Electrical Detector and Utilizer of Inclination Data: that mounted on moving vehicles or machine's moving parts, in¬ dicates on a reading dial the variations related to such movements, and that by means of the singnals, the device activates servomechanisms that contemporaneously concern the operating of the said equipment.

This invention finds uses in farm equipment, earth-moving machines, road's building and paving machines, special transports, mixing concrete trucks, dump-trucks, off-road vehicles, boats and airplanes, cars, roboting and various industrial uses, scientific, didactic and professional pur_ poses. Pratically it may be of interest under many aspects as it depends on the various contacts-arrangements made as: type of contacts, their number, the distance between themselves, their operating range and also the whole di¬ mensioning and sensitivity of the device; factors that all combined represent and make the characteristics needed to solve particular problems.

For a better understanding it is helpfull to give yet a few examples of the device's uses as applied to an earth- moving machine. In fact, relating- to the above mentioned arrangements, we can obtain that: it may be a level-guide to help the operator on the easy and fast field's level

determining; or, by means of servomechanisms activated by the device, the operator may also maintain the required slopes and verify them over the dial; or in the machine the device is also the control-box that activates servo- mechanisms that ensure the continuous lubrication of its engine, when, because of the slopes, the sump-pump is not furtherly submerged.

The system is made-up of a control-box, a dial and the connecting wiring. In the control-box there are level-sen¬ sors that, included in an electric circuit, give the si- gnals on the dial according to the level changes. The si¬ gnals on the dial may be represented in many ways. Here follow two examples of such ways, that depend on the type of contacts used in the sensor. In the first one, using lights, the number of them going on or off, represent the increasing or decreasing of the slope, while their lighting sequence represent the direction of the slope. In the other way such effects are represented- by the voltage in¬ creasing or decreasing that may be shown over the light brightness or move a voltage indicator. The control-box signals, as shown on the dial, if needed, in both ways may be utilized by servomechanisms directly and proportionally.

These two ways are explained in the following technical description, as well as already described in the requests for grants of italian patents N° 12204 A/86 dated 27-6-1986 called S.O.S. that means: Safe Operating System and N° 12205 A/86 dated 11-7-1986 called R.D.B. that means: Re-

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balancing of Decentralized Centre of gravity, whose prio¬ rity rights are vindicated. The technical status-quo, that is to be referred to the above mentioned priority documents, is such that, there are already devices used to indicate the variations of slopes, but these variations are purely only indicated by a continuous comparison that the operator must make between two systems. One of them can freely move in re¬ spect to the other one that instead is fixed and taken in reference to. A typical case is that one of the ball-type inclinometer or other similar-ones that, up to date, even the most advanced car makers still install them on off- road vehicles. These are only indicating systems and are based on the operator sight-estimate. The same criteria are also applied on boats and air navigation. While func¬ tioning the said devices are also too much sensitive to the residual oscillating forces that cause a difficult reading, besides the fact of being electrically useless. Other types of slope-indicators are made up of a pendulum, or a balancing system, or rod-depth system as still mounted on harvest-machines that mechanically detect only a few measurements. These mechanical devices have various problems while functioning and need breking systems or other arrangements to operate for two opposite slopes only, as left side and right side, and their mechanism would be much more complex if called-on determining other slopes at the same time. It may be said that, under a technical, functioning and

constructing aspect, are not much reliable, are expansive, quite bulky and restricted in use. Also it may be under¬ lined that, to keep them working, several checks and re- -sets are needed and if get bumps or over turned, the sy- 85 stem made up of many sensitive parts, cause the device to get out of order.

The main purpose of this invention is that one of making level-sensors that are yet more functioning and reliables, and that can reduce, the said disturbing side-effects, and 90 that do not need such a complex of parts as others require. To make electrically usefull, that means to get out of them signals that may be shown on a dial in many ways and utilized according to them. To make, out of a small con¬ tainer, a slope-control-box, where by means of a pre-de- 95 termined number of pre-arranged sensors, it is possible to detect all required slopes either in a direct and pro¬ portional way. This system, besides its extreme simplicity, offers also indestructibility characteristics too because of the applied materials, in fact, if badly bumped or if

100 it over-turns, does not break or distort, and most impor¬ tant is the fact that, once it has got back to the origi¬ nal position it is ready to work again without re-set it. If, in order to prevent accidents, there is inside it a data-recording system, it is possible to check if the li-

105 mits, by law imposed, have been trespassed; actually it may be another black-box as the one used in air navigation. The invention is here explained in details and referring to the enclosed drawings. It follows a pratical example

of its use under a Safe Operating System for farm-equip- HO ment operators. This device is based on the communicating- vases principle and the liquid is the mercury because of its electrical characteristics, also helpfull is its weight, seen as gravity forces that act proportionally to its mass. It is implicit that while studying this device other 115 physics-phenomena partecipate, besides the communicating- vases one, in fact, about the tube's diameter-determina¬ tion, this is kept very small causing that the mercury works as in a capillary vessel, or more properly works under superficial tension-forces. A sensor may be used to 120 evaluate one or two slopes alternatively. A sensor is made of two small plastic tubes, transparent, electrical in¬ sulating, of little diameter, of the same height, both hy- draulically connected at the bottom and the top by joints. These joints also have the function of reducing the mercu- 125 ry and air flux. The top one is not essential to the sen¬ sor functioning itself, but since the system must be her¬ metically closed to keep the mercury pure, it is taken ad¬ vantage of that using it also as flux reducer, so we help to diminish the disturbing effects. 130 All the components of the sensor geometrically lay on the same plane.

