Extended minimum dwell shock sensor
First Claim
1. A shock sensor comprising:
- a) a housing having a first abutment and a second abutment spaced a fixed distance from the first abutment;
b) an activation magnet slidably mounted on the housing and having a first portion adapted to engage against the first abutment and a second portion adapted to engage against the second abutment, wherein the first portion has a greater magnetic flux than the second portion;
c) a reed switch mounted to the housing to be responsive to the position of the activation magnet and coaxial with the magnet such hat the reed switch is activated when the magnet travels to a pre-selected activation position during movement of the magnet in response to an initial acceleration force applied to the sensor;
d) a means for biasing the magnet such that the first portion engages against the first abutment and the reed switch remains unactivated until the housing is subjected to a pre-selected level of acceleration, such that a pre-selected level of acceleration will cause the magnet to slide on the housing past the pre-selected activation position to activate the reed switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shock sensor achieving the advantages of extended minimum dwell and extended total dwell employs a reed switch in a housing mounted coaxial to the reed switch. The shock sensor employs a magnet of cylindrical shape, which is coaxial with the reed switch and slidably mounted to activate the reed switch. The shape of the activation magnet, which also serves as an acceleration detecting mass, is that of a cylindrical shell which extends along the axis of the reed switch. The shell has a ring portion extending radially inward and of short axial extent on the end of the magnet which lags in activation. A spring extends between an abutment and the magnet within the shell. When the shock sensor is subjected to an acceleration, the magnet is moved by the acceleration force from a non-activating position. Further extending the activation dwell time of the sensor and, in addition, providing an extended minimum dwell time, is the shape of the magnetic field created by the ring at the first abutting end of the magnet.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A shock sensor comprising:
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a) a housing having a first abutment and a second abutment spaced a fixed distance from the first abutment; b) an activation magnet slidably mounted on the housing and having a first portion adapted to engage against the first abutment and a second portion adapted to engage against the second abutment, wherein the first portion has a greater magnetic flux than the second portion; c) a reed switch mounted to the housing to be responsive to the position of the activation magnet and coaxial with the magnet such hat the reed switch is activated when the magnet travels to a pre-selected activation position during movement of the magnet in response to an initial acceleration force applied to the sensor; d) a means for biasing the magnet such that the first portion engages against the first abutment and the reed switch remains unactivated until the housing is subjected to a pre-selected level of acceleration, such that a pre-selected level of acceleration will cause the magnet to slide on the housing past the pre-selected activation position to activate the reed switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A shock sensor comprising:
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a) a housing; b) an activation magnet slidably mounted to the housing, the magnet having a cylindrical shell portion with portions defining an interior cylindrical cavity of a first diameter and the magnet having a cylindrical ring portion integral with the shell portion and having portions defining a second interior cylindrical cavity coaxial with the shell interior cylindrical cavity and of a diameter which is less than the first diameter; c) a reed switch mounted on the housing to be responsive to the position of the activation magnet and coaxial with the magnet such that the reed switch is activated when the magnet travels to a pre-selected activation position during movement of the magnet in response to an initial acceleration force applied to the housing; and d) a means for biasing the magnet in an unactivated position until the housing is subjected to a pre-selected level of acceleration, such that a pre-selected level of acceleration will cause the magnet to slide on the housing past the pre-selected activation position to activate the reed switch. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A shock sensor comprising:
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a) a housing; b) a cylindrical nonmagnetic carriage having an axial length and having portions defining a cylindrical interior cavity; c) an annular activation magnet having an axial length less than the carriage axial length and the activation magnet is fixed to the carriage and has portions defining an interior opening which is coaxial with the carriage interior cavity; d) a reed switch mounted on the housing to be responsive to the position of the activation magnet and coaxial with the magnet such that the reed switch is activated when the magnet travels to a pre-selected activation position during movement of the carriage in response to an initial acceleration force applied to the housing; and e) a means for biasing the magnet such that the magnet in a position which does not activate the reed switch when the acceleration force applied to the housing is less than a pre-selected amount. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A shock sensor comprising:
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a) a housing; a cylindrical integral activation magnet slidably mounted to the housing, the magnet having a first portion having a magnetic intensity of a certain level and a second portion integrally formed with the first portion and having a greater magnetic intensity; c) a reed switch mounted on the housing to be responsive to the position of the activation magnet and coaxial with the magnet such hat the reed switch is activated when the magnet travels to a pre-selected activation position during movement of the carriage in response to an initial acceleration force applied to the housing; and d) a means for biasing the magnet in an unactivated position until the housing is subjected to a pre-selected level of acceleration such that a pre-selected level of acceleration will cause the magnet to slide on the housing past the pre-selected activation position to activate the reed switch. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification