ELECTRONIC INCLINATION GAUGE

Abstract: An inclination sensor is disclosed which includes a capsule 15 containing a conductive liquid 17 which forms a liquid pendulum and having first and second resistive tracks 11, 13. In a first measuring configuration the terminals A, B of track 11 are connected to positive and negative voltages respectively and the terminals C, D of resistive track 13 are connected together, to form a sensing electrode. The voltage at terminal B is then adjusted so that the voltage at common electrode C, D, sensed through the conductive liquid 17 is adjusted to be zero. The ratio of voltages at terminals A and B is then related to the position of the conductive liquid 17 relative to the resistive track 11 and thus of the inclination of the capsule relative to horizontal. In an alternative measuring configuration, the roles of the resistive tracks 11, 13 are reversed, to allow the sensor to measure angles in a different angular range.

Description: This invention relates to a device and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a sensor for an electronic level or inclination gauge. Optical levels, more commonly called spirit levels, are well known and provide an optical indication of whether or not a surface is horizontal, based on the principle of an air bubble in a liquid-filled vial always seeking the highest point in the vial, the vial being slightly curved to that when at level, the bubble will always take up an equilibrium position. Such bubble levels, if disposed in a suitable frame, can also be used to provide an indication of whether or not a surface is vertical. However, such spirit levels are not capable of measuring deviations from horizontal or vertical outside a very limited range. Also, such spirit levels can be difficult to read accurately as the measurement of level or plumb depends on the ability of the user to determine the position of the bubble. Factors such as poor lighting or poor eyesight obviously affect this. An electronic spirit level has been proposed by Cantarella, in U.S. 4 167 818, which uses a capsule part-filled with a conductive liquid. Five electrodes are disposed within the capsule, the resistance between the electrodes being dependent on the position of the liquid within the capsule which, in turn, is dependent upon its inclination. A digital readout of angles of inclinations from level and from plumb is provided. However, this level, again, is only usable over a limited range of angular deviation from horizontal or vertical. Also the number and disposition of the electrodes makes the design complicated and difficult to manufacture. US-A-4 121 347 discloses an inclination sensor comprising a receptacle (20) containing an electrically conductive liquid (21), a first electrode (30) and a second electrode (33a), the first electrode (30) having a resistive track disposed about a reference axis of the sensor (10) and having two spaced points (b, c) which are out of contact with the liquid (21) over a range of angles of inclination of the sensor, the liquid (21) contacting said first electrode (30) between said points (b, c) over said range of angles, said second electrode (33a) contacting said liquid (21) over said range of angles, means for applying two voltages respectively to said two spaced points (b, c) over said range of angles, and inclination-sensing means (22,41,42) connected to said electrodes (30, 33a) to sense the inclination of the sensor (10) over said range of angles. However, the sensor of US-A-4 121 347 cannot cover a full 360° range, which it is one object of the present invention to achieve. US-A-3 946 494 discloses an inclination sensor with a receptacle, a conductive liquid therein, a number of electrodes and measuring circuitry, wherein the measuring circuitry comprises means (25) for sensing an electrical quantity at one of the electrodes (19) and adjusting the voltage applied to another electrode (15c) so that the electrical quantity at the electrode (19) is a predetermined value, the adjusted voltage (V o ) being indicative of the angle of inclination of the sensor about the reference axis. The voltages applied to different electrodes (15a and 15b) have positive and negative values respectively; the electrical quantity is current and the predetermined value is zero. Three conducting paths in the electrolyte are established between two measuring electrodes and an auxilliary electrode respectively and a common electrode. Angular displacement is simply related to the values of the conductances in the various paths. The present invention provides an inclination sensor as claimed in each of the claims, to which reference is directed. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inclination sensor, forming part of an embodiment of the inclination gauge of the invention. Figure 2 is a sectional view of the sensor shown in Figure 1 arranged in a mounting block. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the processing circuitry for the sensor shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figures 4a and 4b illustrate the inclination sensing device in different orientations. In Figure 1, an inclination sensor generally designated 1 is shown. The sensor 1 is mounted in a housing 3 as schematically shown in Figure 2, the housing 3 having an edge 5 which is presented to a surface, the inclination of which is to be measured. The sensor 1 includes a base member 7 preferably formed from ceramic material. On the base member 7 are mounted two part-annular electrodes formed as resistive inner and outer tracks 11,13 having a constant resistance per unit length and being concentrically disposed about reference axis O. The tracks 11,13 are preferably formed from CERMET (Trade Name) and are provided respectively with terminals A,B and C,D at the ends thereof. The gap between terminals A,B and the gap between terminals C,D are disposed so as to oppose one another across the reference axis O. The terminals A-D are connected to processing circuitry to be described below. The base member 7 is connected in sealing engagement with a cup-shaped container 15 thus forming