JP2011047812A - Tilt sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-priced tilt sensor that does not use a curved tube or concave surface which solves the problem that in an tilt sensor which detects the position of an air bubble within liquid encapsulated in a glass container formed in generally a curved tube or a concave surface visually or through an electric signal and acquires a horizontal state, special technique for accurately forming the curved tube or concave surface leads to the cost increase of the product. <P>SOLUTION: The level or tilt sensor is used when civil engineering or architectural machinery is installed. The tilt sensor encapsulates an air bubble and liquid in a hermetically sealed container, in which the air bubble is gas including oxygen, and holds the air bubble at a fixed position when the standard surface of the hermetically sealed container is horizontal by attracting the air bubble through magnetic force. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a spirit level or an inclination sensor used when installing civil engineering, architecture, and machinery. Generally, it is a spirit level that visually displays the horizontal state at the position of bubbles in a liquid sealed in a glass container, or a tilt sensor that detects the position of the bubbles and converts it into an electrical signal for output.

  At present, the level used by visual display that is widely used is to enclose a liquid in a glass tube and display the level of the reference plane according to the position of the bubbles in the glass tube. In order to be located at the center of the direction, a curved surface having a shape with a large curvature radius or a slightly swollen central portion is required. The accuracy of the levelness is determined by the size of the curvature radius of the curved surface, and a high level of processing technology is required at the time of manufacturing, resulting in an increase in cost.

On the other hand, in the tilt sensor that electrically detects and outputs the position of the bubble, the upper and lower surfaces of the container are made of glass, and the position of the bubble that moves on the lower surface of the glass on the upper surface due to the tilt of the reference surface is electrically or optically determined. Is detected, converted into an electrical signal, and output. In this system, it is necessary to form a concave surface with a large radius of curvature in order to make the bubble located at the center of the lower surface of the upper glass when horizontal. In order to accurately form the glass surface of this shape, a highly specialized technique is required, resulting in a large cost increase.
JP-A-11-183167

  At present, no countermeasure technology is found, and it is difficult to judge whether it is good or bad without actually putting in bubbles and assembling. In order to greatly reduce the cost, there is a need for an accurate bending technique of this glass tube or an accurate concave glass manufacturing technique.

  The present invention is established under the above-mentioned background, and the problem is to realize a level or tilt sensor that does not require glass tube bending and concave glass processing, enabling a significant cost reduction. The application range can be expanded. In the following description, not only a method of converting to an electric signal and outputting it but also a so-called level sensor that visually displays is referred to as a tilt sensor.

A first means for solving the problem of the present invention is to enclose a bubble and a liquid in a sealed container, the bubble is a gas containing oxygen, and the reference of the sealed container by sucking the bubble by magnetic force. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inclination sensor configured so that the bubbles can be held at a certain position when the surface is horizontal. When a permanent magnet is disposed at the upper center of the closed container, when the reference plane approaches horizontal, it can be detected that the bubbles are drawn to the center of the closed container by the magnetic attraction force acting on the bubbles containing oxygen and become horizontal. This is because the oxygen itself has a slight magnetic property, but utilizes the characteristics that can be attracted by a magnet. The attractive force acting on the bubbles can be arbitrarily set depending on the magnetic force of the permanent magnet. It is also possible to change the attraction force by using an electric magnet instead of a permanent magnet and a current flowing through the coil.

A second means for solving the problems of the present invention is a tilt sensor having the structure described in the first means, and provides a tilt sensor configured as if the upper and lower surfaces of the sealed container are configured by parallel flat glass. To do.

A third means for solving the problems of the present invention is an inclination sensor having the structure described in the first means, and provides an inclination sensor configured as if the main part of the hermetic container is composed of a glass tube without bending. To do.

A fourth means for solving the problems of the present invention is a tilt sensor having the structure described in the first means, and provides a tilt sensor configured to detect a position of a bubble by a potential difference generated between a plurality of electrodes. To do.

