Sensor

Claim 2

A bidirectional sensor comprising, in combination, a support, a generally tubular linear guide having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial apertures therethrough, an elongated annular member of predetermined weight surrounding the guide, means adjacent one end of the weight member slidably engaging the guide, means exerting predetermined opposite axial resilient biases, cooperating pairs of stop means on the weight member and support engageable with each other and a respective bias to locate the weight member in a predetermined axial position with respect to the guide, a predetermined G-load on the weight member moving the weight member axially of the guide and overcoming one of the predetermined biases, the weight member including an annular wall of predetermined axial extent adjacent the other end thereof overlying the guide apertures, an operator slidably mounted within the guide and having a generally radially extending annular shoulder, resilient means biasing the operator axially within the guide, a plurality of balls, each respective to an aperture of the guide and freely received therein, the balls being engageable with the weight member wall and operator shoulder, the balls slidably mounting the other end of the weight member on the guide, the weight member wall holding the balls against movement out of engagement with the operator radial shoulder under the action of the resilient means to block axial movement of the operator, the weight member wall being movable axially of and out of engagement with the balls upon a predetermined extent of axial movement of the weight member in either axial direction to permiT the operator radial shoulder under the action of the resilient means to move the balls outwardly of the guide apertures and out of engagement therewith.

Claim 3

A bidirectional sensor comprising, in combination, an annular support, a generally tubular linear guide extending axially of the support and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial apertures therethrough, a hollow annular seismic mass member of predetermined weight surrounding the guide and having an internal annular rib slidably engaging the guide, bias means exerting opposite axial predetermined forces, stop means on the support, cooperating stop means on the mass member respective to each bias means and engageable with the support stop means under a respective bias to locate the mass member in a predetermined axial position with respect to the guide, a predetermined G-load on the mass member in an axial direction overcoming the opposing force of one of the bias means and moving the mass member in the one axial direction relative to the guide, the mass member including an internal annular wall of predetermined axial extent overlying the guide apertures in the predetermined axial position and terminating in radially outwardly extending end walls, an operator slidably mounted within the guide and having a radially extending annular shoulder, resilient means biasing the operator in one axial direction within the guide, a plurality of balls, each respective to an aperture of the guide and freely received therein, the balls being engageable with the annular shoulder and with the mass member wall intermediate the end walls thereof to locate the balls within the guide and to block movement of the operator in the one axial direction, the internal annular rib engaging the guide and the balls engaging the internal annular wall slidably supporting the mass member for movement axially of the guide, the mass member internal wall being movable axially of and but of engagement with the balls upon movement of the weight member through the axial distance between the line of tangency of the balls and one end wall to permit the operator shoulder to move the balls outwardly of the guide apertures along the one end wall and out of engagement therewith and release the operator.

Claim 4

A bidirectional sensor comprising, in combination, an annular support, a generally tubular linear guide extending axially of the support and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial apertures therethrough, a hollow annular seismic mass member of predetermined weight surrounding the guide and having an internal annular rib slidably engaging the guide, bias means exerting opposite axial predetermined forces, stop means on the support, cooperating stop means on the mass member respective to each bias means and engageable with the support stop means under a respective bias to locate the mass member in a predetermined axial position with respect to the guide, a predetermined G-load on the mass member in an axial direction overcoming the opposing force of one of the bias means and moving the mass member in the one axial direction relative to the guide, the mass member including an internal annular wall of predetermined axial extent overlying the guide apertures in the predetermined axial position and terminating in radially outwardly extending end walls, an operator slidably mounted within the guide and having a radially extending annular shoulder, resilient means biasing the operator in one axial direction within the guide, a plurality of balls, each respective to an aperture of the guide and freely received therein, the balls being engageable with the annular shoulder and with the mass member wall intermediate the end walls thereof to locate the balls within the guide and to block movement of the operator in the one axial direction, the internal annular rib engaging the guide and the balls engaging the internal annular wall slidably supporting the mass member for movement axially of the guide, the mass member internal wall being movable axially of and but of engagement with the balls upon movement of the weight member through the axial distance between the line of tangency of the balls and one end wall to permit the operator shoulder to move the balls outwardly of the guide apertures along the one end wall and out of engagement therewith and release the operator.

