Alignment tool

Alignment tools are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an alignment tool may include a vertical member comprising a front surface, a back surface, and upper surface between the front surface and the back surface, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface is angled, and at least a portion of the upper surface comprising a reference marker centered along a length of the upper surface; and a plurality of horizontal members attached to the vertical member. The alignment tool may be configured to interact with a laser beam emitted by a laser source such that the vertical member is in alignment when the reference marker is aligned with the laser beam.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure generally relates to an alignment tool.

2. Description of Related Art

More and more organizations are moving to facilities that have poured concrete slabs. For example, data centers and the house rows and rows of servers and other electronics that must be arranged in a certain manner in order to optimize airflow and cooling. The poured-concrete floors, however, do not tiles or other reference points that assist in such arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Alignment tools are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an alignment tool may include a vertical member comprising a front surface, a back surface, and upper surface between the front surface and the back surface, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface is angled, and at least a portion of the upper surface comprising a reference marker centered along a length of the upper surface; and a plurality of horizontal members attached to the vertical member. The alignment tool may be configured to interact with a laser beam emitted by a laser source such that the vertical member is in alignment when the reference marker is aligned with the laser beam.

In one embodiment, the horizontal members may be slidably attached to a lower surface of the vertical member, may be fixed to the lower surface of the vertical member, may be attached to sides of the vertical member, etc.

In one embodiment, the vertical member may have a trapezoidal shape.

In one embodiment, the reference marker may include a solid line, a broken line, etc.

In one embodiment, the vertical member may be configured to abut, or be adjacent to, a piece of equipment to be aligned.

According to another embodiment, an alignment tool may include a vertical member; and a plurality of horizontal members attached to the vertical member, at least one of the horizontal members comprising at least one alignment mark on a top surface thereof. The alignment tool may be configured to interact with a laser beam emitted by a laser source such that the vertical member is in alignment when the alignment mark is aligned with the laser beam.

In one embodiment, the horizontal members are slidably attached to a lower surface of the vertical member.

In one embodiment, the horizontal members may be slidably attached to a lower surface of the vertical member, may be fixed to the lower surface of the vertical member, may be attached to sides of the vertical member, etc.

In one embodiment, the vertical member may have a trapezoidal shape.

In one embodiment, the alignment mark may include a solid line, a broken line, etc.

In one embodiment, the vertical member may be configured to abut, or be adjacent to, a piece of equipment to be aligned.

According to another embodiment, a method for equipment alignment may include: (1) positioning a reference generator generating a reference within an area to have equipment aligned within; (2) aligning an alignment tool comprising a vertical member and a plurality of horizontal members attached to the vertical member with the reference generated by the reference generator; (3) positioning a piece of equipment adjacent to the vertical member; and (4) securing the piece of equipment from movement.

In one embodiment, the method may further include: before securing the piece of equipment from movement, positioning a second reference generator generating a second reference within the area; aligning a second alignment tool comprising a second vertical member and a second plurality of horizontal members attached to the second vertical member with the second reference generated by the reference second generator; and positioning the piece of equipment adjacent to the second vertical member.

In one embodiment, the second reference may be perpendicular to the first reference.

In one embodiment, the vertical member may include a front surface, a back surface, and upper surface between the front surface and the back surface, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface is angled, and at least a portion of the upper surface comprising a reference marker centered along a length of the upper surface, and the alignment tool may be configured to interact with the reference source such that the vertical member is in alignment when the reference marker is aligned with the reference.

In one embodiment, at least one of the horizontal members may include at least one alignment mark on a top surface thereof, and wherein the alignment tool may be configured to interact with the reference such that the vertical member is in alignment when the alignment mark is aligned with the reference.

In one embodiment, the reference generator may be a laser source generating a laser beam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Alignment tools and methods of use are disclosed.

Referring toFIGS.1A-C, an alignment tool is provided according to one embodiment.FIG.1Adepicts side view of alignment tool100,FIG.1Bdepicts a top view of alignment tool100, andFIG.1Cdepicts a front view of alignment tool110.

Alignment tool100may include vertical member110and horizontal members120. Although two horizontal members120are shown, it should be recognized that one horizontal member120may be provide, as may a greater number of horizontal members120.

Vertical member110may have a trapezoidal shape such that front surface112of vertical member110may be shorter than back surface114. Angled surface116may comprise at least part of the upper surface between front surface112and back surface114. Angled surface116may include reference marker118, which may be a solid like, a dashed line, and the like, and may provide a reference for aligning alignment tool110with a reference, such as a laser alignment line produced by a laser source.

In one embodiment, reference marker118may only be provided on a portion of angled surface116.