A fifth means for solving the problems of the present invention is an inclination sensor having the structure described in the first means, and provides an inclination sensor configured to optically detect the position of a bubble.

  The effect of the present invention is that the conventional tilt sensor attracts the bubbles to the central portion by the curvature of the glass tube or the glass surface, but attracts the bubbles to the central portion by the magnetic attractive force acting on the bubbles containing oxygen. Since there is no need for glass tube bending and 3D bending of the glass surface, it does not require advanced special technology. Since the working suction force can be controlled, it is possible to change the accuracy of the tilt sensor, and it has a new feature that has never existed before, so that new applications can be expanded. Therefore, the technical effect of the present invention is extremely remarkable.

In the best mode for carrying out the present invention, bubbles and liquid are enclosed in a sealed container, and the bubbles are a gas containing oxygen like ordinary air, and there are magnetic lines of force vertically in the center of the upper surface of the sealed container. Permanent magnets magnetized as they pass are arranged. When a permanent magnet is placed in the upper center of the sealed container, the reference plane approaches horizontal, and if the magnetic attraction force acting on the oxygen contained in the bubble becomes larger than the force that causes the bubble to move upward on the glass surface by buoyancy, the attraction force It can be detected that the container is drawn to the center of the sealed container and becomes horizontal. The attractive force acting on the bubbles can be arbitrarily set depending on the magnetic force of the permanent magnet. It is also possible to change the attraction force by using an electric magnet instead of a permanent magnet and a current flowing through the coil. A method of attaching the magnet to the sealed container can be arbitrarily selected by a known technique including adhesion.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a structure of a first embodiment of the tilt sensor of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an upper sectional view taken along the line AA.
1 and 2, a bubble 2 and a liquid 3 are enclosed in a sealed container 1, and the bubble 2 is a gas containing oxygen like ordinary air, and a magnetic field line is vertically formed in the center of the upper surface of the sealed container 1. A permanent magnet 4 magnetized as it passes is disposed. The attachment method is arbitrary including adhesion. 5
Is a reference plane as a tilt sensor.
When the permanent magnet 4 is arranged at the upper center of the sealed container 1, the reference plane 5 approaches horizontal, and the bubbles 2 are magnetized to act on oxygen contained in the bubbles 2 by the force of moving upward along the upper glass plate 6 by buoyancy. When the suction force is increased, it can be detected that the suction force is drawn to the center of the sealed container 1 to be in a horizontal state. The upper glass plate 6 of the sealed container 1 is a simple flat plate and does not form a curved concave surface. Reference numeral 7 denotes an electrode deposited on the lower surface of the upper glass plate 6, and divided electrodes 9 and 9 ′ are deposited on the upper surface of the lower glass plate 8. Since the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes 8 and 9 and 9 'is changed by the bubble 2, the position of the bubble 2 can be detected by measuring the current generated by applying an alternating charge between the electrodes. Further, the attractive force acting on the bubbles can be arbitrarily set depending on the strength of the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 4. The bottom electrodes 9 and 9 'are divided into two in FIG. 2, but if this is divided into four, the horizontality in two directions can be measured simultaneously.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing a partial cross-section.
In FIG. 3, the sealed container 21 is a cylindrical tube and is not curved. Bubbles 22 and liquid 23 are sealed inside. The bubble 22 is a gas containing oxygen like normal air, and an electromagnet 24 that is magnetized so that a magnetic line of force passes in the vertical direction is arranged at the upper center of the sealed container 21. Reference numeral 25 denotes a reference plane as an inclination sensor. When the permanent magnet 4 is arranged at the upper center of the closed container 1, the reference plane 5 approaches horizontal, and the bubbles 22 act on oxygen contained in the bubbles 2 due to the force of moving upward on the inner surface of the tubular closed container 21 by buoyancy. When the magnetic attraction force is increased, it can be detected that the attraction force is drawn to the center of the sealed container 21 to be in a horizontal state. Since the attractive force acting on the bubble 22 can be changed by the current flowing through the coil of the electromagnet 24, the accuracy as the tilt sensor can be changed as necessary. That is, if the current value of the electromagnet 24 is increased as an inclination sensor with relatively low accuracy, the air bubble 22 is attracted to the center of the sealed container 21 even if there is a slight inclination, so that the levelness is obtained. Adjustment can be finished. On the other hand, in the case of applications where the accuracy is severe, if the current value of the electromagnet 24 is reduced, the bubbles 22 will be displaced from the center of the sealed container 21 with a slight inclination. . This means that a single tilt sensor can be used widely by changing the accuracy according to the application. It can be said that the electromagnet shown in the second embodiment can be used for the tilt sensor having the shape as in the first embodiment, and at the same time, the permanent magnet can be used in the tilt sensor having the shape shown in the second embodiment. Not too long.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 4, a bubble 32 and a liquid 33 are enclosed in a sealed container 31, and the bubble 32 is a gas containing oxygen like normal air, and there is a magnetic field line in the vertical direction at the center of the top surface of the sealed container 31. A permanent magnet 34 that is magnetized as it passes is disposed. Reference numeral 35 denotes a reference plane as an inclination sensor. The upper glass plate 36 of the sealed container 31 is a simple flat plate and does not form a curved concave surface. Reference numerals 37 and 37 ′ denote light receiving elements fixed to the upper surface of the upper glass plate 6. Light emitting elements 39 and 39 ′ are fixed to the lower surface of the lower glass plate 38 so as to face the light receiving elements 37 and 37 ′. . Since the light amount from the light emitting elements 39 and 39 ′ is blocked by the position of the bubble 32 and the amount of light reaching the light receiving elements 37 and 37 ′ changes, the position of the bubble 32 can be detected by measuring the light amount. Needless to say, the configuration of the present embodiment can be applied to a sealed container having the structure shown in the second embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the bubble position is detected electrically. However, it is not deviated from the gist of the present invention to use it as a so-called horizon by simply knowing the level by visual observation.

