Velocity change sensor and recorder
First Claim
1. A velocity change sensor comprising a housing;
- a displaceable mass carried by said housing for movement relative thereto along a path in a direction from a rest position to an adjusted position in response to a change in velocity of said housing; and
means for retaining said mass in said adjusted position, said retaining means including a plurality of particles independent of said mass and independent of one another and movable along said path with said mass, the relative positions of said mass and said particles being such that the latter trail the movement of said mass along said path.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for sensing and recording changes in the velocity of a vehicle involved in a crash comprises a sensing mass biased to an initial position in which it remains until it is acted upon by an acceleration pulse of such magnitude as to overcome the biasing force, whereupon the mass moves from its initial position a distance proportional to the magnitude and duration of such pulse. If the magnitude and duration of the pulse are less than preselected values, decay of the pulse enables the biasing force to return the mass to its initial position. If the magnitude and duration of the pulse are greater than such preselected values, however, retaining means act on the mass to retain the latter in its position of maximum movement from its initial position, thereby providing an indication of the velocity change. Preferably, indicia is associated with a sensing means to facilitate determination of the velocity change.
56 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A velocity change sensor comprising a housing;
- a displaceable mass carried by said housing for movement relative thereto along a path in a direction from a rest position to an adjusted position in response to a change in velocity of said housing; and
means for retaining said mass in said adjusted position, said retaining means including a plurality of particles independent of said mass and independent of one another and movable along said path with said mass, the relative positions of said mass and said particles being such that the latter trail the movement of said mass along said path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- a displaceable mass carried by said housing for movement relative thereto along a path in a direction from a rest position to an adjusted position in response to a change in velocity of said housing; and
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6. A velocity change sensor comprising a housing;
an elongate tubular member carried by said housing;
a displaceable mass positioned within said tubular member for movement longitudinally thereof along a path from a rest position to an adjusted position in response to a change in velocity of said housing; and
retaining means carried by said tubular member operable to retain said mass in said adjusted position, said retaining means including a plurality of members independent of said mass and independent of one another operable to move with said mass toward said adjusted position and become wedged between said mass and said tubular member.- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A velocity change sensor comprising a housing;
- an elongate tubular member carried by said housing;
a displaceable mass within said tubular member movable longitudinally thereof, yieldable means biasing said mass in one direction toward a rest position, said mass being movable from said rest position in the opposite direction toward an adjusted position in response to acceleration of said housing in said one direction sufficient to overcome said biasing means; and
retaining means independent of said mass and being movable with the latter in said opposite direction in response to said acceleration of said housing, said retaining means being carried by said tubular member in a position to trail movement of said mass in said opposite direction, said retaining means being operable in response to movement of said mass a predetermined distance toward said adjusted position to disable said biasing means from moving said mass toward said rest position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- an elongate tubular member carried by said housing;
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21. A velocity change sensor comprising a housing;
- an elongate tubular member carried by said housing;
a displaceable mass within said tubular member movable longitudinally thereof;
yieldable means biasing said mass in one direction toward a rest position, said mass being movable from said rest position in the opposite direction toward an adjusted position in response to acceleration of said housing in said one direction at a rate sufficient to overcome said biasing means;
retaining means carried by said tubular member and operable in response to movement of said mass a predetermined distance toward said adjusted position to disable said biasing means from moving said mass toward said rest position, said biasing means including a body member displaceable longitudinally of said housing in response to said acceleration of said housing; and
means for imparting rotary movement to said body member in response to longitudinal movement of the latter.
- an elongate tubular member carried by said housing;
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22. A velocity change sensor comprising a housing;
- an elongate tubular member carried by said housing;
a displaceable mass within said tubular member movable longitudinally thereof;
yieldable means biasing said mass in one direction toward a rest position, said mass being movable from said rest position in the opposite direction toward an adjusted position in response to acceleration of said housing in said one direction at a rate sufficient to overcome said biasing means;
retaining means carried by said tubular member and operable in response to movement of said mass a predetermined distance toward said adjusted position to disable said biasing means from moving said mass toward said rest position, said biasing means including a body member displaceable logintudinally of said housing in response to said acceleration of said housing; and
means cooperable between said housing and said body member for locking the latter relatively to said housing in any selected position of said body member.
- an elongate tubular member carried by said housing;
Specification