Apparatus and method for measuring changes in ambient gravity fields
US4422329A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 17, 1981 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 17, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V7/08
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A gravity meter is provided which has a support framework which supports a suspension system having a weight arm to which a reaction mass is attached. The reaction mass includes a dielectric mass which extends partially into a cavity between a pair of conductors. Changes in either the ambient gravitational field or the electric potential on the conductors causes the dielectric mass to be moved into or out of the cavity between the conductors allowing both fine tune calibration of the device by means of varying the electric potential and direct readout of the device by measuring the electric potential required to equilibrate the conductor and dielectric system. The suspension assembly includes a pair of parallel spindles rotatably mounted on hinges secured to the support framework with the spindles being interconnected by a zero length mainspring and temperature compensating framework. The weight arm is attached to a first one of the spindles and the second spindle is connected to a mechanical adjustment assembly for gross tune adjustment of the tensioning mechanism to calibrate the gravity meter to a pre-selected gravity range prior to fine tuning the gravity meter by means of vary…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.