US4338723A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Angle measuring device
Assignee: Centro Corp
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Filing: 1980-01-04
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Granted: 1982-07-13
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Expires: 2000-01-04
Abstract
Abstract An angle measuring device for establishing a position of a frame member in two orthogonal planes or in an azimuth plane, relative to a reference plane, comprising a frame member supporting a plurality of equally radially and angularly spaced linear potentiometers having rods which engage a base plate and are pivotally connected thereto to permit the frame to be swiveled in any location about the base plate. The potentiometers are calibrated to provide an indication of the position of the frame relative to the base plate as a result of movement of the rods within the potentiometers.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry L. Benjamin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/30; B; B25; B25J; B25J13/00; B25J13/08; G01B7/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S33/00; Y10S33/05; Y10T; Y10T408/00; Y10T408/21; Y10T408/57
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An angle measuring device, comrising: a frame; means providing a reference plane; means interconnecting said frame and said reference plane means for two dimensional pivotal movement of said frame about a fixed location in said reference plane means, and for sensing the relative angular position between said frame and said reference plane means and providing electrical signals indicative of said position, and including a plurality of spaced sensing means disposed about an axis in said frame which intersects said reference plane at said fixed location, each said sensing means including a rod mounted in said frame for longitudinal movement parallel to said axis and pivotally connected to said reference plane means; and means receiving said signals and providing an indication of said relative angular position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
An angle measuring device, comrising: a frame; means providing a reference plane; means interconnecting said frame and said reference plane means for two dimensional pivotal movement of said frame about a fixed location in said reference plane means, and for sensing the relative angular position between said frame and said reference plane means and providing electrical signals indicative of said position, and including a plurality of spaced sensing means disposed about an axis in said frame which intersects said reference plane at said fixed location, each said sensing means including a rod mounted in said frame for longitudinal movement parallel to said axis and pivotally connected to said reference plane means; and means receiving said signals and providing an indication of said relative angular position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An angle measuring device as defined in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means includes said plurality of spaced sensing means being disposed at equally angularly spaced locations about said axis in said frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
An angle measuring device as defined in claim 2 wherein said sensing means further includes: a plurality of potentiometers mounted in said frame, one each slidably receiving a respective one of said rods and operable to produce an output signal indicative of the relative position of the rods in the potentiometers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An angle measuring device as defined in claim 3 wherein there are four potentiometers, two each in mutually perpendicular planes intersecting along said axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An angle measuring device as defined in claim 3 wherein said signal receiving means includes: means for resolving the relative angular position beween said frame and said reference plane from signals received from said potentiometers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
An angle measuring device as defined in claim 5 wherein said means providing a reference plane includes: a plate having a bottom surface engagable with a reference surface with regard to which the relative angle of said frame is to be measured; a plurality of cylindrical support members supported in radially extending channels formed in said plate for limited movement therein and disposed in equally angularly spaced locations concentrically about said fixed location in said reference plane means; and each said rod having an outer end portion pivotally mounted to a respective said cylindrical support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
An angle measuring device as defined in claim 5 wherein said means providing a reference plane includes: a base plate having a bottom surface engagable with the reference surface with regard to which the relative angle of said frame is to be measured; a plurality of cylindrical support members supported in equally angularly and radially spaced cylindrical recesses formed in said base plate for limited radial and tangential movement therein and disposed concentrically about said fixed location in said reference plane means; and each said rod having an outer end portion pivotally mounted to a respective said cylindrical support member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
An angle measuring device as defined in claim 6 or 7, including: a central cylindrical opening defined in said frame concentric with a central cylindrical opening defined in said base plate, whereby said angle measuring device can be positioned over a stud with said base plate surrounding said stud and said stud engaging the surfaces of said frame defining said cylindrical opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
An angle measuring device as defined in claims 6 or 7, including: plumb means secured to said base plate for holding said base plate horizontal with respect to the ground; said frame having a surface perpendicular to said base plate for engaging a member whose angle relative to the ground is to be measured.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
An angle measuring device as defined in claims 6 or 7, including: a drill motor; means mounting said frame to said drill motor; said frame having a central cylindrical surface defining an opening through which a drill can be inserted into said drill motor; said base plate having a central cylindrical opening defined therein concentric with said cylindrical opening in said frame, through which said drill can pass; said frame being telescoping towards said base plate to permit said drill to extend through said base plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
An angle measuring device as defined in claim 8 wherein said signal receiving means includes: a pair of perpendicularly disposed light cross bars; means connecting said potentiometers to said cross bars for indicating in a light pattern the relative angular position between said frame and said reference plane means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
An angle measuring device as defined in claim 9 wherein said signal receiving means includes: a pair of perpendicularly disposed light cross bars; means connecting said potentiometers to said cross bars for indicating in a light pattern the relative angular position between said frame and said reference plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
An angle measuring device as defined in claim 10 wherein said signal receiving means includes: a pair of perpendicularly disposed light cross bars; means connecting said potentiometers to said cross bars for indicating in a light pattern the relative angular position between said frame and said reference plane means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
An angle measuring device comprising: a frame; a base plate; a plurality of equally angularly spaced parallel rods disposed about a central axis in said frame and pivotally connected to said base plate; sensing means mounted in said frame and receiving at least some of said rods for sensing the position of said rods relative to said sensing means and providing electrical signals indicative of said relative positions; and means receiving said signals and providing an indication of the relative angular position between said frame and said base plate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
89 words
An angle measuring device comprising: a frame; a base plate; a plurality of equally angularly spaced parallel rods disposed about a central axis in said frame and pivotally connected to said base plate; sensing means mounted in said frame and receiving at least some of said rods for sensing the position of said rods relative to said sensing means and providing electrical signals indicative of said relative positions; and means receiving said signals and providing an indication of the relative angular position between said frame and said base plate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-07-12 | 1986-01-11 | 1986-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-07-12 | 1990-01-11 | 1990-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-07-12 | 1994-01-11 | 1994-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |