Protected hinge assembly for mechanical accelerometer
First Claim
1. A protected hinge assembly comprising:
- a hinge frame having first and second parts which have substantially flat opposite surfaces each having first and second juxtaposed regions near first and second substantially opposite side edges thereof, said first regions of said first and second parts being connected by a flexible hinge having a hinge line directed in a predetermined first direction;
first and second stops, substantially rigidly attached along second and third lines to opposite surfaces, in said second regions near and substantially parallel to the outer edges of said second parts of said surfaces and being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line;
said stops being tilted substantially about said second and third lines relative to said surfaces to allow slight movement of the first regions of said second part relative to said stops.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a hinge assembly made of two parts, specifically for an accelerometer. The first part is adapted to be attached, either directly or through a bracket, to an inertial acceleration sensor. The second part is adapted to be rigidly attached to an apparatus whose acceleration is to be measured. The two parts are connected by a flexible hinge.
The invention resides in the placement of the hinge and in the attaching means for the second part of the hinge frame as well as in the method for fabricating the novel attaching means.
The hinge is not attached to the center of the opposing edges of the first and second parts of the hinge frame. It is attached to one end of those opposing sides at a first region of the second part of the hinge frame. The hinge line is generally parallel to those opposing sides.
The second part of the hinge frame is clamped only in a second region away from the hinge. It is rigidly clamped between two tilted stops which are usually welded to the second part along a weld line that is generally perpendicular to the hinge line. The tilted stops extend into the first region of the second part with a predetermined small gap, depending upon the tilt, in that region to allow slight deflection of the first region of the hinge frame through the resilience of that region, but with the stops snubbing extensive excursions of the region. Thus, the motion of the region under extreme acceleration or shock absorbs enough energy to protect the hinge. The first region is thick enough and rigid enough that it does not deflect significantly when received accelerations are within the design range of the accelerometer.
The method of the invention uses struts to tip a stop relative to the hinge frame or the hinge frame relative to a stop and to hold the members in their relative tilted positions while they are fastened into place. The strut may be part of a spacer.
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Citations
106 Claims
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1. A protected hinge assembly comprising:
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a hinge frame having first and second parts which have substantially flat opposite surfaces each having first and second juxtaposed regions near first and second substantially opposite side edges thereof, said first regions of said first and second parts being connected by a flexible hinge having a hinge line directed in a predetermined first direction; first and second stops, substantially rigidly attached along second and third lines to opposite surfaces, in said second regions near and substantially parallel to the outer edges of said second parts of said surfaces and being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line; said stops being tilted substantially about said second and third lines relative to said surfaces to allow slight movement of the first regions of said second part relative to said stops. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for attaching metallic members comprising:
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placing and temporarily attaching a first said member to a bench; placing a second said member over said first member; tilting said second member relative to said first member with one edge of said second member in contact with one surface of said first member along a fulcrum of tilt; attaching said second member to said first member in the region of the line of contact between said first and second members. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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10. A method for attaching substantially planar metallic members comprising:
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placing and temporarily attaching a first said member to a bench; placing a second said member over said first member with first edges of first surfaces of each of said two members aligned to form a common edge; tilting said second member relative to said first member about said common edge; and rigidly attaching said tilted members at their said common edge. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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16. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:
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making two hinge frames, spaced apart by a first spacer to form a hinge frame assembly, each said frame having first and second parts, each part with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions, said first regions being on the side away from said spacer, having a hinge line, in a first predetermined direction, connecting said first part to said second part at said first regions of said surfaces, said spacer being attached to said second part at said second regions of said surfaces; making two lower stops spaced apart by a second spacer substantially the same length as said first spacer to form a lower stop assembly, and two upper stops spaced apart by a third spacer substantially the same length as said first two spacers to form an upper stop assembly, each said stop being configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of one of said hinge frames, at least the same surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions with said spacer being attached to said stops at said second regions; placing and temporarily attaching said spaced apart lower stop assembly onto a bench; positioning said hinge frame assembly over said lower stop assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the downwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and the outer edges of said second regions of said lower stops being substantially parallel; clamping a portion of said hinge frame assembly spacer to said table to tilt said hinge frames relative to said lower stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the second regions of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said lower stops; attaching together said hinge frames and lower stops along an attachment line in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said tilt lines, to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first regions of one surface of said second part of each said hinge frame and the first regions of one surface of each said lower stop; positioning said upper stop assembly over said hinge frame assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and of said second regions of the adjacent downwardly directed surfaces of said upper stops being substantially parallel; clamping a portion of said upper stop spacer to said table to tilt said upper stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said upper stops; attaching together said upper stops and said hinge frames along attachment lines in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said last-named tilt lines to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first region of one surface of said second part of each of said hinge frame and one surface of each said upper stop. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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21. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:
