the light assembly being retained on the corresponding end of hose 62), 
see FIG. 9. In this manner a plurality of precise elevation marks may be 
made at a plurality of locations remote from the base unit 14, the 
operation of this simplified form of the invention hereinafter being 
described in greater detail. 
In the event it is suspected that the density of liquid (water in most 
instances) in the opposite ends of the tube 62 or the tube sections 50 is 
not the same due to the liquid adjacent one stand being of a different 
temperature or contaminated with a liquid of a different density, the 
device 10 may be checked for such a condition. 
First, the stands 12 and 14 are placed on a level surface at the same 
elevation. The sleeve 32 on stand 12 may be lowered two inches whereupon 
the liquid level on scale 44 at stand 12 will be two inches above the "0" 
center indicia 46. 
Then a small quantity of water is removed from the tube 62 at stand 12 and 
replaced by hot liquid and the level may now indicate a drop of 21/4 
inches. At this point, the sleeves 32 are reversed in position on their 
respective stands with the sleeve 32 of stand 12 flush with the top and 
sleeve 32 of stand 14 shifted down 2 inches from the top of stand 14. The 
light 90 on stand 12 is again actuated and the liquid indicates a position 
of 13/4 inches, thus the density condition of the liquid is indicated. As 
the liquid cools and the operation is repeated the light goes off at 1 
13/16 inches, 17/8 inches, 1 15/16 inches and finally at 2 inches, a true 
reading. 
The liquid may be further checked for equal density by adjusting one sleeve 
32 two inches lower. A first reading is then taken and the sleeves are 
reversed in position on their respective stands and a second reading is 
taken. The differences in the two readings indicates the density condition 
and the average of the differences produces a true reading. 
It is further pointed out that visual scale readings through one or two 
tubes 50 is not most desirable. Rather, visual observations through the 
tube 62 are more advantageous. 
With reference now more specifically to the simplified form of the 
invention illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein the stand 12 and the corresponding 
tube 50, slide 32 and other components supported from the slide 32 have 
been removed, the clip 92, having been disengaged from the mounting flange 
40 of the sleeve 32 supported from the stand 12, is clipped into 
engagement with the end of the flexible transparent tube 62 remote from 
the stand 14. Then, after the apparatus 10 has initially been set up with 
the pointer 42 horizontally registered with the liquid level in the tube 
50 and the desired elevation at the base location represented by the stand 
14 and with the switch comprising the contacts 78 and 80 adjusted to the 
make and break elevation as determined by the upper end of the float 94 
when the liquid level within the tube 50 is horizontally registered with 
the pointer 42, the end of the transparent tube 62 remote from the stand 
12 may manually be transported to a distant remote location (perhaps with 
the hose end temporarily closed by a finger) out of sight of the stand 14 
and also out of possible hailing distance of the stand 14 and the person 
manually transporting the hose end to the distant location may then raise 
the hose end until such time as the light assembly 90 is actuated. Then, 
by lowering and raising the free end of the hose 62 slightly, the exact 
elevation of the level of liquid at the make and break elevation thereof 
in the tube 50 may be accurately determined at the remote location by the 
level of the liquid in the adjacent hose end. Although the clip 92 may be 
clampingly engaged with the hose end, the clip 92 and the light assembly 
90 supported therefrom may be disconnected from the hose end and supported 
in the same or different hand of the user of the apparatus 10 from that by 
which the hose end is supported. Of course, the conductors 85 and 86 
maintain an electrical circuit between the light assembly 90, the battery 
pack 87 and the contact 78 with the contact comprising a switch for 
opening and closing the switch in response to decreases and increases in 
the elevation of liquid within the tube 50. 
In the event the end of the hose 62 remote from the stand 14 may not be 
conveniently elevated sufficiently in order to cause the contact 80 to 
bridge the contacts 78 as the result of elevation of the float 94 within 
the tube 50, the reservoir 64 may be actuated through utilization of the 
band-type clamp 66 in order to increase the effective length of the column 
of liquid within the tube 62. 
In any event, once the level indicating device 10 has been properly 
initially set at the base location in which the stand 14 is disposed, the 
exact elevation of the pointer 42 at numerous remote locations may be 
determined and indicated on adjacent structures by a single person using 
the device 10. 
An O-ring marker 61 may be used on the hose end remote from the stand 14 to 
indicate the approximate liquid level therein when the liquid level at the 
stand 14 is at the switch "make and break" level. Further, the stand 14 
may be omitted and the tube 50 may be suspended, by any support structure 
(not shown), from a suitable "base" structure. 
Also, an air valve similar to air valve (64) of my prior U.S. Pat. No. 
3,849,898 may be provided on the hose end 62 to maintain the level of 
liquid in the hose end 62 and the tube section 50 of FIG. 9 substantially 
constant while the hose end 62 is being transported from the "base" 
location adjacent stand 14 to a "remote" location, although spillage of 
some liquid from hose end 62 will not adversely affect the ability of the 
water level within hose end 62 at a "remote" location to duplicate the 
water level in tube section 50 at the "base" location when the float 94 is 
elevated sufficiently to close the switch contacts 78 and 80. However, the 
"remote" end of the hose may be provided with an air valve (not shown), or 
the "remote" hose end may be pinched closed during transport to a "remote" 
location in the absence of such an air valve. 
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the 
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily 
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the 
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and 
accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted 
to, falling within the scope of the invention.