The present invention relates to an inclinometer and a chain of inclinometers.

Usually, inclinometers are widely used in monitoring movements relating to soils subject to landslides, fractures, settlements and/or subsidence. In addition, inclinometers are widely used in monitoring movements relating to load-bearing structures and/or foundations of artefacts, such as tunnels, bridges, road and rail and building detections.

The demand for increasingly precise and reliable instrumental controls of the above-mentioned phenomena has led to the development and production of countless types of inclinometer instruments.

The inclinometers of known type, in the technical field relating to the present invention, substantially comprise a rod-like main body, made of steel and having two opposite ends to which respective mechanical connectors are connected. Inside the hollow main body, the probe comprising one or more sensors suitable for inclinometer measurement is operatively arranged. The probe is powered by an electrical circuit consisting essentially of one or more electrical cables which connect it to a power supply and/or a control unit. The inclinometers, in use, are connected in series to form a column or chain of inclinometers, which is inserted inside one or more inclinometer tubes, pre-installed in the ground.

In order to ensure the most accurate measurement, the inclinometers comprise appropriate "centring devices", which promote a positioning of the inclinometer in a radially centred position inside the inclinometer tube and support the movements thereof.

Such centring devices consist of one or more rods tilting with respect to the central body, each of which comprising a pair of wheels. Such a type of inclinometer, even in their most modern implementations, still have some structural, operational and economic/productive disadvantages which make the use thereof problematic.

Firstly, the main body of the inclinometers is made of metallic material, typically steel, which makes the inclinometers heavy and more subject to tangible deformations, contributing to making them difficult to reuse once extracted from the inclinometer tubes.

Secondly, the structure of the connection joints does not allow a correct mutual movement of the inclinometers connected in series, thus affecting the quality of the measurement of the sensors.

In fact, the connection joints of the known inclinometers allow a clearance of rotation around the respective axes of the inclinometers, which determines a spiralling error.

Another problem is the structural footprint of the centring devices: if, in fact, the inclinometer tubes were to deform due to external forces, undergoing local changes in the section and/or bending of the profile, the centring devices could prevent a correct and easy extraction of the inclinometers from the inclinometer tubes.

Furthermore, such a type of centring device requires guides obtained in the inner wall of the inclinometer tubes which constrain the inclinometers in translation and allow a correct centring thereof.

The result is a lack of versatility of the inclinometer since its correct operation is strongly dependent on the structure of the inclinometer tube.

A further problem concerns the electrical circuit: in fact, the power cables and connections are typically arranged outside the inclinometer, potentially subject to damage and premature wear. Furthermore, the externally arranged cables can worsen the problems related to the footprint of the inclinometer inside the inclinometer tube.

Therefore, the technical task of the present invention is to provide an inclinometer and a chain of inclinometers which do not present the same drawbacks inherent in the currently known art. Still, an object of the present invention is to provide an inclinometer and a chain of inclinometers which are lighter and more manageable in operator control, and which at the same time are capable of structurally resisting the deformation actions to which they are normally subject during the course of their useful life as well as greatly reducing the risk of damage.

A further object of the present invention is then to provide an inclinometer and a chain of inclinometers which are efficient in operation and which are capable of reducing production and use costs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an inclinometer and a chain of inclinometers which are extremely adaptable and versatile in use. The specified technical task and the specified objects are substantially achieved by an inclinometer and a chain of inclinometers comprising the technical features set out in one or more of the appended claims or in any case comprising one or more of the features described below: further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative, non-limiting description of an embodiment of the inclinometer and chain of inclinometers.

Such a description will be set out hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings given only for illustrative and, therefore, non limiting purpose, in which:

- figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment (as a non-limiting example) of an inclinometer in accordance with the present invention;

- figures 2 and 3 show perspective views of respective details of the embodiment of the inclinometer of figure 1 ; and

- figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a chain of inclinometers in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, "1" indicates an inclinometer in accordance with the present invention: the inclinometer 1 comprises a main body 2, having a substantially rigid and rod-like structure (or in other words, the main body 2 has a predominant dimension and extends along a main extension axis "X"), which in turn has a first connection end 3 and a second connection end 4, opposite the first connection end 3.

In the present description, the term "rigid" is intended to mean that the main body 2 is made of a material which allows it to resist the action of external forces tending to deform it (and specifically, it is intended that the main body 2 is made of a material having a high coefficient of elasticity). According to an aspect of the present invention, the main body 2 can be made at least partially, or even entirely, in a material comprising carbon (for example, but not limited to, carbon fibre): such a technical feature makes the main body 2 suitable to resist the action of forces acting on the inclinometer 1 and, at the same time, makes the main body 2 light and manageable in operator control (it should also be noted that the main body 2 is also partially or entirely hollow).

The inclinometer 1 comprises a probe, not shown in the accompanying drawings, operatively arranged inside the main body 2 and essentially configured to acquire data concerning inclinometer measurements and, for example by means of an electrical circuit 40, the transmission of the acquired data to an external control unit.