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making two hinge frames, spaced apart by a first spacer to form a hinge frame assembly, each said frame having first and second parts, each part with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each surface having first and second juxtaposed regions, said first regions being on the side away from said spacer, having a hinge line, in a first predetermined direction, connecting said first part to said second part at said first regions of said surfaces, said spacer being attached to said second part at said second regions of said surfaces; making two lower stops spaced apart by a second spacer substantially the same length as said first spacer to form a lower stop assembly, and two upper stops spaced apart by a third spacer substantially the same length as said first two spacers to form an upper stop assembly, each said stop being configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of one of said hinge frames, at least the same surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions with said spacer being attached to said stops at said second regions; placing and temporarily attaching said spaced apart lower stop assembly onto a bench; positioning said hinge frame assembly over said lower stop assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the downwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and the outer edges of said second regions of said lower stops being substantially parallel; clamping a portion of said hinge frame assembly spacer to said table to tilt said hinge frames relative to said lower stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the second regions of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said lower stops; attaching together said hinge frames and lower stops along an attachment line in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said tilt lines, to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first regions of one surface of said second part of each said hinge frame and the first regions of one surface of each said lower stop; positioning said upper stop assembly over said hinge frame assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and of said second regions of the adjacent downwardly directed surfaces of said upper stops being substantially parallel; clamping a portion of said upper stop spacer to said table to tilt said upper stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said upper stops; attaching together said upper stops and said hinge frames along attachment lines in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said last-named tilt lines to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first region of one surface of said second part of each of said hinge frame and one surface of each said upper stop placing and temporarily attaching said upper stop assembly onto a bench; positioning said hinge frame assembly over said upper stop assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said upper stops and the downwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames being substantially parallel, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line and to the lever arm of its said spacers; clamping a portion of said hinge frame spacer to said table to tilt said hinge frames and lower stops relative to said upper stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the second regions of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said upper stops; attaching together said hinge frames and upper stops near said last-named tilt lines to hold them in their relative tilted position to create gaps between the first regions of one face of said second part of said hinge frame and the first regions of said upper stops. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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26. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:
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making two hinge frames, spaced apart by a first spacer to form a hinge frame assembly, each said frame having first and second parts, each part with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions, said first regions being on the side away from said spacer, having a hinge line, in a first predetermined direction, connecting said first part to said second part at said first regions of said surfaces, said spacer being attached to said second part at said second regions of said surfaces; placing and temporarily attaching said hinge frame assembly onto a bench; positioning said lower stop assembly over said hinge frame assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and the outer edges of the second regions of the downwardly directed surfaces of said lower stops being substantially parallel, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge lines and to the lever arm of its said spacer; clamping a portion of said lower stop spacer to said table to tilt said lower stops relative to said hinge frames about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the second regions of adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and lower stops; attaching together said hinge frames and lower stops along an attachment line in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said tilt lines, to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first regions of one surface of said second part of each said hinge frame and the first regions of one surface of each said lower stop; placing and temporarily attaching said upper stop assembly onto a bench; positioning said hinge frame assembly over said upper stop assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said upper stops and the downwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames being substantially parallel, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line and to the lever arm of its said spacers; clamping a portion of said hinge frame spacer to said table to tilt said hinge frames and lower stops relative to said upper stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the second regions of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said upper stops; attaching together said hinge frames and upper stops near said last-named tilt lines to hold them in their relative tilted position to create gaps between the first regions of one face of said second part of said hinge frame and the first regions of said upper stops. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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31. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:
