Walter Dean Ray

US Patent:

44868448, Dec 4, 1984

Filed:

May 24, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/381546

Inventors:

Amber N. Brunson - Independence MO
Deighton E. Brunson - Independence MO
Walter W. Ray - Kansas City MO

Assignee:

Brunson Instrument Company - Kansas City MO

International Classification:

G01C 906

US Classification:

364559

Abstract:

A dual axis inclination measuring system includes a sensor unit for placement on a surface to determine the inclination of the surface with respect to two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes and an indicator unit connected to the sensor unit and operative to process signals generated by the sensor unit to determine and indicate the inclination of the test surface. The sensor unit includes a dual axis sensor element which cooperates with circuits for generating signals having voltage levels proportional to the inclination of the sensor. The indicator unit includes an analog-to-digital converter operative to convert the voltage levels to digital words and a digital computer operative to calculate angle readings from the digital words. The computer includes a look-up table of a plurality of the digital words stored in a memory of the computer and is calibrated exclusively to the particular sensor with which the computer is used, thereby providing great accuracy.

US Patent:

45492778, Oct 22, 1985

Filed:

Sep 6, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/529336

Inventors:

Amber N. Brunson - Independence MO
Deighton E. Brunson - Independence MO
Walter W. Ray - Kansas City MO

Assignee:

Brunson Instrument Company - Kansas City MO

International Classification:

G01C 906

US Classification:

364559

Abstract:

A multiple sensor inclination measuring system includes a plurality of single and dual axis inclination sensors, each sensor including a bridge circuit for generating a signal or pair of signals, each signal having a voltage which is proportional to the degree of inclination of the sensor, and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the signal to a digital word having a binary value representative of the tilt of the sensor. Each sensor is connected to a support unit which includes a microprocessor, memory, and data communication capabilities. Each support unit may include a look-up table which calibrates the unit specifically to the sensor used. The support units all communicate with a main processing unit which synchronizes the digital conversions of the electrical signals and which has the capability of averaging the angle readings of selected sensors over various lengths of time, determining the difference between angle readings of selected sensors, comparing the rates of inclination of selected sensors, and displaying angle readings, average readings, difference readings, and rates of inclination. The main unit may be connected to a printer for printing hard copies of the angle readings as a function of time.