  As is clear from the above description, the tilt sensor of the present invention does not change the position of the bubble due to the tilt by the curved tube or concave surface unlike the conventional one, so that the advanced special for processing the curved tube or concave surface is not used. Because it does not require any technology, it is possible to significantly reduce the cost, and furthermore, it is possible to change the measurement accuracy arbitrarily by changing the strength of the magnetic force. The engineering effect is extremely remarkable.

It is a sectional side view which shows the structure of one Example of the inclination sensor of this invention. It is the upper sectional view in the AA line. It is a side perspective view of the other Example of this invention, and shows a partial cross section. It is a sectional side view of the other Example of this invention.

1, 21, 31: Airtight container 2, 22, 32: Bubble 3, 23, 33: Liquid 4, 34: Permanent magnet 24: Electromagnet 5, 25, 35: Reference plane 6, 36: Upper glass plate 7: Electrode 8 , 38: bottom glass plate 9, 9 ′: electrodes 37, 37 ′: light receiving elements 39, 39 ′: light emitting elements

Claims (5)

  Bubbles and liquid are enclosed in a sealed container, and the bubbles are oxygen-containing gas. By sucking the bubbles by magnetic force, the bubbles can be held at a fixed position when the reference plane of the sealed container is horizontal. Tilt sensor configured as above.   2. The tilt sensor according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the sealed container are made of parallel flat glass.   2. The tilt sensor according to claim 1, wherein a main part of the sealed container is constituted by a glass tube having no curvature in the longitudinal direction.   2. The inclination sensor according to claim 1, wherein the position of the bubble is detected by a potential difference generated between a plurality of electrodes.   The inclination sensor according to claim 1, wherein the position of the bubble is detected by an optical sensor using a plurality of pairs of light emitting and receiving elements.

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