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making two hinge frames, spaced apart by a first spacer to form a hinge frame assembly, each said frame having first and second parts, each part with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions, said first regions being on the side away from said spacer, having a hinge line, in a first predetermined direction, connecting said first part to said second part at said first regions of said surfaces, said spacer being attached to said second part at said second regions of said surfaces; making two lower stops spaced apart by a second spacer substantially the same length as said first spacer to form a lower stop assembly, and two upper stops spaced apart by a third spacer substantially the same length as said first two spacers to form an upper stop assembly, each said stop being configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of one of said hinge frames, at least the same surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions with said spacer being attached to said stops at said second regions; placing and temporarily attaching said hinge frame assembly onto a bench; positioning said lower stop assembly over said hinge frame assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and the outer edges of the second regions of the downwardly directed surfaces of said lower stops being substantially parallel, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge lines and to the lever arm of its said spacer; clamping a portion of said lower stop spacer to said table to tilt said lower stops relative to said hinge frames about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the second regions of adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and lower stops; attaching together said hinge frames and lower stops along an attachment line in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said tilt lines, to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first regions of one surface of said second part of each said hinge frame and the first regions of one surface of each said lower stop; removing said attached hinge frame and lower stop assemblies from said bench, and turning them over to place said hinge frame assembly on top; positioning said upper stop assembly over said hinge frame assembly with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the upwardly directed surfaces of said hinge frames and of said second regions of the adjacent downwardly directed surfaces of said upper stops being substantially parallel; clamping a portion of said upper stop spacer to said table to tilt said upper stops about tilt lines adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of the adjacent surfaces of said hinge frames and said upper stops; attaching together said upper stops and said hinge frames along attachment lines in said second regions of the attached surfaces near said last-named tilt lines to hold them in their relative tilted positions to create gaps between the first region of one surface of said second part of each of said hinge frame and one surface of each said upper stop. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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36. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:
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making a hinge frame having first and second parts each with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions adjacent a first pair of opposite edges of such surface, the common boundary between said regions extending from one to the other of a second pair of opposite edges of said surfaces, a flexible hinge connecting said first region of said first part to said first region of said second part at one of said second pair of opposite edges, the hinge line of said hinge being directed in a predetermined direction, said hinge frame having a first strut extending from the outer edge of one of the first pair of said opposite edges at the second region of said second part; making upper and lower stops, configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of said hinge frame, at least a first surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions substantially identical to said first and second regions of said hinge frame; placing and temporarily attaching said hinge frame onto a bench; positioning said lower stop over said hinge frame with at least said first pair of outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said hinge frame and said lower stop being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line, said lower stop having a second strut whose lever arm extends from the outer edge of one of said first pair of opposite edges at the second region of said lower stops; clamping a portion of the end of said second strut to said bench to tilt said lower stop relative to said hinge frame about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said first of said opposite edges to which said second strut is attached; attaching together said lower stop and said second part of said hinge frame, in said second regions, near said tilt line to hold said two members in their relative tilted position to create a gap between the first regions of the hinge frame and lower stop; releasing said welded hinge frame and lower stop from said bench; placing and attaching said upper stop onto said bench; positioning said hinge frame and lower stop over said upper stop with said hinge frame adjacent said upper stop and at least the outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said upper stop and of said second part of said hinge frame being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line; clamping a portion of the outer end of said first strut to said table to tilt said hinge frame and lower stop relative to said upper stop about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of said hinge frame and said upper stop; attaching together said upper stop and said hinge frame near said last-named tilt line to hold said upper stop and hinge frame in their relative tilted position. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
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41. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:
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making a hinge frame having first and second parts each with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions adjacent a first pair of opposite edges of such surface, the common boundary between said regions extending from one to the other of a second pair of opposite edges of said surfaces, a flexible hinge connecting said first region of said first part to said first region of said second part at one of said second pair of opposite edges, the hinge line of said hinge being directed in a predetermined direction, said hinge frame having a first strut extending from the outer edge of one of the first pair of said opposite edges at the second region of said second part; making upper and lower stops, configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of said hinge frame, at least a first surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions substantially identical to said first and second regions of said hinge frame; placing and temporarily attaching said hinge frame onto a bench; positioning said lower stop over said hinge frame with at least said first pair of outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said hinge frame and said lower stop being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line, said lower stop having a second strut whose lever arm extends from the outer edge of one of said first pair of opposite edges at the second region of said lower stops; clamping a portion of