Rotating effects of the sensor: a sensor, with a quantity of mercury poured in, it is positioned over an horizontal plane a, b, c, d, as figure I, so that the t-t joint is 135 parallel to the b, c, side of the plane. The sensor stands up vertically to this plane as shown of Figure 2.

In this position, and considering now only the right sen¬ sor tube, the mercury level is the A point of figure 3- Rotating the sensor clockwise for a certain angle, with

140referement to the r-r revolution axis, the level of the mercury will be higher in this tube and is the B point of figure 4, also shown in the original position of figure 3 by a dotted line. The sensor works between these A, B, points, that means

145that, their distance is the actual range where contacts are interposed and are either touched or not by the mer¬ cury going up or down, so opening or closing circuits ac¬ cording to the applied rotation, as to the right or to the left side slope . As previously stated, a sensor

150can detect two slopes alternatively since it has contacts on both tubes and, because of the rotation, only one at the time may have the mercury going down, while it is going up in the opposite tube. To evaluate singularly the four main slopes that are: front-one, back-one, right side

155and left side one, two sensors are needed and they are lo¬ cated into a cubical box, laying right-on its two conti¬ guous sides as shown in figure 5 and 6, one to each side. Such a cubical box, completed by the other sides and cover, and with all the wiring work in it , is installed on a lβOtractor, and from now on, because of the said characteri¬ stics it is called control-box.

At this stage it must be installed according to the fol¬ lowing rules: the control-box bottom base, that is the a, b, c, d, plane, must be parallel to that plane that comes

165 from the intersection of the vehicle's symmetric axes, like the x-x axis and the y-y axis, and these two also represent the horizontal axes of the vehicle; one of the two symmetric axes of the base of the control-box, must also be respective; ly parallel to one of the symmetric axes of the vehicle, as 170 in figure 7 , s-s axis parallel to y-y axis or r-r parallel to x-x. The control-box, when installed on a moving vehicle, it is directly and proportionally affected by the accelera¬ tion forces, stops and shocks, either in direction than by strength. The mercury too is consequently affected and in 175 the same manner, and that disturbs the system main function. By studies, observations and experiments upon various proto¬ types, particular dimensionings are needed to reduce the said side-effects. Mainly it has been searched for a whole system dimensioning, taking into account all the hydraulical l8θ phenomena related to the mercury, that is why there are in the sensor, liquid flux reducer in point m, and point n, and an air flux reducer in point o, as figure 8. Also important is the tubes angles, that are at 70 degrees, and this de¬ rives from the two following conditions: while the vehicle l85 moves over slopes that are between 0 and 18 degrees, that we may assume as normal ones, but also this is where may happen the most sudden stops, such inclination holds the mer cury stable; this consideration is related to forward and backward driving of the vehicle. 190 The other circumstance is related to the vehicle's inclina¬ tions when operating between 18 and 58 degrees, as it is during these variations that the tube, because of its primi-

tive position, assumes a position nearby the vertical one, while the t-t joint is at an inclined position so that it ξkSfis not possible that the mercury gets pushed-up the standing tube, even if in the latter there is a larger quantity of mercury and its weight will react to it anyway, figure 8. Electrical description: the inclonometric detector, in this case, works on direct current using the one of the vehicle.

200-In the A-B zone, rigid micro-contacts and needle-shaped, per forate, in this case, diametrically the plastic tube. The plastic's characteristics combined with the mechanical ones of the needle, ensure the hermetic seal. The micro-contacts are interposed, between themselves, at a distance that cor-

205responds to the angles to be shown on the dial while the seri sor is rotating.

Another contact too perforates the tube anywhere, as long as, during the rotation, it is always submerged by the mer¬ cury. This contact it is assumed to be of positive charge

210and the same is within the mercury.

Leaving a first part of the A-B zone, that corresponds to safe slopes, like th£ 0 to 18 degrees-range, where instead begins the risk-zone, the first contact is positioned. The same criterion is used for the others contacts up to the

215Iast one, that is up to the zone-limit, figure 9-

This figure intends to represent the tube by an enlargement, for the purpose of pratically showing what it happens here, but must be taken as a general scheme, in terms of the elec¬ trical functionings, deriving from the mercury movements and

220contacts interposed in here.

By means of the connecting wiring, the contacts close or open the circuit in which are included light-bulbs, figure 10.

