DAMAGE DETECTION

• US 3,818,467 A
• Filed: 02/01/1973
• Issued: 06/18/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signal Communications Division of Gulf Industries Incorporated The Nominee of Jack B Harper
• Original Assignee: John George Willis
• Inventors: Willis, John George
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lange, Richard P.
• Application Number:
  US05/238,954
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52H,65,224,262,282,333 200/61.5,61.48 310/75R,75A,113,168 325/119,185 290/1E
• US Class Current: 340/539.3
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 1/00 Spring motors spring-driven toys A63H; springs in general F16F; precision time mechanisms, e.g. for clocks or watches, G04B
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/14 movable in more than one direction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/02 Mechanical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/12 Manually actuated calamity alarm transmitting arrangements emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm, activators, e.g. details of alarm push buttons mounted on an infrastructure

Abstract

Damage detection apparatus for use on a normally vertical post supporting a remote signalling device including a radio transmitter, comprising an electric generator having output terminals connected to the transmitter, a source of mechanical energy, and means for applying mechanical energy from the source to cause operation of the generator and the transmitter when the orientation of the post departs from the vertical by a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use on a normally vertical post supporting a remote signalling device including a radio transmitter, comprising an electric generator having output means connected to said transmitter, a source of mechanical energy, and means for applying mechanical energy from said source to cause operation of said generator and said transmitter when the orientation of said post departs from the vertical by a predetermined amount.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for applying energy comprises a first member movable between first and second positions and disposed, when in said first position, to restrain the application of energy from said energy source to said generator, said first member being biased toward said second position, a second member supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between first and second positions with respect to said post, said second member in its first position retaining said first member in its first position and said second member in its second position releasing said first member for movement to its second position under the influence of said bias.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first member includes a rounded surface having a first predetermined radius, said second member includes a rounded surface having a second predetermined radius in contact with said rounded surface of said first member when each said member is in its respective first position.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second member comprises a pendulum including an elongated arm and a weighted lower end, said rounded surface of said second member being at the upper end thereof.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said source of mechanical energy comprises a spring normally maintained in a stressed configuration.

6. Apparatus mountable on a support for detecting a deparature from a predetermined orientation of said support comprising an electric generator, a source of mechanical energy, and means for applying energy from said source to cause operation of said generator when said departure exceeds a predetermined magnitude, said means comprising a first member movable between first and second positions and disposed, when in said first position, to restrain the application of energy from said energy source to said generator, said first member being biased toward said second position, a second member supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between first and second pOsitions with respect to said support, said second member in its first position retaining said first member in its first position and said second member in its second position releasing said first member for movement to its second postion under the influence of said bias.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first member includes a rounded surface having a first predetermined radius, said second member includes a rounded surface having a second predetermined radius in contact with said rounded surface of said first member when each said member is in its respective first position.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said second member comprises a pendulum including an elongated arm and a weighted lower end, said rounded surface of said second member being at the upper end thereof.

9. Apparatus mountable on a support for detecting a departure from a predetermined orientation of said support comprising an electric generator, a source of mechanical energy, and means for applying energy from said source to cause operation of said generator when said departure exceeds a predetermined magnitude, said means comprising a first member movable between first and second positions and disposed, when in said first position, to restrain the application of energy from said energy source to said generator, said first member being biased toward said second position, a second member supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between first and second positions with respect to said support, said second member in its first position retaining said first member in its first position and said second member in its second position releasing said first member for movement to its second position under the influence of said bias.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further including a radio transmitter connected to said generator.

11. Apparatus mountable upon a support responsive to a departure from a predetermined orientation of said support comprising an electric generator, a source of mechanical energy comprising a spring normally maintained in a stressed configuration, means for applying energy from said spring to cause operation of said generator when said departure exceeds a predetermined magnitude, said means comprising a first member movable vertically between first and second positions and disposed, when in said first position, to restrain the application of energy from said spring to said generator, said first member being biased towards said second position, said first member including a rounded surface having a first predetermined radius at its lower vertical end;

a second member comprising a pendulum supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between first and second positions with respect to said support, said second member in its first position retaining said first member in its first position and said second member in its second position releasing said first member for movement to its second position under the influence of said bias, said second member including an elongated arm, a weighted lower end, and a rounded surface at its upper end, said rounded surface, when each of said first and second members is in its first position, being in contact with said rounded surface of said first member.