Collision sensor assembly for a stationary structure

• US 9,875,636 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2017
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• 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): Haile, Benyam
• Application Number:
  US15/459,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20170193791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• 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 stationary structure within a building;

a sensor for sensing a collision between a secondary object and said stationary structure, said sensor being positioned within said housing or integrally attached to said housing, said sensor generating an output signal in response to a collision;

a processor located within said housing for receiving said output signal from said sensor; and

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

2. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second sensor for sensing a collision between said secondary object and said stationary structure.

3. The collision sensor assembly of claim 2, wherein said sensor and said second sensor are different types of sensors.

4. The collision sensor assembly of claim 2, wherein said second sensor is positioned within said housing or integrally attached to said housing.

5. The collision sensor assembly of claim 2, wherein said second sensor is spaced apart from said housing.

6. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said sensor generates an output signal indicating a damaging collision.

7. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one external indication from said output signal generator is an audible sound, a visible warning, an email message, or a text message, or a combination thereof.

8. The collision sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one external indication from said output signal generator indicates a location of said collision within said building.

9. A collision sensor assembly comprising:

a housing releasably attachable to a stationary structure within a building;

a sensor for sensing a collision between a secondary object and said stationary structure, said sensor being directly attached to said stationary structure, said sensor generating an output signal in response to a collision;

a processor located within said housing for receiving said output signal from said sensor; and

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

10. The collision sensor assembly of claim 9, wherein said output signal generator provides a relative location on said stationary structure of said collision.

11. The collision sensor assembly of claim 9, wherein said housing is attachable to said stationary structure at a location wherein said housing is contacted during said collision.

12. The collision sensor assembly of claim 9, wherein said sensor is spaced-apart from said housing.

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

14. The collision sensor assembly of claim 13, wherein said wireless output data signal is a text message or an email message.

15. A collision sensor assembly comprising:

a housing releasably attachable to a stationary structure within a building;

at least one sensor for sensing a collision between a secondary object and said stationary structure, wherein a first sensor is located within said housing and a second sensor is spaced apart from said housing, and each of said sensors generates an output signal in response to said collision;

a processor located within said housing for receiving said output signal from each of said sensors; and

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

16. The collision sensor assembly of claim 15, wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are different types of sensors.

17. The collision sensor assembly of claim 15, wherein said processor passively monitors said first and said second sensors for at least one of said output signals.

18. The collisions sensor assembly of claim 15, wherein said processor actively monitors said first and said second sensors for at least one of said output signals.

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

20. A method for sensing a collision between a secondary object and a stationary structure within a building, said method comprising:

attaching a collision sensor to said stationary structure, said collision sensor including;

a housing;

at least one sensor, each of said at least one sensor generates an output signal;

a processor receiving said output signal from each of said at least one sensor; and

an output signal generator operatively connected to said processor;

monitoring said output signal from each of said at least one sensor;

determining when said output signal from one of said at least one sensor changes state; and

generating an external indication from said output signal generator in response to said change in state of said output signal from at least one sensor.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said change in state of said output signal from said at least one sensor is a result of said collision between said secondary object and said stationary structure.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said monitoring is active monitoring.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said monitoring is passive monitoring.