Microgravimeter for geophysical prospecting
First Claim
1. An apparatus for micro-gravimetric measurements for geophysical prospecting, whose characteristic is that it comprises:
- a base frame;
a first mass integral to said base frame;
a second mass arranged at a distance from said first mass and aligned vertically with respect to said first mass, such that said first and said second mass form a resonator for electromagnetic radiation;
means for suspending said second mass, said means for suspending being connected to said base frame and holding resiliently said second mass in order to provide a steady elastic modulus;
means for applying an electromagnetic signal to said resonator;
means for measuring a resonance frequency of said resonator responsive to said electromagnetic signal,means for correlating the variation of said resonance frequency to a variation of distance between said two masses, andmeans for correlating the variation of distance to local gravitational accelerationwherein said means for suspending said second mass comprises a torsion pendulum, obtained starting from a cut silicon lamina, said lamina having two opposite C-shaped cuts, in order to separate a fixed portion and a mobile portion, united to each other by two connecting portions urged by torsion by said second suspended mass and said mobile portion; and
wherein said two masses consist of sapphire discs located at a predetermined distance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for measuring the gravitational acceleration on the ground, for example adapted to geophysical explorations applied to mining, including a base frame, a resonator having a first disc of sapphire integral to the base frame, and a second disc of sapphire arranged at a minimum distance from the first mass and aligned vertically with respect to the first mass such that the first and the second disc form a resonator for electromagnetic signals; a cantilever arm connected to the base frame and holding resiliently the second disc in order to provide a steady elastic modulus; a magnetic probe for applying an electromagnetic signal to the resonator arranged according to a plane existing between the two discs; a linear electric probe, arranged under the fixed disc aligned vertically with respect to its side edge, for measuring a resonance frequency of the resonator responsive to the electromagnetic signal, device for correlating the variation of the resonance frequency to a variation of distance between the discs, and a device for correlating the variation of distance to local gravitational acceleration.
4 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for micro-gravimetric measurements for geophysical prospecting, whose characteristic is that it comprises:
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a base frame; a first mass integral to said base frame; a second mass arranged at a distance from said first mass and aligned vertically with respect to said first mass, such that said first and said second mass form a resonator for electromagnetic radiation; means for suspending said second mass, said means for suspending being connected to said base frame and holding resiliently said second mass in order to provide a steady elastic modulus; means for applying an electromagnetic signal to said resonator; means for measuring a resonance frequency of said resonator responsive to said electromagnetic signal, means for correlating the variation of said resonance frequency to a variation of distance between said two masses, and means for correlating the variation of distance to local gravitational acceleration wherein said means for suspending said second mass comprises a torsion pendulum, obtained starting from a cut silicon lamina, said lamina having two opposite C-shaped cuts, in order to separate a fixed portion and a mobile portion, united to each other by two connecting portions urged by torsion by said second suspended mass and said mobile portion; and wherein said two masses consist of sapphire discs located at a predetermined distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification