Omnidirectional tilt and vibration sensor

• US 7,326,866 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SignalQuest Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SignalQuest Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelley, Whitmore B. Jr., Blades, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMZA, LISA NHUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/331,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20060157331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 200 6145 R- 6145 M, 200 6148- 6153
• US Class Current: 200/61.45R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/5833 comprising an articulating, sliding or rolling contact between movable contact and terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/66 Contacts sealed in an evacuated or gas-filled envelope, e.g. magnetic dry-reed contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/02 Switches operated by change of position, inclination or orientation of the switch itself in relation to gravitational field tilting mercury container H01H29/20; change of position due to change of liquid level H01H35/18
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/144 operated by vibration

Abstract

A sensor contains a first electrically conductive element, a second electrically conductive element, and an electrically insulative element connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element. The sensor also contains a plurality of electrically conductive weights located within a cavity of the sensor, wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element.

Claims

1. A sensor, comprising:

a first electrically conductive element;

a second electrically conductive element;

an electrically insulative element connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element; and

a plurality of electrically conductive weights located within a cavity of the sensor, wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is in a closed state (ON) if a conductive path exists from the first electrically conductive element, through a first electrically conductive weight, through a final electrically conductive weight, to the second electrically conductive element, and wherein the sensor is in an open state (OFF) if there is no conductive path from the first electrically conductive element, through the first electrically conductive weight, to the final electrically conductive weight, to the second electrically conductive element.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive element is sealed to the electrically insulative element and the second electrically conductive element is sealed to the electrically insulative element.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein:

the first electrically conductive element further comprises a first diameter on a proximate portion of the first electrically conductive element and a second diameter on a distal portion of the first electrically conductive element, where the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter;

the second electrically conductive element further comprises a first diameter on a proximate portion of the second electrically conductive element and a second diameter on a distal portion of the second electrically conductive element, where the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter; and

the electrically insulative element is further defined as having a proximate end and a distal end,

where at least the distal portion of the first electrically conductive element fits within a proximate end of the electrically insulative element, and where at least the distal portion of the second electrically conductive element fits within a distal end of the electrically insulative element.

5. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the first electrically conductive element further comprises a flat end surface located on a side opposite the distal portion of the first electrically conductive element, and wherein the second electrically conductive element further comprises a flat end surface located on a side opposite the distal portion of the second electrically conductive element.

6. The sensor of claim 5, wherein the flat end surface of the first electrically conductive element contains a first nub for providing electrical contact of the first electrically conductive element to a first terminal, and wherein the flat end surface of the second electrically conductive element contains a second nub for providing electrical contact of the second electrically conductive element to a second terminal.

7. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the distal portion of the first electrically conductive element further comprises:

a first top surface;

a first outer surface; and

a first bottom surface,

wherein the first top surface, the first outer surface, and the first bottom surface form a first cylindrical lip of the first electrically conductive element, and

wherein the distal portion of the second electrically conductive element further comprises;

a second top surface;

a second outer surface; and

a second bottom surface,

wherein the second top surface, the second outer surface, and the second bottom surface form a second cylindrical lip of the second electrically conductive element.

8. The sensor of claim 7, wherein a cross-section of the first bottom surface is concave in shape and wherein a cross-section of the second bottom surface is concave in shape.

9. The sensor of claim 7, wherein a cross-section of the first bottom surface is flat and wherein a cross-section of the second bottom surfaces is flat.

10. The sensor of claim 4, wherein a diameter of the distal portion of the first electrically conductive element and a diameter of the distal portion of the second electrically conductive element are smaller than a diameter of the electrically insulative element.

11. The sensor of claim 4, wherein a portion of the distal portion of the first electrically conductive element, an inner portion of the second electrically conductive element, and the distal portion of the second electrically conductive element define a central chamber of the sensor, where the chamber is filled with an inert gas.

12. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element are equal in dimension.

13. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulative element is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and glass.

14. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulative element is tube-like in shape.

15. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulative element is square-like in shape.

16. A method of constructing a sensor having a first electrically conductive element, a second electrically conductive element, an electrically insulative element, and a plurality of electrically conductive weights, the method comprising the steps of:

fitting at least a distal portion of the first electrically conductive element within a hollow center of the electrically insulative member;

positioning the plurality of electrically conductive weights within the hollow center of the electrically insulative member; and

fitting at least a distal portion of the second electrically conductive element within the hollow center of the electrically insulative member.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of fabricating a first nub on a proximate portion of the first conductive element and fabricating a second nub on a proximate portion of the second conductive element.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the method of constructing the sensor is performed in an inert gas.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

hermetically sealing the first electrically conductive element to the electrically insulative element; and

hermetically sealing the second electrically conductive element to the electrically insulative element.