Remote reading compass with 360 degree roll capability
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorJohn T. Fowler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cylindrical compass gimballing and data readout system permitting 360.degree. rotation about both yaw and roll axes includes a cylindrical compass housing flooded with semiconductive fluid to permit transmission of a digitally multiplexed signal from a remote reading compass to a processing unit in which the fluid is interposed between spaced-apart plates located along and perpendicular to the roll axis of the compass. This permits electrical connection to and from the compass, and permits not only 360.degree. rotation about the yaw axis for compass heading readout, but also 360.degree. rotation of the compass about the roll axis to permit use in seismic streamers.
Claims10
A compass comprising:
- an outer electrically non-conductive housing having yaw, pitch and roll axes and carrying spaced-apart electrode plates, at least a portion of an electrode plate being perpendicular to said roll axis;
- an inner electrically non-conductive housing mounted within said outer housing for 360.degree. rotation about the roll axis of said outer housing, said inner housing being mounted in said outer housing between said spaced-apart electrodes, said inner housing carrying electrode plates, each spaced from and oriented parallel to an associated electrode carried by said outer housing;
- a digital compass mounted in said inner housing, said digital compass having a digital multiplexed output and a magnetic field sensing element mounted for rotation about said yaw axis;
- means for coupling said digital compass to the electrode plates of said inner housing;
- and
- a semiconductive fluid between associated electrodes of said inner and outer housings, whereby power may be supplied to said digital compass via connection to the electrode plates carried by said outer housing and whereby digital data from said digital compass may be readout via connection to the electrode plates carried by said outer housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.