Pendulum

Details Pendulum Pendulum

1976-12-20

1978-06-27

Phillips, Charles E.

Geometrical instruments

Indicator of direction of force traversing natural media

Level or plumb, terrestrial gravitation responsive

33378, G01C 912

Patent

active

040966380

ABSTRACT:
A support body is provided defining a first pair of sides, a circular recess in the body opening outwardly of the first pair of sides and a second pair of sides for abutting against a surface whose orientation relative to the horizontal is to be measured. A level element is adjustably, rotatably disposed in the recess and defines a hollow housing having opposite sides including at least one outer side facing outwardly of the recess. The opposite sides include central journal bearing structures and the opposite ends of a support shaft are journaled from the journal bearing structures. A weighted pendulum-type upstanding pointer arm has a midportion thereof supported from the shaft and includes an upper end indicator or portion swingable in close proximity to the inner surface of the outer periphery of the outer side of the housing, the outer periphery being constructed of transparent material and provided with peripherally spaced indicia. The shaft further includes a support arm disposed generally normal to the pointer arm and extending outwardly of opposite sides of the shaft. The opposite ends of the support arm include float bodies and the interior of the housing is filled with a liquid to a level at which the float bodies are buoyed up by the liquid with a force slightly less than the combined weight of the shaft, the pointer and support arms and the float bodies, taking into consideration those portions of the latter which are totally or partially submerged within the liquid. In this manner, the journal bearing structures support only a small fraction of the total weight comprising the shaft and the various components supported therefrom and thereby function primarily to guide the shaft and its supported components.

REFERENCES:
patent: 1220407 (1917-03-01), Fogelsong
patent: 1399423 (1921-12-01), Cunningham
patent: 1600855 (1926-09-01), Stevens
patent: 1855664 (1932-04-01), Budge
patent: 1924761 (1933-08-01), Turner
patent: 2722056 (1955-11-01), Stimler
patent: 3945391 (1976-03-01), Pearse

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