Clinometer

Details Clinometer Clinometer

1991-11-27

1993-05-18

Haroian, Harry N.

Geometrical instruments

Indicator of direction of force traversing natural media

Level or plumb, terrestrial gravitation responsive

33351, G01C 916

Patent

active

052109542

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a gradient indicator for determining the inclination of structures, systems or machines sensitive to inclination, with a base, on which a carrier plate carrying at least one clinometer can be supported by means of three bearing feet, in measurement positions which are rotated by 180.degree. in each case, in the direction of measurement axes X+ and X-, and Y+ and Y-, where guide devices are assigned to the base, which guide the bearing feet of the carrier plate into defined, reproducible positions when they are set on the bearing faces of the base.
The known devices of the type stated are provided with clinometers of varying construction, such as pendulum clinometers, power accelerometers, or electrolyte levels. All these clinometers demonstrate changes due to age, in addition to temperature-dependent zero point drifts and scaling factor changes, which are of random nature and cannot be modeled. In order to eliminate this defect, and when the demand for accuracy is high, so-called reversible measurements are carried out in two positions, offset by 180.degree., and the inclination is determined by forming the difference of the individual measurement values. With devices of the type stated initially (cf. brochure of Westfalische Berggewerkschaftskasse, "Elektronische Setzlibelle ESL2a mit 2-achsiger Einpassung" [Electronic Striding Level ESL2a with 2-axis fitting]), these reversible measurements are carried out discretely, by manually setting the carrier plate down on the base, and changing its position. However, only zero-point changes of the clinometer can be eliminated with such reversible measurements, but changes in scaling factor cannot. In order to keep the error influence of the scaling factor changes and that of gravity g, which differs from one location to another, to a minimum, only small gradients can be measured. This has the consequence that the base has to be placed in a very precise horizontal position when installed, and that only small gradients can be detected with sufficient accuracy.
Another disadvantage consists of the fact that manually carrying out the measurements makes continuous detection of gradient changes extremely difficult and labor-intensive. The measurement results are dependent, to a very significant degree, on the careful work of the measurement personnel. Since the base is exposed for inclination measurements, the measurements can also be falsified by dirt deposits.
It is therefore the task of the invention to improve the device of the type stated initially, in such a way that automatic acquisition of measurement values, with consistently high accuracy of measurement values, a large measurement range and self-calibration of zero point, scaling factor and gravity g, is made possible.
To accomplish this task, the invention proposes, proceeding from the device of the type stated initially,
that the carrier plate is structured as a turntable, which is mounted on the base so as to rotate around an axis of rotation, and tilt relative to the axis of rotation, and to be raised and lowered in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation, where motor-driven rotation and lifting devices are assigned to the turntable,
and that the base has further bearing faces to support the turntable in two additional measurement positions, offset from one another by 180.degree., in the direction of calibration measurement axes K+ and K-, which form an angle, particularly of 45.degree., with the measurement axes X+ and X-, and Y+ and Y-, where the bearing faces lying in alignment with the calibration measurement axes K+ and K- are raised or lowered relative to all other bearing faces lying in a common plane, by a fixed amount, and run parallel to the common plane,
and that the rotation and lifting devices and the clinometer are connected to a microprocessor, to control the movements of the turntable in the different measurement positions and to record and evaluate the measurement values measured by the clinometer.
First of all, the device according to the invention has

REFERENCES:
patent: 3490153 (1970-01-01), Harris
patent: 3762062 (1973-10-01), Johnston

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