JPH05172571A - Slope angle sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a small size, light and low cost sensor capable of measurement with high accuracy by detecting the displacement of electroconductive liquid sealed in a frame to gravity direction as electrostatic capacity between an external electrode plate and the electroconducive liquid. CONSTITUTION:To a true circular cylindrical frame 1 made of an electroconductive material, a terminal 2 is connected and its opening is covered with an insulation plate 3. In the half volume of the frame 1, electroconductive liquid 4 (for example, mercury) and insulation liquid 5 (for example, oil) with smaller specific gravity than the liquid 4 are sealed for a damper purpose. On the insulation plate 3 surface, a semicircular external electrode plate 6 is placed to get an electrostatic capacity for the liquid 4, and a terminal 7 is connected here. A slope angle sensor 8 has a 180 degree measuring range and the terminals 2 and 7, the external electrode plate 6, the insulation plate 3, the liquid 4 and the frame 1 constitute a variable capacitor so that the electrostatic capacity between the electrode plate 6 and the liquid 4 varies with the displacement of the liquid 4 to the gravity direction accordingly to the slope angle. This electrostatic capacity is detected to obtain the slope.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tilt angle sensor used when measuring a tilt angle in civil engineering work and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional tilt angle sensor is one in which a weight that hangs in the direction of gravity is attached to a rotary encoder, a torque balance type sensor, or a displacement of the weight between two sense coils. The one that detects the change of inductance by vector operation is used.

[0003]

Since all of the conventional inclination angle sensors have mechanically movable parts, they are likely to be out of order due to stress such as impact and are easily worn, which makes accurate measurement difficult. There is a drawback. Further, in order to reduce sliding friction, it is necessary to use a heavy weight, which makes it difficult to reduce the size. Further, there is a drawback that the precision processing is required at the time of production, so that the cost becomes high and the accuracy becomes poor when the measurement range is widened.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention has been made.
Accurate measurement is possible without using mechanical moving parts,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and highly accurate tilt angle sensor that can be made compact and lightweight.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cylindrical frame made of a conductive material, and the frame.
An insulating plate that hermetically covers both openings of the frame, and the frame enclosed in the frame that is hermetically covered with the insulating plate.
The volume of the conductive liquid which is approximately half or less than the volume in the frame, and the frame which is hermetically covered with the insulating plate.
A plurality of semi-circular shapes or circular shapes installed so that capacitance can be obtained by an insulating liquid having a specific gravity smaller than that of the conductive liquid enclosed in the column and the conductive liquid on the surface of the insulating plate. An arc-shaped external electrode plate divided into pieces, one terminal connected to the external electrode plate, and the other terminal connected to the frame constitute an inclination angle sensor.

[0006]

The function of the tilt angle sensor constructed as described above is
The inclination angle can be obtained by detecting the displacement of the conductive liquid enclosed in the column in the direction of gravity as the capacitance value between the external electrode plate and the conductive liquid.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

In the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a cylindrical frame made of a conductive material and having one side closed, and a cylindrical frame having a perfect circular shape. Is connected to a terminal 2 and the opening of the frame 1 is connected to an insulating plate 3.
It is hermetically covered with.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a conductive liquid enclosed in the frame 1 which is hermetically covered with the insulating plate 3 and has a volume which is approximately half the volume of the frame 1. For example, mercury or the like is used.

Reference numeral 5 is an insulating liquid having a specific gravity smaller than that of the conductive liquid 4 enclosed in the frame 1 for the purpose of a damper. The insulating liquid 5 is, for example, oil.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a semi-circular external electrode plate which is installed on the surface of the insulating plate 3 so as to obtain a capacitance with the conductive liquid 4. A terminal 7 is connected to the external electrode plate 6. Has been done.

The inclination angle sensor 8 having the above-mentioned structure has a measuring range of 180 degrees, and the external electrode plate 6 between the terminals 2 and 7,
Since the insulating plate 3, the conductive liquid 4 and the frame 1 have a variable capacitor structure as shown in FIG. 4, when the conductive liquid 4 is displaced in the direction of gravity, the outer electrode plate 6 and the conductive liquid 4 are displaced. The capacitance value between changes according to the inclination angle.

That is, the thickness of the insulating plate 3 is t, the area where the outer electrode plate 6 and the conductive liquid 4 overlap is S, the dielectric constant of the insulating plate 3 is ε, and the space between the outer electrode plate 6 and the conductive liquid 4 is t. If the electrostatic capacitance value is C, then C = εS / t.

[0014]

Different Embodiments of the Present Invention Next, different embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 to 16 will be described. In the description of these different embodiments of the present invention, the same components as those of the first embodiment of the present invention will be designated by the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted.

The second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 is mainly different from the first embodiment of the present invention in that
The tilt angle sensor 8A configured in this way is that four circular arc-shaped outer electrode plates 6A, 6A, 6A, 6A are installed on the insulating plate 3 into a plurality of circular shapes, which are four in this embodiment. Has a measuring range of 360 degrees, and even if the conductive liquid 4 sealed in the frame 1 is set to half or less of the volume of the frame 1 to reduce the cost, 1
The same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained.

The same function and effect can be obtained even if the external electrode plate installed on the insulating plate 3 is divided into a plurality of two or more pieces such as 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and the like.

The third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 is mainly different from the first embodiment of the present invention in that both sides of the tubular frame 1A made of a conductive material are opened. Insulation plates 3 and 3 are hermetically covered, and semi-circular external electrode plates 6 and 6 which are displaced by 90 degrees are installed on the insulation plates 3 and 3, respectively. With the above construction, the same operational effect as that of the embodiment of the present invention can be obtained. In this embodiment, the outer electrode plate may be a circular plate divided into a plurality of pieces. in this case,
It is advisable to shift the position by 60 degrees in the third division, and shift it by 45 degrees in the fourth division.

The fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 is mainly different from the first embodiment of the present invention in that a cylindrical frame made of an insulating material and having one side closed. Mu 1B
And a closing plate 9 made of a conductive material that serves as an inner electrode plate that covers the opening of the frame 1B in a sealed state, and an outer electrode plate 6 is installed on one side surface of the frame 1B. Even with the inclination angle sensor 8C configured as described above, the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment of the present invention can be obtained. In addition, frame 1B
A plurality of external electrode plates 6A may be installed on one side surface.

The fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 is mainly different from the fourth embodiment of the present invention in that it is made of an insulating material having an inner electrode plate 10 installed on the inner wall surface. Even if the tilt angle sensor 8D is configured in this way in terms of using the plate 11, the same effect as that of the embodiment of the present invention can be obtained.

In each of the embodiments of the present invention described above, the insulating liquid 5 having a specific gravity smaller than that of the conductive liquid is enclosed in the frame 1, 1A, 1B for the purpose of the damper. The invention is not limited to this, and the same action and effect can be obtained by enclosing the insulating liquid 5 having a larger specific gravity than the conductive liquid 4.

Alternatively, the tilt angle sensor may be one in which only the conductive liquid 4 is enclosed in the frames 1, 1A and 1B.

Further, in each of the embodiments of the present invention described above, the cylindrical frames 1, 1A, 1B having a perfectly circular interior are used, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any shape may be used as long as the area of the conductive liquid 4 located at the portion corresponding to the outer electrode plate 6 changes proportionally or the like by rotating the frames 1, 1A, 1B.

[0023]

As is apparent from the above description, the following effects can be obtained in the present invention.

(1) A cylindrical frame made of a conductive material, an insulating plate that hermetically covers both openings of the frame, and a frame that is hermetically covered with the insulating plate. A conductive liquid having a volume that is approximately half or less than the volume in the enclosed frame and less than half the volume of the conductive liquid and the conductive liquid enclosed in the frame hermetically covered with the insulating plate. An insulating liquid having a small specific gravity, and a semicircular shape or an arc-shaped outer electrode plate divided into a plurality of circular shapes, which are installed on the surface of the insulating plate so that a capacitance can be obtained by the conductive liquid; Since it consists of one terminal connected to the external electrode plate and the other terminal connected to the frame, there is no mechanical moving part as in the past, and there is no wear or shock due to aging. It can be used for a long time without being out of order.

(2) According to the above (1), since the sliding friction is small, accurate measurement can be performed.

(3) According to the above (1), the structure is simple, the size can be easily reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

(4) According to the above (1), the measuring range is wide and it can be used for measuring the tilt angle in various fields.

