Poured concrete column alignment and plumbing tool

A system for aligning, leveling or plumbing a vertical form system for forming a structural element in situ in an earthen hole, comprising:

• a metering pole assembly, comprising:
• a metering pole member;
• a first disk member disposed about the metering pole member;
• a second disk member disposed about the metering pole member, wherein the first and second disk members are spaced apart, wherein the second disk member is located proximate to a first end of the metering pole member;
• a selectively operable fastening system adjacent to the second disk member, wherein the fastening system is located at the first end of the metering pole member;
• and
• an alignment assembly, comprising:
• a first face member having an area defining a first aperture formed therein;
• and
• a second face member having an area defining a second aperture formed therein;
• wherein the first and second face members are held in fixed relationship with respect to one another such that the first and second apertures are substantially axially aligned;
• wherein either the first or second face members includes a level system operably associated therewith, wherein the level system is operable to determine a characteristic of the vertical form system selected from the group consisting of level, plumb, and combinations thereof;
• wherein the first and second apertures are operable to receive a second end of the metering pole member such that the alignment assembly rests upon the first disk member and is disposed about and releaseably mated to the metering pole assembly;
• wherein the alignment assembly is selectively operable to rotate about the metering pole member and travel along a length of the metering pole member;
• wherein the mated metering pole member and alignment assembly are selectively operable to be received within an annular inner face formed in the vertical form system;
• wherein the fastening system is selectively operable to deploy a fastening member into the inner face of the vertical form system so as to maintain the metering pole member and the alignment assembly in fixed relationship with the vertical form system;
• and
• a cutting system rotatably disposed about the metering pole member and resting on the first face member, wherein the cutting system is selectively operable to cut an annular top portion of the vertical form system to grade.

A method for aligning, leveling or plumbing a vertical form system for forming a structural element in situ in an earthen hole, comprising:

• providing a metering pole assembly, comprising:
• a metering pole member;
• a first disk member disposed about the metering pole member;
• a second disk member disposed about the metering pole member, wherein the first and second disk members are spaced apart, wherein the second disk member is located proximate to a first end of the metering pole member;
• and
• a selectively operable fastening system adjacent to the second disk member, wherein the fastening system is located at the first end of the metering pole member;
• providing an alignment assembly, comprising:
• a first face member having an area defining a first aperture formed therein;
• and
• a second face member having an area defining a second aperture formed therein;
• wherein the first and second face members are held in fixed relationship with respect to one another such that the first and second apertures are substantially axially aligned;
• wherein either the first or second face members includes a level system operably associated therewith;
• wherein the level system is operable to determine a characteristic of the vertical form system selected from the group consisting of level, plumb, and combinations thereof;
• disposing the second end of the metering pole member through the first and second apertures such that the alignment assembly rests upon the first disk member and is disposed about and releaseably mated to the metering pole assembly, wherein the alignment assembly is selectively operable to rotate about the metering pole member and travel along a length of the metering pole member;
• disposing the mated metering pole member and alignment assembly within an annular inner face formed in the vertical form system;
• deploying a fastening member into the inner face of the vertical form system so as to maintain the metering pole member and the alignment assembly in fixed relationship with the vertical form system;
• causing the vertical form system to be aligned, leveled or plumbed;
• and
• backfilling any space between the earthen hole and an outer face of the vertical form system so as to prevent any subsequent movement of the vertical form system.