INERTIA SENSOR SWITCH ASSEMBLIES WITH MAGNETIC HOLDING MEANS OR THE LIKE

• US 3,778,572 A
• Filed: 03/22/1972
• Issued: 12/11/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kenzo Hirashima, Nagayuki Marumo, Shunji Matsui, Yoshikazu Hayakawa
• Original Assignee: Kenzo Hirashima, Nagayuki Marumo, Shunji Matsui, Yoshikazu Hayakawa
• Inventors: Matsui, Shunji, Hirashima, Kenzo, Hayakawa, Yoshikazu, Marumo, Nagayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US05/237,005
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.45 R-61.53/ 200/166BA
• US Class Current: 200/61.45M
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• 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 5/02 Energy stored by the attraction or repulsion of magnetic parts

Abstract

An impact detecting device for use in a motor vehicle safety device, in which the detecting device is made up of a movable contact assembly having a conductive weight which is rockingly suspended in a housing by a conductive support means, a stationary contact assembly having at least a conductive contact member which is in alignment with the weight, and a biasing means such as a magnet which urges the weight, by a predetermined biasing force, to a rest position which is spaced apart from the contact member of the stationary contact assembly. When a force of inertia greater than a predetermined magnitude overcoming the biasing force is applied to the weight, then the weight is moved from the rest position to contact the contact member to the stationary contact assembly whereby electrical connection is established between the movable and stationary contact assemblies. An arrangement is also proposed which uses the above noted detecting device so as to be operable to actuate the safety device at different rates depending upon the speed of the motor vehicle involved in a collision.

Claims

1. An impact detecting device comprising:

an insulating housing having an upper end wall, side walls, a lower end wall and a cavity defined by said walls;

a movable contact assembly positioned within said cavity and comprising an electrically conductive weight having a predetermined weight and an electrically conductive support means secured to said housing and connected to said weight and rockingly suspending said weight within said cavity;

a stationary contact assembly secured on said housing and having an electrically conductive contact member extending into said cavity substantially in alignment with said weight of said movable contact assembly; and

biasing means embedded in said housing and urging, by a predetermined biasing force, said weight to a rest position which is spaced apart from said stationary contact assembly, said weight of said movable contact assembly being moved from said rest position to contact said contact member of said stationary contact assembly when a force of inertia greater than a predetermined magnitude overcoming said biasing force is developed in said movable contact assembly in response to an impact applied to said detecting device.

2. An impact detecting device according to claim 1, in which said contact member of said stationary contact assembly is constructed of at least one pliable metal plate extending substantially in alignment with said weight of said movable contact assembly.

3. An impact detecting device according to claim 2, in which said at least one pliable metal plate is positioned to surround said weight of said movable contact assembly.

4. An impact detecting device according to claim 2, in which said at least one pliable metal plate is generally in the form of a comb having a plurality of spaced strips extending forwardly from a base portion at which said strips are combined together.

5. An impact detecting device according to claim 2, in which said at least one pliable metal plate is positioned substantially in parallel to said weight of said movable contact assembly.

6. An impact detecting device according to claim 2, in which said at least one pliable metal plate has at least one portion positioned at a predetermined angle to said weight of Said movable contact assembly.

7. An impact detecting device according to claim 1, in which said contact member of said stationary contact assembly is constructed of at least two pliable metal plates which are spaced apart from each other and which are positioned substantially around said weight of said movable contact assembly.

8. An impact detecting device according to claim 1, in which said contact member of said stationary contact assembly is constructed of a pair of pliable metal plates which are positioned at a spacing from each other, said spacing being gradually reduced toward leading ends of said metal plates and aligned with said weight of said movable contact assembly for receiving said weight between said metal plates when said weight is moved from said rest position by a force of inertia opposing said biasing force.

9. An impact detecting device according to claim 1, in which said contact member of said stationary contact assembly is constructed on an electrically conductive rigid plate which is aligned with and spaced apart from said weight of said movable contact assembly, and further comprising cushioning means disposed between said insulated housing said rigid plate.

10. An impact detecting device according to claim 9, in which said cushioning means comprises a spring which is secured at one end thereof to said rigid plate and held in position for biasing said rigid plate in a direction in which said weight of said movable contact assembly is moved when subjected to a force of inertia opposing said biasing force of said biasing means.

