Movement detecting device

• US 7,473,858 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mercury Displacement Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mercury Displacement Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Miedema, David W., Berndt, Walter E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US11/943,740
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 200 6145 R- 6153, 735/140.1, 735/141.6, 735/142.9, 735/143.5
• US Class Current: 200/61.45R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/027 the inertia mass activating the switch mechanically, e.g. through a lever

Abstract

A movement detecting device detects movement, or tilt, of a building facilities component, and controls a desired event through an electrical signal without using mercury. The device includes a first housing section and a second housing section held together by a fastener. A ball is disposed between the first and second housing sections within a cavity. A mechanical switch is disposed between the first and second housing sections so that the switch extends into the cavity for contact with the ball when movement of the device exceeds a predetermined angle. A damper arm is included for securing the device to a facilities component to be monitored as desired.

Claims

1. A movement detecting device comprising:

a first housing section having a half-cylinder section with a raised portion, said raised portion includes edges;

a second housing section also having a half-cylinder section with a raised portion, said raised portion includes edges;

a ball disposed between the first and second housing sections against said edges within a cavity; and

a switch disposed between the first and second housing sections, wherein the switch extends into the cavity for contact with the ball when said ball breaches said edges in response to movement of said device.

2. The movement detecting device of claim 1, wherein the device includes a mounting apparatus.

3. The movement detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the switch includes a lever arm that extends from the switch into said cavity.

4. The movement detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the ball is formed from steel and has a diameter measuring between 0.5 and 1.0 inches and weighs between 16 and 29 grams.

5. A movement detecting device comprising:

a first housing section;

a second housing section;

a ball disposed between the first and second housing sections within a cavity;

a switch disposed between the first and second housing sections, wherein the switch extends into the cavity for contact with the ball; and

a mounting apparatus, the mounting apparatus includes a damper arm having a slot, said first and second housing sections each having an exterior lip, said lips residing in said slot when the first and second housing sections are secured together by at least one fastener.

6. A movement detecting device comprising:

an insulated housing having a cavity, said cavity having a circular cross section, opposite end walls and an interior wall extending between the end walls, said interior wall having a raised portion defined by edges;

a ball disposed in said cavity suitable for rolling from one of the end walls over the raised portion and to the other end wall when movement of said housing exceeds a predetermined angle;

a switch secured in the housing, said switch includes a lever arm that extends into the cavity for making contact with the ball so that the ball depresses the lever arm when the ball rolls to the other end wall upon said housing exceeding said predetermined angle; and

wire electrically connecting the switch and a controller for controlling a mechanical device as desired.

7. The movement detecting device according to claim 6, wherein said housing comprises a first half section with a half-cylinder section and a second half section also having a half-cylinder section, said first and second half sections being held together by at least one fastener.

8. A movement detecting device according to claim 7, wherein the device includes a mounting apparatus, said mounting apparatus further comprising a damper arm having a slot in which resides a first exterior lip portion of the first housing section and a second exterior lip portion of the second housing section when the first and second housing sections are secured together.

9. The movement detecting device according to claim 6, wherein the ball is formed from steel and has a diameter measuring between 0.5 and 1.0 inches and a weight of between 16 and 29 grams.

10. A movement detecting device according to claim 6, wherein the device includes a mounting apparatus.

11. The movement detecting device of claim 10, wherein the ball is formed from steel and has a diameter measuring 0.75 inches and a weight of between 28 and 29 grams.