Claim 5

A bidirectional sensor comprising, in combination, a support, stop means on the support, a generally tubular linear guide having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial apertures therethrough, an annular seismic mass member of predetermined weight surrounding the guide and having spaced radial walls, means on the mass member slidably engaging the guide, stop means on the support, axially spaced annular seat means surrounding the mass member, each seat means engaging the stop means to locate one seat means against movement in one axial direction and permit movement in the other axial direction and to locate the other seat means against movement in the other axial direction and permit movement in the one axial direction, each seat means engaging a respective radial wall of the mass member for movement therewith in a permitted axial direction and independent movement of the mass member relative thereto in an axial direction opposite the permitted direction, means exerting a predetermined bias on each seat means to resist movement of each seat means and mass member as a unit in a permitted axial direction, a predetermined G-load on the mass member in a permitted axial direction moving the mass member and one of the seat means axially of the guide and overcoming one of the predetermined biases, the mass member including an annular wall of predetermined axial extent overlying the guide apertures, an operator slidably mounted within the guide and having an annular shoulder, resilient means biasing the operator axially within the guide, a plurality of balls, each respective to an aperture of the guide and freely received therein, the balls being engageable with the mass member internal wall to locate the balls within the guide and in engageMent with the operator shoulder to block axial movement of the operator, the mass member wall being movable axially of and out of engagement with the balls upon a predetermined extent of axial movement of the weight member to permit the operator shoulder to move the balls outwardly of the guide apertures and out of engagement therewith.

Claim 6

A bidirectional sensor comprising, in combination, a support, stop means on the support, a generally tubular linear guide having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial apertures therethrough, an annular seismic mass member of predetermined weight surrounding the guide and having spaced radial walls, means on the mass member slidably engaging the guide, stop means on the support, axially spaced annular seat means surrounding the mass member, each seat means engaging the stop means to locate one seat means against movement in one axial direction and permit movement in the other axial direction and to locate the other seat means against movement in the other axial direction and permit movement in the one axial direction, each seat means engaging a respective radial wall of the mass member for movement therewith in a permitted axial direction and independent movement of the mass member relative thereto in an axial direction opposite the permitted direction, means exerting a predetermined bias on each seat means to resist movement of each seat means and mass member as a unit in a permitted axial direction, a predetermined G-load on the mass member in a permitted axial direction moving the mass member and one of the seat means axially of the guide and overcoming one of the predetermined biases, the mass member including an annular wall of predetermined axial extent overlying the guide apertures, an operator slidably mounted within the guide and having an annular shoulder, resilient means biasing the operator axially within the guide, a plurality of balls, each respective to an aperture of the guide and freely received therein, the balls being engageable with the mass member internal wall to locate the balls within the guide and in engageMent with the operator shoulder to block axial movement of the operator, the mass member wall being movable axially of and out of engagement with the balls upon a predetermined extent of axial movement of the weight member to permit the operator shoulder to move the balls outwardly of the guide apertures and out of engagement therewith.

Claim 7

A bidirectional sensor comprising, in combination, a support, stop means on the support, a generally tubular linear guide having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial apertures therethrough, an annular seismic mass member of predetermined weight surrounding the guide and having spaced radial walls, means on the mass member slidably engaging the guide, axially spaced annular seat means surrounding the mass member, one edge portion of each seat means engaging the stop means to locate one seat means against movement in one axial direction and permit movement in the other axial direction and to locate the other seat means against movement in the other axial direction and permit movement in the one axial direction, each seat means engaging a respective radial wall of the mass member for movement therewith in a permitted axial direction and independent movement of the mass member relative thereto in an axial direction opposite the permitted direction, means exerting a predetermined bias on each seat means to resist movement of each seat means and mass member as a unit in a permitted axial direction, a predetermined G-load on the mass member in a permitted axial direction moving the mass member and one of the seat means axially of the guide and overcoming one of the predetermined biases, the mass member including an internal annular wall of predetermined axial extent overlying the guide apertures and bounded by one of the radial walls engaged by a seat means and an axially spaced other radial wall, an operator slidably mounted within the guide and having an annular shoulder, resilient means biasing the operator axially within the guide, a plurality of balls, each respective to an aperture of the guide and freely received therein, the balls being engageable with the mass member internal wall to locate the balls within the guide and in engagement with the operator shoulder to block axial movement of the operator, the mass member internal wall being movable axially of and out of engagement with the balls upon a predetermined extent of axial movement of the weight member to permit the operator shoulder to move the balls outwardly of the guide apertures along one of the radial walls bounding the internal wall to free the operator.

