Impact indicator

• US 8,646,401 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2012
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shockwatch Incorporated (Media Recovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Shockwatch Incorporated (Media Recovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Branch, Clinton A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Macchiarolo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): COURSON, TANIA C
• Application Number:
  US13/554,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20120291694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 116200-201, 116/203, 116211-212, 116/215, 73/120.4
• US Class Current: 116/203
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 23/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring or indicating or recording rapid changes, such as oscillations, in the pressure of steam, gas, or liquid; Indicators for determining work or energy of steam, internal-combustion, or other fluid-pressure engines from the condition of the working fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/00 Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0052 measuring forces due to impact G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/30 by applying a single impulsive force, e.g. by falling weight
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/02 by making use of inertia forces using solid seismic massesG01P15/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/03 by using non-electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/036 for indicating predetermined acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/04 for indicating maximum value
• 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: H01H 9/16 Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection and indication is disclosed. The impact indicator includes a housing; a mass member located within the housing where the housing is configured to enable movement of the mass member from a first position to a second position within the housing in response to receipt by the housing of an acceleration event; and first and second biasing members disposed within the housing and biased toward each other to retain the mass member in the first position. In response to receipt by the housing of the acceleration event, the mass member is configured to overcome the biasing force of the first biasing member and move from the first position to the second position.

Claims

1. An impact indicator, comprising:

a housing;

a mass member located within the housing, the housing configured to enable movement of the mass member from a first position to a second position within the housing in response to receipt by the housing of an acceleration event; and

first and second biasing members disposed within the housing and biased toward each other to retain the mass member in the first position, and wherein, in response to receipt by the housing of the acceleration event, the mass member is configured to overcome the biasing force of the first biasing member and move from the first position to the second position, the mass member retained in the second position by at least one of the first and second biasing members to provide an indication of receipt of the acceleration event.

2. The impact indicator of claim 1, wherein, in response to receipt by the housing of the acceleration event, the first and second biasing members are biased in a same direction to bear upon the mass member to retain the mass member in the second position.

3. The impact indicator of claim 2, wherein, in response to receipt by the housing of another acceleration event that causes the mass member to overcome the bias of the first and second biasing members, the first and second biasing members are configured to cause the mass member to move from the second position, past the first position, to a third position.

4. The impact indicator of claim 3, wherein the housing comprises a window located in each of the second and third positions to enable a visual indication of the mass member located in either the second or third position.

5. The impact indicator of claim 3, wherein the first and second biasing members are biased in a same direction to bear upon the mass member to retain the mass member in the third position.

6. The impact indicator of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a window to enable a visual indication of movement of the mass member indicating that the housing has experienced the acceleration event.

7. The impact indicator of claim 1, wherein the first and second biasing members each comprises a leaf spring member having a length greater than a width of the mass member and disposed transversely to a direction of movement of the mass member.

8. The impact indicator of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of sidewalls forming a translation path for movement of the mass member from the first position to the second position, and wherein each end of the first and second biasing members is disposed in a respective seat located in the sidewalls when the mass member is in the first position.

9. The impact indicator of claim 8, wherein, in response to receipt by the housing of the acceleration event, the second biasing member is drawn out of its respective seats in the sidewalls and is prevented from returning to its seats in the sidewalls by indents formed in the sidewalls.

10. An impact indicator, comprising:

a housing;

a mass member located within the housing, the housing configured to enable movement of the mass member from a non-activated position within the housing to an activated position within the housing in response to receipt by the housing of an acceleration event; and

at least one biasing member configured to retain the mass member in the non-activated position prior to receipt of the acceleration event, and wherein, in response to receipt by the housing of the acceleration event, the mass member is configured to overcome a biasing force of the biasing member and move from the non-activated position to the activated position, and wherein the biasing member is configured to apply another biasing force to the mass member to prevent the mass member from reseating in the non-activated position.

11. The impact indicator of claim 10, wherein the biasing member is configured to be biased in a first direction relative to the mass member in the non-activated position and biased in a second direction relative to the mass member different than the first direction after receipt of the acceleration event.

12. The impact indicator of claim 11, wherein the biasing member comprises a leaf spring having ends located in a first position relative to the housing in the non-activated position and moving to a second position relative to the housing in response to the mass member moving to the activated position.