Crash and rollover cutoff switch
First Claim
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1. A switching device comprising:
- a housing, an inertial member including a movable weight and guide means normally supporting the weight in the housing, the weight being freely movable relative to the guide means along a linear axis when the inertial member is inverted;
means pivotally mounting the guide means in the housing with said linear axis normally extending vertically through the center of gravity of said weight, the guide means pivoting about a point offset from the center of gravity of the weight, whereby an accelerating force acting in a direction transverse to said linear axis causes the guide means and the weight to tilt as a unit about the pivot point and a force acting parallel to the linear axis moves the weight relative to the guide means along said axis;
spring means urging the guide means into a predetermined angular position relative to the housing, the tilting of the guide means in any direction about the pivot point being resisted by the spring means; and
means activating the switch means in response to movement of the weight with tilting of the guide means or movement of the weight along said axis.
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Abstract
A crash-sensing switch assembly for breaking an electrical circuit has a weight pivotally supported on a horizontal surface with the center of gravity above the surface. The weight is free to move away from the surface if the assembly is inverted. Movement of the weight away from the surface, either by tilting or falling, brings the weight into engagement with the trip lever of a latch, releasing a switch to break the circuit.
21 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A switching device comprising:
a housing, an inertial member including a movable weight and guide means normally supporting the weight in the housing, the weight being freely movable relative to the guide means along a linear axis when the inertial member is inverted;
means pivotally mounting the guide means in the housing with said linear axis normally extending vertically through the center of gravity of said weight, the guide means pivoting about a point offset from the center of gravity of the weight, whereby an accelerating force acting in a direction transverse to said linear axis causes the guide means and the weight to tilt as a unit about the pivot point and a force acting parallel to the linear axis moves the weight relative to the guide means along said axis;
spring means urging the guide means into a predetermined angular position relative to the housing, the tilting of the guide means in any direction about the pivot point being resisted by the spring means; and
means activating the switch means in response to movement of the weight with tilting of the guide means or movement of the weight along said axis.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A crash switch assembly adapted to be mounted on a vehicle or the like, comprising:
support means having a normally horizontal surface, a pivot member having a base resting on said surface, a movable weight freely supported on the pivot member with the center of gravity of the weight above said surface, guide means providing free vertical movement of the weight relative to the pivot member along an axis extending away from said surface, switch means, and trip means operatively associated with the switch means and extending above the weight for activating the switch when the trip means is engaged by the weight moving away from said pivot member along said axis. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
Specification