Inclination sensor

US 6,499,220 B2
Inclination sensor
Nobuharu Katsuki, Kyotanabe (Japan); Masaharu Ushihara, Hirakata (Japan); and Toshiya Nakagaki, Hashimoto (Japan)
Assigned to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka (Japan)
Filed on 28-Sep-2000, as Appl. No. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka (Japan)
Int. Cl.7G01C009/12

US 6,499,220 B2 Inclination sensor Nobuharu Katsuki, Kyotanabe (Japan); Masaharu Ushihara, Hirakata (Japan); and Toshiya Nakagaki, Hashimoto (Japan) Assigned to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka (Japan) Appl. No. 9/367,164PCT Filed Dec. 03, 1998, PCT No. PCT/JP98/05457PCT Pub. No. WO99/30110, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 17, 1999. Claims priority of application No. 9-338409 (JP), filed on Dec. 09, 1997; and application No. 10-114670 (JP), filed on Apr. 24, 1998. Prior Publication US 2002/0050068 A1, May 02, 2002 Int. Cl.7G01C009/12 U.S. Cl. 338212;391 40 Claims 1. An inclination sensor comprising: a fixing body adapted to be attached to a mounting body; a frame provided within said fixing body, said frame having a threaded bearing retention hole; a bearing having a thread on a periphery thereof and fitted within said threaded bearing retention hole; a pendulum having a rotary shaft rotatably supported in said bearing; a magnetic flux generator mounted on said pendulum for rotatable movement with said pendulum through a rotational path; and a reed switch mounted on said fixing body in the rotational path of said magnetic flux generator, said reed switch having a space of a distance d in a direction along an axis of said rotary shaft provided between said reed switch and said magnetic flux generator, wherein said space of a distance d is adjustable via said thread; and at least one magnetic damping adjusting device made of a magnetic material and adjustably positioned on said fixing body.