Abstract: A carpenter's, mason's, or plumber's level with an elastic, flexible cord for attachment to a plank, pipe, or workpiece is disclosed. The level has a linear, bar-shaped body with a rectangular cross-section, where portions of the body may be hollow or have recessed openings therein. The level has an elastic cord connected to the body, wherein the cord is stretch-wrapped around a plank, pipe or like workpiece to attach the level thereto for angular tilt measurement. A groove, a contour, a notch, a boss, a ridge, a hole, a recess, a hook, or the like can be used to hold or snare the elastic cord when in use and to store the elastic cord on the level body when not in use. The level body has an opening to receive a bubble vial for angular tilt indication.

Abstract: A scanning unit including a support and a scanning plate fastened on the support by a first fastening element and a second fastening element. An eccentric element that can be rotated around a first axis of rotation and causes pivoting of the scanning plate with respect to the support around a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation is constituted by the first element and said second axis of rotation is constituted by the second fastening element.

Abstract: A tiltmeter device having a pair of orthogonally disposed tilt sensors that are levelable within an inner housing containing the sensors. An outer housing can be rotated to level at least one of the sensor pair while the inner housing can be rotated to level the other sensor of the pair. The sensors are typically rotated up to about plus or minus 100 degrees. The device is effective for measuring tilts in a wide range of angles of inclination of wells and can be employed to level a platform containing a third sensor.

Abstract: A plummet level for checking the horizontal state of a surface and locating two vertically spaced points generally required by wood working in most interior decorative works. The plummet level includes a rectangular main body divided into front and rear compartments for balance beam and weight-loaded swing link, respectively, to mount therein on a central pivot shaft. Two long clear windows are separately provided on walls of the main body facing the balance beam and the swing link. A plurality of spaced and parallel check lines horizontally extend a full length of the windows. A user may visually overlap one of the check lines on the windows and a reference level/vertical line on the balance beam/swing link to check a working surface for its horizontal or vertical state.

Abstract: A three-dimensional homologous surveying instrument includes a base with an outer spherical shell mounted thereon for receiving therein a ring-shaped shell holder, an intermediate spherical shell and an inner spherical shell with respective zero references at in a homologous relationship with each other. The inner spherical shell rotates within the intermediate spherical shell about X-axis. The intermediate spherical shell rotates within the ring-shaped shell holder about Y-axis. The outer spherical shell is positioned in the base to serve as the X-axis. The inner spherical shell and the intermediate spherical shell each have a pendulum at the bottom. The outer spherical shell, the ring-shaped shell holder, the inner spherical shell and the intermediate spherical shell form a gyroscopic device for three dimensional surveying through X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis concomitantly. The pendulum of the inner spherical shell is mounted with a compass for indicating the direction of the angle of slope being surveyed.

Abstract: A motion sensor has a carrier which rotatably supports a shaft. One or more eccentric weights are mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith. The carrier is supported by pins which are normal to the shaft and rotatable on bearings. One of the pins carries a disk with marks in the form of lines, and a sensing device for the marks is disposed adjacent the disk. This pin further carries a transmission component which cooperates with a transmission component on the shaft. When an object on which the motion sensor is mounted is tilted about the axis of the shaft, the weights are displaced from an equilibrium position. The weights return to the equilibrium position under the action of gravity thereby rotating the shaft which, in turn, rotates the disk via the transmission components. If the object is tilted about the axes of the pins, inertia causes rotation of the disk. The rotation of the disk is detected by the sensing device which can trigger an alarm.

Abstract: A computer input device. The device is a body containing at least one tube. There is a first conductor in the tube able to move along the tube. Spaced contacts are formed within the tube and conductors extend from the spaced contacts. First interfaces receive information from the conductors as to the position of the first conductor in the tube and input information to the computer based on the position of the first conductor. Second interfaces input information to the computer.

Abstract: A sensing device. The sensing device comprises a body containing a arcuate tube. A first conductor in the tube is able to move along the tube. There is a plurality of spaced contacts within the tube and conductors extending from the spaced contacts. There is a remote read-out to receive the information from the conductors to indicate the position of the first conductor in the tube and thus the inclination of the tube.

Abstract: An attitude sensing apparatus for detecting a tilt angle and an azimuth angle of the tilt of a structure includes a pair of detecting devices disposed on the structure at right angles to each other. Each of the detecting devices consists of a rotary shaft rotatably supported from a structure to be measured, a sensor support integrally held by the rotary shaft and biased in the vertical direction by gravity, a tilt angle sensor supported by the sensor support for detecting a tilt angle of the sensor support within a plane containing the axis of the rotary shaft, and a controller for controlling rotation of the rotary shaft with respect to the structure. The apparatus also includes a calculator which calculates a maximum tilt angle and an azimuth angle thereof of the structure on the basis of tilt angles detected by the two tilt angle sensors. This calculation is simply and rapidly effected according to approximating formulae, and yet at a good precision.

Abstract: A three-dimensional homologous surveying instrument includes a base with a spherical cover mounted thereon for receiving therein a shell holder, an intermediate spherical shell and an inner spherical shell with respective zero references set in a homologous relationship with each other. The inner spherical shell rotates within the intermediate spherical shell on a first axis serving as a dynamic X-axis. The intermediate spherical shell rotates in the shell holder on a second axis perpendicularly intersecting the first axis and thus serves as a dynamic Y-axis. The cover is positioned in the base to serve as the Z-axis. Longitudinal and latitudinal scaling on the cover matches longitudinal and latitudinal scaling on the intermediate and inner shells, resulting in a three-dimensional, completely homologous surveying instrument.

Abstract: A vehicle level and measuring and display device for use especially in recreational vehicles or the like for ensuring that the vehicle is in a gravitationally level position comprising a sensing unit remotely connected to a display unit. The display unit includes a plurality of incremental individual optical indicators disposed along a first line representative of the level position of the vehicle and a second line representing the level position of the vehicle whereby the individual LED optical elements can incrementally and individually display the particular level position of that line. The device includes at least two scales having both a rough and fine adjustment for the LED indicators.

Abstract: An inclinometer, adapted to be rigidly secured to an object, for detecting the amount and direction of the inclination of the object in any direction with respect to a horizontal or other reference plane. The inclinometer comprises a fiber optic rod rigidly mounted at one of its ends and having a weight secured to its free end. The free end of the rod has two degrees of freedom of motion with respect to its rigidly mounted end. Light is supplied to the rod's mounted end and light emitted from the rod's free end falls on a continuous two dimensional optical detection surface area of an optical detector which uniquely detects the position of the spot of light falling anywhere on its surface area, regardless of the direction in which the spot of light moves on its surface area. From the position of the spot of light on the surface area, the amount and direction of inclination of the object can be determined.

Abstract: A level characterized wherein two guide frames are arranged within a base member one above the other so that they cross each other at right angles. The guide frames are provided with internal rolling-contact surfaces each shaped as an upward-curving circular arc, respectively, the lowest parts of the rolling-contact surfaces being positioned at the point at which the guide frames cross, and the interiors thereof being visible through top surfaces thereof. Balls are contained rotatably in the two guide frames, respectively. The ball in the upper guide frame is formed so as to have a diameter slightly smaller than that of the ball in the lower guide frame.

Abstract: In an inclinometer of the type wherein inclinations in the fore and aft and left and right directions of a motor car are displayed independently, there are provided a pair of intermeshing sector gears, weights mounted on one of the sector gears, display discs mounted on shafts of one sector gears, and a scale cooperating with respective display discs for displaying pitching and rolling angles of the motor car.

Abstract: An inclinometer of the type wherein a weight rotatable in accordance with the inclination of a vehicle is provided for a drive unit, and a torque of the drive unit is transmitted to a driven unit so as to display the inclination angle of the vehicle with an inclination indicator, there are provided a zero point adjusting spiral spring, the inner end thereof being affixed to a shaft of the driven unit, while an outer end is affixed to a rotary drive member, and a zero point adjusting knob for rotating the rotary drive member. According to this invention, after the zero point has been adjusted, the zero point display line of the indicators and the zero point scale line of the scale board can be aligned horizontally, thus improving the appearance of the zero point display.

Abstract: An improved inclinometer and method for simultaneously measuring tilt and relative bearing in remote hostile environments such as oil and gas wells involving a pair of pendulum masses attached to perpendicularly intersecting shafts and individually capable of creating rotational motion through angles characteristic of tilt and relative bearing wherein, by use of a differential gearing system, the rotational motion induced by tilt and rotational motion induced by relative bearing are summed as a single rotational motion parallel to the axis of rotation of the relative bearing induced rotation and collinear to the well bore such that potentiometers responsive to relative bearing and the sum of tilt and relative bearing generate electrical signals that can both be transmitted to the surface without the use of troublesome slipring electrical contacts or the like. In this manner the reliability and durability of instrument is improved.

Abstract: A suspension device for an angle indicator intended to indicate the angle of an object to the vertical line and comprising two angle-indicating devices designed each to indicate a predetermined angle to the vertical line and located in two planes perpendicular to each other. The suspension device comprises an outer ring which is attached rotatably about a diameter of the ring and connected to the object, and an inner ring which is located perpendicularly to and inside of said outer ring. The inner ring is movable along the inside of the outer ring. Attachment components are provided for the angle indicator inside of the inner ring and enable movement along the inner ring. According to a preferred embodiment, the attachment components are designed to attach the angle indicator so that one of the angle-indicating devices indicates the angle of the plane of the inner ring to the vertical line.

Abstract: An angle indicator for indicating two mutually perpendicular directions and including two moire screen angle indicating devices, each including several screens consisting of opaque lines separated by transparent gaps with the screens of each device positioned parallel to one another to provide a moire interference pattern. One screen can be fixed and the other freely rotatable to adopt a predetermined position relative to the plumb line. The two devices, each with its pair of screens, are positioned in mutually perpendicular planes, and a mirror is fitted and arranged to project a mirror image of one device in a plane in which the pair of screens of the second device is located, and by the side of the second device so the moire patterns formed at both of the angle indicating devices appear to be lying beside each other when the angle indicator is viewed.

Abstract: A device for setting the direction and/or inclination of an elongated rock drilling apparatus. The actual value of the direction in each of two perpendicular planes is sensed by a rotatable screen having a pattern of parallel opaque lines separated by interspaces. Corresponding set values are set by prepositioning a carrying member on which a second screen is mounted which also has a pattern of lines and interspaces. The elongated rock drilling apparatus and the carrying member are moved in common until the line patterns on the screens form a desired moire pattern.

Abstract: A directing instrument for control of the inclination of the drill post of a drilling apparatus comprising means for sensing the inclination of the post in two directions at right angles to one another. Said means being supported by a holder arranged to be mounted rotatably on said post and so that the axis of rotation of said holder can be set relative to the post dependent on the type of operation to be carried out.