GB2159856A - Divining rod - Google Patents

Abstract

A one-hand divining rod has a handle portion (1) to which a flexible indicator portion (2) is attached. The indicator portion is formed as a straight wire (2) at one end of which a terminal element (3) is provided, and the other end of which is connected to one end of the handle portion which is formed as a metallic tube (1). A tuning element (4) made of electrically conductive material is received in the tube (1). The tuning element (4) is in electrically conductive connection with the tube (1), fills up at least part of the cross-section thereof and is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the tube. By sliding adjustment of the tuning element (4) within the tube (1), the divining rod can be adjusted to the maximum sensitivity of the indication at the indicator portion (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION One-hand test rod The invention relates to a one-hand test rod having a handle portion to which a flexible indicator portion is attached, said indicator portion being formed as a straight wire at one end of which a terminal element is arranged, and the other end of which is connected to one end of said handle portion which is formed as a metallic tube.

Such test rods which are also named dowsing rods, are known and described e.g. in DE OS 30 27 367 and DE-GM 82 24 305. They are used e.g. for tracing threads of water and mineral resources, or for carrying out other investigations, e.g. tracing so-called "irritating stripes" on the ground surface.

One-hand test rods of the aforementioned type are characterized by the fact that, with their help, investigations can also be carried out by persons having only little practice.

The problem underlying the present invention was seen in the further development df a one-hand test rod as described above and as mentioned in the preamble to claim 1 to the end that the sensibility and precision of measurements which are carried out by means of the test rod, can be considerably increased.

The aforementioned problem is solved by the features which are contained in the characterizing clause of claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the claimed test rod are described in the subclaims.

The invention is based on the perception that, by displacing the tuning element within the tube of the handle portion, a tuning operation can be obtained which does not only increase the exactness of measurements carried out by means of the test rod to a considerable extent, but, which, in many cases, forms the only posibility for finding out certain particular spots or regions in space in which the conditions clearly distinguish from those in the environment. In such spots or regions, the indicator portion of the test rod will begin to vibrate, especially its terminal element will carry out a circular spinning motion. As can be observed, a displacement of the tuning element within the tube will increase, decrease or entirely stop the vibration.It has further turned out that, upon adjustment of the tuning element in different positons within the tube, different spots and regions in space will bring about the optimal sensibility or exactness of the measuring operation, i.e. the maximum deflection of the indicator portion.

Since the phenomena causing the deflection of such test rod have not yet been definitely cleared in a scientifically acknowledged manner, attention is directed only to the fact that the one-hand test rod according to the invention behaves as if the tube of the handle portion together with the displaceable tuning element, forms an electric resonant circuit, e.g. a cavity resonator as used in microwave techniques, in which cavity resonator a resonance condition, e.g. a standing electric wave, is built up upon adjustment of an electrically conductive tuning element in different positions. It has been found out that the test rod according to the invention provides for the possibility of obtaining a very accurate tuning to these "resonant positions", and that the results are well reproducible.

The one-hand test rod according to the invention will be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing showing, in longitudinal section, one embodiment of the one-hand test rod.

To one end of a handle portion 1 which is formed as a cylindrical tube, an indicator portion 2 is coaxially attached, said indicator portion being formed as an elongated wire.

The tube 1 is made of electrically highly conductive material. E.g., a copper tube having a diameter of 22 mm can be used. The wire 2 can likewise be made of electrically conductive material such as brass. The front end of the tube 1 is closed by a plug 8 made of electrically non-conductive material, e.g. a plastics material. The plug 8 is provided with a central bore. The rearward end of the tube 1 is closed by a plug 7 made of electrically conductive material, e.g. brass. Both plugs 7 and 8 form also a holder for a guide element which is in the form of a bar 9. The bar 9 can be made of metal or of an electrically nonconductive material such as plastics material.

A tuning element 4 is longitudinally slidably arranged within the tube 1. The tuning element 4 is made of electrically conductive material such as copper or brass. It can be formed cylindrically, whereby the cross-section of the tube is partially filled up, and an electrically well-conductive connection with the inner wall of the tube is established through a projection 4a. The bar 9 passes through a central bore of the tuning element 4 so that the latter can slide along the bar 9 within the tube. In the outer surface of the tube 1 an elongated slot 1a is provided, said slot extending over part of the length of the tube and ending near the two ends thereof. A stud or bolt 5 passes through the slot 1 a which stud is screwed into the tuning element 4. A knob 6 is secured to the outer end of the stud 5 for manual actuation.

