AUTOMATIC DISCONNECT FOR A VEHICULAR BATTERY

• US 3,703,617 A
• Filed: 10/16/1970
• Issued: 11/21/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marvin D. Burnett
• Original Assignee: Marvin D. Burnett
• Inventors: Burnett, Marvin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/081,225
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 180/104 200/61.5,161
• US Class Current: 200/61.5
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/14 Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/143 Resetting means

Abstract

An automatic battery disconnecting device for vehicles comprising a hollow, non-conducting housing containing a pivotally mounted pendulum member temporarily supporting a spring-biased pin in an upright operative position, and having a contact member in conducting, bridging engagement with the bottom of two terminals which project through the top of the housing, the terminals being connected in series with the battery of the electrical system of a vehicle. The pendulum members supports the pin in such a manner as to separate from the pin upon an excessive swing of the member, thus allowing the pin to be urged downward by the spring, causing the pin to come to an inoperative position with the contact member being disengaged from the terminals, thereby opening the electrical circuit of the vehicle. The pendulum member would undergo an excessive swing whenever the vehicle, in which the invention is mounted, suddenly experiences an impact or collision. The pin is provided with reset means for reengaging the pin with the pendulum member so as to return the pin to its operative position with the contact member again in conducting engagement with the terminals, closing the electrical circuit within the vehicle. The invention prevents electrical fires due to short circuits whenever the vehicle undergoes any of the above conditions.

Claims

1. An automatic battery disconnecting device for connection with the battery in an electrical circuit of a vehicle for automatically opening the circuit when the vehicle receives an impact, comprising:

a. a hollow housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being cylindrical and being threadedly engaged by one end with said lower portion, said upper portion having a top closing said other end;

b. shelf means separating said upper and lower portion;

said shelf means being provided with a central socket;

c. a pendulum member including a weight within said lower portion and a rigid connecting member projecting from said weight through said socket and terminating in an upper end within said upper portion;

d. a bulbous member intermediate the ends of said connecting member in said upper portion and riding upon the upper surface of said socket for limiting downwardly movement of said pendulum member, said bulbous member and said socket permitting said weight to swing;

e. a pair of spaced electrical terminals projecting through said upper portion and terminating adjacent said top;

f. a contact member within said upper portion for making an electrical circuit between said terminals when said contact member is contacting both of said terminals;

g. an axially moveable pin projecting through said top for carrying said contact member, the lower end of said pin when said pin is in its upper position, being adapted to rest upon and be supported by said upper end of said connecting member such that said contact member is contacting both said terminals; and

h. spring means for urging said pin and said contact member toward said socket for moving said contact member away from said terminals when said lower end of said pin is not resting on said upper end of said connecting member.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said contact member is a flat flexible disc and said contact member and said pin are so dimensional that said contact member is flexed by contact with said terminals when it is contacting said terminals and said pin is resting upon the upper end of said connecting member.