IMPACT SWITCH WITH INERTIA OPERATED TOGGLE LINKAGE ACTUATOR MECHANISM

• US 3,836,738 A
• Filed: 04/13/1973
• Issued: 09/17/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raymond W. Baland
• Original Assignee: Raymond W. Baland
• Inventors: Baland, Raymond W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/350,989
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 200/52R,61.08,61.44,61.45R,61.52,61.53,153G,153V,153SC,153H 102/73R 340/61
• US Class Current: 200/61.45R
• 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

Abstract

An impact-responsive, inertia-actuated switch includes a pair of arms at least one of which is pivoted at its end for swinging movement toward and away from the other arm and a toggle linkage connected between the arms. Upon impact or high deceleration an inertia member connected to the toggle linkage causes the latter to move over-center against a spring bias, and the resulting movement of the pivoted arm engages or disengages a pair of electrical contact members carried by the arms. The switch has special utility as the actuator in an automatic crash signal device for aircraft.

Claims

1. An inertia actuated switch assembly for use in connection with an electrical circuit that is to be selectively operated thereby comprising:

two longitudinally extending arms;

pivot means at one end of at least one of the arms mounted said one arm for swinging movement toward and away from the other arm in the plane of the arms;

a toggle linkage pivotally connected between said arms so as to be pivoted between first and second positions on opposite sides of dead center;

inertia means carried by said toggle linkage for moving said linkage from its first position to its second position in response to a predetermined deceleration force whereupon said one arm swings away from the other arm from a first position and then swings toward the other arm to a second position;

bias means biasing said one arm and said toggle linkage in one of their positions, said bias means including two tension springs each having one end attached to one of said arms and means interconnEcted to the other ends of the springs for adjusting the tension of the springs;

switch means operated by movement of said arms and toggle linkage between their positions for engaging or disengaging a pair of electrical contacts during such movement, and stop means for stopping the movement of said arms and toggle linkage in their second positions.

2. An inertia actuated switch assembly for use in connection with an electrical circuit that is to be selectively operated thereby comprising:

two longitudinally extending arms;

pivot means at end of at least one of the arms mounting said one arm for swinging movement toward and away from the other arm in the plane of the arms;

a toggle linkage pivotally connected between said arms so as to be pivotal between first and second positions on opposite sides of dead center;

inertia means carried by said toggle linkage for moving siad linkage from its first position to its second position in response to a predetermined deceleration force whereupon said one arm swings away from the other arm from a first position and then swings toward the other arm to a second position;

bias means biasing said one arm and said toggle linkage in one of their positions;

switch means operated by movement of said arms and toggle linkage between their positions for engaging or disengaging a pair of electrical contacts during such movement; and

stop means for stopping the movement of said arms and toggle linkage in their first and second positions, said stop means including an arcuate member carried by said toggle linkage for alternate engagement with said toggle linkage and one of said arms.

3. An inertia actuated switch assembly for use in connection with an electrical circuit that is to be selectively operated thereby comprising:

two generally parallel arms;

pivot means at one end of at least one of the arms mounting said one arm for swinging movement toward and away from the other arm in the plane of the arms;

a toggle linkage pivotally connected between said arms so as to be pivotal between first and second positions on opposite sides of dead center;

inertia means carried by said toggle linkage for moving said linkage from its first position to its second position in response to predetermined deceleration force whereupon said one arm swings away from the other arm from a first position and then swings toward the other arm to a second position;

bias means restraining said one arm and said toggle linkage against movement away from whichever position these elements occupy;

switch means operated by movement of said arms and toggle linkage between their positions for engaging or disengaging a pair of electrical contacts during such movement; and

stop means carried by said toggle linkage for stopping the movement of said arms and toggle linkage in their first and second positions.

4. An inertia actuated switch comprising:

an arm and toggle assembly including first and second arms pivoted together at their inner ends so that one arm may swing toward and away from the other arm in the plane of the arms and further including two toggle linkages disposed between the arms and pivotally connected to the arms at longitudinally spaced apart locations on the arm so as to be pivotal between first and second positions on opposite sides of dead center;

inertia means for moving said linkage from one position to the other in response to a predetermined deceleration force, said inertia means including a rod connected to both toggle linkages and having a free end adjacent the outer ends of the arms and a weight carried on said free end;

bias means biasing said arms and toggle linkages in one of their positions; and

two switch elements carried by said arm and toggle assembly in positions such that they are in engagement in one position of the arms and toggle linkages and are out of engagement in the other position of the arms and toggle linkages.

5. An inertia actuated switch assembly for use in connection with an electrical circuit that is to be selectively operated therEby comprising:

two longitudinally extending arms;

pivot means at one end of at least one of the arms mounting said one arm for swinging movement toward and away from the other arm in the plane of the arms;

a toggle linkage pivotally connected between said arms so as to be pivotal between first and second positions on opposite sides of dead center;

inertia means carried by said toggle linkage for moving said linkage from its first position to its second position in response to a predetermined deceleration force whereupon said one arm swings away from the other arm from a first position and then swings toward the other arm to a second position;

bias means biasing said one arm and said toggle linkage in one of their positions;

an electrical contact carried by said of said arms and arranged such that they engage each other when said arms are in one of their positions and are out of engagement when said arms are in their other position.