Impact sensor and impact-pressure sensor

• US 6,393,892 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
• Inventors: Mine, Keiji, Hirai, Seisaku, Ohbayashi, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US09/604,652
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 73/12.01,28.03,23.21,492 200/61.45 439/604
• US Class Current: 73/12.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/06 using members subjected to a permanent deformation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/146 operated by plastic deformation or rupture of structurally associated elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/20 Pressure-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/342 Non-re-sealable arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/578 in response to pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

To attain an impact sensor designed compact and to be readily assembled.

The impact sensor comprises main part 100 of sensor involving cavity 110, of which bottom surface serves as the fracture part 120; impact force transfer member 130 provided on said fracture part 120; weight 200 being confined in said cavity 110; and seal member 300 to close the cavity 110 with the weight 200 left confined therein, whereby the fracture part 120 is apt to be broken up by the weight 200, when an impact exceeding the predetermined value has been encountered.

Claims

1. An impact sensor comprising a main part having a cavity formed therein, a fracture part made up of at least one side surface of said cavity;

an impact force transfer member provided at said cavity;

a weight confined in said cavity; and

a seal member closing the cavity with the weight confined therein, characterized in that said fracture part is apt to be broken up when an impact has been encountered.

2. An impact sensor specified in claim 1 characterized in that said cavity has a depth less than a height of said weight and the fracture part defines an opening or a recess, through which the weight protrudes so as to allow the weight to be confined within the cavity.

3. An impact sensor specified in claim 1 characterized in that the cavity has a depth less than the height of the weight and said impact sensor further comprises a seal member which defines an opening or a recess, through which the weight protrudes so as to allow the weight to be confined within the cavity.

4. An impact-pressure sensor comprising a main part defining a hollow which is isolated from the outside environment, a fracture part made up of at least one side surface of said hollow;

an impact force transfer member provided at said fracture part;

a seal member secured to said main part of the sensor;

said main part having a predetermined space in a location apart from said fracture part, and a weight confined within said space, said seal member being equipped with a passage that links up said space and the outside environment, whereby the fracture part is apt to be broken up when an impact exceeding a predetermined level has been encountered or when a pressure difference between inside of said hollow and the outside environment has exceeded a predetermined value.

5. An impact-pressure sensor specified in claim 4 characterized in that said seal member defines, as said passage, a through running hole through the seal member.

6. An impact-pressure sensor specified in claim 4 characterized in that a depth of said space is made less than a height of the weight, and the seal member defines an opening or a recess, through which the weight protrudes so as to allow the weight to be confined within the cavity.