The probe comprises at least one sensor configured to acquire an inclination value of the main body 2 with respect to a predetermined inclination value of the main body 2.

In the present description, the expression "a predetermined inclination value of the main body 2" is intended to mean that the sensor measures a variation of the inclination of the main body 2 with respect to a predetermined reference value thereof.

According to a preferred embodiment, the inclinometer 1 is used taking as a predetermined inclination value a substantially vertical arrangement, i.e., perpendicular to the ground: however, the inclinometer 1 can advantageously be used in alternative applications, for any predetermined inclination value, without thereby leaving the present inventive concept. The inclinometer 1 comprises an electrical circuit 40 configured for a power supply of the probe: such an electrical circuit 40 can be configured to connect the probe to an external control unit so as to be able to transfer the data acquired by the probe itself.

The inclinometer 1 can be mechanically connected in series to further inclinometers 1, defining a chain 100 of inclinometers 1 illustrated by way of non-limiting example in figure 4.

The inclinometer 1 can also be electrically connected in series to further inclinometers 1 , by means of the respective electrical circuits 40, so as to connect the respective probes and acquire cumulative data: in particular, in use, the inclinometers 1 can be connected by means of respective connectors.

Specifically, the inclinometer 1 comprises a male connector 5, connected or connectable to the first end 3, and a female connector 6, connected and connectable to the second end 4.

Figure 4 shows a first inclinometer 1 connected in series to a second inclinometer 1 , by means of a respective female connector 6 and a respective male connector 5: the male connector 5 and the female connector 6 define, in use, a rigid and reversible mechanical constraint with respective female 6 and/or male 5 connectors of a further inclinometer 1.

In other words, male connectors 5 and female connectors 6 belonging to respective inclinometers 1 can be coupled so as to define a constraint which makes such male connectors 5 and female connectors 6 integral, not allowing any movement therebetween.

According to a further aspect, the male connector 5 and the female connector 6 are in electrical connection by means of the aforesaid electrical circuit 40, and furthermore, the male connector 5 and the female connector 6 define, in use, an electrical connection with respective female 6 and/or male 5 connectors of a further inclinometer 1 (in other words, in use, the male connector 5 and the female connector 6, in addition to defining a mechanical connection between two or more inclinometers 1 arranged in series, define an electrical connection therebetween). Advantageously, it is thereby not necessary to use a further electrical connection circuit 40 to electrically connect two inclinometers in series, thus achieving a significantly simplified installation.

Furthermore, in possible forms of the invention, the electrical circuit 40 is arranged at least partially inside the main body and therefore, in use, the electrical circuit 40 is more protected from wear and damage since it is almost totally inserted inside the main body 2. Figures 2 and 3 show a preferred embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, of the female connector 6 and the male connector 5 respectively: as can be seen from the figures themselves, the male connector 5 and the female connector 6 can have mutual alignment portions 7 (in particular, the male connector 5 can have two or more protuberant elements 8 while the female connector 6 can have two or more lead-ins 9, respectively).

The lead-ins 9 are substantially counter-shaped to the protuberant elements 8 and functionally, the protuberant elements 8 of the male connector 5 of an inclinometer 1 , in use, are received by the lead-ins 9 of the female connector 6 of a further inclinometer 1 arranged in series. Therefore, the protuberant elements 8, as well as the lead-ins 9, have a shape such that they are angularly distributed around the main extension axis "X" on the respective male and female connectors 5, 6 so as to define one or more coupling configurations of the respective male and female connectors 5, 6. According to alternative embodiments, the protuberant elements 8 can be obtained on the female connector 6 while the lead-ins 9 can be obtained on the male connector 5 and/or again, according to further embodiments, the male and female connectors 5, 6 can have both the protuberant elements 8 and the lead-ins 9. Advantageously, the alignment portions 7 allow the operator to be able to correctly and quickly align different inclinometers 1 during the installation steps.

The male connector 5 can further have a threaded portion 10 while the female connector 6 can have a movable ring nut 11 , which is counter shaped to the threaded portion 10: the threaded portion 10 and the movable ring nut 11 define, in use, the aforesaid rigid and reversible mechanical constraint with a movable ring nut 11 and/or a threaded portion 10 of further inclinometers 1 arranged in series.

Functionally, according to the preferred embodiment, the installation of two inclinometers 1 arranged in series includes firstly approaching and aligning the two inclinometers 1 by means of the respective counter-shaped alignment portions 7 and connecting the two inclinometers 1 by mutually approaching them along the respective main extension axes "X".

Next, the two inclinometers 1 are constrained by tightening the movable ring nut 11 of the female connector 6 on the threaded portion 10 of the male connector 5.

According to a peculiar aspect of the present invention, the inclinometer 1 comprises a connection joint 20 interposed between the male connector 5 and the first end 3 and/or between the female connector 6 and the second end 4: depending on the needs of the moment, such a connection joint 20 can be or in any case comprise a so-called universal joint 21.

In a form of the invention, the connection joint 20 is operatively arranged between the female connector 6 and the second end 4: however, in alternative embodiments, the connection joint 20 can be operatively arranged between the male connector 5 and the first end 3. Advantageously, the connection joint 20 made as a universal joint 21 allows optimal mutual movements (without the occurrence of flexural stresses) between two inclinometers 1 arranged in series, improving the quality of the measurements and analysis of the data collected (in fact, the connection joint 20 prevents uncertainties and measurement errors due to spiralling).

With reference to the figures, the connection joint 20 is configured to allow a rotation between the male connector 5 and the first end 3 in a range between 10° and 30° with respect to the main extension axis "X": for example, the connection joint 20 is configured to allow a rotation of 20° between the male connector 5 and the first end 3 with respect to the main extension axis "X".

Alternatively, the connection joint 20 can be configured to allow a rotation between the female connector 6 and the second end 4 in a range between 10° and 30° with respect to the main extension axis "X", or for example 20° with respect to the main extension axis "X".

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the inclinometer 1 comprises at least one centring device 30 configured to promote a radially centred position of the main body 2 inside a so-called "inclinometer tube" (not shown in the accompanying drawings): the inclinometer 1 can, for example, comprise a single centring device 30 operatively arranged near the first end 3 and/or the second end 4.

As illustrated by way of example in figure 2, the centring device 30 is integral and/or connected to the connection joint 20, or again, the centring device 30 can comprise at least two pressers 31 angularly equispaced and extending transversely away from the main extension axis "X".

In a form of the invention, the centring device 30 comprises four pressers 31 angularly equispaced and distributed around the main extension axis "X" at 90° to each other: structurally, each presser 31 can comprise a containment body 32, an abutment element 33 and an elastically deformable body (not shown in the accompanying drawings).

The containment body 32 has a substantially conical or truncoconical shape and is internally hollow, defining a containment volume for the at least partial containment of the elastically deformable element and the abutment element 33. The abutment element 33, at least partially inserted in the containment element 32, is movable between a radially extended configuration and a radially retracted configuration (in other words, the abutment element 33 can assume a plurality of configurations between the radially extended configuration and the radially retracted configuration).

The abutment element 33 has a rounded head 34 configured to define a low friction coefficient between the abutment element 33 and the walls of the inclinometer tube.

Finally, the elastically deformable element, at least partially inserted in the containment element 32, is configured to promote a movement of the abutment element 33 from the aforesaid retracted configuration to the aforesaid extended configuration (for example, such elastically deformable element can be a spring).

Functionally, since the pressers 31 exert, in quantitative terms, the same pushing action and since they are equispaced around the main extension axis "X", they promote a distancing of the main body 2 from the inner wall of the inclinometer tube, allowing the main body 2 to position itself in the aforesaid radially centred position.

Should the inclinometer tube be deformed by the action of external forces, the pressers 31 would ensure that the main body 2 follows the course of the inclinometer tube.

Advantageously, moreover, the size of the pressers 31 is extremely limited: it follows that, if the inclinometer tube were to be subject to excessive deformation, the pressers 31 would not be an obstacle to the extraction of the inclinometer 1.

It should therefore be noted that the invention offers the possibility of autonomously retracting the abutment elements 33, as well as has a shape of the abutment elements 33 themselves which promotes a sliding on the walls of the inclinometer tube with a low friction coefficient. Advantageously, for the same reason, the pressers 31 allow a quick installation of the inclinometer 1 inside the inclinometer tube: however, the pressers 31 thus made do not require guides made on the inclinometer tubes, reducing the costs of the inclinometer apparatus as well as making the inclinometer 1 extremely versatile.

The present invention also relates to a chain 100 of inclinometers comprising at least two inclinometers 1 having the above technical features set out in the description, in which the two or more inclinometers 1 are reversibly connected in series by respective male connectors 5 and respective female connectors 6.

The present invention achieves the intended aims, eliminating the drawbacks highlighted by the prior art: in this regard, it should be noted first of all that the structure of the main body 2 as described and/or claimed allows to be extremely light and manageable in operator control and at the same time able to structurally resist deformation actions.

It should also be noted that the peculiar structure of the centring device 31 ensures an easy installation of the inclinometer 1 inside inclinometer tubes and an easy extraction of the inclinometer 1 therefrom, while ensuring a correct centring of the main body 2 inside the tubes themselves. Nevertheless, the peculiar structure of the centring device 30 makes the inclinometer 1 extremely versatile and does not require inclinometer tubes having special sliding guides.

Finally, the connection joint 20, made in the form of a universal joint 21, ensures an optimal mutual movement between inclinometers 1 arranged in series, so as to eliminate or in any case greatly reduce uncertainties and measurement errors.