Gravity Gradiometer with a mounting having a second mount with connectors which pass through cutouts in a first mount

摘要

Disclosed is a gravity gradiometer for measuring components of a gravitational gradient tensor. The gradiometer comprises a sensor (40) for measuring the components of the gradient tensor and a mounting for supporting the sensor. The mounting comprises; a first mount, a second mount, and connectors. The first mount (10) has a base, a cylindrical hub protruding from the base, a peripheral wall (14) disposed around and spaced from the hub and provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced cutouts (16), and a central core coaxial with the hub and attached to the hub by a first flexure web to provide for relative rotation between the core and base about a first axis. The second mount fits within the peripheral wall of the first mount and has first, second and third parts. The first and second parts connect via a second flexure web for relative rotation about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The second and third parts connect by a third flexure web for relative rotation about a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes. The connectors (13) extend outwardly from the first part of the second mount through the cutouts in the peripheral wall of the first mount for connecting the mounting to an external platform. The third part of the second mount is attached to the core of the first mount and the sensor is connected to the base of the first mount. Hence the sensor is rotatable with the base of the first mount about all three orthogonal axes.