(5) According to claims 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the same effects as (1) to (4) can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially broken sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the first embodiment of the present invention.

5 to 7 are explanatory views showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 to 10 are explanatory views showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

11 to 13 are explanatory views showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

14 to 16 are explanatory views showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A, 1B: Frame, 2: Terminal, 3: Insulating plate, 4: Conductive liquid, 5: Insulating liquid, 6,6A: External electrode plate, 7: Terminal, 8, 8A, 8B, 8C , 8D: Tilt angle sensor, 9:
Closure plate to be an inner electrode plate, 10: inner electrode plate, 1
1: Closure plate.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical frame made of a conductive material, an insulating plate that hermetically covers both openings of the frame, and a frame that is hermetically covered with the insulating plate. The conductive liquid having a volume which is about half or less than the volume of the inside of the frame and the specific gravity of the conductive liquid which is sealed in the frame hermetically covered with the insulating plate. And a semi-circular or circular arc-shaped external electrode plate divided into a plurality of circular shapes, which are installed on the surface of the insulating plate so that a capacitance can be obtained with the conductive liquid. A tilt angle sensor comprising one terminal connected to a polar plate and the other terminal connected to the frame. 2. A cylindrical frame made of a conductive material, an insulating plate that hermetically covers both openings of the frame, and a frame that is hermetically covered with the insulating plate. A semicircular shape installed so that a capacitance can be obtained by a conductive liquid having a volume that is approximately half or less than the volume in the frame and the conductive liquid on the surface of the insulating plate. Alternatively, the inclination angle is characterized by comprising an arc-shaped outer electrode plate obtained by dividing a circular shape into a plurality of parts, one terminal connected to the outer electrode plate, and the other terminal connected to the frame. Sensor. 3. A tubular frame made of a conductive material whose one side is closed, an insulating plate which covers the opening of the frame in a sealed state, and a frame which is sealed in a sealed state by the insulating plate. -A conductive liquid having a volume which is approximately half or less than the volume in the frame sealed in the frame, and the conductive fluid which is sealed in the frame hermetically covered with the insulating plate. Arc-shaped external pole obtained by dividing an insulating liquid having a specific gravity smaller than that of a conductive liquid and the conductive liquid on the surface of the insulating plate so as to obtain a capacitance or a plurality of circular shapes. A tilt angle sensor comprising a plate, one terminal connected to the external electrode plate, and the other terminal connected to the frame. 4. A cylindrical frame made of a conductive material and having one side closed, an insulating plate which covers the opening of the frame in a sealed state, and a frame which is covered in a sealed state by the insulating plate. -A capacitance is obtained by a conductive liquid having a volume which is approximately half or less than the volume in the frame enclosed in the frame and the conductive liquid on the surface of the insulating plate. It is composed of an installed semi-circular or circular arc-shaped external plate divided into a plurality of parts, one terminal connected to the external plate, and the other terminal connected to the frame. A characteristic tilt angle sensor. 5. A tubular frame, one side surface of which is made of an insulating material, is closed, and a closing plate which serves as an internal electrode plate that covers the opening of the frame in a sealed state, or has an internal electrode plate. , A conductive liquid having a volume which is approximately half or less than the volume in the frame sealed in the frame which is hermetically covered with the closing plate, and which is hermetically covered with the closing plate. An insulating liquid having a specific gravity smaller than that of the conductive liquid enclosed in the enclosed frame and the conductive liquid on one side surface of the frame are installed so that a capacitance can be obtained. A semicircular shape or an arc-shaped outer electrode plate divided into a plurality of circular shapes, one terminal connected to the outer electrode plate, and the other terminal connected to the inner electrode plate, Inclination angle sensor. 6. A tubular frame made of an insulating material, one side surface of which is closed, and a closing plate which serves as an inner electrode plate that covers the opening of the frame in a sealed state, or has an inner electrode plate. , A conductive liquid having a volume which is approximately half or less than the volume in the frame enclosed in the frame which is hermetically covered with the closing plate, and one side surface of the frame. An arc-shaped external electrode plate divided into a plurality of semicircular or circular shapes installed on the surface so as to obtain a capacitance with the conductive liquid, and one terminal connected to this external electrode plate, A tilt angle sensor comprising the other terminal connected to the inner electrode plate.