Earthquake actuated micro switch

• US 6,917,004 B1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul D. Engdahl
• Original Assignee: Paul D. Engdahl
• Inventors: Engdahl, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US10/844,884
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 200 6145 R- 6145 M, 735/140.1, 735/141.6, 735/142.9, 735/143.5
• US Class Current: 200/61.45R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/14 Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0777 With second control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0923 By pendulum or swinging member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0947 With servo connection to valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

An earthquake actuated micro switch includes a ball which falls into a micro switch actuating position when disturbed. The ball normally resides in a shallow ball seat. A sufficient disturbance causes the ball to escape the ball seat, and fall into a switch seat. When the ball comes to rest in the switch seat, a lower surface of the ball pushes a micro switch actuator, thereby actuating the micro switch.

Claims

1. A motion actuated electrical switch comprising:

a ball;

a switch body having a floor, the ball residing in the switch body;

a ball seat on the floor, wherein the ball is positionable by the ball seat when the floor is functionally in the horizontal plane;

a switch seat in the floor; and

an electrical switch residing under the floor and having an upward facing switch actuator positioned at least partially under the switch seat,

wherein motion of the body allows the ball to escape the ball seat and fall into the switch seat, and wherein the switch seat is of sufficient diameter and shape to allow the ball, if residing in the switch seat, to actuate the switch actuator.

2. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the electric switch is a micro switch.

3. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 2, wherein the micro switch is a Single-Pole Double-Throw (SPDT) micro switch.

4. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 2, wherein the switch actuator is a straight lever.

5. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, further including a four conductor cable electrically connected to the electrical switch, wherein the conductor cable comprises:

a normally open conductor;

a normally closed conductor;

a neutral conductor; and

a ground conductor.

6. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the switch body has a sealed interior.

7. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the ball seat is a shallow conical recess in the floor, wherein the recess has a substantially vertical central axis.

8. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, further comprising a set control actuable from external to said body for moving said ball from the ball seat to the switch seat.

9. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 8, wherein said set control comprises:

a set shaft supported by said body above the ball seat; and

at least one first downwardly extending arm rotatable by said set shaft and extending downwardly to a first lower end positioned adjacent said ball and opposite to said switch seat when said ball is residing in said ball seat,

wherein, rotating the first downwardly extending arm toward the ball causes the ball to move out of the ball seat and toward the switch seat.

10. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, further comprising a reset control actuable from external to said body for moving said ball from the switch seat to the ball seat.

11. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 10, wherein said reset control comprises:

a reset shaft supported by said body above the switch seat; and

at least one second downwardly extending arm rotatable by said reset shaft and extending downwardly to a lower end positioned adjacent said ball and opposite to said ball seat when said ball is residing in said switch seat,

wherein, rotating the second downwardly extending arm toward the ball causes the ball to move out of the switch seat and toward the ball seat.

12. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, further including a sight glass in said body adjacent a position of said ball when said ball rests in at least one of said ball seat and said switch seat, whereby the position of the ball may be determined by looking through said sight glass.

13. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the body comprises:

a center body portion;

a cover portion affixed to said center body portion; and

a base portion affixed to said center body portion, said base portion including the floor.

14. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 13, wherein the center body portion includes an inner shaped wall for deflecting the ball toward the switch seat.

15. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 14, wherein the inner shaped wall is shaped to be within one ball radius from the switch seat.

16. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 14, wherein the ball escapes the seat if the body experiences an acceleration of at least 0.4 of Gravity G, and at least ten Hz.

17. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the electric switch has a plunger type actuator.

18. An earthquake sensor comprising:

a ball;

a switch body having a floor, the ball residing in the switch body;

a ball seat on the floor, wherein the ball is positionable by the ball seat when the floor is functionally in the horizontal plane;

a switch seat in the floor;

an electrical switch having a switch actuator positioned at least partially under the switch seat;

a set control actuable from external to said body for moving said ball from the ball seat to the switch seat; and

a reset control actuable from external to said body for moving said ball from the switch seat to the ball seat,

wherein motion of the body allows the ball to escape the ball seat and fall into the switch seat, and wherein the switch seat is of sufficient diameter and shape to allow the ball, if residing in the switch seat, to actuate the switch actuator.

19. A motion actuated electrical switch comprising:

a ball;

a switch body having a floor and including a cover portion having an inlet and a base portion having an outlet, the ball residing in the switch body;

a ball seat on the floor, wherein the ball is positionable by the ball seat when the floor is functionally in the horizontal plane;

a switch seat in the floor;

an electrical switch having a switch actuator positioned at least partially under the switch seat; and

wherein motion of the body allows the ball to escape the ball seat and fall into the switch seat, and wherein the switch seat is of sufficient diameter and shape to allow the ball, if residing in the switch seat, to actuate the switch actuator.

20. The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 19, further including:

a set control actuable from external to said body for moving said ball from the ball seat to the switch seat; and

a reset control actuable from external to said body for moving said ball from the switch seat to the ball seat.