Inertia sensor switch

• US 4,249,046 A
• Filed: 06/11/1979
• Issued: 02/03/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Livers, Gerald D., Schafer, Douglas R., Thiele, Walter E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, James R.
• Application Number:
  US06/047,150
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.45 R, 200/61.45 M, 200/61.48, 200/61.49, 200/61.51, 200/61.52
• 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

A cantilever type velocity sensor which includes a unitary elongated frame member mounted on spaced walls of a base of dielectric material. A planar spring member has one end portion thereof mounted to an integral adjustable portion of the frame and the other free end thereof mounting a mass engageable with another integral adjustable portion of the frame. The first portion is adjustable to set the preload force and the second portion is adjustable to set the travel distance between the mass and the contact means of the sensor. A third integral adjustable portion of the frame limits vibrational movement of the spring member relative to the frame. A resilient stop means is engageable by the mass upon actuation of the sensor to obviate contact bounce and ensure adequate closure time. Both the contact means, in the form of a columnar coil spring, and an integral terminal portion of the frame, are monitored by a resistor connected thereacross.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising, in combination, a base including contact means, an elongated frame mounted on the base in spaced relationship to the contact means and including adjustable mounting means adjacent one end thereof and adjustable abutment means adjacent the other end thereof, an elongated generally planar spring member extending longitudinally of the frame and located intermediate the frame and the contact means, means mounting one end portion of the spring member to the adjustable frame mounting means, a mass secured to the other end portion of the spring member and engageable with the adjustable frame abutment means to deflect the spring member and locate the mass in spaced relationship to the contact means, the frame mounting means being adjustable to control the deflection of the spring member intermediate the ends thereof and the preload force biasing the mass into engagement with the frame abutment means, the abutment means being adjustable to control the travel distance of the mass to the contact means, and means on the frame engageable with the spring member intermediate the end portions thereof to limit vibrational movement of the spring member relative to the frame.

2. A sensor comprising, in combination, a base including contact means, an elongated frame mounted on the base in spaced relationship to the contact means and including integral adjustable mounting means adjacent one end thereof and integral adjustable abutment means adjacent the other end thereof, an elongated generally planar spring member extending longitudinally of the frame and located intermediate the frame and the contact means, means mounting one end portion of the spring member to the adjustable frame mounting means, a mass secured to the other end portion of the spring member and engageable with the adjustable frame abutment means to deflect the spring member and locate the mass in spaced relationship to the contact means, the frame mounting means being adjustable to control the deflection of the spring member intermediate the ends thereof and the preload force biasing the mass into engagement with the frame abutment means, the abutment means being adjustable to control the travel distance of the mass to the contact means, and means on the frame engageable with the spring member intermediate the end portions thereof to limit vibrational movement of the spring member relative to the frame.

3. A sensor comprising, in combination, a base including a wall and contact means to one side thereof, an elongated frame mounted on the base in spaced relationship to the one side of the wall and the contact means and including an adjustable mounting portion adjacent one end thereof and adjustable abutment means adjacent the other end thereof, an elongated generally planar spring member extending longitudinally of the frame and located intermediate the frame and the base, the spring member being wrapped around the adjustable frame mounting portion and having a terminal one end portion extending to the other side of the frame wall for connection to circuit means, a mass secured to the other end portion of the spring member and engageable with the adjustable frame abutment means to deflect the spring member and locate the mass in spaced relationship to the contact means, the frame mounting portion being adjustable to control the deflection of the spring member relative to the frame and the preload force biasing the mass into engagement with the frame abutment means, the frame abutment means being adjustable to control the travel distance of the mass to the contact means, and means on the frame engageable with the spring member intermediate the frame mounting portion and abutment means to limit vibrational movement of the spring member relative to the frame.