11. An impact detecting device according to claim 9, in which said cushioning means is disposed in a horizontal alignment with said weight of said movable contact assembly.

12. An impact detecting device according to claim 1, in which said biasing means comprises magnet means, said magnet means producing a magnetic field having an intensity which is predetermined to provide said biasing force, and said weight of said movable contact assembly is at least partly formed of a ferromagnetic material for being attracted by said magnet means.

13. An impact detecting device according to claim 12, in which said magnet means is a permanent magnet.

14. An impact detecting device according to claim 12, in which said magnet means is a solenoid which is constantly energized.

15. An impact detecting device according to claim 12, in which said magnet means is positioned underneath said weight of said movable contact assembly for downwardly attracting said weight thereto.

16. An impact detecting device according to claim 12, in which said magnetic means is positioned to a side of said weight of said movable contact assembly for horizontally attracting said weight thereto.

17. An impact detecting device according to claim 1, in which said biasing means comprises a spring which is connected at one end thereof to said weight of said movable contact assembly for retaining said weight with a force which is predetermined to provide said biasing force.

18. An impact detecting device according to claim 61, in which said support means of said movable contact assembly comprises an electrically conductive flexible member for allowing said weight of said movable contact assembly to swing toward said contact member of said stationary contact assembly when said weight is subjected to a force of inertia opposing said biasing force.

19. An impact detecting device according to claim 18, in which said flexible member is a metal wire.

20. An impact detecting device according to claim 18, in which said flexible member is a pliable metal rod.

21. An impact detecting device according to claim 18, in which said support means of said movable contact assembly further comprises a pivotal pin which is secured to said housing in position in said cavity, said flexible member being pivotally supported at its upper end portion by said pivotal pin.

22. An impact detecting device according to claim 18, in which said flexible member is sEcured to opposite end walls of said housing and supports said weight of said movable contact assembly substantially centrally thereof and in alignment with said contact member of said stationary contact assembly.

23. An impact detecting device according to claim 22, in which said flexible member is a diaphragm member.

24. An impact detecting device according to claim 18, further comprising adjustable means for varying a spacing between said weight of said movable contact assembly and said biasing means.

25. An impact detecting device according to claim 24, in which said adjusting means is a stationary disc which is disposed on said housing and which is positioned relative to said flexible member suspending said weight of said movable contact assembly from said upper end wall of said housing, and further comprising a rotatable member supported by and rotatable on said stationary disc, said rotatable member having a projection engageable with said flexible member.

26. An impact detecting device according to claim 1, in which said support means of said movable contact assembly comprises an electrically conductive resilient member for positioning said weight of said movable contact assembly adjacent said contact member of said stationary contact assembly.

27. An impact detecting device according to claim 26, in which said resilient member extends substantially vertically from said lower end wall of said housing and supports said weight of said movable contact assembly at its uppermost free end for allowing said weight to swing toward said contact member of said stationary contact assembly when said weight is subjected to a force of inertia opposing said biasing force.

28. An impact detecting device according to claim 26, in which said resilient member extends substantially horizontally from said side wall of said housing and supports said weight of said movable contact assembly for allowing said weight to swing toward said contact member of said stationary contact assembly when said weight is subjected to a force of inertia opposing said biasing force.

29. An impact detecting device according to claim 26, in which said resilient member is secured to opposite end walls of said housing and supports said weight of said movable contact assembly substantially centrally thereof and in alignment with said contact member of said stationary contact assembly.

30. An impact detecting device according to claim 1, in which said support means of said movable contact assembly comprises at least one pivotal pin which is supported by said housing and which extends substantially horizontally through said cavity, said pivotal pin supporting said weight of said movable contact assembly pivotally movably about said pin and substantially upright when said weight is in said rest position.

31. An impact detecting device according to claim 30, wherein said pivotal pin is secured to opposite side walls of said housing through said cavity, means defining a hole in said weight, said pivotal pin extending through the hole and pivotally supporting said weight of said movable contact assembly.