a capsule 19. The container 15 is moulded from a plastics material preferably a thermo-plastic polyester (e.g. PBT). A conductive liquid 21, for example methyl alcohol (optionally with a salt and a surfacant), is disposed within the capsule in contact with the tracks 11,13, the capsule being filled to less than half its volume so that, when inclined at 90°, the liquid does not cover the gap between terminals A,B. In use, one resistive track e.g. 13 is used as a sensing element and the terminals C,D thereof are connected together to form a common terminal. A positive voltage is then applied to one terminal (A) and a negative voltage is applied to the other terminal (B) of the other resistive track 11, so that current flows through the resistive track 11. As the track 11 has a uniform resistance, a constant potential gradient will exist along it and as the voltage 5 applied at terminals A,B are of opposite polarity, a zero volt equipotential will exist at some point along the track. Also, as part of the tracks 11,13 are immersed in the conductive liquid 17, an electrical circuit may be formed between the outer track 11 and inner track 13 through the liquid 17. In such a circuit, if the integral of the voltage over the area of the track 11 immersed in the liquid 17 is non-zero, and track 13 is connected to a terminal 30 (a virtual earth) as shown in Figure 3, a current will flow from track 11 through liquid 17 to track 13 or vice versa. However, if the integral of the voltage over the surface immersed in the liquid is zero, no current will flow. Such a situation will occur when the zero volt equipotential is normal to the surface of the liquid, so that the field distribution in the liquid is symmetrical about the radius normal to the fluid surface. The mode of operation of the inclination gauge is to adjust the voltage at terminal B so as to move the zero volt equipotential along the track 11 until the condition of zero current flow through the sensor track 13 is satisfied. The ratio (γ) of the voltages V₁, V₂ at terminals A and B will then be related to the angle of inclination ϑ of the sensor as follows: With reference to Figures 2, 4a and 4b, let the voltage along track 11 where the track crosses the centre line = O then: Equating 1 and 2 and collecting terms gives: ....Where α is half the angle subtended by the gap in the resistive track at the centre thereof, ϑ = angle of inclination (positive clockwise). In general γ < O Thus, by adjusting the voltage V₂ so that the net voltage applied to track 13 is zero, and measuring the ratio of the voltages V₁, V₂ applied to the track 11, the angle of inclination of the sensor 1 about axis O can be calculated. A processing circuit for providing this mode of operation is illustrated in Figure 3 and comprises a switching circuit 32 to which terminals 26, 28 and 30 are connected. The switching circuit 32 serves to connect a selected pair (e.g. C,D) of the terminals A,B or C,D to terminal 30 the non-selected pair of terminals (e.g. A,B) being connected, respectively, to terminals 26,28. Terminal 30 is connected to the inverting input of an operational amplifier 20, with the output of the operational amplifier 20 being connected to terminal 28. If a positive voltage V1 is applied at terminal 26 a negative, output voltage V2 will be produced in dependence upon the characteristics of the inverting amplifier 20, and sensor 1. Assuming an initially null position as shown in Figure 4a, if the sensor 1 is shifted to angle - ϑ as shown in Figure 4b, the orientation of fluid 17 in relation to the track 11 changes resulting in a net positive voltage being developed along that part of the track 11 immersed in fluid 17, resulting in a flow of current through liquid 17 to track 13. This, through the action of operational amplifier 20, causes the voltage V2 to become more negative, thus moving the zero volt equipotential along track 11 towards terminal B, which in turn produces an adjustment in the flow of current to track 13 and so on until the voltage V2 has been adjusted so that the zero volt equipotential is normal to the liquid surface and no current flows through liquid 17 to track 13. The voltages V1, V2 can then be measured by conventional means and the voltage ratio V1/V2 and hence the angle of inclination of the capsule calculated by processing circuitry (not shown). The gain of amplifier 20 is arranged to be adequately high to ensure that any error voltage at its input is negligible. Measurements of angle of inclination of slightly greater than ±90° can be made by connecting voltages V1, V2 by terminals A,B However, for those angles at which the liquid 17 covers the gap between terminals A,B, the liquid will bridge the gap introducing a non-linearity to the circuit gap. In order to measure angles within this range, the switching circuit 32 operates to change the modes of the two tracks 11,13, the track 11 being switched so that terminals A,B are connected to terminal 30 and the track 13 being switched so as to be connected between terminals 26,28. The configuration illustrated, in which the gap between the terminals A,B is opposed to the gap between terminals C,D, when combined with the chosen level of liquid 17, ensures that one gap will not be covered with liquid for any angle of rotation of the capsule about axis O, thus allowing 360° of inclination measurement. The determination of which track is selected as the sensor may be made by determining if the ratio V1/V2 lies within a predetermined range for one track and switching the tracks if the ratio is outside the predetermined range. Also, the circuit means could sense a current into the sensing track other than zero and the terminal 30 could be at any fixed potential, with suitable compensation being made in the processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is preferably formed as an integrated circuit attached to the substrate 3. The applied voltage V1 may be alternating or of fixed potential. Although use of a conductive liquid and measuring technique are disclosed a liquid and measuring technique of any phase angle of impedance could be used.

