GRAVITY CONTROLLED POTENTIOMETER

POTENTIOMETRE FONCTIONNANT PAR GRAVITE

English Abstract

A level is a tool used to determine whether a surface is horizontal or inclined with
respect to the gravitational field. A level requires a sensing mechanism to measure an
angle with respect to the gravitational field, the most common being an air bubble in a
liquid filled tube. In this invention, a potentiometer type sensor is used to measure the
exact surface angle with respect to the gravitational field. Since this Gravity Controlled
Potentiometer uses an electrical current that varies with respect to its position to the
gravitational field, this sensor could be interfaced with an electronic circuit.

Claims

The embodiements of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed are defined as follows:
1-2-I have found that by using a gravity sensitive electrical sensor, I can detect not one
but any angle in relation to the gravitational field. Furthermore, the electrical
signal sent out by this sensor can be electronically treated in order to display a very
accurate and reliable reading.
3- A potentiometer does not exist with a mercury contact that creates the center tap.
4- It is the first time, I believe, that a potentiometer is use to measure a level.

Description

SPECIFICATION

This invention, the Gravity Controlled Potentiometer, varics its resistance to the
flow of electrical current with relation to its position in a gravitational field.

The level indicator currently available relies on centering an air bubble inside a
liquid filled tube. This system only allows for a single angle precision; mostly parallel or
perpendicular to the gravitational field. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible to interface
this system with an electronic circuit.

I have found that by using a gravity sensitive electrical sensor, I can detect not one,
but any angle in relation to the gravitational field. Furthermore, the electrical signal sent
out by this sensor can be electronically treated in order to display a very accurate and
reliable reading.


Description of assembly

Figure 1 (a) shows the top view of a semiconductive disk with a narrow
discontinuity. The semiconductive disk is used as the resistive material in our
potentiometer. Each end of the narrow gap is mounted with a conductive material
connectors.

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Figure l(b) is the top view of the casing. The semiconductive disk is deposited
into the casing with both connectors passing through holes at the bottom of the casing.
The casing is electrically isolated from the semiconductive element from fig,ure l(a). A
drop of mercury is deposited in the casing and in contact with the semiconductive disk.
Mercury was chosen over a metal ball because it is a liquid conductive material, therefore
readings will be more accurate. The conductive cover in figure l(c) is the center tap of
the Gravity Controlled Potentiometer and seals the assembly, thereby ensuring a
permanent contact with the mercury.

Mode of operation

Once the assembly completed, the Gravity Controlled Potentiometer (or level
sensor) is placed in a perpendicular position with respect to the gravitational field.

The mercury, perm~nently in contact with the conductive cover and the
semiconductive disk, acts as a moving element of a conventional mechanical
potentiometer. As the level sensor is rotated, the mercury will go to the lowestgravitational point, thereby increasing or decreasing the voltage at the center tap
(conductive cover).

This Gravity Controlled Potentiometer was designed to interface an electronic
circuit, and to be used in a digital level meter. Because this level sensor doesn't need a
human observer, it could be implemented in stand-alone system, or be run by a
computerized circuit. A few examples of applications include level sensoring for small
airplanes and underwater operations.

Representative Drawing