Seismically activated appliance switch
First Claim
1. For use in controlling an electrically powered device, a seismically activated switch apparatus comprising:
- an electronic switch having a controlled power coupling path and a trigger input;
an input power coupler and output power coupler interconnected through said controlled power coupling path;
an annular ring defining a ring plane and an aperture;
a contact weight defining a varying cross-section;
a spring rod having a fixed end and a free end, said free end being secured to said contact weight and said spring rod resiliently supporting said contact weight; and
adjustable ring support means for supporting said ring such that said contact weight extends through said aperture of said ring and for raising and lowering said ring to move said ring plane with respect to said contact weight,said trigger input being coupled to said input power coupler through contact of said annular ring and said contact weight.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A housing supports a seismically responsive switch mechanism having an annular contact ring defining a center aperture within which a contact weight is resiliently supported by a flexible spring rod. A silicon-controlled rectifier is operatively coupled to a DC power input and power output coupling to provide electrical power coupling therebetween when the silicon-controlled rectifier is triggered. The trigger voltage for the silicon-controlled rectifier is provided by a circuit path which includes the annular ring and contact weight. The contact weight defines a frusto-conical outer surface and a ring positioning apparatus supports the ring at different positions with respect to the contact weight to provide different distances between the contact weight and the ring. In one embodiment, the ring positioning apparatus includes a rotatable shaft and a gear coupling which drives a threaded support to raise or lower the contact ring with respect to the contact weight. In an alternate embodiment, the ring is supported by a vertically movable shaft. In a still further alternate embodiment, a pair of seismically responsive switch mechanisms are selectable using a selector switch.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. For use in controlling an electrically powered device, a seismically activated switch apparatus comprising:
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an electronic switch having a controlled power coupling path and a trigger input; an input power coupler and output power coupler interconnected through said controlled power coupling path; an annular ring defining a ring plane and an aperture; a contact weight defining a varying cross-section; a spring rod having a fixed end and a free end, said free end being secured to said contact weight and said spring rod resiliently supporting said contact weight; and adjustable ring support means for supporting said ring such that said contact weight extends through said aperture of said ring and for raising and lowering said ring to move said ring plane with respect to said contact weight, said trigger input being coupled to said input power coupler through contact of said annular ring and said contact weight. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. For use in controlling an electronically powered device, a seismically activated switch apparatus comprising:
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an electronic switch having a controlled power coupling path and a trigger input; an input power coupler and an output power coupler interconnected through said controlled power coupling path; a first annular ring defining a first ring plane and a first aperture; a first contact weight; a first spring rod having a first fixed end and a first free end, said first free end being secured to said first contact weight and said first spring rod resiliently supporting said first contact weight within said first ring plane and extending partially through said first aperture; a second annular ring defining a second ring plane and a second aperture; a second contact weight; a second spring rod having a second fixed end and a second free end, said second free end being secured to said second contact weight and said second spring rod resiliently supporting said second contact weight within said second ring plane and extending partially through said second aperture; and a first switch alternatively coupling said trigger input to said input power coupler through contact of said first ring with said first contact weight or through contact of said second ring with said second contact weight. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification