JPS6319510A - Inclination sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a sensor having a simple constitution, a high capacity, and a long life by combining a magnetic detector setting to a shaft which hangs down and is freely inclined in an optional direction, and an annular permanent magnet to constitute the sensor. CONSTITUTION:The sensor consists of a shaft 3 which has the upper part in one end part supported by a universal joint 2 and is hung, a magnetic detector 4 which is set to the lower end part or the middle part of the shaft 3 without hindering the shaft 3 in its hanging, and an annular permanent magnet 5 which is arranged with the same center as the joint without hindering the shaft 3 in its inclining. Through the joint 2 of the hanging shaft 3 is inclined, the shaft 3 is always kept in the vertical state and the magnet 5 approaches the detector 4. When the joint 2 is inclined up to a certain angle, the detector 4 detects the magnetic field of the magnet 5, and therefore, it is detected by the detection output that the joint 2 is inclined at a prescribed angle. Consequently, the detector 4 is connected to a magnetic detecting circuit and this circuit operates an attitude controller of the hanging joint 2 to control the attitude of a buoy to which the joint 2 is set.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] In a tilt sensor used for controlling the posture of various objects, the present invention combines a magnetic detector attached to a shaft that can be tilted in any direction and an annular permanent magnet. , provides a tilt sensor with a simple configuration, high performance, and long life.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an inclination sensor used to control the attitude of a buoy or the like floating in water, and particularly to the configuration of an inclination sensor that detects when an inclination in an arbitrary direction with respect to a vertical axis exceeds a predetermined value.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional tilt sensors, which are not sophisticated enough to use a gyro compass to control the posture of various objects, and which detect when the tilt angle is in an arbitrary direction and send a drive signal to the posture control device, are generally ratchet wheels. There are two types: mechanical configurations, such as detecting the state in which a pendulum is tilted by an angle, and electrical configurations, which use fluid to open and close electrical contacts or detect changes in capacitance.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, the mechanical structure described above has large mechanical losses such as friction, and becomes large in size when attempting to detect inclinations in arbitrary directions. Furthermore, there were problems in that the main parts were worn out due to repeated tilting and restoring, resulting in poor durability and troublesome adjustment.

On the other hand, those with the above-mentioned electrical configuration that use a fluid have slow sensitivity and variations in detected values due to the fluid's oscillation and vibration absorption effects. However, due to the viscosity of mercury, the movement and following speed for slopes was slow.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a tilt sensor 1 comprises a universal joint 2, a shaft 3, a magnetic detector 4, and an annular permanent magnet 5.

According to FIG. 1, the present invention aimed at eliminating the above-mentioned problems includes a shaft 3 that is supported near one end (upper part) by a universal joint 2 and hangs down, and a tip of the shaft 3 without damaging the hanging of the shaft 3. A magnetic detector 4 is attached to the universal joint 2 (lower end or middle part), and an annular permanent magnet 5 is arranged concentrically with the universal joint 2 without impairing the tilting movement of the shaft 3. This is a tilt sensor 1.

[Effect]

According to the above means, even though the supporting part (universal joint) of the hanging shaft is tilted, the shaft always maintains a vertical position, and the permanent magnet approaches the magnetic detector. Then, when the angle of inclination of the support part is reached, the magnetic detector detects the magnetic field of the permanent magnet.
From the detection output, it can be known that the support part has reached a predetermined inclination angle.

Therefore, if a magnetic detector is connected to a magnetic detection circuit and the circuit operates a posture control device for a support portion of a hanging shaft, the posture of a buoy or the like to which the support portion is attached can be controlled.

〔Example〕

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the inclination sensor which becomes an Example of this invention is demonstrated using drawing.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the main structure of a tilt sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an example of a magnetic detection circuit.

In FIG. 2, in which the same reference numerals are used for parts common to those in FIG. 7 is inserted.

A housing 8 made of non-magnetic material includes an upper lid 9 and a cylinder 10.
and a bottom cover 11. On the lower surface of the flange 10a that protrudes inward from the middle part of the cylinder 10, an annular permanent magnet 12 having, for example, an N pole on the inside and an S pole on the outside, and a rubber disc 14 for buffering are attached. A through hole 10b opened in the center,
A through hole 13a at the center of the holding plate 13 attached to the center supports the sphere 6 of the shaft 3 in a movable manner.

The inner diameter of the permanent magnet 12 is such that the tip of the shaft 3 does not come into contact with the magnetic detector 4 when the shaft 3 is tilted, and the rubber damper 7 comes into contact with the rubber disk 14 when the shaft 3 is tilted to the maximum. It becomes like this. Further, a damper 15 for absorbing vibrations of the shaft 3 is sandwiched between the upper end surface of the shaft 3 and the upper cover 9.

The tilt sensor 1 configured in this way has the magnetic detector 4 as the third
It is connected to a magnetic detection circuit as shown in the figure, and the output terminal of the detection circuit is connected to an attitude control circuit of a buoy or the like. Then, one point is detected in Fig. 2 due to the inclination of the buoy, etc.

In Figure 3, the widely used magnetic detection circuit is
A change in the resistance value of the magnetic detector 4 to which the power supply voltage Vcc is applied is sent out as a TTL logic level output via the differential amplifier 21, Schmitt trigger circuit 22, and NAND circuit 23.

This detection circuit detects the magnetic detector 4 by changing Vcc.
The current applied to the differential amplifier 21 can be changed, and the unbalanced voltage caused by the unbalance of the four resistors of the magnetic detector configured as a bridge can be adjusted by inserting a variable resistor between the power supply and the differential amplifier 21.

In the tilt sensor 1, the magnetic detector 4 includes one that detects an induced magnetic field by a coil, one that uses the Hall effect of a semiconductor, one that uses the magnetic resistance of a semiconductor, and one that uses the magnetic resistance of a ferromagnetic metal. However, a Hall element with low output hysteresis and fast response characteristics is recommended.

Further, various widely known universal joints 2 can be used, and the detection inclination angle needs to be set by selecting the placement position of the permanent magnet 5 and the shape, size, etc. of the universal joint 2.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the inclination sensor according to the present invention has a simple configuration and has a remarkable effect of being able to detect inclination angles in arbitrary directions more reliably and stably than conventional sensors.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the main configuration of a tilt sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a magnetic detection circuit. In the figure, 1 is a tilt sensor, 2 is a universal joint, 3 is a hanging shaft, 4 is a magnetic detector, and 5 is a permanent magnet. Arithmetic 2 Kuni 1 糺#Payment @ 謄茅 3 Hidden

Claims (1)

[Claims] A shaft (3) that supports and hangs near one end so as to be tiltable in any direction, and a magnetic detection device attached to the middle or tip of the shaft (3) without impairing the hanging of the shaft (3). An inclination sensor characterized in that it comprises an annular permanent magnet (5) arranged concentrically with the support portion of the shaft (3) without impairing the inclination of the shaft (3).