Deceleration switch

• US 4,987,276 A
• Filed: 09/08/1989
• Issued: 01/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Sterler, Georg, Bader, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US07/404,413
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.45 R, 200/61.45 M, 200/61.53, 335/205, 335/206, 335/207
• US Class Current: 200/61.45M
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/147 the switch being of the reed switch type

Abstract

A deceleration switch comprising a support member, a permanent magnet mounted on the support member and displaceable from a first position to a second position by inertia caused by a predetermined deceleration of the support member, a spring mounted on the support member for biasing the permanent magnet toward the first position, a set of electrical contacts mounted on the support member and operable to close under the influence of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet when the permanent magnet is in the second position and an inductive device energized to produce a second magnetic field enhancing the magnetic field of the permanent magnet thus causing the contacts to remain closed for a longer period of time upon return of the permanent magnet to its first position under the biasing action of the spring.

Claims

1. A deceleration switch comprising:

a support means;

a first means for producing a first magnetic field mounted on said support means and displaceable between a first position and a second position by inertia caused by a predetermined deceleration of said support means;

means mounted on said support means for biasing said first magnetic field producing means into said first position;

a set of electrical contacts mounted on said support means and operable to close under the influence of the magnetic field of such first magnetic field producing means when said first magnetic field producing means is in said second position; and

second means for producing a second magnetic field for enhancing said first magnetic field to accelerate the closing of said contacts and prolong the closure time of said contacts, said second means being disposed along said first and second positions, wherein the field strength of said second magnetic field is insufficient independently to close said contacts.

2. A deceleration switch according to claim 1 wherein said contacts are provided on a reed relay type housing.

3. A deceleration switch according to claim 1 wherein said second means for producing a second magnetic field comprises an inductance coil.

4. A deceleration switch according to claim 3 wherein said second magnetic field is produced by said biasing means comprising a helical spring adapted to be energized upon closure of said contacts.