Claim 8

A bidirectional sensor comprising, in combination, a support, stop means on the support, a generally tubular linear guide having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial apertures therethrough, an annular seismic mass member of predetermined weight surrounding the guide and having spaced radial walls, means on the mass member slidably engaging the guide, axially spaced annular seat means surrounding the mass member, one edge portion of each seat means engaging the stop means to locate one seat means against movement in one axial direction and permit movement in the other axial direction and to locate the other seat means against movement in the other axial direction and permit movement in the one axial direction, each seat means engaging a respective radial wall of the mass member for movement therewith in a permitted axial direction and independent movement of the mass member relative thereto in an axial direction opposite the permitted direction, means exerting a predetermined bias on each seat means to resist movement of each seat means and mass member as a unit in a permitted axial direction, a predetermined G-load on the mass member in a permitted axial direction moving the mass member and one of the seat means axially of the guide and overcoming one of the predetermined biases, the mass member including an internal annular wall of predetermined axial extent overlying the guide apertures and bounded by one of the radial walls engaged by a seat means and an axially spaced other radial wall, an operator slidably mounted within the guide and having an annular shoulder, resilient means biasing the operator axially within the guide, a plurality of balls, each respective to an aperture of the guide and freely received therein, the balls being engageable with the mass member internal wall to locate the balls within the guide and in engagement with the operator shoulder to block axial movement of the operator, the mass member internal wall being movable axially of and out of engagement with the balls upon a predetermined extent of axial movement of the weight member to permit the operator shoulder to move the balls outwardly of the guide apertures along one of the radial walls bounding the internal wall to free the operator.

Claim 9

A sensor comprising, in combination, a support, stop means on the support, a generally tubular linear guide having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial apertures therethrough, an annular seismic mass member of predetermined weight surrounding the guide and having spaced radial walls, means on the mass member slidably engaging the guide, a pair of annular flared seats surrounding the mass member, each having oppositely extending radial end flanges, one flange of each seat engaging the stop means to locate one seat against movement in one axial direction and permit movement in the other axial direction and to locate the other seat against movement in the other axial direction and permit movement in the one axial direction, the other flange of each seat engaging a respective radial wall of the mass member for movement therewith in a permitted axial direction and independent movement of the mass member relative thereto in an axial direction opposite the permitted direction, the seats flaring outwardly in an axial direction opposite the permitted direction thereof to readily permit independent movement of the mass member relative thereto, means exerting a predetermined bias on the other flange of each seat to resist movement of each seat and mass member as a unit in a permitted axial direction, a predetermined G-load on the mass member in a permitted axial direction moving the weight member and one of the seats axially of the guide and overcoming one of the predetermined biases, the mass member including an annular wall of predetermined axial extent overlying the guide apertures, an operator slidably mounted within the guide and having an annular shoulder, resilient means biasing the operator axially within the guide, a plurality of balls, each respective to an aperture of the guide and freely received therein, the balls being engageable with the mass member wall to locate the balls within the guide and in engagement with the operator shoulder to block axial movement of the operator, the mass member wall being movable axially of and out of engagement with the balls upon a predetermined extent of axial movement of the mass member to permit the operator shoulder to move the balls outwardly of the guide apertures and out of engagement therewith.

