Accelerometer damped with self contained viscous material

• US 5,036,705 A
• Filed: 11/29/1989
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gaines, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Craig
• Application Number:
  US07/445,589
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 73/515, 73/516 R, 73/517 AV, 73/526, 73/DIG. 3, 73/651
• US Class Current: 73/514.14
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/00 Details of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/003 used for damping
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/105 by magnetically sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 73/03 Hall effect

Abstract

A damping arrangement for a deflectable beam accelerometer where the deflectable end of the beam is spaced from a stationary member. A drop of self contained viscous material extends between the deflectable end and the stationary member to dampen movement of the deflectable end.

Claims

1. An accelerometer, comprising:

a stationary member;

an inertial member movable relative to the stationary member in response to acceleration, the inertial member spaced from the stationary member;

means for detecting movement of the inertial member relative to the stationary member; and

a self contained viscous gel extending between the inertial member and the stationary member for damping movement of said inertial member.

2. The accelerometer of claim 1 wherein:

the inertial member is a cantilever beam having a deflectable end; and

the self contained viscous gel is a silicone gel extending between the deflectable end of the cantilever beam and the stationary member.

3. The accelerometer of claim 2 wherein the deflectable end of said cantilever beam is configured with a first depending leg extending toward the stationary member, a portion of the first depending leg being immersed in the silicone gel.

4. The accelerometer of claim 3 wherein the silicone gel is of a type which cures in place to form a cushioning, resilient gel-like mass which adheres to the stationary member.

5. The accelerometer of claim 4 wherein the deflectable end of said cantilever beam is configured with a second depending leg extending toward the stationary member, a portion of the second depending leg being immersed in the silicone gel.

6. The accelerometer of claim 5 wherein said means for detecting movement of the inertial member relative to the stationary member comprises:

a magnet carried by the deflectable end of said cantilever beam; and

a Hall chip located on said stationary member for providing a signal representative of the movement of the magnet.

7. The accelerometer of claim 6 wherein the first and second depending legs are immersed in the silicone gel to a depth of from 0.004 to 0.005 inches.

8. An accelerometer, comprising:

a stationary member;

a deflectable cantilever beam having a fixed end and a deflectable end, the deflectable end being spaced from the stationary member;

a magnet secured to the cantilever beam at a location spaced from the fixed end;

a magnetic field detector located for detecting movement of the magnet relative to the stationary member; and

a self contained viscous damping gel extending between the deflectable end of the cantilever beam and the stationary member for damping movement of said inertial member.

9. The accelerometer of claim 8 wherein said self contained viscous damping gel is a silicone.

10. In an accelerometer of the type having a stationary member and a cantilever beam having a deflectable end and means for detecting movement of the deflectable end relative to the stationary member, the improvement which comprises:

a self contained viscous gel extending between the deflectable end of the cantilever beam and the stationary member for damping movement of said inertial member gel of a type which cures in place to form a cushioning resilient gel-like mass that adheres to the stationary member.

11. The accelerometer of claim 10 wherein the deflectable end of the cantilever beam includes a depending leg extending toward the stationary member with a portion of the leg immersed in the self contained viscous gel.

12. The accelerometer of claim 11 wherein the depending leg is immersed in the self contained viscous gel to a depth of from 0.004 to 0.005 inches.

13. The accelerometer of claim 12 wherein said self contained viscous gel is a silicone gel of a type which cures in place to form a cushioning, resilient gel-like mass which adheres to the stationary member.