Sensing apparatus for inclinometers
US3937078A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 1974 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 1994 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01P13/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for sensing the orientation of an inclinometer in both direction and magnitude for determining the velocity and direction of currents in a body of water having a magnetic north seeking sphere buoyantly supported in a housing. Implanted on the sphere is a plurality of tuned circuits of different resonant frequencies set at right angles to each other and a sense-drive winding or coil mounted about the housing. Upon applying a series of pulses of voltage to the sense-drive coil, the tuned circuits will oscillate with decaying amplitude at their resonant frequencies in the intervals between the pulses of voltage. The mean voltage across each of the tuned circuits is a measure of the amount and direction of tilt of the housing caused by the currents. The sense-drive coil senses these voltages across the tuned circuits and between the induced pulses of voltages, will transmit them to conventional recording equipment whereby a continuous determination of the currents velocity and direction are obtained.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.