Horizontal members120may have a height and/or thickness to interact with equipment to be aligned. In one embodiment, equipment to be aligned (not shown) may be positioned adjacent to vertical member110to have at least one side that is parallel to vertical member110. In another embodiment, one or more horizontal members120may be marked with one or more alignment mark122so that horizontal members120may be used to position equipment that may be offset from vertical member110.

Horizontal members120may be attached to vertical member110in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, members120may fixed to a lower surface of vertical member110. In another embodiment, one or more horizontal members120may be slidably mounted to a lower surface of vertical member110so that horizontal members120may be moved to accommodate openings under equipment to be positioned.

In one embodiment, one or more horizontal members120may be removeable from vertical member110.

In one embodiment, the dimensions of vertical member110, including the height of front surface112and back surface114, as well as the length, width, and height of horizontal members120may be selected as is necessary and/or desired. Exemplary, non-limiting dimensions for vertical member110include a length of 24 inches. Front face112may have a height of 2 inches, and back face114may have a height of 4 inches. The width of vertical member110may be 1 inch. Horizontal members120may have a height of 1 inch, a width of 4 inches, and a length of 6 inches.

Vertical member110and horizontal members120may be made of any suitable material. In one embodiment, the material may resist warping.

Referring toFIG.2, an illustration of an environment for the alignment tool is provided according to one embodiment. Room220may be a room with no fixed reference points, such as a poured concrete floor.

InFIG.2, four pieces of equipment (210,212,214,218) are being aligned. It should be recognized that the number of pieces of equipment, sizes, etc. is illustrative only.

Reference (e.g., laser) sources (202,204,206,208) are provided for generating laser beams203,205, and207, respectively. Laser beams203,205,207may be beams, laser lines, etc. In one embodiment, laser sources202,204,206may be positioned so that they point slightly downward, thereby generating a line an inclined surface.

Each piece of equipment210,212,214,218may be provided with one or more alignment tools220,222,224,228. The reference lines on the angled surfaces of the vertical members of the alignment tools220,222,224,226may be aligned with one of laser beams203,205, or207, and equipment210,212,214is may be positioned adjacent to the respective alignment tools (e.g., equipment 1210is positioned adjacent to the vertical members of alignment tools220and226), or may be offset from the vertical member using one more of alignment mark, or graduations, on the horizontal members of the alignment tool (e.g., equipment 3214is offset from the vertical member of alignment tool224). In another embodiment, equipment 4218may be positioned adjacent the vertical member of alignment tool228, and one or more reference mark, or graduation, on one or more horizontal members of alignment tool228may be aligned with laser beam205.

Referring toFIG.3, a method for equipment alignment using an alignment tool is provided according to one embodiment.

In step305, a reference generator may be positioned within the area in which the equipment is to be aligned. For example, along a perimeter of a room, one or more laser line generators may be positioned so that that laser line generator provides an alignment reference for an edge of the equipment.

In another embodiment, if a laser line generator is not used, a laser may be positioned at a slight downward angle.

In step310, the alignment tool may be positioned in the path of the laser. In one embodiment, the reference marker, such as a line, on the angled surface of the vertical member may be aligned with the laser. For example, due to the angled top surface, the entire reference line should be illuminated with the laser.

In another embodiment, one or more reference marks on the horizontal members of an alignment tool may be aligned with the laser.

In step315, the equipment may be positioned relative to the vertical member of the alignment tool. In one embodiment, the equipment may be positioned adjacent the vertical member, or it may be offset from the vertical member using, for example, the alignment marks or graduations on the horizontal members.

In step320, any secondary alignment may be performed. For example, if the first alignment as performed in the X direction, the secondary alignment may be performed in the Y direction. While maintaining the X alignment, a second laser line generator may be used with a second alignment tool to align the equipment in the Y direction.

In step325, the equipment may be secured from movement. For example, the equipment's wheels may be locked, the equipment may be lowered, or any other action necessary to prohibit or restrict movement of the equipment may be performed.

Referring toFIGS.4A-C, an alignment tool is provided according to another embodiment. Alignment tool400is similar to alignment tool100except vertical member410and horizontal members420interact differently. For example, horizontal members420are not mounted on a lower surface of vertical member410, but may be instead mounted to sides of vertical member. Thus, four horizontal members420may be provided.

In another embodiment, recesses (not shown) may be provided in the lower surface of vertical member410for mounting horizontal members420. Thus, only two horizontal members420may be provided.

Alignment tool400may be used in the same manner as alignment tool100.

Note that the dimensions, shapes, ratios, etc. disclosed herein are exemplary only, and any suitable dimension, shape, or ratio may be used as is necessary and/or desired.