3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION

An electromechanical apparatus and method adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line.

4. DESCRIPTION;

Technical Field of the Invention

[1] The invention pertains to a new and useful improvement in an elevation measurement device. More specifically, the invention pertains to an electromechanical apparatus and a method that could be adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line with improved accuracy.

Background of the Invention

[2] Heretofore various systems for measuring vertical angular elevation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line are available. One of such system employs linear sensor for measurement of angular elevation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line. This type of system however requires a very complicated and elaborative calibration process which is time consuming.

[3] Additionally, elevation measuring devices utilizing tilt sensors are also well known. These types of devices have a problem in terms of obtaining an accurate angular measurement and are inconsistent. Further, the angular measurement from these types of devices is greatly affected by the factors like temperature, humidity and the like.

[4] Use of a pendulum assembly in various scientific devices like accelerometer, gravimeter, and seismometer for various purposes is well known. As such, there exists a need for an electromechanical apparatus and a method that could be adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line using the pendulum assembly therein.

Brief Summary of the Invention

[5] In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an electromechanical apparatus and a method for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line are disclosed.

[6] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide the electromechanical apparatus that would provide an accurate and consistent measurement of the vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line.

[7] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus and mechanism thereof to measure an angle of elevation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line and that would overcome the shortcomings or at least substantially ameliorate the shortcomings and disadvantages of the conventional systems.

[8] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the electromechanical apparatus adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes a bracket removably mountable at a predetermined location of the object, a shaft comprising a first end and a second end, a rotatable encoder removably mounted on the bracket with an end operatively associated with the first end of the shaft, and a gravity responsive pendulum assembly comprising a pendulous mass secured to an end of a mechanical member detachably secured with the second end of the shaft.

[9] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the method adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes displacing the object in a direction along an axis of the shaft or in a direction along the longitudinal axis wherein the shaft including a first end and a second end, initiation of movement of a gravity responsive pendulum assembly upon displacement of the object along the axis of the shaft wherein the gravity responsive pendulum assembly comprising a pendulous mass secured to an end of a mechanical member detachably secured with the first end of the shaft and rotation of a rotatable encoder having an end operatively associated with the second end of the shaft wherein the rotatable encoder removably mounted on the bracket.

[10] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments which is to be read in connection with accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[11] The present invention will be described in a detailed manner with reference to the attached drawings. Moreover, for ease of convenience reference horizontal line refers to the X- axis, vertical axis refers to the Y-axis and longitudinal axis or axis of the shaft refers to the Z- axis as indicated in all the figures attached, in which:

[12] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exploded view of an electromechanical apparatus of the present invention.

[13] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an isometric view of an electromechanical apparatus of the present invention.

[14] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a methodology for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object in an indirect firing simulator using an electromechanical apparatus of the present invention, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[15] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in a detailed manner in conjunction with the FIG. 1 - FIG. 3. The present invention may however, be embodied in many different forms and shouldn't be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather these embodiments are provided for imparting complete understanding about the present invention to the readers or the person skilled in the art and which will fully cover the scope of the present invention.

[16] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed towards an electromechanical apparatus and a method for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the electromechanical apparatus adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes a bracket removably mountable at a predetermined location of the object. The bracket is enabled to change the orientation along a direction of displacement of the object. The direction of the displacement of the object includes a direction along an axis of the shaft or a direction along the longitudinal axis. The change of the orientation of the bracket along the direction of displacement of the object initiates movement of the gravity responsive pendulum assembly.

[17] According to the first aspect, the electromechanical apparatus adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes a shaft comprising a first end and a second end.

[18] According to the first aspect, the electromechanical apparatus adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes a rotatable encoder removably mounted on the bracket and which has an end operatively associated with the first end of the shaft. The rotatable encoder enables conversion of at least one angular measurement of the shaft into an analog format and/or a digital format.

[19] According to the first aspect, the electromechanical apparatus adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line includes a gravity responsive pendulum assembly comprising a pendulous mass secured to an end of a mechanical member detachably secured with the second end of the shaft.

[20] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line using an electromechanical apparatus includes the step of displacing the object in a direction along an axis of the shaft or in a direction along the longitudinal axis wherein the shaft comprising a first end and a second end. The step of displacing the object along the axis of the shaft changes the orientation of a bracket along the axis of the shaft thereof.

[21] In accordance with the second aspect, the method adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line using the electromechanical apparatus includes the step of initiating movement of a gravity responsive pendulum assembly upon displacement of the object along the axis of the shaft wherein the gravity responsive pendulum assembly including a pendulous mass secured to an end of a mechanical member detachably secured with the first end of the shaft.

[22] In accordance with the second aspect, the method adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line using the electromechanical apparatus includes rotation of a rotatable encoder having an end operatively associated with the second end of the shaft wherein the rotatable encoder is removably mounted on a bracket detachably mounted at a predetermined location of the object.

[23] In accordance with the second aspect, the method adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of the object with respect to the reference horizontal line using the electromechanical apparatus further includes the step of converting at least one angular measurement of the shaft into an analog format and/or a digital format.

[24] As shown, FIG. 1 is a diagram 100 illustrating an exploded view of an electromechanical apparatus of the present invention. The electromechanical apparatus includes a bracket 102 removably mountable at a predetermined location of an object with a suitable fastener means. The object preferably includes a predetermined component of a device. By the way of an example, the predetermined component preferably includes but not by the way of any limitation a barrel assembly of an indirect firing simulator.

[25] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electromechanical apparatus further includes a shaft 104 having a first end 104a and a second end 104b. The shaft 104 is utilized for mechanically coupling a rotatable encoder 106 with a gravity responsive pendulum assembly 108.

[26] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electromechanical apparatus further includes the rotatable encoder 106 having an end 106a operatively associated with the first end 104a of the shaft 104. The rotatable encoder 106 is removably mountable on the bracket 102. The rotatable encoder 106 converts one or more angular measurements of the shaft 104 into an analog format and/or a digital format which is further processed for determining the vertical angular deviation preferably in terms of an angle.

[27] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electromechanical apparatus further includes the gravity responsive pendulum assembly 108 having a pendulous mass 108a secured to an end of a mechanical member 108b detachably secured with the second end 104b of the shaft 104.

[28] Referring to FIG.2 is a diagram 200 illustrating an isometric view of an electromechanical apparatus of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 2 shows an assembled isometric view of the electromechanical apparatus discussed in FIG.l which includes a bracket 202 removably mountable at a predetermined location of an object, a shaft 204 including a first end and a second end for mechanically coupling a rotatable encoder 208 with a gravity responsive pendulum assembly 206.

[29] In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable encoder 208 is removably mounted on the bracket 202 with one end being operatively connected with the first end of the shaft 204.

[30] In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment, the gravity responsive pendulum assembly 206 including a pendulous mass secured to an end of a mechanical member detachably secured with the second end of the shaft 204 thereby ensuring a pivotal motion of the gravity responsive pendulum assembly 206.

[31] As shown, FIG. 3 is a diagram 300 illustrating a methodology for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object in an indirect firing simulator using an electromechanical apparatus of the present invention. According to an exemplary embodiment, an assembled view of the indirect firing simulator with the electromechanical apparatus 302 mounted on the barrel assembly 304 is shown in FIG. 3. The methodology for measuring vertical angular deviation of the barrel assembly 304 begins with displacement of the barrel assembly 304 in a direction along an axis of the shaft or in a direction along the longitudinal axis. The displacement of the barrel assembly 304 in a direction along an axis of the shaft or in a direction along the longitudinal axis changes the orientation of the bracket associated with the electromechanical apparatus 302 along the direction of displacement of the barrel assembly 304.

[32] Furthermore, the change of the orientation of the bracket associated with the electromechanical apparatus 302 along the direction of displacement of the barrel assembly 304 initiates movement of a gravity responsive pendulum assembly of the electromechanical apparatus 302. The gravity responsive pendulum assembly moves along the pendulous mass trajectory and settles in its equilibrium position parallel to vertical axis when acted upon by the restoring force due to the gravity.

[33] Further, the movement of the gravity responsive pendulum assembly enables a rotatable encoder of the electromechanical apparatus 302 to make a move subjected to the motion of the shaft mechanically coupling the gravity responsive pendulum assembly with the rotatable encoder. Next, the rotatable encoder converts one or more angular measurement of the shaft of the electromechanical apparatus 302 into an analog format and/or a digital format which is then further processed to obtain the vertical angular deviation of the barrel assembly 304 preferably in terms of an angle with respect to a reference horizontal line.

[34] The invention described herein is not limited to utilization of a particular length or material of the shaft and the bracket. Further size, shape and material of the gravity responsive pendulum assembly can be varied depending upon the requirement without affecting the accuracy of the apparatus. Additionally, the mechanical member coupling the pendulous mass with an end of the shaft can be of any appropriate material however, the mechanical member with lesser mass is preferred as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art.

[35] Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein with reference to accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications can be effective therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

5. CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1. An electromechanical apparatus adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line, comprising:

a bracket removably mountable at a predetermined location of the object; a shaft comprising a first end and a second end;

a rotatable encoder removably mounted on the bracket with an end operatively associated with the first end of the shaft; and

a gravity responsive pendulum assembly comprising a pendulous mass secured to an end of a mechanical member detachably secured with the second end of the shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bracket is enabled to change the orientation along a direction of displacement of the object.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the direction of displacement of the object including a direction along an axis of the shaft.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the change of the orientation of the bracket along the direction of displacement of the object initiates movement of the gravity responsive pendulum assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable encoder enables conversion of at least one angular measurement of the shaft into at least one of: an analog format; and a digital format.

6. A method adapted for measuring vertical angular deviation of an object with respect to a reference horizontal line using an electromechanical apparatus, comprising the steps of:

displacing the object in a direction along an axis of the shaft, wherein the shaft comprising a first end and a second end;

initiation of movement of a gravity responsive pendulum assembly upon displacement of the object along the axis of the shaft, wherein the gravity responsive pendulum assembly comprising a pendulous mass secured to an end of a mechanical member detachably secured with the first end of the shaft; and

rotation of a rotatable encoder having an end operatively associated with the second end of the shaft, wherein the rotatable encoder removably mounted on the bracket detachably mountable at a predetermined location of the object.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising a step of converting at least one angular measurement of the shaft into at least one of: an analog format; and a digital format.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of displacing the object along the axis of the shaft changes the orientation of a bracket along the axis of the shaft thereof.