Suppose that the tractor is increasing its inclination to 225 the right side, on the dial the lights will light-on at this sequence: light N° 1 on; lights N° 1 and N° 2 both on; and so on up to the last sensor's contact, that instead, by means of relais, makes an alarm to go on and a flashing light too, that illuminates the centre of the dial thus re- 230 calling the operator as extreme emergency. The lighting se¬ quence on the dial is such that moves from the centre out¬ wards, giving so a combined indication about the slope in¬ creasing and direction too, figure 11. Figure 12 gives a cori trol-box sectional view. As an indication the constructing 235 data of a prototype are reported: inside diameter of the vases = mm 1.5; lenght of t-t joint = mm 90; heigth of the mercury, referred as to t-t joint, = mm 19- In the 18 to 58 degrees range, the mercury goes up for 27 mm, by interposing the contacts every 3 mm we obtain N° 10 slope-points. The 240 device has been tested against accelerations, decelerations, stops side-oscillations, vertical shocks, vase's hermetic seal and electrical response, all that in much more severe conditions than its foreseeable normal use. Note that the A-B range, goes by the t-t distance and the heigth of the 245 mercury as leveled. As said this device finds many uses sin¬ ce can solve diversified problems. In same cases it is re¬ quired that the sensor has single contacts to solve specific problems, as for the continuous engine's lubrication system, in same other cases instead may be required to get out of

250 it others types of electrical effects.

It follows a pratical example of this different use of the device under the aspect of a system to Rebalance Decentra¬ lized Centres of gravity as in the priority's documents. The mercury rising or lowering in the A-B range affects a resi-

255stor. The figure 13, again wants to represent the electrical phenomenon in a general functional way, so that it gives soon an idea about the results that may be obtained in this second manner and different from the first one. Such resi¬ stor may be obtained in many ways and made of different ma-

260terials. It depends on the purpose for which the instrument is made. If for istance, it has to be used as a professional instrument or for other uses, where more accuracy or a lar¬ ger range is required, the resistor may be directly placed in the mercury and its electrical effects to be figured-out

265differently, like to begin with the lowering of the mercury; or if the resistor it is placed over the mercury level, its effects begin with the rising of it, that is, slowly sub¬ merging the resistor. Obtaining variations of the signal, in terms of "power vari_

270 tion" , either out of one resistor, or by means of a resistor as result of N single resistors in any ways each other com¬ bined, depending or interfering, we have the possibility of activate servomechanisms in a gradual-increasing way ac- ding to the sensor's inclination variations.

275 The resistance variation within the said resistor, or poten¬ tial falls of the single ends, either in the case of one re¬ sistor or in the case of "differently-combined-resistors"

give results like the ones obtained from a variable resistor and its signals are then worked-by, modified and amplified 280 b an electronic circuit so that, they may be utilized by servomechanisms and also accordingly shown on the dial. With all the sensors located into the box, still there is in it enough space, so that the amplifier is located here too, and for this aspect, all works as a completed control system 285 giving the signal ready to be used by the servomechanisms. An example of its pratical use is here described as when re¬ quired to rebalance decentralized centres of gravity of heavy and high load trucks that, because of side slopes, may quite unbalance. The equilibrium is re-established by mecha- 290 nic or hydraulic or pneumatic mechanism or others. Since the vehicle's inclination can vary from one side to the opposite one, the sensor in this case has only the resistor located in one of the vases, figure 14«

It is up to the designer to choose the most functional way 295 of doing it and also to choose where to locate it, as in same cases, all the sensors may be located into the control- box, and this one may be installed on the body or on the chassis, and, as shown in the tractor case, the control-box can detect all vehicle's inclinations; in other cases it may 300 be required that the sensors are singularly used and in¬ stalled on the axles or elsewhere.

In case of an heavy load dump-truck it may be that, looking at its side inclination aspect, it is needed to refer to the axles inclinations as being the ones that pratically are the 305 fields-ones.

So for such a truck two axles, with pneumatic brakes, and

considering as for now only one side inclination, the sen¬ sors are installed one to each side, on the same side of them and same direction, like figure 15- The signals, by a cir- cuit amplified, activate a proportional throttle valve that lets the pressure to reach the piston that are interposed between the axles and the frame, figure 15- The pneumatic system, figure 16, uses the air from the brake-reservoir and may be activated, when needed, and for the required side or automatically for both sides, by an air-switch nearby the driver. Because of the load division upon the axles, the e- quilibrium is re-established with pressures proportional to loads, like 7 atmospheres to the back piston and 3 to the front one. This invention firstly is dedicated to the driving-operator's safety and that is why the sensor has been studied with such particular shape and vases angles, as being installed on vehicles. When instead, the use of such sensor, concerns land-surveying or industrial or others purposes it has a circular shape and no flux reducers in it. This way it is operating for an entire revolution and there is direct proportion between inclinations and mercury's mo¬ vements. In figure 17, p, are the continuous contacts and q, are the interposed contacts. With the level-points and the vertical-points pre-set in it, closed in a small flat box and the power-battery included in it, the bricklayer may have a valuable instrument that, by means of its magnets, lays on a metal ruler. Figure 18.

The above described ways of making such device, are only a few of them; we may have many various and obvious variations, useless to be reported in here, but such that they would still be pertinent to this invention.