Earthquake motion detector alarm

• US 5,418,523 A
• Filed: 03/21/1994
• Issued: 05/23/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texaco Chemical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texaco Chemical, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, James M., Anderson, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/215,151
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 340/690, 340/669, 340/540, 200/61.49, 200/61.5, 200/61.51, 200/61.45 R
• US Class Current: 340/690
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes

Abstract

The Earthquake Motion Detector Alarm consists of a pendulum hanging within a sensor ring. At the instant of earth movement, the pendulum weight will make contact with the sensor ring setting off an audio alarm and floodlamp. The magnetized sensor ring can be adjusted so the detector can be installed to function on all vertical walls by positioning the pendulum weight within the ring.

Claims

1. An earthquake motion detector alarm adapted to be contained in a compact case which is to be affixed to a vertical wall, comprising:

a supporting wire having one end attached to the top surface of the case;

a pendulum weight attached to the other end of the supporting wire;

an electrical sensor ring surrounding the pendulum weight, the electrical sensor ring having three sensors surrounding the pendulum weight such that there is a gap between each sensor and the pendulum weight, the gap sized so that during an earthquake the pendulum weight will change position and contact the sensors;

an audio alarm;

an emergency light;

an energizing means;

an electrical circuitry connecting the energizing means, the pendulum weight, the electrical sensor ring, the audio-alarm, and the emergency light so that the audio-alarm and emergency light will be energized when the pendulum weight contacts the sensors in response to an earthquake;

a metal base plate secured in position relative to the bottom of the case; and

a plurality of magnets affixed to the electrical sensor ring, the magnets removably attaching the electrical sensor ring to the metal base plate so that the positioning of the electrical sensor ring relative to the pendulum weight can be readily adjusted to maintain an equidistant gap between each sensor and the pendulum weight.