APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING VERTICAL ANGULAR

DEVIATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention pertains to an elevation measurement device. More specifically, the invention pertains to an electromechanical apparatus and a method that could be adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line with improved accuracy.

BACKGROUND

Heretofore various systems for measuring vertical angular elevation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line are available. One of such system employs linear sensor for measurement of angular elevation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line. This type of system however requires a very complicated and elaborative calibration process which is time consuming.

Additionally, elevation measuring devices utilizing tilt sensors are also well known. These types of devices have a problem in terms of obtaining an accurate angular measurement and are inconsistent. Further, the angular measurement from these types of devices is greatly affected by the factors like temperature, humidity and the like.

As such, there exists a need for an electromechanical apparatus and a method that could be adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line. SUMMARY

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an electromechanical apparatus and method for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line are disclosed.

The objective of the present invention is to provide the electromechanical apparatus that would provide an accurate and consistent measurement of the vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and mechanism thereof to measure an angle of elevation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line and that would overcome the shortcomings or at least substantially ameliorate the shortcomings and disadvantages of the conventional systems.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the electromechanical apparatus adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes a bracket removably mountable at a predetermined location on the object, a shaft comprising a first end and a second end, a rotatable encoder removably mounted on the bracket with an end operatively associated with the first end of the shaft, and a gravity responsive pendulum assembly comprising a pendulous mass secured to an end of a mechanical member detachably secured to the second end of the shaft.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the method adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes displacing the object in a direction along an axis of the shaft or in a direction along the vertical axis wherein the shaft including a first end and a second end, initiation of movement of a gravity responsive pendulum assembly upon displacement of the object, and rotation of a rotatable encoder having an end operatively associated with the second end of the shaft. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments which is to be read in connection with accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in a detailed manner with reference to the attached drawings. Moreover, for ease of convenience reference horizontal line refers to the X-axis, vertical axis refers to the Y-axis, and longitudinal axis or axis of the shaft refers to the Z- axis as indicated in all the figures attached, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exploded view of an electromechanical apparatus of the present invention, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an isometric view of an assembled electromechanical apparatus of the present invention, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a methodology for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object in an indirect firing simulator using an apparatus of the present invention, according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Use of pendulum assembly in various scientific devices like accelerometer, gravimeter, and seismometer for various purposes is well known. The use of pendulum assembly, while known in the context of other devices, they could not be used for angular measurement.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in a detailed manner in conjunction with the FIG. 1 - FIG. 3. The present invention may however, be embodied in many different forms and shouldn't be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather the embodiments are provided for imparting complete understanding about the present invention to the readers or the person skilled in the art and which will fully cover the scope of the present invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed towards an electromechanical apparatus and method for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the electromechanical apparatus adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes a bracket removably mountable at a predetermined location on the object. The bracket is enabled to change the orientation along a direction of displacement of the object. The direction of the displacement of the object includes a direction along an axis of the shaft or a direction along the vertical axis. The change of the orientation of the bracket along the direction of displacement of the object initiates movement of the gravity responsive pendulum assembly.

According to the first aspect, the electromechanical apparatus adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes a shaft comprising a first end and a second end.

According to the first aspect, the electromechanical apparatus adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes a rotatable encoder removably mounted on the bracket and which has an end operatively associated with the first end of the shaft. The rotatable encoder enables conversion of at least one angular measurement, of the shaft into an analog format and/or a digital format.

According to the first aspect, the electromechanical apparatus adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes a gravity responsive pendulum assembly comprising a pendulous mass secured to an end of a mechanical member which in turn is detachably secured with the second end of the shaft.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line using an electromechanical apparatus includes the step of displacing the object in a direction along an axis of the shaft or in a direction along the vertical axis, wherein the shaft comprising a first end and a second end. The step of displacing the object along the axis of the shaft changes the orientation of a bracket along the axis of the shaft thereof.

In accordance with the second aspect, the method adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes the step of initiating movement of a gravity responsive pendulum assembly upon displacement of the object along the axis of the shaft or in a direction along the vertical axis, wherein the gravity responsive pendulum assembly including a pendulous mass secured to an end of a mechanical member which in turn is detachably secured to the first end of the shaft.

In accordance with the second aspect, the method adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes the step of rotation of a rotatable encoder having an end operatively associated with the second end of the shaft, wherein the rotatable encoder is removably mounted on a bracket detachably mounted at a predetermined location on the object.

In accordance with the second aspect, the method adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line further includes the step of converting at least one angular measurement of the shaft into an analog format and/or a digital format.

