ACCELERATION RESPONSIVE SENSOR
First Claim
1. A sensor comprising, in combination, an elongated housing, a normally linear elongated spring member of predetermined elastic characteristics, a mass secured to the spring member adjacent one end thereof, means securing a portion of the spring member adjacent the other end thereof to the housing and locating the undeflected axis of the spring member at a predetermined included acute angle to an axis through the housing, abutment means on the housing spaced from the housing axis and slidably engaged by the mass to deflect the unsecured portion of the spring member relaTive to the undeflected longitudinal axis of the spring member and bow the spring member intermediate the securing means and the mass, the bowing of the spring member creating a predetermined preload force biasing the mass into engagement with the abutment means, and contact finger means mounted on the housing a predetermined distance from the abutment means, the mass moving into wiping engagement with the contact means when subjected to a predetermined force to control the operation of a mechanism connected across the mass and contact means and a source of power.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor includes an elongated housing having a sector shaped recess defined by angularly diverging walls. One end portion of a spring member of predetermined elastic characteristics is secured to the housing to locate the undeflected axis of the member at an angle to an axis of the housing. The undeflected axis of the spring member intersects the plane of the recess to the proximal side of the recess. The other end of the spring member mounts a cylindrical mass engaging the walls of the recess adjacent their proximal ends to bow the unsecured portion of the spring member and create a preload force on the mass. An electrical contact finger is located at the distal end of the recess. When the mass receives an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time, the preload force is overcome and the mass moves into wiping engagement with the contact finger to close a circuit across a source of power and a mechanism to be actuated.
4 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A sensor comprising, in combination, an elongated housing, a normally linear elongated spring member of predetermined elastic characteristics, a mass secured to the spring member adjacent one end thereof, means securing a portion of the spring member adjacent the other end thereof to the housing and locating the undeflected axis of the spring member at a predetermined included acute angle to an axis through the housing, abutment means on the housing spaced from the housing axis and slidably engaged by the mass to deflect the unsecured portion of the spring member relaTive to the undeflected longitudinal axis of the spring member and bow the spring member intermediate the securing means and the mass, the bowing of the spring member creating a predetermined preload force biasing the mass into engagement with the abutment means, and contact finger means mounted on the housing a predetermined distance from the abutment means, the mass moving into wiping engagement with the contact means when subjected to a predetermined force to control the operation of a mechanism connected across the mass and contact means and a source of power.
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2. A sensor comprising, in combination, a support including a generally planar recess having a pair of angularly diverging walls, a normally linear elongated spring member of predetermined elastic characteristics, a mass of predetermined weight secured to the spring member adjacent one end thereof for movement within the recess, contact finger means mounted on the support and located intermediate the distal ends of the walls, means securing a portion of the spring member adjacent the other end thereof to the support and locating the undeflected longitudinal axis of the spring member at an acute angle to the plane of the recess and intersecting such plane to the proximal side of the recess, the mass slidably engaging the walls of the recess adjacent the proximal ends thereof and deflecting the unsecured portion of the spring member relative to said undeflected axis to bow the spring member intermediate the securing means and the mass, the bowing of the spring member creating a predetermined preload force holding the mass against movement within the recess into wiping engagement with the contact finger means unless subjected to a predetermined force, and a source of power connected across the mass and contact means and a mechanism to be operated thereby, the engagement of the mass and contact means controlling the operation of the mechanism by the source of power.
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3. A sensor comprising, in combination, a support including a generally planar recess having a pair of angularly diverging walls, a normally linear elongated spring member of predetermined elastic characteristics, an annular mass of predetermined weight secured to the spring member adjacent one end thereof for movement within the recess, contact means mounted on the support and including at least one contact finger intermediate the distal ends of the walls, means securing a portion of the spring member adjacent the other end thereof to the support and locating the undeflected longitudinal axis of the spring member at an acute angle to the plane of the recess and intersecting such plane to the proximal side of the recess, the mass slidably engaging the walls of the recess adjacent the proximal ends thereof and deflecting the unsecured portion of the spring member relative to said undeflected axis to bow the spring member intermediate the securing means and the mass, the bowing of the spring member creating a predetermined preload force holding the mass against movement within the recess to actuated position unless the mass is subjected to a predetermined force, one end of the mass moving into wiping engagement with the contact finger in actuated position, and a source of power connected across the mass and contact finger and a mechanism to be operated thereby, the wiping engagement of the mass and contact finger controlling the operation of the mechanism by the source of power.
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4. A sensor comprising, in combination, a vertical support, a normally linear elongated spring member of predetermined elastic characteristics, first contact means of predetermined weight secured to the spring member adjacent one end thereof, means securing a portion of the spring member adjacent the other end thereof to the support and locating the undeflected axis of the spring member at a predetermined angle to the vertical, second contact means mounted on the support a predetermined distance from the undeflected longitudinal axis of the spring member, abutment means on the support located intermediate said undeflected axis and said second contact means, the unsecured portion of the spring member slidably engaging the abutment means and deflecting the unsecured portion of the spring member away from said undeflected axis to bow the spring member intermediate the securing means and the one end thereof, the bowing of the spring member creating a predetermined preload force holding the first contact means against movement into engagement with the second contact means unless subjected to a predetermined force, and a source of power connected across the first and second contact means and a mechanism to be operated thereby, the engagement of the first and second contact means controlling the operation of the mechanism by the source of power.
Specification