Shock detecting system

• US 5,440,084 A
• Filed: 01/07/1994
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Aleph Corp.
• Original Assignee: Nippon Aleph Corp.
• Inventors: Fuse, Akira, Nakada, Tsutomu, Tsuda, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US08/178,528
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.45 R, 200/61.45 M, 200/61.47-61.53, 335/205-207
• US Class Current: 200/61.45R
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/135 by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/147 the switch being of the reed switch type

Abstract

A shock sensor including a switch turned on by magnetic force. The switch includes a reed switch, a magnet sliding back and forth along a case for the reed switch, and a coil spring biasing the magnet in a particular direction. When the sensor receives a shock, the biased magnet moves along the switch case, the magnetic force applied to the reed switch increases and when this magnetic force exceeds a predetermined amount, contact portions of the reed switch are closed and the switch is in the on state. Further, a weight forming an integral part of the magnet is used to increase the kinetic energy of the magnet or, between the coil spring and the switch case, there is a slack which enables movement of the coil spring in the direction of its diameter, either structure allowing the magnet to stay in the on state longer than a conventional switch.

Claims

1. A sensor for detecting shocks, comprising:

an elongated switch containing contacts that are closed by applying a magnetic force to put the switch in an on state and opened by removing the magnetic force to put the switch in an off state;

a movable member having a magnet for applying the magnetic force, said movable member being movable along the longitudinal axis of the switch, between a first position at a first end of the switch corresponding to the off state, and a second position at a second opposite end of the switch corresponding to the on state, said movable member moving along said switch from the first position to the second position as a result of an application of a shock to the sensor in the longitudinal direction;

an elastic member which normally biases said movable member into the first position; and

means, connected to the moveable means, for increasing the kinetic energy of the movable member and prolonging the period that said movable member is in the on state.

2. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said means for prolonging comprises a weight member attached to the movable member so that the specific gravity of the movable member is increased.

3. A sensor according to claim 2, wherein said weight member comprises a material having a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of said magnet.

4. A sensor according to claim 3, wherein said magnet comprises a magnetic plastic.

5. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said means for prolonging comprises the elastic member having a diameter and being capable of deforming in the direction of the diameter.

6. A sensor according to claim 5, wherein said elastic member comprises a coil spring placed around said switch, and a slack space is disposed between the coil spring and the switch so that the coil spring may deform in the direction of its diameter.

7. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said elastic member comprises a coil spring, and said movable member has a portion which has a diameter smaller than the diameter of said spring, said smaller diameter portion receiving a portion of said coil spring.

8. A sensor according to claim 7, wherein said coil spring has a dramatic and is placed around said switch, and a slack space is provided between the coil spring and the switch so that the coil spring may deform in the direction of its diameter.

9. A sensor according to claim 7, wherein the length of said smaller diameter portion is shorter than the length of the coil spring when the coil spring is compressed completely.

10. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the contacts of said switch are closed by a shock felt as a result of a vehicle collision.

11. A sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a detecting circuit which detects the on state of said switch.

12. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said switch comprises a housing in which said switch is inserted, and

said elastic member is provided between said housing and said movable member;

wherein an end portion of said elastic member is supported by said housing.

13. A sensor according to claim 12, wherein said housing comprises a groove which receives an opposite end portion of the elastic member.

14. A sensor according to claim 13, wherein said elastic member comprises a coil spring and said movable member comprises a portion the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of said spring, said smaller diameter portion receiving a portion of said coil spring.

15. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said switch comprises a magnetic reed switch.

16. A passenger protection safety system applied to a vehicle, comprising:

a passenger protective device operating by the influence of a shock applied to the device;

a sensor for detecting said shock, said sensor including an elongated switch containing contacts that are closed by applying a magnetic force to put the switch in an on state and opened by removing the magnetic force to put the switch in an off state;

a movable member having a magnet for applying the magnetic force, said movable member being movable along the longitudinal axis of the switch, between a first position at a first end of the switch corresponding to the off state, and a second position at a second opposite end of the switch corresponding to the on state, said movable member moving along said switch from the first position to the second position as a result of an application of the shock to the sensor in the longitudinal direction;

an elastic member which normally biases said movable member into the first position; and

means, connected to the moveable means, for increasing the kinetic energy of the movable member and prolonging the period that said movable member is in the on state;

wherein the period that said movable member remains in the first position when the shock is applied to the vehicle is prolonged.

17. A protective system according to claim 16, wherein said movable member comprises a member whose specific gravity is greater than the specific gravity of said magnet.

18. A protective system according to claim 16, wherein said elastic member comprises a coil spring having a diameter and which is capable of deforming in the direction of the diameter.