Claim 10

A sensor comprising, in combination, a support, stop means on the support, a generally tubular linear guide having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial apertures therethrough, an annular seismic mass member of predetermined weight surrounding the guide and having spaced radial walls, means on the mass member slidably engaging the guide, a pair of annular flared seats surrounding the mass member, each having oppositely extending radial end flanges, one flange of each seat engaging the stop means to locate one seat against movement in one axial direction and permit movement in the other axial direction and to locate the other seat against movement in the other axial direction and permit movement in the one axial direction, the other flange of each seat engaging a respective radial wall of the mass member for movement therewith in a permitted axial direction and independent movement of the mass member relative thereto in an axial direction opposite the permitted direction, the seats flaring outwardly in an axial direction opposite the permitted direction thereof to readily permit independent movement of the mass member relative thereto, means exerting a predetermined bias on the other flange of each seat to resist movement of each seat and mass member as a unit in a permitted axial direction, a predetermined G-load on the mass member in a permitted axial direction moving the weight member and one of the seats axially of the guide and overcoming one of the predetermined biases, the mass member including an annular wall of predetermined axial extent overlying the guide apertures, an operator slidably mounted within the guide and having an annular shoulder, resilient means biasing the operator axially within the guide, a plurality of balls, each respective to an aperture of the guide and freely received therein, the balls being engageable with the mass member wall to locate the balls within the guide and in engagement with the operator shoulder to block axial movement of the operator, the mass member wall being movable axially of and out of engagement with the balls upon a predetermined extent of axial movement of the mass member to permit the operator shoulder to move the balls outwardly of the guide apertures and out of engagement therewith.

Claim 11

A sensor comprising, in combination, a support, a generally tubular linear guide having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial apertures therethrough, an elongated annular member of predetermined weight surrounding the guide, means adjacent one end of the weight member slidably engaging the guide, the weight member including an annular wall of predetermined axial extent adjacent the other end thereof overlying the guide apertures, an operator slidably mounted within the guide and having a generally radially extending annular shoulder, resilient means biasing the operator in one axial direction within the guide, a plurality of balls, each respective to an aperture of the guide and freely received therein, the balls being engageable with the weight member wall and the operator shoulder, the balls slidably mounting the other end of the weight member on the guide, the weight member wall holding the balls against movement out of engagement with the operator radial shoulder under the action of the resilient means to block axial movement of the operator, means exerting a bias on the weight member in the one axial direction, means locating the weight member against the action of the bias thereon in a predetermined position axially of the guide to locate the balls in a predetermined position axially of the extent of the weight member wall, the weight member wall being movable axially of and out of engagement with the balls upon a predetermined extent of axial movement of the weight member in the opposite axial direction against the bias thereon to permit the operator radial shoulder under the action of the resilient means to move the balls outwardly of the guide apertures and out of engagement therewith and release the operator for movement in the one axial direction.

Claim 12

A sensor comprising, in combination, a support, a generally tubular linear guide having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial apertures therethrough, an elongated annular member of predetermined weight surrounding the guide, means adjacent one end of the weight member slidably engaging the guide, the weight member including an annular wall of predetermined axial extent adjacent the other end thereof overlying the guide apertures, an operator slidably mounted within the guide and having a generally radially extending annular shoulder, resilient means biasing the operator in one axial direction within the guide, a plurality of balls, each respective to an aperture of the guide and freely received therein, the balls being engageable with the weight member wall and the operator shoulder, the balls slidably mounting the other end of the weight member on the guide, the weight member wall holding the balls against movement out of engagement with the operator radial shoulder under the action of the resilient means to block axial movement of the operator, means exerting a bias on the weight member in the one axial direction, means locating the weight member against the action of the bias thereon in a predetermined position axially of the guide to locate the balls in a predetermined position axially of the extent of the weight member wall, the weight member wall being movable axially of and out of engagement with the balls upon a predetermined extent of axial movement of the weight member in the opposite axial direction against the bias thereon to permit the operator radial shoulder under the action of the resilient means to move the balls outwardly of the guide apertures and out of engagement therewith and release the operator for movement in the one axial direction.