As shown, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exploded view of an electromechanical apparatus 100 of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment. The electromechanical apparatus 100 includes a bracket 102 removably mountable at a predetermined location on an object (not shown) with a suitable fastener means, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The object preferably includes a predetermined component of a device. By the way of an example, the predetermined component preferably includes but not by the way of any limitation a barrel assembly 110 (FIG. 3) of an indirect firing simulator preferably 81 mm mortar.

Though the illustrative embodiment of the present invention describes measurement of an elevation angle of the barrel assembly 110 with respect to a reference horizontal line, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited by its application to this precise embodiment and can also be employed in other fields preferably as a replacement for spirit level instruments like inclinometer used for measuring elevation of road, with telescopes used by astronomers to locate position of stars or other objects on the sky, with satellite antennas for proper angular alignment.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the electromechanical apparatus 100 further includes a shaft 104 having a first end 104a and a second end 104b. The shaft 104 is utilized for mechanically coupling a rotatable encoder 106 with a gravity responsive pendulum assembly 108.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the electromechanical apparatus 100 further includes the rotatable encoder 106 having an end 106a operatively coupled with the first end 104a of the shaft 104. The rotatable encoder 106 is removably mountable on the bracket 102. The rotatable encoder 106 converts one or more angular measurements of the shaft 104 into an analog format and/or a digital format, which is then further processed for determining the vertical angular deviation preferably in terms of an angle.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the electromechanical apparatus further includes the gravity responsive pendulum assembly 108 having a pendulous mass 108a secured to an end of a mechanical member 108b being detachably secured with the second end 104b of the shaft 104.

Referring to FIG.2 is a diagram illustrating an isometric view of an electromechanical apparatus 100 of the present invention, according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the assembled electromechanical apparatus discussed in FIG.l with a bracket 102 removably mountable at a predetermined location on an object 110, a shaft 104 including a first end 140a and a second end 104b for mechanically coupling a rotatable encoder 106 with a gravity responsive pendulum assembly 108 respectively.

In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable encoder 106 is removably mounted on the bracket 102 with one end 106a being operatively connected with the first end 104a of the shaft 104.

In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment, the gravity responsive pendulum assembly 108 including a pendulous mass 108a secured to an end of a mechanical member 108b which is detachably secured with the second end 104b of the shaft 104 thereby ensuring a pivotal motion of the gravity responsive pendulum assembly 108.

As shown, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a methodology for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object in an indirect firing simulator using an electromechanical apparatus of the present invention. According to an exemplary embodiment, an assembled view of the indirect firing simulator with the electromechanical apparatus 100 mounted on the barrel assembly 110 is shown in FIG. 3. The methodology for measuring vertical angular deviation of the barrel assembly 110 begins with displacement of the barrel assembly 110 in a direction along an axis of the shaft 104 or in a direction along the vertical axis. The displacement of the barrel assembly 110 in a direction along an axis of the shaft 104 or along the vertical axis changes the orientation of the bracket 102 associated with the electromechanical apparatus 100 along the direction of displacement of the barrel assembly 110.

Furthermore, the change in the orientation of the bracket 102 of the electromechanical apparatus 100 along the direction of displacement of the barrel assembly 110 initiates movement of a gravity responsive pendulum assembly 108 of the electromechanical apparatus 100. The gravity responsive pendulum assembly 108 moves along the pendulous mass 108a trajectory and settles in its equilibrium position parallel to vertical axis when acted upon by the restoring force due to the gravity.

Further, the movement of the gravity responsive pendulum assembly 108 enables a rotatable encoder 106 of the electromechanical apparatus 100 to make a move subjected to the motion of the shaft 104 mechanically coupling the gravity responsive pendulum assembly 108 with the rotatable encoder 106. Next, the rotatable encoder 106 converts one or more angular measurement of the shaft 104 of the electromechanical apparatus 100 into an analog format and/or a digital format which is then further processed to obtain the vertical angular deviation of the barrel assembly 100 preferably in terms of an angle with respect to a reference horizontal line.

It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the functionality of encoder is achieved by means very well known in the art, the functionality is performed in a manner as understood by the person skilled in the art. The invention described herein is not limited to utilization of a particular length or material of the shaft and the bracket. Further size, shape and material of the gravity responsive pendulum assembly can be varied depending upon the requirement without affecting the accuracy of the apparatus. Additionally, the mechanical member coupling the pendulous mass with an end of the shaft can be of any appropriate material however, the mechanical member with lesser mass is preferred as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein with reference to accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications can be effective therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.