Collision sensor assembly for a stationary structure

• US 9,633,539 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sentry Protection, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sentry Protection, LLC
• Inventors: Ryan, James P., Wagner, Jeffrey P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haile, Benyam
• Application Number:
  US15/178,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20160284194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 73 1201, 73 1204, 116203, 340665, 340669, 702 56
• 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 comprising:

a housing releasably attachable to a pallet rack, said pallet rack being a stationary structure;

at least one sensor for sensing a collision between a secondary object and said pallet rack, said at least one sensor being operatively connected to said housing;

a processor positioned within said housing, wherein said processor receives an output signal from each of said at least one sensors in response to said collision; and

an output signal generator operatively connected to said processor, said output signal generator generating at least one external indication in response to said collision.

2. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is at least one of an accelerometer, a voltage sensor, a strain gauge, a laser sensor, a proximity sensor, a vibration sensor, or a magnetic sensor.

3. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor includes two or more different types of sensors.

4. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor includes at least two of the same type of sensor.

5. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one sensors is wirelessly connected to said processor.

6. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said processor passively monitors said at least one sensor for said output signal in response to said collision.

7. The collisions sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said processor actively monitors said at least one sensor for said output signal in response to said collision.

8. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one external indication from said output signal generator is at least one of an audible sound, a visible warning, and an electronic message.

9. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said output signal generator generates a wireless output data signal indicating said collision.

10. The collision sensor assembly of claim 9, wherein said wireless output data signal is a text message or an email message.

11. The collision sensor assembly of claim 9, wherein said wireless output data signal is received by an application on a wireless handheld device.

12. A collision sensor assembly comprising:

a housing releasably attachable to a pallet rack, said pallet rack being a stationary structure;

a sensor for sensing a collision between a secondary object and said pallet rack, said sensor being operatively connected to said housing;

a processor operatively connected to said housing, wherein said processor receives an output signal from said sensor in response to said collision, said processor actively monitoring said sensor for said output signal in response to said collision; and

an output signal generator operatively connected to said processor, said output signal generator generating an external indication in response to said collision.

13. The collision sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein said output signal generator provides a relative location of said collision.

14. The collision sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein said housing is attachable to said pallet rack at a location wherein said housing is contacted during said collision.

15. The collision sensor assembly of claim 14, wherein said sensor is located within said housing.

16. The collision sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein said sensor is attachable to said pallet rack at a location wherein said sensor is contacted during said collision.

17. The collision sensor assembly of claim 16, wherein said sensor is spaced-apart from said housing.

18. The collision sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein said output signal generator generates a wireless output data signal indicating said collision.

19. The collision sensor assembly of claim 18, wherein said wireless output data signal is a text message or an email message.

20. The collision sensor assembly of claim 18, wherein said wireless output data signal is received by an application on a wireless handheld device.