32. An impact detecting device according to claim 30, in which said weight of said movable contact assembly is supported at its upper end portion by said at least one pivotal pin so that said weight depends from said pin with its lower end portion aligned with and spaced apart from said contact member of said stationary contact assembly.

33. An impact detecting device according to claim 1, in which said support means of said movable contact assembly comprises a pair of pivotal pins which are supported on opposite side walls of said housing through said cavity and which are in line with each other.

34. An impact detecting device according to claim 33, in which first ends of said pivotal pins are secured to said side walls, means defining aligned holes in said weight, and the ends of said pins opposite said first ends disposed to extend into associate aligned holes to pivotally support said wEight of said movable contact assembly.

35. An impact detecting device according to claim 33, in which said pivotal pins are respectively secured at a first end portion to said weight of said movable contact assembly, means defining holes in said side walls and in spaced but aligned position, and the end portions of said pins opposite said first end portions are pivotally received in respective holes.

36. An impact detecting device according to claim 35, in which said pivotal pins are integral with said weight of said movable contact assembly.

37. An impact detecting device according to claim 1, in which said support means of said movable contact assembly comprises a substantially rigid support member which is disposed on said housing and on which said weight of said movable contact assembly is movably received at its upper end portion and held substantially upright in said rest position with its lower end portion positioned adjacent said contact member of said stationary contact assembly.

38. An impact detecting device according to claim 37, in which said support member is connected to said housing and is formed with a central aperture, and in which said weight of said movable contact assembly has an outer projection resting upon an upper face of an inner peripheral edge portion defining said central aperture when said weight is in said rest position and is displaceable from said rest position with its lower end portion moved toward said contact member of said stationary contact assembly with said outer projection at least partly disengaged from said support member when said weight is subjected to a force of inertia opposing said biasing force.

39. An impact detecting device according to claim 38, in which said support member has an upwardly projecting portion formed at said inner peripheral edge portion.

40. An impact detecting device according to claim 39, in which said upward projection has a rounded end edge.

41. An impact detecting device comprising:

an insulating housing having an upper end wall, side walls, a lower end wall and a cavity defined by said walls, said lower end wall formed with a substantially semi-spherical recess conjoining said cavity;

a movable contact assembly comprising an insulating ball member which is received in said semi-spherical recess so as to slide on a semi-spherical surface defining said recess and which has at least one magnetic piece anchored thereto, and an electrically conductive rockable contact member extending upwardly from said ball member;

a stationary contact assembly which is fast on said housing and includes electrically conductive contact member extending into said cavity substantially in alignment with said rockable contact member of said movable contact assembly; and

biasing means comprising a pair of magnets which are embedded in said lower end wall of said housing and disposed on opposite sides of said ball member and which urge, by a predetermined biasing force, said rockable contact member of said movable contact assembly through said magnetic piece of said ball member to a rest position which is spaced apart from said contact member of said stationary contact assembly. said rockable contact member of said movable contact assembly being moved from said rest position to contact said contact member of said stationary contact assembly when a force of inertia greater than a predetermined magnitude overcoming said biasing force is developed in said movable contact assembly in response to an impact which is exerted on said detecting device.

42. An impact detecting device according to claim 41, in which said stationary contact assembly further comprises an electrically conductive apertured contact member which is disposed on said lower end wall of said housing, and said movable contact assembly further comprises an electrically conductive conical resilient contact member which extends into said cavity from said rockable contact member of said movable contact assembly, said resilient cOntact member being normally spaced apart from said apertured contact member of said stationary contact assembly and being movable into engagement therewith when said rockable contact member is moved by a force of inertia opposing said biasing force of said biasing means.

43. An impact detecting device according to claim 41, in which said movable contact assembly further comprises a pivotal pin which is supported on opposite side walls of said housing through said recess, means defining a hole in said ball, said pin extending through said hole and pivotally supporting said weight of said movable contact assembly.

