Apparatus and methods for measuring strike and dip, trend and plunge, bearings, and inclination
AssigneeReal Science Innovations, LLC
InventorsLauren Heerschap, David Heerschap
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and methodology for measuring strike and dip of a plane, trend and plunge of a line, directional bearing in the horizontal plane, and angle of inclination in the vertical plane. More specifically, the present invention relates to a compass adapted to measure geological features using single compass configurations for each type of measurement. The compass includes a base, a hinge assembly rotatably interconnected to the base, and a lid rotatably interconnected to the hinge assembly. The lid is operable to rotate around both a major axis and a minor axis of the compass. A sight tube is positioned in a hollow bore of the hinge assembly and is operable to sight directional bearings.
Claims20
A measuring device for measuring one or more of a geologic structure, a bearing, an angle, strike and dip of a plane, and trend and plunge of a line, comprising:
- a base piece including a compass;
- a hinge assembly interconnected to the base piece;
- and
- a lid piece rotatably interconnected to the hinge assembly, wherein the lid piece is operable to rotate around both a major axis which is oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hinge assembly and a minor axis which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hinge assembly such that an orientation of the lid piece with respect to the base piece is identified on a scale.
A geologic structure measuring device, comprising:
- a base piece comprising a magnetic compass and a clinometer;
- a hinge assembly operably engaged to the base piece, the hinge assembly comprising a body with a bore forming a sight tube through the hinge assembly, the sight tube operable to align the base piece with an object;
- and
- a lid piece rotatably interconnected to the hinge assembly, wherein the lid piece is operable to rotate around a major axis of the compass.
A method of measuring trend and plunge of a lineation of a geologic structure, comprising:
- providing a device having a base piece with a compass, a hinge assembly rotatably interconnected to the base piece, and a lid piece rotatably interconnected to the hinge assembly;
- rotating the lid piece around a major axis of the hinge assembly;
- aligning a portion of the device with the geologic lineation;
- and
- leveling the base piece of the device by rotating the base piece around a minor axis of the hinge assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.