The terminal element which is attached to the free end of the wire 2, is formed as a conical wire helix 3 whereby the wire can be made of the same material as the wire 2. The tip 3a of the conical wire helix is firmly connected to the tip 2a of the straight wire, and the wire helix 3 is arranged in such a way that its base 3b faces towards the handle portion.

On the outer surface of the tube 1, a measuring scale (not shown can be provided by means of which the relative position of tuning element 4 within the tube can be read off. Further, in a manner not shown, the actuating element can be provided with a catch member by means of which the tuning element 4 can be locked in a certain position.

This catch member can e.g. be formed so that the stud 5 is adapted to be screwed into the tuning member 4 to such an extent that the actuating knob 6 rests on the outer wall of the tube thereby forming a catch member. Further, a spring element (not shown) can be provided against the force of which the tuning element 4 can be slidably adjusted.

The above described one-hand test rod is operated as follows. The handle portion of the test rod is grasped by hand, preferably such that the thumb of the hand rests on the actuating knob 6. The indicator portion, with its forward end, is moved towards the spot or region in space which is to be investigated.

Simultaneously, through the knob 6, the tuning element 4 is displaced until a deflection is observed to the end that, e.g., the terminal element carries out a circular movement. By moving the tuning element 4 forth and back, it is easy to adjust the most sensitive position of the measurement, namely the greatest deflection at the forward end of the indicator portion. The corresponding position of the tuning element 4 can be read from a measuring scale which may be provided adjacent to the elongated slot la of the tube 1. By means of the tuning element in a fixed or, possibly, locked position, it is easy to carry out further measurements by searching for spots or regions in space in which a deflection of the indicator portion occurs when the test rod has been tuned in this way.

In practical tests it has been found out that different but reproducible positions of the tuning element 4 can be associated with different spots or regions in space which may also be influenced by the presence of persons, animals or plants. In this case, too, the test rod according to the invention behaves in a manner as if phenomena were observed to which differing resonance conditions or, in connection with a cavity resonator, differing natural frequencies or natural wave lengths, respectively, can be associated.

Claims (14)

1. One-hand test rod having a handle portion to which a flexible indicator portion is attached, said indicator portion being formed as a straight wire at one end of which a terminal element is provided, and the other end of which is connected to one end of said handle portion which is formed as a metallic tube, characterized in that a tuning element (4) made of electrically conductive material is received in said tube (1), said tuning element being in electrically conductive connection with said tube, filling up at least part of the interior cross-section thereof and being slidable in the longitudinal direction of said tube.

2. Test rod as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tube (1) is provided with an elongated slot (1 a) extending over at least part of the length of said tube, and that an actuating element (5) connected with the tuning element (4), passes through said slot to the outside of said tube.

3. Test rod as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tube (1), at its rearward end facing away from the indicator portion, is closed by a plug (7) made of electrically conductive material.

4. Test rod as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a guide element (9) is coaxially arranged within the tube (1) and attached to both ends thereof, on which guide element the tuning element (4) is slidably guided.

5. Test rod as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the guide element is formed as a bar (9) passing through a longitudinal bore of the tuning element (4).

6. Test rod as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the handle portion is formed as a hollow-cylindrical tube (1) the front end of which is closed by a plug (8), the wire (2) of the indicator portion being coaxially attached to said front end of said tube.

7. Test rod as claimed in claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the bar (9) and the plug (8) at the front end of the tube (1) are made of electrically non-conductive material.

8. Test rod as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the actuating element is a stud (5) secured to or in the tuning element (4), a knob (6) being provided at the outer end of said actuating element for manual actuation.

9. Test rod as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the terminal element is formed as a conical wire helix (3) arranged coaxially to the straight wire, whereby the tip (3a) of said conical helix is connected to the end (2a) of said straight wire.

1 0. Test rod as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the wire helix (3) is attached to the straight wire (2) in such a way that its base (3b) faces towards the handle portion (1).

11. Test rod as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the straight wire (2) and the terminal element (3) are made of metal.

1 2. Test rod as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the actuating element includes a releasable catch.

1 3. Test rod as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the tuning element is slidable against the force of a spring.

14. Test rod as claimed in any of claims 2 to 13, characterized in that a measuring scale is provided adjacent to the elongated slot of the tube.

1 5. Test rod constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.