Patent US3786472A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3786472A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric level
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-10-07
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1991-10-07
Abstract
Abstract An electrical level for measuring angles of inclination, sensing motion and by a particular embodiment automatically sensing change from horizontal to vertical and vice versa. A chamber, e.g., a toroid, is disposed in a fixed manner with respect to a measuring surface. The chamber is approximately half filled with an electrically conductive liquid, e.g. mercury, and has pairs of electrodes embedded in and spaced around the periphery of the chamber to correspond to the points of liquid contact when the chamber is inclined to predetermined angles. A power means, e.g. a battery, supplies current which passes through the liquid in the chamber to be registered at an appropriate current detecting means, e.g. a light or buzzer, when the liquid contacts an electrode pair. An L-shaped vial containing an electrically conductive liquid and electrode pairs corresponding to points of liquid contact upon inclination to predetermined angles is used in combination with the above chamber to provide automatic sensing of changes between vertical and horizontal, useful to make and break contacts without recourse to a switch.
Inventors
- 👤 F Scopacasa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C9/00; G01C9/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
414 words
An electrical level for measuring angles of inclination and sensing motion comprising in combination: a measuring surface; said measuring surface comprising a substantially planar longitudinal surface adapted to be applied against a slope to be measured; a chamber; said chamber being fixed relative to saiD measuring surface, and being comprised of a non-conductive material; one or more electrode pairs embedded in the walls of said chamber and communicating with the exterior and interior regions defined by said chamber; each of said electrode pairs lying substantially in a plane intersecting said chamber and whereby said intersecting plane forms an angle relative to the plane of said measuring surface; power means and current detecting means connected across each of said electrode pairs; an electrically conductive liquid contained by and partially filling said chamber so that when said measuring surface is inclined at a predetermined angle, said liquid contacts one of said electrode pairs permitting passage of current from said power means through said liquid by means of said electrodes to be registered by said current detecting means; a substantially L-shaped hollow tubular, substantially sealed vial of a non-conductive material having a first leg disposed perpendicularly to said measuring surface and a second leg disposed longitudinally to said measuring surface; an electrically conductive liquid contained by and substantially filling one leg of said vial; one or more electrode pairs embedded in the walls of said Lshaped vial and communicating with the exterior and interior regions defined by said vial; each of said vial electrode pairs lying substantially in a plane intersecting said vial and whereby said intersecting plane forms an angle relative to the plane of said measuring surface so that said electrically conductive liquid in said vial contacts one of said electrode pairs when said electrical level is inclined to a predetermined angle; and, each of said vial electrode pairs further being series connected to said power means through an electrode pair of said chamber and also being series connected to said current detecting means so that when said measuring surface is inclined at a predetermined angle said liquid in said chamber and said liquid in said vial simultaneously contact a pair of electrodes in said chamber and a pair of electrodes in said vial permitting passage of current from said power means through said chamber by means of the electrodes and liquid contained therein, then through said vial by means of the electrodes and liquid contained therein to be registered by said current detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
414 words
An electrical level for measuring angles of inclination and sensing motion comprising in combination: a measuring surface; said measuring surface comprising a substantially planar longitudinal surface adapted to be applied against a slope to be measured; a chamber; said chamber being fixed relative to saiD measuring surface, and being comprised of a non-conductive material; one or more electrode pairs embedded in the walls of said chamber and communicating with the exterior and interior regions defined by said chamber; each of said electrode pairs lying substantially in a plane intersecting said chamber and whereby said intersecting plane forms an angle relative to the plane of said measuring surface; power means and current detecting means connected across each of said electrode pairs; an electrically conductive liquid contained by and partially filling said chamber so that when said measuring surface is inclined at a predetermined angle, said liquid contacts one of said electrode pairs permitting passage of current from said power means through said liquid by means of said electrodes to be registered by said current detecting means; a substantially L-shaped hollow tubular, substantially sealed vial of a non-conductive material having a first leg disposed perpendicularly to said measuring surface and a second leg disposed longitudinally to said measuring surface; an electrically conductive liquid contained by and substantially filling one leg of said vial; one or more electrode pairs embedded in the walls of said Lshaped vial and communicating with the exterior and interior regions defined by said vial; each of said vial electrode pairs lying substantially in a plane intersecting said vial and whereby said intersecting plane forms an angle relative to the plane of said measuring surface so that said electrically conductive liquid in said vial contacts one of said electrode pairs when said electrical level is inclined to a predetermined angle; and, each of said vial electrode pairs further being series connected to said power means through an electrode pair of said chamber and also being series connected to said current detecting means so that when said measuring surface is inclined at a predetermined angle said liquid in said chamber and said liquid in said vial simultaneously contact a pair of electrodes in said chamber and a pair of electrodes in said vial permitting passage of current from said power means through said chamber by means of the electrodes and liquid contained therein, then through said vial by means of the electrodes and liquid contained therein to be registered by said current detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
302 words
An electrical level according to claim 1 wherein: said chamber is toroidal in shape and said chamber and vial are comprised of transparent plastic; said chamber further being mounted to said measuring surface so that the axis of rotation of said toroidal chamber is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said measuring surface and wherein said chamber extends longitudinally with respect to said measuring surface; wherein said liquid in said vial and chamber is mercury and substantially half fills said vial and chamber respectively; said chamber electrode pairs being diametrically spaced from each other and include a first electrode pair having an A electrode and a B electrode lying along the axis of rotation of said toroidal chamber and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said measuring surface, and a second electrode pair having a C electrode and a D electrode lying along its axis of rotation and in a plane substantially parallel to said measuring surface; said vial electrode pairs being diametrically spaced from each other and include a first electrode pair having a W electrode and an X electrode in said first leg and a second electrode pair having an X electrode and a Z electrode in said second leg; said power means is a battery which is connected to the C and B electrodes in said toroidal chamber; said current detecting means comprises at least one light series connected to said battery through said chamber electrode pairs and through said vial electrode pairs according to claim 1; said A electrode in said toroidal cHamber is connected to the W electrode in said L-shaped vial; said D electrode in said toroidal chamber is connected to the Y electrode in said L-shaped vial; and, said X and Z electrodes in said L-shaped vial are connected to said light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrical level according to claim 1 wherein: said electrically conductive liquid is an aqueous electrolyte solution; said vial and chamber are formed of glass; and, said current detecting means comprises an audio signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |