Patent ID: 7942054

Claim:
A gravity gradiometer for measuring components of the gravitational gradient tensor, comprising: a sensor for measuring the components of the gradient tensor; and a mounting for supporting the sensor, the mounting comprising: a first mount having a base, a cylindrical hub protruding from the base, a peripheral wall disposed around and spaced from the cylindrical hub and provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced cut-outs, and a central core coaxial with the cylindrical hub and attached to the cylindrical hub by a first flexure web to provide for relative rotation between the central core and the base about a first axis; a second mount fitting within the peripheral wall of the first mount and having a first part, a second part, and a third part, with the first part and the second part connected via a second flexure web for relative rotation between the first part and the second part about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, and the second part and the third part connected by a third flexure web for relative rotation about a third axis orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis; and connectors extending outwardly from the first part of the second mount through the cutouts in the peripheral wall of the first mount for connecting the mounting to an external platform, the third part of the second mount being attached to the central core of the first mount and the sensor being connected to the base of the first mount whereby the sensor is rotatable with the base of the first mount about all three orthogonal axes.