44. An impact detecting device comprising:

an insulating housing having an upper end wall, side walls, a lower end wall and a cavity defined by said walls;

a movable contact assembly positioned within said cavity and having an electrically conductive weight having a predetermined weight and an electrically conductive rigid support means which is fast on said housing to keep said weight within said cavity;

a stationary contact assembly which is positioned on said housing and which has electrically conductive contact member extending into said cavity substantially in alignment with said weight of said movable contact assembly; and

biasing means embedded in said housing and urges, by a predetermined biasing force, said weight to a rest position which is spaced apart from said contact member of said stationary contact assembly, said weight of said movable contact assembly being moved from said rest position to contact said contact member of said stationary contact assembly when a force of inertia greater than a predetermined magnitude overcoming said biasing force is developed in said weight of said movable contact assembly in response to an impact applied to said detecting device.

45. An impact detecting device according to claim 44, in which said rigid support means of said movable contact assembly is disposed on said upper end wall of said housing and formed therein a substantially conical recess with a pointed bottom, and in which said weight of said movable contact assembly has a pointed upper end which is in abutting engagement with said pointed bottom of said conical recess, said weight being displaceable from said rest position with its lower end portion relocated toward said contact member of said stationary contact assembly when said weight is subjected to a force of inertia opposing said biasing force.

46. An impact detecting device according to claim 45, in which said weight of said movable contact assembly directly rests at its lowermost end on an inner surface of said lower end wall of said housing and extends substantially vertically through said cavity when held in said rest position.

47. An impact detecting device according to claim 44, in which said rigid support means of said movable contact assembly projects substantially vertically from an inner surface of said lower end wall of said housing toward said upper end wall of said housing, and in which said weight of said movable contact assembly comprises an upper end wall resting upon a leading end of said rigid support means and a side wall which extends alongside said support means which has a lower end portion aligned with said and which member of said stationary contact assembly, said weight being displaceable from said rest position with its lower end portion moved toward said contact member of said stationary contact assembly when said weight is subjected to a force opposing said biasing force.

48. An impact detecting device according to claim 47, in which said side wall of said weight is downwardly outwardly inclined toward said contact member of said stationary contact assembly.

49. An impact detecting device according to claim 107, in which said side wall of said weight is substantially cylindrical and surrounds an adjacent portion of said support means.

50. An impact detecting device according to claim 107, in which said side wall of said weighT has a plurality of plate portions which are disposed in spaced apart relationship with respect to each other.

51. An impact detecting device according to claim 107, in which said side wall of said weight is substantially frustoconical in shape.

52. An impact detecting device according to claim 107, in which said rigid support member is substantially cylindrical in shape.

53. In a motor vehicle safety device for protecting an occupant of the motor vehicle from incurring an injury during a collision effecting the motor vehicle, the improvement comprises:

first and second actuating means for actuating said safety device at different rates, at least one first inertia responsive switch means connected to said first actuating means, and second inertia responsive switch means connected to said second actuating means, said first and second inertia responsive switch means being responsive to accelerations of the rates higher than different predetermined rates, each of said first and second inertia responsive switch means comprising;

an insulating housing having an upper end wall, side walls, a lower end wall and a cavity defined by said walls;

a movable contact assembly positioned within said cavity and comprising an electrically conductive weight having a predetermined weight and an electrically conductive support means which is secured to said housing and to said weight to keep said weight within said cavity;

a stationary contact assembly which is disposed on said housing and has an electrically conductive contact member extending into said cavity substantially in alignment with an adjacent portion of said weight of said movable contact assembly; and

biasing means embedded in said housing and urges, by a predetermined biasing force, said weight to a rest position spaced apart from said stationary contact assembly, said weight of said movable contact assembly being moved from said rest position to contact said contact member of said stationary contact assembly when a force of inertia greater than a predetermined magnitude overcoming said biasing force is developed in said movable contact assembly in response to an impact applied to said inertia responsive switch means.

54. The improvement according to claim 53, further comprising at least one mechanical pressure responsive switch means connected to said first inertia responsive switch means and responsive to a mechanical pressure greater than a predetermined magnitude.

55. The improvement according to claim 53, further comprising first and second mechanical pressure responsive switch means which are respectively connected to said first and second inertia responsive switch means, each of said first and second mechanical pressure responsive switch means being responsive to a mechanical pressure greater than a predetermined magnitude.

56. The improvement according to claim 53, further comprising another first inertia responsive switch means connected to the first named first inertia responsive switch means and to said second inertia responsive switch means.