ACCELERATION-RESPONSIVE SENSOR WITH READINESS INDICATOR CIRCUIT

• US 3,859,650 A
• Filed: 11/29/1973
• Issued: 01/07/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Otakar P. Prachar
• Original Assignee: Otakar P. Prachar
• Inventors: Prachar, Otakar P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US05/419,987
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 340/202,52H 200/61.45R,61.53,52 180/103 280/15AB
• US Class Current: 340/669
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 1/04 operating by inertia of members on impact
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/135 by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/3036 using of balls or rollers in the locking device
• 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 acceleration-responsive sensor includes an axial guide slidably receiving an operator which is biased from a normal unactuated position to an actuated position by a spring seating between the operator and the guide. The operator includes an axial bore opening to three radial bores each of which receives a respective ball. A headed control rod projects axially through the spring and guide and engages the balls to force the balls outwardly of their respective radial bores and into engagement with an internal radial groove of the guide to locate the operator in unactuated position. A seismic mass is slidably supported on the guide and a coil compression spring seats between the mass and the sensor housing to normally restrain the mass against movement unless subjected to an acceleration pulse or predetermined amplitude and time. The head of the control rod is operatively connected to the seismic mass through dielectric material so that the two are electrically insulated. A readiness indicator circuit is connected across a source of power and includes a signal, the control rod, balls, guide, and mass so that the readiness indicator circuit is closed when the rod engages the balls and is open when the rod is disengaged from the balls upon movement of the seismic mass.

Claims

1. An acceleration-responsive sensor comprising, in combination, a support, an operator mounted on the support for movement between unactuated and actuated positions relative thereto, means biasing the operator to the actuated position, detent means movable between detent and released positions with respect to the operator and holding the operator in unactuated position when the detent means is in detent position, a seismic mass mounted on the support for movement relative thereto when subjected to an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time, detent operating means engageable with the detent means to maintain the detent means in detent position, means operatively connecting the detent operating means to the mass for concurrent movement therewith, and a readiness indicator circuit connected across a source of power and including a signal, the detent operating means, and the detent means, the engagement of the detent means and detent operating means providing a switch in the circuit controlling the signal to indicate a ready state of the sensor, the disengagement of the detent operating means from the detent means upon movement of the detent operating means concurrently with movement of the mass controlling the signal to indicate a nonready state of the sensor and moving the detent means to released position to permit the operator to move to actuated position.