Arrangement for automatic release of occupant protecting devices in the event of accident

• US 4,866,418 A
• Filed: 06/30/1988
• Issued: 09/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Dobler, Klaus, Hachtel, Hansjorg
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/213,616
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 340/524 M, 340/689, 340/683, 340/665, 340/669, 73/514, 73/517 B, 73/517 R, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.45 M, 180/172, 180/271, 180/282, 280/735, 280/802, 280/806
• US Class Current: 340/429
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/11 by inductive pick-up

Abstract

An arrangement for automatic release of occupant protecting devices in vehicles, particularly power vehicles, by means of producing a control signal in response to a deviation from an acceptable position or an acceptable condition of a vehicle, the arrangement comprises a sensor including a base plate provided with at least one coil through which a high-frequency alternating current flows, a seismic mass composed of an electrically conductive material at least in the region of the coil and movably suspended near the base plate so as to be in an operative connection with the coil, a pendulum-like suspending member which supports the seismic mass so as to enable a substantially parallel movement of the seismic mass relative to the coil, and a perforated member which coats the coil, the perforated member being composed of an electrically conductive material and provided with at least one slot.

Claims

1. An arrangement for automatic release of occupant protecting devices in vehicles, particularly power vehicles, by means of producing a control signal in response to a deviation from an acceptable position or an acceptable condition of a vehicle, the arrangement comprising a sensor including a base plate provided with at least one coil through which a high-frequency alternating current flows;

a seismic mass composed of an electrically conductive material at least in the region of said coil and movably suspended near said base plate so as to be in an operative connection with said coil;

a pendulum-like suspending member which supports said seismic mass so as to enable a substantially parallel movement of said seismic mass relative to said coil; and

a perforated member which coats said coil, said perforated member being composed of an electrically conductive material and provided with at least one slot.

2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said seismic mass is elastically anchored in a region outside of a mass center point of a mass including said seismic mass together with said suspending member.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said slot of said perforated member is formed as a ring-shaped slot.

4. An arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said seismic mass in said region of an electrically conductive material has edges which are located in the region of said slot of said perforated member.

5. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said mass has a side facing towards said coil and is provided at said side with a layer of an electrically conductive material.

6. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said seismic mass is composed as a whole of an electrically conductive non-magnetic material.

7. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said coil is arranged on said base plate in a spiral-shaped manner.

8. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said suspending member is bar-shaped and has a round cross-section.

9. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said base plate extends in a plane having two mutually transverse directions, said suspending member being bar-shaped and formed so that moments of resistance of said suspending member are different in said directions.

10. An arrangement as defined in claim 9, wherein said suspending member has a cross-section with two mutually transverse dimensions which are different in said transverse directions of said plane of said base plate.