Deceleration sensor for an electric brake controller
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for sensing the deceleration of a vehicle comprising:
- a housing adapted to be secured to the vehicle, said housing including a base portion and a pair of spaced apart support members extending from opposite sides of said base portion, said support members defining an open space therebetween;
a U-shaped bucket suspended between said housing support members within said open space between said support members, said bucket being pivotable about an axis;
a pendulum suspended within said bucket and pivotable about said axis; and
a positioning device carried by said housing and connected to said bucket, said positioning device operable to rotate said bucket about said axis relative to said housing in one of a first direction or a second direction, said second direction being opposite from said first direction, whereby said bucket can be rotated sufficiently in either of said first or second directions within said open space between said support members such that at least a portion of said bucket extends beyond both of said housing support members.
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Abstract
A decration sensor includes a pendulum which is suspended within an U-shaped bucket. The pendulum carries a permanent magnet which is adjacent to a Hall Effect device mounted upon the bucket. Both the pendulum and bucket are carried in an open ended housing which permits movement of the bucket relative to the pendulum to adjust for surface angles when the sensor is mounted upon a vehicle. Upon the deceleration of the vehicle, the pendulum move relative to the Hall Effect Device. As a result of the changing magnetic field, a voltage is generated by the Hall Effect Device which is directly proportional to the vehicle deceleration.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for sensing the deceleration of a vehicle comprising:
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a housing adapted to be secured to the vehicle, said housing including a base portion and a pair of spaced apart support members extending from opposite sides of said base portion, said support members defining an open space therebetween;
a U-shaped bucket suspended between said housing support members within said open space between said support members, said bucket being pivotable about an axis;
a pendulum suspended within said bucket and pivotable about said axis; and
a positioning device carried by said housing and connected to said bucket, said positioning device operable to rotate said bucket about said axis relative to said housing in one of a first direction or a second direction, said second direction being opposite from said first direction, whereby said bucket can be rotated sufficiently in either of said first or second directions within said open space between said support members such that at least a portion of said bucket extends beyond both of said housing support members.
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2. A device for sensing the deceleration of a vehicle comprising:
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a housing adapted to be secured to the vehicle, said housing including a pair of spaced apart supporting members;
a U-shaped bucket suspended between said housing support members and pivotable about an axis;
a pendulum suspended within said bucket and pivotable about said axis;
a positioning device carried by said housing and connected to said bucket, said positioning device operable to rotate said bucket about said axis relative to said housing in one of a first direction or a second direction, said second direction being opposite from said first direction, whereby said bucket can be rotated sufficiently in either of said first or second directions such that at least a portion of said bucket extends beyond both of said housing supporting members; and
a crank connected to said bucket and operable to rotate said bucket relative to said housing and further wherein at least one of said housing support members has a recess formed therein, said recess receiving a portion of said crank whereby the amount of rotation of said bucket relative to said housing is enhanced. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device for sensing the deceleration of a vehicle comprising:
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a housing adapted to be secured to the vehicle, said housing including a pair of spaced apart supporting members;
a U-shaped bucket suspended between said housing support members and pivotable about an axis;
a pendulum suspended within said bucket and pivotable about said axis;
a positioning device carried by said housing and connected to said bucket, said positioning device operable to rotate said bucket about said axis relative to said housing;
a pair of spaced apart arms extending from an end of each of said housing support members; and
a cross member extending between said arms and being urged by said arms against said bucket to frictionally retain said bucket in a particular position relative to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for sensing the deceleration of a vehicle comprising:
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a housing adapted to be secured to the vehicle, said housing including a pair of spaced apart supporting members;
a U-shaped bucket suspended between said housing support members and pivotable about an axis;
a carrier mounted upon said bucket, said carrier having a slot formed therein;
a Hall Effect Device slidingly received and frictionally retained within said carrier slot;
a pendulum having a first end suspended within said bucket with said first end pivotable about said axis;
a permanent magnet carried by a second end of said pendulum, said second end being opposite from said first end of said pendulum, said magnet cooperating with said Hall Effect Device upon movement of said pendulum to cause said Hall Effect Device to generate a voltage which is proportional to the deceleration of the vehicle; and
a positioning device carried by said housing and connected to said bucket, said positioning device operable to rotate said bucket about said axis relative to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification