US3649788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acceleration responsive switch
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1970-07-06
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Granted: 1972-03-14
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Expires: 1990-07-06
Abstract
Abstract An acceleration responsive switch includes a housing mounting a pair of spaced fixed contacts connected across a source of power. The housing includes a cylindrical lateral extension which slidably receives a pushbutton and a release plate. A coil compression spring seating on one apertured wall of the housing holds the release plate in engagement with the pushbutton to hold the pushbutton in engagement with the other apertured wall. An operator is slidably mounted within a guide portion of the release plate. A movable contact for bridging the fixed contacts is slidably mounted on the operator and spring biased to a position connecting the fixed contacts. A plurality of balls are slidably mounted within respective radial bores of the operator for movement inwardly of the bores or outwardly thereof. In the latter position, the balls are axially engageable between the walls of the bores and a radial shoulder of the release plate to locate the operator in a first position against a spring bias to a second position. The balls are forced outwardly of the bores by an axial pin which is secured to a generally frustoconically shaped seismic mass seating on the release plate. A magnet on the mass exerts a predetermined flux between the mass and plate to normally locate the mass in seated position unless an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time is applied to the mass. When such a pulse is received, the control pin is withdrawn from engagement with the balls to permit the balls to move inwardly of the bores and release the operator for movement under its spring bias to its second position. The operator engages the movable contact as the operator moves to its second position to open the switch. The switch can be reset in closed position by manually moving the pushbutton inwardly of the extension. This moves the release plate, the mass and the button toward the operator to locate the radial shoulder of the plate with respect to the radial bores of the operator and simultaneously engage the control pin with the balls to force the balls into engagement with such radial shoulder. This reconnects the release plate and operator, and the spring of the release plate returns the operator to its first position and likewise returns the release plate and pushbutton to their normal position to reset the switch.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard A Heckendorf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/14; H01H35/141; H01H35/143
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
An acceleration responsive switch, comprising, a support including a pair of spaced electrical contacts, a release member movably mounted on the support, means locating the release member in a predetermined first position, an operator mounted on the release member for axial movement relative thereto between first and second positions, means biasing the operator to the second position, detent means acting between the operator and release member movable between detented and undetented positions and engageable in detented position with the operator to hold the operator in the first position, a seismic mass movably mounted on the support, means operatively connecting the mass to the detent means for movement of the detent means to undetented position to release the operator for movement to the second position upon movement of the seismic mass relative to the support, magnetic means exerting a magnetic flux of predetermined strength between the mass and support to retain the seismic mass against movement relative to the support, an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time moving the seismic mass relative to the support against the flux of the magnetic means to release the operator, contact means normally electrically connecting the spaced contacts, means disconnecting the contact means and spaced contacts upon movement of the operator to second position, and means for moving the detent means to detented position in engagement with the operator upon movement of the release member from the predetermined first position when the operator is in the second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
An acceleration responsive switch, comprising, a support including a pair of spaced electrical contacts, a release member movably mounted on the support, means locating the release member in a predetermined first position, an operator mounted on the release member for axial movement relative thereto between first and second positions, means biasing the operator to the second position, detent means acting between the operator and release member movable between detented and undetented positions and engageable in detented position with the operator to hold the operator in the first position, a seismic mass movably mounted on the support, means operatively connecting the mass to the detent means for movement of the detent means to undetented position to release the operator for movement to the second position upon movement of the seismic mass relative to the support, magnetic means exerting a magnetic flux of predetermined strength between the mass and support to retain the seismic mass against movement relative to the support, an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time moving the seismic mass relative to the support against the flux of the magnetic means to release the operator, contact means normally electrically connecting the spaced contacts, means disconnecting the contact means and spaced contacts upon movement of the operator to second position, and means for moving the detent means to detented position in engagement with the operator upon movement of the release member from the predetermined first position when the operator is in the second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The switch recited in claim 1 wherein the locating means for the release member includes resilient means holding the release member against stop means on the support, the resilient means returning the release member to the predetermined first position thereof as a unit with the release member upon movement of the detent means to detented position in engagement with the operator when the operator is in the second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The switch recited in claim 1 wherein the means for moving the detent means to detented position include externally operated manual means for moving the release member relative to the support when the operator is in the second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
