Patent · US Expired

Tool for measuring inclination and rotation

US4779353A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
6References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 26, 1987
Grant dateOct 25, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 26, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01C9/20
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A tool is provided for measuring the angles of inclination and rotation of the tool itself, especially for use in a borehole. The tool preferably comprises an electrically nonconductive cylindrical chamber containing a conductive fluid and a nonconductive fluid which together fill the chamber; at least two wires oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber and located about the circumference of the chamber at other than 180 degrees apart from each other, such that the surface interface between the conductive and nonconductive fluids may be defined by a point along each of the two wires along with a third point on the surface; and electrical means attached to the wires for sensing an electrical characteristic of the wires corresponding to the points along the wires defined by the fluid interface; and means for using the sensed electrical characteristics of the wires, a knowledge of the chamber radius, and a knowledge of the third point, and determining therefrom an index of inclination of said chamber. Preferably, the means for using the sensed electrical characteristics to determine an index of inclination also uses the sensed electrical characteristics of the wire and…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.