초록 ▼

An inclination sensor includes a tubular chamber extending along a curved longitudinal axis. A mass is located within the chamber and moves by gravity to the lowest point of the chamber. A pair of location sensors are mounted on opposite ends of the chamber and determine the location of the mass alo

An inclination sensor includes a tubular chamber extending along a curved longitudinal axis. A mass is located within the chamber and moves by gravity to the lowest point of the chamber. A pair of location sensors are mounted on opposite ends of the chamber and determine the location of the mass along the chamber axis by emitting light toward the mass and measuring the intensity of the light reflected off the mass. The inclination of the inclination sensor is calculated from the axial location of the mass.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An inclination sensor operable in a local gravity field, the sensor comprising: an elongate tubular chamber extending along a curved longitudinal axis; a mass within the chamber, the mass movable along the chamber axis to the lowest point of the chamber by the force of gravity; and at least

1. An inclination sensor operable in a local gravity field, the sensor comprising: an elongate tubular chamber extending along a curved longitudinal axis; a mass within the chamber, the mass movable along the chamber axis to the lowest point of the chamber by the force of gravity; and at least one location sensor connected to the chamber for determining the location of the mass along the chamber axis, each location sensor comprising a radiation emitter disposed to emit radiation from a first position towards the mass for reflecting radiation off the mass, a radiation detector disposed at a second location to detect the radiation reflected from the mass and generating a signal representing the intensity of the detected radiation and thereby the distance of the mass along the axis from the second position; and means for calculating the inclination of the sensor from the signal. 2. The inclination sensor according to claim 1 wherein the radiation emitter emits light and the radiation detector detects light. 3. The inclination sensor according to claim 2 wherein the radiation detector comprises a photoresistor disposed to detect the reflected light. 4. The inclination sensor of claim 1 comprising a liquid sealed within the chamber. 5. The inclination sensor of claim 4 wherein the liquid couples the path of the emitted radiation along the chamber axis. 6. The inclination sensor of claim 5 wherein the chamber comprises a first open end and the inclination sensor comprises a plug fluidly sealing the first open end, the radiation detector and the light emitter mounted on the plug. 7. The inclination sensor of claim 1 wherein the mass is configured to roll along the tubular chamber. 8. The inclination sensor of claim 1 wherein the radiation detector and the light emitter are disposed to face the interior of the chamber. 9. The inclination sensor of claim 8 wherein the light emitter includes a collimating tube extending into the chamber. 10. The inclination sensor of claim 8 wherein the chamber comprises a first open end and the inclination sensor comprises a plug closing the end, and the radiation detector and the light emitter are mounted on the plug. 11. The inclination sensor of claim 8 wherein the chamber comprises axially opposed first and second open ends and the inclination sensor comprises a first plug closing the first end, a second plug closing the second end, and the at least one location sensor comprises first and second location sensors, the radiation detector and radiation emitter of the first location sensor mounted on the first plug and the radiation detector and the radiation emitter of the second location sensor mounted on the second plug whereby motion of the mass towards one location sensor is motion of the mass away from the second location sensor.