MECHANICAL PRESSURE DETECTING DEVICE

• US 3,859,482 A
• Filed: 02/24/1972
• Issued: 01/07/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kenzo Hirashima, Nagayuki Marumo, Shunji Matsui, Yoshikazu Hayakawa
• Original Assignee: Kenzo Hirashima, Nagayuki Marumo, Shunji Matsui, Yoshikazu Hayakawa
• Inventors: Matsui, Shunji, Hirashima, Kenzo, Hayakawa, Yoshikazu, Marumo, Nagayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaefer, Robert K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, William J.
• Application Number:
  US05/228,975
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.08,61.93,168F 340/61,262
• US Class Current: 200/61.08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01345 using mechanical sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• 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 35/146 operated by plastic deformation or rupture of structurally associated elements

Abstract

A mechanical pressure or collision detecting device is herein proposed, for being advantageously used in combination with a known decleration detector or an inertia-responsive switch in a vehicular safety arrangement which is adapted to protect a vehicle occupant from incurring an injury in the event of a collision of the motor vehicle. The deceleration detector is adapted to rapidly detecting the collision condition while the mechanical pressure detecting device is adapted to hold the safety arrangement in an inoperative condition if the shocks or collisions encountered by the motor vehicle are of the nature which is unlikely to invite a serious danger to the vehicle occupant. The mechanical pressure detecting device includes electrically conductive, mechanically deformable or rupturable means which may be either kept conducting under a normal condition or rendered conducting only when the collision is encountered by the motor vehicle. A method which is useful for mounting the mechanical pressure detecting device on a body structure of the motor vehicle is also disclosed. The collision detecting device, on the other hand, may include extensible structures having pressure sensing means attached at their leading ends and capable of protruding outwardly of the vehicle body in accordance with the driving speed of the motor vehicle. The collision detecting device may otherwise include switch means responsive to the initial collision condition, first switch means which is responsive to acceleration greater than a predetermined magnitude and second switch means to be actuated in accordance with a predetermined timing signal.

Claims

1. A mechanical pressure detecting device comprising electrically conductive means which is deformable by a mechanical pressure greater than predetermined magnitude which is applied to said detecting device to generate an electric signal, an insulating support element receiving therein said electrically conductive means and insulating the same, and a presser member shaped in the form of a plate and positioned to be in contact at an internal surface with an external surface of said insulating support element and directly receiving a mechanical pressure applied to said detecting device, said presser member being deformed when subjected to said mechanical pressure greater than said predetermined magnitude to deform said insulating support element thereby causing the deformation of said electrically conductive means and the generation of said electric signaL.

2. A mechanical pressure detecting device according to claim 1, in which said electrically conductive means comprises a conductor which is severable when subjected to a mechanical pressure greater than said predetermined magnitude.

3. A mechanical pressure detecting device according to claim 1, in which said electrically conductive means comprises an electrically conductive rupturable member connected to leads of electric lines and rupturable when subjected to a mechanical pressure greater than said predetermined magnitude.

4. A mechanical pressure detecting device comprising electrically conductive means which is deformable by a mechanical pressure greater than a predetermined magnitude which is applied to said detecting device for generating an electric signal, an insulating support element receiving therein said electrically conductive means and insulating same, and a pressure member surrounding said insulating support element and directly receiving said mechanical pressure applied to said detecting device, said insulating support element being deformed by said presser member when said presser member receives a mechanical pressure greater than said predetermined magnitude thereby causing the deformation of said electrically conductive means and the generation of said electric signal, in which said electrically conductive means comprises an electrically conductive rupturable member connected to leads of electric lines and rupturable when subject to a mechanical pressure greater than said predetermined magnitude, in which said electrically conductive rupturable member is made up of a glass tube which is coated with an electrically conductive layer and which is connected to said leads at spaced points.

5. A mechanical pressure detecting device according to claim 4, in which said glass tube is coated on the outer surface thereof with said electrically conductive layer.

6. A mechanical pressure detecting device according to claim 4, in which said glass tube is coated on the inner surface thereof with said electrically conductive layer.

7. A mechanical pressure detecting device comprising electrically conductive means which is deformable by a mechanical pressure greater than a predetermined mangitude which is applied to said detecting device for generating an electric signal, an insulating support element receiving therein said electrically conductive means and insulating same, and a pressure member surrounding said insulating support element and directly receiving said mechanical pressure applied to said detecting device, said insulating support element being deformed by said pressure member when said pressure member receives a mechanical pressure greater than said predetrmined magnitude thereby causing the deformation of said electrically conductive means and the generation of said electric signal, in which said electrically conductive means comprises an electrically conductive rupturable member connected to leads of electric lines and rupturable when subject to a mechanical pressure greater than said predetermined magnitude, in which said glass tube is internally maintained at a subatmospheric pressure.