Inclination angle reader and method for using same

• US 20050091862A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hiram Diaz
• Original Assignee: Hiram Diaz
• Inventors: Diaz, Hiram
• Granted Patent: US 7,055,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/366.26
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 2009/066 optical
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/12 by using a single pendulum plumb lines G01C15/10

Abstract

A system and method for measuring the angle of inclination of a surface or object with respect to the gravitational horizontal, having (1) an electric circuit with a homogeneous resistance curved to form a circumference, (2) a device or voltmeter to measure the voltage consumed by the resistance in its total length (V_T), (3) another device or voltmeter to measure the voltage consumed by a portion of the resistance (V_P) which length measured depends on one leg of the device/voltmeter fixed to one end of the resistance and the other leg of the device/voltmeter, with a weight and constant contact with resistance, moving due to the gravitational force as the circumference rotates on a horizontal axis, (4) a device that takes the voltages measured and outputs the inclination given by this formula [(V_P:V_T)*Scale].

Claims

1. An inclination angle reader, comprising:

a homogenous resistance, wherein said resistance forms a circle or a portion of a circle;

a power source, whose voltage is known and constant and which supplies enough power to said reader such that said power is not dissipated fully in said resistance;

a moving leg, wherein said leg has one end movably attached to said homogenous resistance;

a voltmeter, whereby said voltmeter is connected to said moving leg and measures the voltage from the start point of said resistance to the point where said moving leg is attached to said homogenous resistance; and

,

a processor for calculating an angle, said angle being the angle of the arc formed by the center of said circle to said start point and to the point where said moving leg is attached to said homogenous resistance, based on said known, constant power source voltage and the voltage reading by said voltmeter and the portion of the said circle the said resistance covers.

2. The angle reader of claim 1, wherein said moving leg is positioned by gravity.

3. The angle reader of claim 1, wherein said moving leg is positioned by a non-gravitational force.

4. The angle reader of claim 1, wherein said reader includes a user settable start point.

5. An inclination angle reader, comprising:

a homogenous resistance, wherein said resistance forms a circle or a portion of a circle;

a power source, whose voltage is not dissipated fully in the resistance;

a moving leg, wherein said leg has one end movably attached to said homogenous resistance;

a power source voltmeter, wherein said power source voltmeter measures the voltage of the power source;

an intermediate voltmeter, wherein said intermediate voltmeter is connected to said moving leg and measures the voltage from the start point of said resistance to the point where said moving leg is attached to said homogenous resistance; and

,

a processor for calculating an angle, said angle being the angle of the arc formed by the center of said circle to said start point and to the point where said moving leg is attached to said homogenous resistance, based on readings from said power source voltmeter and said intermediate voltmeter and the portion of the said circle the said resistance covers.

6. The angle reader of claim 5, wherein said moving leg is positioned by gravity.

7. The angle reader of claim 5, wherein said moving leg is positioned by a non-gravitational force.

8. The angle reader of claim 5, wherein said reader includes a user settable start point.

9. A method for using an inclination angle reader, comprising the steps of:

providing a power source operationally connected to a homogenous resistance, wherein said power is not dissipated fully in said resistance and wherein said resistance forms a circle or a portion of a circle;

positioning said angle reader to measure an angle such that as said reader inclines or declines, a moving leg transits along said homogenous resistance in response to said inclination or declination; and

,

reading the calculated angle displayed on said reader as calculated by a processor utilizing readings from at least one voltmeter.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of a user setting the start point of at least one voltmeter to aid in said angle calculation.