Patent ID: 6247239
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
A clinometric sensor for detecting a tilt about a tilting axis, said clinometric sensor having a horizontal reference direction and a vertical reference direction perpendicular to the tilting axis and to one another, an inclinational angle of the clinometric sensor corresponding to a deviation of said horizontal reference direction from a terrestrial horizon direction, said clinometric sensor comprising:a closed container, includinga tube-like member arranged along a flat plane perpendicular to the tilting axis as a closed substantially tubular shape, the shape having end openings open toward either side of the flat plane, anda pair of side members, each side member having a flat surface arranged parallel to the flat plane, and one side member being arranged at each one of said end openings for closing each one of said end openings of the closed substantially tubular shape; andan electrolytic solution injected in said closed container and forming a substantially flat surface in said closed container when the tilting axis of said tube-like member extends in a direction of the terrestrial horizon,wherein a cross section of said tube-like member perpendicular to the tilting axis of said tube-like member is an oval shape having a major axis and a minor axis, and wherein the major axis of the oval shape extends in the horizontal reference direction of the clinometric sensor.