Abstract: A marker for burying adjacent an underground structure such that a location of the underground structure can be identified from above a ground surface. The marker comprises a housing, a gimbal beacon retention device pivotally disposed within the housing, and a beacon device carried by the gimbal beacon retention device. The gimbal beacon retention device is structured and operable to orient the beacon device in a desired orientation relative to a ground surface regardless of the orientation of the housing relative to the ground surface.

Abstract: A vehicle including an engine, a fuel tank configured to store a fuel supplied to the engine, a fuel gauge configured to detect a fuel level of the fuel inside the fuel tank, and a tilting detector configured to determine whether or not a body of the vehicle is tilted, based on a signal output from the fuel gauge.

Abstract: Inclination sensors with magnetic XMR- or Hall-sensor-principles were implemented in the past by the pivotably supported indicator magnet being supported on the front face of the axle of a pendulum, with the consequence that the static friction of the support had to be overcome first, before the inclination sensor would react. Thereby very small and very slow inclinations often could not be detected. These designs always have a large amount of hysteresis. According to the invention this problem is being solved by the indicator magnet being mounted either on a float, or on a pendulum that is being supported ferrofluidic, whereby the static friction is much smaller or eliminated entirely.

Abstract: An angle sensor comprising a housing (1) having horizontal and vertical axes, which housing is adapted to receive a magnetic core (5) such that the core remains in substantially the same plane, e.g. by floating on a liquid (4). The core is provided with two orthogonal windings (8,18). In use, an electric field is applied across the vertical axis of the housing, which electric field induces a voltage in the windings, wherein the magnitude of the induced field is dependent on the angle of the magnetic core to the horizontal winding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for checking and calibrating high precision inclinometric sensors. It comprises a substantially quadrangular planar base body made of highly rigid material, set to float on mercury placed inside a tank; a pair of micrometric positioning means of known weights, situated in proximity to concurrent edges of the base body, on the respective axes of symmetry of the base body, able to allow to change the baricentre and the inclination on the mercury of the base body by a value determined by the variation in the applied moment; a pair of screws for adjusting the zero point, situated on said base body and a seat located centrally to the base body for positioning an inclinometric sensor to be calibrated.

Abstract: An apparatus for precisely measuring the direction and grade of tilt, and the rate of change of tilt. The apparatus consists of a lighted fiber optic cable that is fitted with a flotation collar on one end, and the other end is vertically tethered to the bottom of a liquid filled chamber. The light projecting from the cable is sensed by a photodetector and assigned spatial coordinates. The fiber optic cable is sensitive to changes in orientation, and when the apparatus is tilted, or subject to an acceleration, then the cable deflects to correct for the tilt, and the photodetector picks up the new spatial coordinates of the projecting light. The new spatial coordinates reflect the direction and magnitude of tilt.

Abstract: An apparatus for precisely measuring the direction and grade of tilt, and the rate of change of tilt. The apparatus consists of a lighted fiber optic cable that is fitted with a flotation collar on one end, and the other end is vertically tethered to the bottom of a liquid filled chamber. The light projecting from the cable is sensed by a photodetector and assigned spatial coordinates. The fiber optic cable is sensitive to changes in orientation, and when the apparatus is tilted, or subject to an acceleration, then the cable deflects to correct for the tilt, and the photodetector picks up the new spatial coordinates of the projecting light. The new spatial coordinates reflect the direction and magnitude of tilt.