GB2110375A - Remotely readable compasses - Google Patents
Remotely readable compasses Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2110375A GB2110375A GB08134339A GB8134339A GB2110375A GB 2110375 A GB2110375 A GB 2110375A GB 08134339 A GB08134339 A GB 08134339A GB 8134339 A GB8134339 A GB 8134339A GB 2110375 A GB2110375 A GB 2110375A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- magnet
- housing
- compass
- signals
- magnetic north
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C17/00—Compasses; Devices for ascertaining true or magnetic north for navigation or surveying purposes
- G01C17/02—Magnetic compasses
- G01C17/04—Magnetic compasses with north-seeking magnetic elements, e.g. needles
- G01C17/20—Observing the compass card or needle
- G01C17/26—Observing the compass card or needle using electric pick-offs for transmission to final indicator, e.g. photocell
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
Abstract
A compass whose reading can be sensed at a remote position by telemetry equipment comprises a magnet 1 embedded in a spherical block 2 located within a spherical housing and floating in appropriate fluid 3. Sensing coils, or light sensing devices, are provided within the housing 4 to provide variable signals as the magnet hunts about magnetic north and these signals are processed by a microprocessor, to ascertain the position about which the magnet is hunting. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Remote compass
This invention relates to compasses which may be used with telemetry equipment to enable the deviation from magnetic north to be determined from a remote point.
The remote compass is particularly designed to be used in a drilling rig in accordance with my copending application No. 8134337, filed simultaneously herewith and entitled "Drilling
Equipment and method". However, its use is not to be regarded as restricted to such an application.
According to the invention, there is provided a remotely usable compass comprising a magnet suspended in a housing with freedom to seek magnetic north, a series of sensing devices in the housing to generate signals dependent on the position or movement of the magnet, and means for processing the signals to ascertain the position of the magnet relative to the housing.
The shape of the magnet will provide differentiation between north and south.
The sensing devices are preferably sensing coils but light sensing devices, associated with fibre optics, may alternatively be used.
The signals from the sensing device may be processed in a microprocessor to ascertain the position of the magnet in relation to the housing.
In the case of sensing coils, the magnet will hunt to magnetic north and the movement involved in hunting will generate the signals conductively.
The microprocessor can be used to calculate the point about which hunting is taking place.
The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, of which the single figure is a diagrammatic sectional view showing a preferred form of compass according to the invention.
The drawing shows magnet 1, with its ends shaped differently so that different signals are sensed at the north and south ends of it. The magnet 1 is embedded in a spherical block 2 of non-magnetic material and this block 2 is suspended in appropriate fluid 3 within a housing 4, also of spherical shape. The housing 4 has embedded therein a set of sensing coils 5 spaced over its whoie surface. Only a few such sensing coils are shown. It will be understood that the housing 4 will be located where it can be used to allow the magnet 1 to seek magnetic north and as the magnet 1 hunts for magnetic north, signals will be electromagnetically induced in the coils 5.
The magnitude of these signals will depend on the proximity to the magnet and also on the speed of movement of the magnet and by transmitting these signals derived from them, to a suitably programmed microprocessor, the position of magnetic north about which the magnet is hunting, can be accurately ascertained.
It will also be understood that instead of sensing coils, some sort of light sensing device may be used in conjunction with fibre optic light sources associated with the magnet. Also, although the spherical shape has been described as preferred for the block 2 and the housing 4, other rounded shapes such as extended spheres or ellipsoidal forms can be used.
It will be understood that if the compass is used in connection with a drill stack, it can be mounted in a drill tube so that the direction of the drill tube in relation to magnetic north can easily be ascertained. With suitable telemetry, such as that described in may above-mentioned copending application, the time required to ascertain magnetic north is only a few seconds. It will thus be economic to check for any deviation from a predetermined course at short time intervals, thus avoiding the need for excessive corrective action.
Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A remotely usable compass comprising a magnet suspended in a housing with freedom to seek magnetic north, a series of sensing device in the housing to generate signals dependent on the position or movement of the magnet, and means for processing the signals to ascertain the position of the magnet relative to the housing.
2. A compass as claimed in claim 1, in which the sensing devices are sensing coils.
3. A compass as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the magnet is embedded in a block or mass of non-magnetic material and the block or mass is suspended by suitable liquid in the housing, which is of similar shape to the block or mass.
4. A compass as claimed in claim 3, in which the block or mass and the housing are each in the form of an extended sphere.
5. A remotely usable compass substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (5)
1. A remotely usable compass comprising a magnet suspended in a housing with freedom to seek magnetic north, a series of sensing device in the housing to generate signals dependent on the position or movement of the magnet, and means for processing the signals to ascertain the position of the magnet relative to the housing.
2. A compass as claimed in claim 1, in which the sensing devices are sensing coils.
3. A compass as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the magnet is embedded in a block or mass of non-magnetic material and the block or mass is suspended by suitable liquid in the housing, which is of similar shape to the block or mass.
4. A compass as claimed in claim 3, in which the block or mass and the housing are each in the form of an extended sphere.
5. A remotely usable compass substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB08134339A GB2110375A (en) | 1981-11-13 | 1981-11-13 | Remotely readable compasses |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB08134339A GB2110375A (en) | 1981-11-13 | 1981-11-13 | Remotely readable compasses |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB2110375A true GB2110375A (en) | 1983-06-15 |
Family
ID=10525884
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB08134339A Withdrawn GB2110375A (en) | 1981-11-13 | 1981-11-13 | Remotely readable compasses |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2110375A (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0160444A2 (en) * | 1984-04-26 | 1985-11-06 | Stc Plc | Magnetic angular position sensor |
EP0179552A2 (en) * | 1984-09-22 | 1986-04-30 | Michael King Russell | Direction-finding devices |
WO1995004916A1 (en) * | 1993-08-05 | 1995-02-16 | Interlink Electronics, Inc. | Inclinometer |
-
1981
- 1981-11-13 GB GB08134339A patent/GB2110375A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0160444A2 (en) * | 1984-04-26 | 1985-11-06 | Stc Plc | Magnetic angular position sensor |
GB2158239A (en) * | 1984-04-26 | 1985-11-06 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Magnetic angular position sensor |
EP0160444A3 (en) * | 1984-04-26 | 1987-11-11 | Stc Plc | Magnetic angular position sensor |
EP0179552A2 (en) * | 1984-09-22 | 1986-04-30 | Michael King Russell | Direction-finding devices |
EP0179552A3 (en) * | 1984-09-22 | 1987-04-15 | Michael King Russell | Direction-finding devices |
WO1995004916A1 (en) * | 1993-08-05 | 1995-02-16 | Interlink Electronics, Inc. | Inclinometer |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |