Abstract: A gravity meter includes a support framework which supports a suspension system having a weight beam to which a reaction mass is attached. The reaction mass includes a dielectric mass which extends partially within first and second cavities formed between respective first and second pairs of conductors. Changes in either the ambient gravitational field or the electric potential on the conductors causes the dielectric mass to move into the first cavity between the first pair of conductors and out of the second cavity between the second pair of conductors or vice-versa, with the force on the dielectric mass being linearly proportional to the voltage between the conductors. An optical detector system determines the position of the weight beam, thus the position of the dielectric mass, and is connected to the voltage source for the plates so that, by adjusting the electric potential between the plates, the weight beam can be moved to a nulled position.

Abstract: A gravity meter is provided which has a support framework which supports a suspension system having a weight arm to which a reaction mass is attached. The reaction mass includes a dielectric mass which extends partially into a cavity between a pair of conductors. Changes in either the ambient gravitational field or the electric potential on the conductors causes the dielectric mass to be moved into or out of the cavity between the conductors allowing both fine tune calibration of the device by means of varying the electric potential and direct readout of the device by measuring the electric potential required to equilibrate the conductor and dielectric system. The suspension assembly includes a pair of parallel spindles rotatably mounted on hinges secured to the support framework with the spindles being interconnected by a zero length mainspring and temperature compensating framework.