the end of said second strut to said bench to tilt said lower stop relative to said hinge frame about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said first of said opposite edges to which said second strut is attached; attaching together said lower stop and said second part of said hinge frame, in said second regions, near said tilt line to hold said two members in their relative tilted position to create a gap between the first regions of the hinge frame and lower stop; releasing said welded hinge frame and lower stop from said bench; placing and attaching said upper stop onto said bench; positioning said hinge frame and lower stop over said upper stop with said hinge frame adjacent said upper stop and at least the outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said upper stop and of said second part of said hinge frame being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line; clamping a portion of the outer end of said first strut to said table to tilt said hinge frame and lower stop relative to said upper stop about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of said hinge frame and said upper stop; attaching together said upper stop and said hinge frame near said last-named tilt line to hold said upper stop and hinge frame in their relative tilted position. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
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46. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:
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making a hinge frame having first and second parts each with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions adjacent a first pair of opposite edges of such surface, the common boundary between said regions extending from one to the other of a second pair of opposite edges of said surfaces, a flexible hinge connecting said first region of said first part to said first region of said second part at one of said second pair of opposite edges, the hinge line of said hinge being directed in a predetermined direction, said hinge frame having a first strut extending from the outer edge of one of the first pair of said opposite edges at the second region of said second part; making upper and lower stops, configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of said hinge frame, at least a first surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions substantially identical to said first and second regions of said hinge frame; placing and temporarily attaching said hinge frame onto a bench; positioning said lower stop over said hinge frame with at least said first pair of outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said hinge frame and said lower stop being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line, said lower stop having a second strut whose lever arm extends from the outer edge of one of said first pair of opposite edges at the second region of said lower stops; clamping a portion of the end of said second strut to said bench to tilt said lower stop relative to said hinge frame about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said first of said opposite edges to which said second strut is attached; attaching together said lower stop and said second part of said hinge frame, in said second regions, near said tilt line to hold said two members in their relative tilted position to create a gap between the first regions of the hinge frame and lower stop; releasing said connected-together hinge frame and lower stop from said bench, turning it over and re-attaching said lower stop onto said bench. positioning said upper stop over said hinge frame with at least the outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said upper stop and of said second part of said hinge frame being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line, said upper stop having a second strut thereon, positioned to extend from the outer edge of said first pair of opposite edges at said second region of said upper stop; clamping a portion of said first strut to said table to tilt said hinge frame relative to said lower stop about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said first opposite outer edges of said upper stop and said hinge frame; attaching together said upper stop and said hinge frame near said last-named tilt line to hold said upper stop and hinge frames in their relative tilted position to create a gap between the first regions of the surfaces of said upper stop and hinge frames. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101)
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51. A method for making a protected hinge assembly comprising:
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making a hinge frame having first and second parts each with substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces, each said surface having first and second juxtaposed regions adjacent a first pair of opposite edges of such surface, the common boundary between said regions extending from one to the other of a second pair of opposite edges of said surfaces, a flexible hinge connecting said first region of said first part to said first region of said second part at one of said second pair of opposite edges, the hinge line of said hinge being directed in a predetermined direction, said hinge frame having a first strut extending from the outer edge of one of the first pair of said opposite edges at the second region of said second part; making upper and lower stops, configured to substantially the size and shape of the second part of said hinge frame, at least a first surface of each said stop having first and second juxtaposed regions substantially identical to said first and second regions of said hinge frame; placing and temporarily attaching said lower stop onto a bench; positioning said hinge frame over said lower stop with at least the said pair of opposite outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said hinge frame and said lower stop being substantially aligned; clamping a portion of said first strut to said table to tilt said hinge frame relative to said lower stop about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said first edges to which said strut is attached; attaching together said lower stop and said second part of said hinge frame, in said second regions, near said tilt line to hold said two members in their relative tilted position to create a gap between the first regions of said hinge frame and lower stop; releasing said attached hinge frame and lower stop from said bench; placing and attaching said upper stop onto said bench; positioning said hinge frame and lower stop over said upper stop with said hinge frame adjacent said upper stop and at least the outer edges of said second regions of the facing surfaces of said upper stop and of said second part of said hinge frame being substantially aligned, said edges being substantially perpendicular to said hinge line; clamping a portion of the outer end of said first strut to said table to tilt said hinge frame and lower stop relative to said upper stop about a tilt line adjacent and substantially parallel to said outer edges of said hinge frame and said upper stop; attaching together said upper stop and said hinge frame near said last-named tilt line to hold said upper stop and hinge frame in their relative tilted position. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106)
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Specification