Collision sensor assembly for a stationary structure

• US 9,383,275 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sentry Protection Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sentry Protection, LLC
• Inventors: Ryan, James P., Wagner, Jeffrey P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings, Travis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haile, Benyam
• Application Number:
  US14/280,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20140361883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 73/120.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/00 Storing articles, individually or in orderly arrangement, in warehouses or magazines conveyor combinations in warehouses, magazines or workshops B65G37/00; stacking of articles B65G57/00; removing articles from stacks B65G59/00; loading machines B65G65/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/02 Storage devices furniture A47B; shop fittings A47F
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/28 Impact protection
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/40 Safety features of loads, equipment or persons
• 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: G01L 5/008 Force sensors integrated in an article or a dummy workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/07 Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication indicating working conditions of vehicles G07C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/127 for acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/001 by measuring acceleration changes by making use of a triple differentiation of a displacement signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/036 for indicating predetermined acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• 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 35/144 : operated by vibration

Abstract

A collision sensor assembly is attachable to a stationary structure such as a pallet rack, a door frame, the corner of a wall, or the like. The collision sensor is configured to sense when a collision occurs with the stationary structure such as when a piece of movable machinery contacts the stationary structure. The collision sensor assembly includes a sensor operatively connected to a processor which determines when a collision occurs, and produces a signal to an output signal generator to provide an external indication of the collision.

Claims

1. A collision sensor assembly (12) attached to a stationary structure (10) for sensing a collision with said stationary structure, said collision sensor assembly (12) comprising:

a housing (16) attached to said stationary structure (10)), wherein said stationary structure is a permanent structural member of a building, a structure substantially affixed to said permanent structural member of said building, or a pallet rack;

a processor (20) located within said housing (16);

at least one sensor (18) operatively connected to said processor (20), wherein said at least one sensor (18) senses a collision of a secondary object within said building with said stationary structure (10); and

an output signal generator (22) operatively connected to said processor (20), said output signal generator (22) providing at least one external indication of said collision.

2. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein one of said at least one sensor (18) is spaced-apart from said housing (16).

3. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein a plurality of sensors (18) are attachable to said stationary structure (10) and operatively connected to said processor (20).

4. The collision sensor assembly of claim 3, wherein at least one of said plurality of sensors (18) is of a different type than another of said plurality of sensors (18).

5. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said output signal generator (22) is a light, an email generator, a text generator, or a siren.

6. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said output signal generator (22) provides a plurality of external indications of said collision.

7. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said output signal generator (22) is an email or text message generator.

8. A collision sensor assembly (12) attached to a stationary structure (10) for sensing a collision with said stationary structure, said collision sensor assembly (12) comprising:

a housing (16) attached to said stationary structure (10)), wherein said stationary structure is a permanent structural member of a building, a structure substantially affixed to said permanent structural member of said building, or a pallet rack;

a processor (20) located within said housing (16);

a sensor (18) positioned within said housing, said sensor (18) being operatively connected to said processor (20), wherein said sensor (18) senses a collision of a secondary object within said building with said stationary structure (10); and

an output signal generator (22) operatively connected to said processor (20), said output signal generator (22) providing at least one external indication of said collision.

9. The collision sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein said output signal generator (22) is a light, an email generator, a text generator, or a siren.

10. The collision sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein said output signal generator (22) provides a plurality of external indications of said collision.

11. The collision sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein said output signal generator (22) is an email or text message generator.

12. The collision sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein said sensor (18) is an accelerometer, voltage sensor, strain gauge, laser sensor, proximity sensor, vibration sensor, or magnetic sensor.

13. The collision sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein said output signal generator (22) provides said at least one external indication of said collision after said collision until said output signal generator (22) is reset by a user.

14. The collision sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein said sensor (18) located within said housing (16) is attached to said stationary structure (10).