Lateral motion sensing assembly

• US 6,386,043 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tesma International, Inc. (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Mullins, Austin Gray
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US09/335,140
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 737/84, 735/87, 737/60, 737/86, 738/04
• US Class Current: 73/760
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 33/00 Testing foundations or foundation structures testing methods and apparatus, see the relevant subclasses of class G01; testing structures or apparatus as regards function, in general, G01M; testing or determining chemical or physical properties, in general G01N
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0004 Force transducers adapted for mounting in a bore of the force receiving structure G01L5/0009 takes precedence

Abstract

A lateral motion sensing assembly for sensing movement experienced by a structural member such as a support beam or driven pile. The sensing assembly is immersed within a casing which is mounted to the structural member. The sensing assembly includes a support body and an accelerometer mounted to the support body for measuring movement of the structural member. The accelerometer is aligned with an anticipated line of motion such that measurements can be made along this line of motion. A pair of lever arms are pivotally mounted to the support body for removably securing the support body within the casing. A spring is mounted between the support body and lever arms for continuously biasing the lever arms to a position perpendicular with the support body.

Claims

1. A lateral motion sensing assembly for sensing movement experienced by a structural member, said assembly comprising;

a support body;

a measuring device mounted to said support body for measuring movement of the structural member;

at least one lever arm pivotally mounted to said support body for removably securing said support body to the structural member; and

a casing having an inner surface with at least one indentation formed within said inner surface, said casing adapted to be fixed in a relationship proximal with said structural member and selectively encompassing said support body wherein said lever arm selectively engages said indentation to maintain a desired orientation of said support housing thereby maintaining a desired alignment of said measuring device.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a biasing device having a first end mounted to said support body and a second end mounted to said lever arm for continuously biasing said lever arm to a position substantially perpendicular with said support body.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said biasing device is a coiled spring.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 further including a first lever arm mounted to a first end of said support body and a second lever arm mounted to a second end of said support body with said measuring device disposed between said first and second lever arms.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said measuring device is an accelerometer aligned with an anticipated line of motion for the structural member.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 further including electrical wires connected to said accelerometer and extending outwardly from said support housing for transmitting measurements.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support body has a tubular configuration with at least one hook mounted to one of said first and second distal ends of said support body.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 further including a support cable mounted to said hook for guiding and supporting said support body as said support body is removably secured to the structural member.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said casing has a tubular configuration.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said first and second lever arms include outwardly extending distal ends with a wheel mounted to each of said distal ends of said lever arms for providing sliding movement between said support body and said casing.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said casing includes a pair of indentations being further defined as notches formed within said casing with said wheels riding within said notches to maintain a desired alignment of said support housing.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said casing includes a pair of indentations with said first and second lever arms engaging said indentations to further maintain said desired orientation of said support housing and said desired alignment of said measuring device.

13. A lateral motion sensing assembly for sensing stresses imparted onto a structural member, said assembly comprising;

a support body having first and second distal ends;

an orientating device mounted to each distal end of said support body for removably securing said support body proximal to the structural member, said orientating devices being further defined as lever arms mounted to said distal ends of said support body with said lever arms being continuously biased outwardly away from said support body; and

an accelerometer mounted to said support body between said lever arms and aligned with an anticipated line of motion for measuring movement of the structural member along said line of motion.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 further including a pair of biasing devices having first ends mounted to said support body and second ends mounted to said lever arms for continuously biasing said lever arms to a position substantially perpendicular with said support body.

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 further including a casing encompassing said support body wherein said casing is fixedly secured to the structural member.

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said casing includes an inner surface with a pair of indentations formed within said inner surface wherein said lever arms selectively engage said indentations to maintain a desired orientation of said support housing thereby maintaining said desired alignment of said accelerometer with said anticipated line of motion.

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of said first and second lever arms include outwardly extending distal ends with a wheel mounted to each of said distal ends of said lever arms for providing rolling movement between said support body and said casing.

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said pair of indentations are further defined as notches formed within said casing with said wheels riding within said notches to maintain a desired alignment of said support housing.

19. An assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said casing has a tubular configuration.

20. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said biasing device is a coiled spring.

21. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 further including electrical wires connected to said accelerometer and extending outwardly from said support housing for transmitting measurements.