Multiaxis magnetometer apparatus with orthogonally disposed rectangular housings for mounting separate sensor assemblies

• US 4,388,592 A
• Filed: 06/24/1980
• Issued: 06/14/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schonstedt Instrument Company
• Original Assignee: Schonstedt Instrument Company
• Inventors: Schonstedt, Erick O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Strecker, Gerard R.
• Application Number:
  US06/162,488
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 324/244-247, 324/253-255, 324/258, 324/260, 324/343, 324/326, 324/329, 324/345, 324/346, 324/331, 324/334, 33/304, 33/352, 33/355 R, 33/361
• US Class Current: 324/247
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0206 Three-component magnetometers

Abstract

A structure is disclosed for mounting separate magnetic sensor assemblies in a magnetometer and the like with the axes of the respective assemblies disposed in mutually orthogonal planes. In a preferred form, the structure comprises three separate elongated housings of rectangular cross section for carrying three separate sensor assemblies. The housings are connected together so that two housings cross one another at right angles and are centered lengthwise with respect to one another. The third housing is connected to one of the first or second housings with its axis disposed at right angles to each and being centered lengthwise with respect to each. Also disclosed is a suspension assembly for suspending the structure in an outer casing, the suspension assembly including a gimbal arrangement whereby the structure is free to swing about a pair of mutually perpendicular gimbal axes.

Claims

1. A structure for mounting a plurality of separate magnetic sensor assemblies in a multi-axis magnetometer and the like, comprising a plurality of non-magnetic elongated housings of rectangular cross section, means mounting a separate sensor assembly in each of said housings with the sensitive axis of the assembly substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing, connecting means connecting said housings together into a discrete unit with the longitudinal axes of the housings disposed in mutually orthogonal planes and with elongated planar surfaces of the respective housings in surface-to-surface contact, and support means independent of said connecting means for supporting said unit in an outer casing and the like.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, for mounting three sensor assemblies with their sensitive axes disposed in mutually orthogonal planes, wherein said housings comprise first and second housings, the longitudinal axes of which define mutually orthogonal X and Y axes, respectively, said first and second housings crossing one another and being centralized lengthwise each with respect to the other and a third housing, the longitudinal axis of which defines a Z axis disposed orthogonally with respect to both said X and Y axes, said third housing being connected to one of said first and second housings and having its longitudinal axis centralized lengthwise with respect to each of said first and second housings.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the support means includes a suspension assembly connected to one of said housings for suspending the structure in the outer casing and the like.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said one of said housings connected to said suspension assembly is adapted to be suspended by said assembly with its longitudinal axis disposed horizontally and with the others of said housings disposed beneath said one housing.

5. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said suspension assembly is connected to said first housing so as to suspend said first housing with its axis disposed horizontally, said second housing being connected beneath said first housing and said third housing being connected beneath said second housing.

6. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said suspension assembly includes a gimbal means for providing freedom for said structure to pivot pendulum-wise about a pair of mutually orthogonal horizontal gimbal axes.

7. A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said gimbal axes are disposed respectively in parallel with the longitudinal axes of two of said housings.

8. A structure as defined in claim 6, including adjustment means for altering the balance of said structure relative to at least one of said gimbal axes.

9. A structure as defined in claim 8, wherein said adjustment means includes means for moving the position of said structure laterally with respect to said gimbal means.

10. The structure as defined in claim 8, wherein said adjustment means includes means for changing the weight distribution of the structure.

11. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said sensor assemblies in said housings includes means for adjusting the alignment of the sensor axes with respect to the axes of the respective housings.

12. A structure as defined in claim 11, wherein the means for mounting each sensor assembly in the respective housing comprises housing end plates in which the sensor assembly is carried and wherein the means for adjusting the alignment of the sensor assembly comprises means for adjusting the position of at least one of the end plates relative to the housing.

13. A structure as defined in claim 12, wherein the means for adjusting the position of said at least one of the end plates includes aligned openings in the end plate and the housing for receiving fastener elements, the openings in the end plate being oversize with respect to the fastener elements.

14. A structure for mounting a plurality of separate magnetic sensor assemblies in a multi-axis magnetometer and the like, comprising a plurality of non-magnetic elongated housings of rectangular cross section, means for mounting a separate sensor assembly in each of said housings with the sensitive axis of the assembly substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing, and means connecting said housings together with their longitudinal axes disposed in mutually orthogonal planes and with elongated planar surfaces of the respective housings in surface-to-surface contact, said housings comprising first and second housings, the longitudinal axes of which define mutually orthogonal X and Y axes, respectively, said first and second housings crossing one another and being centralized lengthwise each with respect to the other and a third housing, the longitudinal axis of which defines a Z axis disposed orthogonally with respect to both said X and Y axes, said third housing being connected to one of said first and second housings and having its longitudinal axis centralized lengthwise with respect to each of said first and second housings, said third housing including limbs extending longitudinally from one end of the housing, said limbs having end surfaces connected in surface-to-surface contact with said one of said first and second housings.

15. A structure as defined in claim 14, wherein said limbs comprise extensions of opposite side walls of said third housing.

16. A structure for mounting a plurality of separate magnetic sensor assemblies in a multi-axis magnetometer and the like, comprising a plurality of non-magnetic elongated housings of rectangular cross section, means for mounting a separate sensor assembly in each of said housings with the sensitive axis of the assembly substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing, and means connecting said housings together with their longitudinal axes disposed in mutually orthogonal planes and with elongated planar surfaces of the respective housings in surface-to-surface contact, wherein said means for mounting said sensor assemblies in said housings includes means for adjusting the alignment of the sensor axes with respect to the axes of the respective housings, the means for mounting the sensor assemblies comprising housing end plates in which the sensor assemblies are carried, the means for adjusting the alignment of the sensor assemblies comprising means for adjusting the position of at least one of the end plates of each housing relative to the respective housing, the means for adjusting the position of said at least one of the end plates includes aligned openings in the end plate and the housing for receiving fastener elements, the openings in the end plate being oversized with respect to the fastener elements, and wherein the openings in the housing are situated at the corners of the housing.