US3873914A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flux valve apparatus for sensing both horizontal and vertical components of an ambient magnetic field
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1973-07-18
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A magnetometer for sensing the magnitude and direction of the earth''s magnetic field along three orthogonal axes employing a conventional multilegged flux valve member for sensing the magnitude and direction of the components of the earth''s magnetic field in one plane and further including a plurality of magnetometer elements supported symmetrically between the legs of said valve member with their sensitive axes disposed so as to sense the components of the earth''s magnetic field in a second plane normal to said first plane. In one preferred embodiment, the multilegged valve member has three legs equiangularly disposed in a common plane, the output windings thereof being conventionally Y-connected to provide an output proportional to the direction and magnitude of the magnetic field in said plane of said member, the three further magnetometer elements are supported symmetrically between these angularly disposed legs. Each of the plurality of further magnetometer elements comprise a single linear saturable core magnetometer having its output summed together with the others to provide an output proportional to the direction and magnitude of the magnetic field in planes normal to the plane of the multilegged valve member.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald J Kesselring
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/02; G01R33/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A magnetic field responsive device comprising a. a first flux valve means including at least three magnetic field sensing elements equiangularly disposed in a common plane about a central axis for providing output signals proportional to correspondingly disposed components of said magnetic field lying in said plane, and b. second flux valve means including at least three magnetic field sensing elements disposed symmetrically between said first flux valve elements and oriented normal to said common plane for supplying an output signal proportional to components of said magnetic field normal to said plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A magnetic field responsive device comprising a. a first flux valve means including at least three magnetic field sensing elements equiangularly disposed in a common plane about a central axis for providing output signals proportional to correspondingly disposed components of said magnetic field lying in said plane, and b. second flux valve means including at least three magnetic field sensing elements disposed symmetrically between said first flux valve elements and oriented normal to said common plane for supplying an output signal proportional to components of said magnetic field normal to said plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sensing elements of said first flux valve means are radially equiangularly disposed and include a common energizing coil means centrally positioned relative thereto and wherein said second flux valve elements are disposed symmetrically between said first flux valve elements whereby to minimize any unsymmetrical cross coupling effecting between said energizing coil means and said second flux valve elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first flux valve means includes a generally circular, relatively thick, non-magnetic base member including means for supporting said first flux valve elements therein and in said common plane and wherein each said second flux valve elements comprise an elongated magnetic core and winding member, and means for mounting each of said core and winding member in said base member with their long dimension perpendicular to said base plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the thickness of said base member extends above and below said first flux valve supporting means and said second flux valve core and winding members extends through the thickness of said base member to minimize the thickness of the overall device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
The device as set forth in claim 4 further including a. a housing having an upper support wall and a generally spherical bottom wall, b. means on the upper side of said base member for pivotally supporting said base member on said upper housing wall for freedom of angular movement about a pair of orthogonal axes parallel to said plane, and c. a partial spherical mass secured to the lower side of said base member for imparting pendulous moments to said base member whereby to maintain said base member in a substantially horizontal plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said mounting means for said core and winding members includes holes found in said base member perpendicular to said plane and means for securing said core and winding members within said holes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said core and winding members includes an elongated bobbin having an axial hole therethrough and a winding supported thereon, and a plurality of strips of high permeability magnetic material disposed within said hollow bobbin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
191 words
A magnetic field responsive device comprising a. a magnetic core having at least three arms relatively equiangularly spaced about a central axis and disposed in a single plane, b. energizing coil means positioned centrally of said core means with its magnetic axis perpendicular to said plane and adapted to be energized from a source of alternating current, c. pick-up coil means positioned on each of said arms and responsive to the energization of said energizing coil means and to the components of said magnetic field in said plane for supplying corresponding outputs proportional to the magnitude of said components, d. at least three second magnetic core elements disposed symmetrically between the arms of said first mentioned core means, the orientation of said core elements being such as to be sensitive to components of said magnetic field normal to said first mentioned magnetic field components and e. second coil means positioned on each of said latter core elements and energizable from said alternating current source and responsive to components of said magnetic field normal to said first mentioned components for supplying outputs proportional to the magnitude of said normal magnetic field components.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
191 words
A magnetic field responsive device comprising a. a magnetic core having at least three arms relatively equiangularly spaced about a central axis and disposed in a single plane, b. energizing coil means positioned centrally of said core means with its magnetic axis perpendicular to said plane and adapted to be energized from a source of alternating current, c. pick-up coil means positioned on each of said arms and responsive to the energization of said energizing coil means and to the components of said magnetic field in said plane for supplying corresponding outputs proportional to the magnitude of said components, d. at least three second magnetic core elements disposed symmetrically between the arms of said first mentioned core means, the orientation of said core elements being such as to be sensitive to components of said magnetic field normal to said first mentioned magnetic field components and e. second coil means positioned on each of said latter core elements and energizable from said alternating current source and responsive to components of said magnetic field normal to said first mentioned components for supplying outputs proportional to the magnitude of said normal magnetic field components.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The device as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said second coil means includes a pair of coils and means for alternately energizing said coils in opposite senses to thereby alternately saturate and unsaturate said core elements, and means for sensing currents across both of said coils in response to said normal magnetic field components.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first energizing coil means is supplied with an a.c. voltage of a first frequency and said outputs of said pick-up coil means is of a frequency double said a.c. frequency and wherein each of said second coil means is energized from said a.c. voltage and said outputs of each of said second coil means is also double said a.c. frequency.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of said second coil means is connected in parallel with said first energizing coil means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of said second coil means is connected in series with said first energizing coil means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |