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US 5,630,280 AGranted
Dual axis electrolytic tilt sensor
AssigneeThe Fredericks Company
InventorWallace R. Crossan, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dual axis electrolytic tilt sensor is disclosed which includes a spherical enclosure that houses a plurality of electrodes partially immersed in an electrolytic solution. The electrodes have arcuate contact portions and the spherical inner surface of the enclosure defines a common electrode. When connected to an appropriate electrical circuit, the sensor produces a substantially linear output voltage in proportion to tilt angle.
Claims20
A tilt sensor which comprises:
- a) a spherical containment vessel for sealingly containing an electrolytic solution and having an inner surface defining a common electrode;
- and
- b) a plurality of electrodes each including an arcuate contact portion housed within the containment vessel and a lead portion depending from the containment vessel and extending to the exterior of the containment vessel for allowing interfacing with an external electrical circuit, the arcuate contact portion of each electrode having a radius of curvature that is less than the radius of the inner surface of the spherical containment vessel.
A tilt sensor which comprises:
- a) a containment vessel for sealingly containing an electrolytic solution and having a spherical inner surface which defines a common electrode;
- and
- b) a plurality of electrodes each including an arcuate contact portion housed within the containment vessel and a lead portion depending from the containment vessel and extending to the exterior of the containment vessel for allowing interfacing with an external electrical circuit, the plurality of electrodes including:
- i) a first pair of electrodes arranged in such a manner so that the arcuate contact portions thereof form a first great circle of a sphere which is concentric with the spherical inner surface of the containment vessel, the first great circle defining a first tilt axis;
- and
- ii) a second pair of electrodes arranged in such a manner so that the arcuate contact portions thereof form a second great circle of the sphere defining a second tilt axis which is orthogonal to the first tilt axis.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.