Claims: An inclination sensor (1) comprising a receptacle (3) containing an electrically conductive liquid (17), a first electrode (11) and a second electrode (13), the first electrode (11) having a resistive track disposed about a reference axis (0) of the sensor (1) and having two spaced points (A, B) which are out of contact with the liquid (17) over a first range of angles of inclination of the sensor, the liquid (17) contacting said first electrode (11) between said points (A, B) over said first range, said second electrode (13) contacting said liquid (17) over said first range, means for applying two voltages respectively to said two spaced points (A, B) over said first range, and inclination-sensing means (20, 26, 28, 30) connected to said electrodes (11, 13) to sense the inclination of the sensor (1) over said first range, characterised in that the second electrode (13) has a resistive track disposed about the reference axis (0) of the sensor (1) and has two spaced points (C, D) which are out of contact with the liquid (17) over a second range of angles of inclination of the sensor (1), the liquid (17) contacting said second electrode (13) between said points (C, D) over said second range, said first electrode (11) contacting said liquid (17) over said second range, said voltage-applying means applying two voltages respectively to said two spaced points (C, D) of said second electrode (13) over said second range, and said inclination-sensing means (20, 26, 28, 30) being connected to said electrodes (11, 13) to determine the inclination of the sensor over said second range, said first and second ranges in combination covering a full 360° of inclination of the sensor (1). A sensor (1) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inclination-sensing means (20, 26, 28, 30) comprises means (20) for sensing an electrical quantity at the second electrode (13) over said first range and at said first electrode (11) over said second range and adjusting at least one of the voltages applied to the spaced points (A, B; C, D) of the first electrode (11) over said first range and of the second electrode (13) over said second range, so that the electrical quantity is a predetermined value at said second electrode (13) over said first range and at said first electrode (11) over said second range, said adjusted voltage(s) being indicative of the angle of inclination of the sensor about the reference axis (0). A sensor as claimed in claim 2 wherein the different voltages have positive and negative values respectively, the electrical quantity is current and the predetermined value is zero. A sensor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second electrodes (11, 13) are of part-annular form, each having a gap between the ends thereof, the gaps being disposed so that at least one gap is not covered by the liquid (17) for any angle of rotation of the capsule about the reference axis (0). A sensor as claimed in claim 4 wherein the gaps are disposed to face one another across the reference axis (0). A sensor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the receptacle (3) is filled with the conductive liquid (17) so that any rotation of the receptacle through 90° does not result in both said gaps being simultaneously covered with the liquid (17). A sensor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the receptacle (3) is formed from a cup-shaped member (15) formed from plastics material and a further member (7) for sealing the cup-shaped member (15). A sensor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the conductive liquid (17) includes methyl alcohol. A sensor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the inclination-sensing means (26-30) is sensitive to the resistive impedance of the conductive liquid for deriving the inclination of the sensor. A sensor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the inclination-sensing means (26-30) is sensitive to the reactive impedance of the conductive liquid for deriving the inclination of the sensor. An electronic level or inclination gauge including a sensor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

Inventors: DAVIS, KELVIN ROGER, RYAN, PAUL THOMAS, WYATT-MILLINGTON, CHARLES WILLIAM
Applicants: THE STANLEY WORKS
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G01C9
IPC codes: G01B7, G01C9