Low frequency vibration sensor

• US 6,109,110 A
• Filed: 06/08/1998
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shih Ming Hwang
• Original Assignee: Shih Ming Hwang
• Inventors: Hwang, Shih Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN JR, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US09/093,231
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 73/652, 73/654, 73/514.34, 310/329, 340/566, 340/683, 340/689
• US Class Current: 73/654
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 11/08 using piezoelectric devices

Abstract

A low frequency vibration sensor includes a permanent magnet, a sensor body, a steel spheroid, and a piezoelectric element. The sensor body has a pillar shape and is made of plastic material having a transverse separator section in a middle portion to divide the sensor body in an upper and a lower spaces. A depressed slot is formed around the upper space for disposing the magnet, while the lower space is made larger than the steel spheroid so as to accommodate it therein movably and also put under the influence of an attractive force of the magnet above. A piezoelectric element is set in along a grooved rail provided around the bottom edge of the sensor body to thereby form a closed space. The steel spheroid is movable to swing in the space such that its motion is conducted to the piezoelectric element to induce a corresponding low frequency electric signal between two electrodes of the piezoelectric element to thereby detect the vibration caused by an external force.

Claims

1. A low frequency vibration sensor, comprising a permanent magnet, a sensor body, a steel spheroid, and a piezoelectric element, wherein said sensor body has a pillar shape made of a plastic material having a transverse separator section in a middle portion to divide said sensor body in an upper space and a lower space, and a depressed slot is formed around said upper space for disposing said permanent magnet while said lower space is made larger than said steel spheroid, so as to accommodate said steel spheroid therein movably and also put said steel spheroid under the influence of an attractive force of said permanent magnet above, wherein said piezoelectric element is set in along a grooved rail provided on said sensor body to thereby form a closed space.

2. The low frequency vibration sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said steel spheroid is movable to swing in said space of the sensor body such that a motion thereof is conducted to said piezoelectric element to educe a corresponding low frequency electric signal between two elecrodes of said piezoeiectric element to thereby detect the vibration caused by an external force.

3. The low frequency vibration sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sensor body has a polygonal cross section.

4. The low frequency vibration sensor as claimed in claim 2 wherein said sensor body has a polygonal cross section.

5. The low frequency vibration sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said piezoelectric element is disposed along a grooved rail provided around a bottom edge of said sensor body.

6. The low frequency vibration sensor as cloned in claim 2 wherein said piezoelectric element is disposed along a grooved rail provided around a bottom edge of said sensor body.

7. The low frequency vibration sensor as claimed in claim 3 wherein said piezoelectric element is disposed along a grooved rail provided around a bottom edge of said sensor body.

8. The low frequency vibration sensor as claimed in claim 4 wherein said piezoelectric element is disposed along a grooved rail provided around a bottom edge of said sensor body.