Shock sensors

• US 5,770,792 A
• Filed: 10/28/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Aleph Corp.
• Original Assignee: Nippon Aleph Corp.
• Inventors: Nakada, Tsutomu, Tsuda, Yuji, Fuse, Akira, Iwaki, Okihiro, Sugiyama, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): BIEGEL, RONALD L
• Application Number:
  US08/738,699
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 73/12.01, 335/205, 335/207, 116/203, 340/436, 340/467
• US Class Current: 73/12.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/105 by magnetically sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/147 the switch being of the reed switch type

Abstract

A shock sensor including a magnetic reed switch extending in a direction in which shocks are to be detected, a member movable along the magnetic reed switch due to the shocks and including a magnet for imparting a magnetic force to the magnetic reed switch to turn on the magnetic reed switch, a coil spring for biasing the moving member toward one side of the magnetic reed switch, and an adjuster for adjusting the time duration in which the magnetic reed switch is on. The adjuster also reduces the moving speed of the moving member of adjusts the turn-on time when the magnetic reed switch is turned on.

Claims

1. A shock sensor, comprising:

a magnetic reed switch extending in a direction in which shocks are detected;

a moving member movable along the magnetic reed switch due to the shocks and capable of imparting a magnetic force to turn on the magnetic reed switch;

a biasing member to normally urge the moving member toward one side of the magnetic reed switch; and

an adjuster to adjust when the magnetic reed switch is on,

wherein the adjuster reduces a speed at which the moving member moves, and,

wherein the biasing member comprises a coil spring contacting the moving member;

the moving member comprises a spring stop provided fixedly on an outer periphery of the moving member, with the coil spring abutting the spring stop; and

the adjuster comprises interaction portions on the coil spring and the moving member which form a small space between the coil spring and the moving member.

2. A shock sensor according to claim 1, wherein the spring stop is bonded to the moving member.

3. A shock sensor according to claim 1, wherein the spring stop is integral with the moving member.

4. A shock sensor according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the spring stop and an end of the moving member opposite from the spring stop is greater than a completely compressed axial length of the coil spring.

5. A shock sensor according to claim 1, wherein a difference between an inner diameter of the coil spring and an outer diameter of the moving member is in a range of 0.1 to -0.05 mm.

6. A shock sensor according to claim 1, wherein the adjuster comprises a radial projection provided on an outer periphery of the moving member at an end of the moving member opposite from the spring stop so as to form a small spacing between the coil spring and the radial projection.

7. A shock sensor according to claim 6, wherein the radial projection comprises a continuous annular projection.

8. A shock sensor according to claim 6, wherein the radial projection comprises a plurality of spaced, radial projections provided at equal angles around an end of the moving member.

9. A shock sensor according to claim 6, wherein the radial projection has a shape gradually decreasing radially outward.

10. A shock sensor according to claim 9, wherein the radial projection takes the form of one of a semicircle, a triangle and a trapezoid.

11. A shock sensor according to claim 6, wherein a distance between the spring stop and an end of the moving member opposite from the spring stop is more than a completely compressed axial length of the spring.

12. A shock sensor according to claim 6, wherein a space between an inner diameter of the coil spring and an outer diameter of the radial projection is selected in a range of 0.1 to -0.05 mm.

13. A shock sensor 1, comprising:

a magnetic reed switch extending in a direction in which shocks are detected;

a moving member movable along the magnetic reed switch due to the shocks and capable of imparting a magnetic force to turn on the magnetic reed switch;

a biasing member to normally urge the moving member toward one side of the magnetic reed switch; and

an adjuster to adjust when the magnetic reed switch is on,

wherein the adjuster adjusts when the magnetic reed switch is turned on, and

wherein the adjuster comprises a spacer between the moving member and a switch case stop.

14. A shock sensor according to claim 13, wherein the spacer has an axial thickness related to the desired adjustment of when the magnetic reed switch is turned on.

15. A shock sensor according to claim 13, wherein the spacer comprises a C-like ring made of a metal wire having a resiliency.

16. A shock sensor according to claim 13, wherein the spacer comprises a C-like washer.

17. A shock sensor according to claim 13, wherein the spacer comprises a magnetic material and is magnetically drawn by the magnetic force to the moving member.