Information on Inclinometer Instrument

Popularly known as Clinometer, slope alert, tilt indicator, level gauge, declinometer, roll indicator or pitch, inclinometer is used for the purpose of measuring the depression, elevation as well as the angle of slope in reference to gravity. Measurement of slope includes declines as well as inclines. The types of inclinometers which are into use are about 5 types. Inclinometers find their application in a variety of areas.

Here is a run down the uses of inclinometers

Use of Inclinometers - Measurement of car roll, roll of underwater robots and vessels, cranes and lifts, agriculture and excavation machines, asphalt pavers and road graders. They are used for seismo-acoustic control and intrusion protection systems like car security systems. Also for Controlling position of various mechanisms of tools, printing machines as well as robots as well as for printing press cylinder and cutting tools, measurement of deflection and deformation values of girders and abutments as well as long term positioning for dams, mine bores, high rise structures, etc.

For determining the direction of drilling for oil well pump control systems as well as oil and gas wells, for controlling the motor tilt angle as well as the railroads whenever repair, construction or operations is carried out, in construction projects for ground and wall movement measurement, measurement of elevation or inclination angle while surveying, true horizontal or vertical deviation projection, with respect to the horizontal plane measuring the angle of magnetic field of earth. Clinometers are also used to determine the embankment or cutting slope, bed or strata dip, etc., boom angle measurement for material handlers as well as cranes.

They find their use in Sky slope steepness measurement, determining the look angle of a satellite antenna, determining the height of the tree, building with the help of trigonometry, landslide dept and movement measurement as well as for solar panel adjustment for maximum output. Inclinometers find their use in civil engineering for measurement of inclination of land on which a building project has to be executed.

Classification of Inclinometers - Inclinometers are divided into various categories based on their working principle and reference systems. Working principle based classification – optical clinometers, electrical clinometers, optical clinometers. Reference System based classification – referenced locally – angle measurement with respect to its housing.

Reliability of Inclinometers – the accuracy of an inclinometer mainly depends of sensor linearity specification otherwise the inclinometers which are highly sensitive could give an output resolution of upto 0.0001 degrees. As per the slope indicator if proper reading techniques are followed and the installation of the casing is done within 3 degrees of vertical inclinometer’s systems accuracy per 100 ft is +-0.3 inches.

Application areas of Inclinometers - These inclinometers find their applications in aircraft flight controls, specialty switches, automobile security systems, in cameras for boom angle indication, platform leveling as well as other applications in which measurement of tilt is required.

Designing or making the simplest form of inclinometers instrument is so easy that it can be tried at home with the help of a protractor. You require for the same is a narrow piece of wood which is stuck at the base of the protractor. This acts as the sighting line. Fastening of a weighted plumb line to the midpoint of the base line of the protractor is then done. That’s it, your inclinometer is ready. This could be used for measurement. Though, high precision inclinometers are costly and are mostly used in engineering.

JesseS.Cruz provides information about inclinometers instrument and casing. To know more about it click on Gage Technique.