The switch recited in claim 1 wherein the locating means includes stop means on the support and resilient means biasing the release member into engagement with the stop means for locating the release member in a predetermined first position, the detent means including means carried by the operator and engageable with the release member in the first positions of the operator and release member, the means for moving the detent means to detented position including externally operated means for moving the release member relative to the support and against the resilient biasing means to a second position wherein the means carried by the operator is engageable with the release member, the resilient biasing means returning the release member and operator as a unit to the first position thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
362 words
An acceleration responsive switch comprising, in combination, a support including a pair of spaced electrical contacts, a pair of members mounted on the support for axial movement relative one another and the support between respective first and second positions, contact means mounted on one member and electrically connecting the spaced contacts in the first position of the one member and disconnecting such contacts in the second position thereof, means biasing the one member to the second position thereof, means normally locating the other member in the first position thereof, the members each including generally radially extending shoulder means located in axially spaced juxtaposed relationship when the members are located in the same number position and located out of juxtaposed relationship when the members are located in a different number position, ball means mounted on the one member for movement radially thereof between a first position in engagement with the juxtaposed shoulder means to connect the one member to the other member and locate the one member in the first position thereof against the action of the biasing means, and a second position out of engagement with the shoulder means of the other member to permit movement of the one member to the second position thereof under the action of the biasing means, a seismic mass, means mounting the mass on the support for movement relative thereto when subjected to an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time, means on the mass engageable with the ball means to normally hold the ball means in the first position thereof and being movable out of engagement with the ball means upon movement of the mass relative to the support to permit movement thereof to the second position, and means for moving the other member to the second position thereof when the one member is in the second position thereof to move the shoulder means of the other member into axially spaced juxtaposed relationship and move the engageable means into engagement with the ball means to move the ball means to the first position thereof, the locating means returning the other member and the one member as a unit therewith to the respective first positions thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
362 words
An acceleration responsive switch comprising, in combination, a support including a pair of spaced electrical contacts, a pair of members mounted on the support for axial movement relative one another and the support between respective first and second positions, contact means mounted on one member and electrically connecting the spaced contacts in the first position of the one member and disconnecting such contacts in the second position thereof, means biasing the one member to the second position thereof, means normally locating the other member in the first position thereof, the members each including generally radially extending shoulder means located in axially spaced juxtaposed relationship when the members are located in the same number position and located out of juxtaposed relationship when the members are located in a different number position, ball means mounted on the one member for movement radially thereof between a first position in engagement with the juxtaposed shoulder means to connect the one member to the other member and locate the one member in the first position thereof against the action of the biasing means, and a second position out of engagement with the shoulder means of the other member to permit movement of the one member to the second position thereof under the action of the biasing means, a seismic mass, means mounting the mass on the support for movement relative thereto when subjected to an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time, means on the mass engageable with the ball means to normally hold the ball means in the first position thereof and being movable out of engagement with the ball means upon movement of the mass relative to the support to permit movement thereof to the second position, and means for moving the other member to the second position thereof when the one member is in the second position thereof to move the shoulder means of the other member into axially spaced juxtaposed relationship and move the engageable means into engagement with the ball means to move the ball means to the first position thereof, the locating means returning the other member and the one member as a unit therewith to the respective first positions thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
367 words
An acceleration responsive switch comprising, in combination, a support including a pair of spaced electrical contacts, an operator member mounted on the support for axial movement between first and second positions relative thereto, contact means mounted on the operator member and electrically connecting the spaced contacts in the first position of the operator member and disconnecting such contacts in the second position thereof, means biasing the operator member to the second position thereof, a release member mounted on the support for axial movement relative to the operator member, means locating release member in a first position thereof and resisting movement thereof to a second position thereof, the operator and release members each including generally radially extending shoulder means located in axially spaced juxtaposed relationship when the operator member is in the first position thereof and located out of juxtaposed relationship when the operator member is in the second position thereof, ball means mounted on the operator member for movement radially thereof between a first position in engagement with the juxtaposed shoulder means to locate the operator member in the first position thereof against the action of the biasing means and a second position out of engagement with the shoulder means of the release member to permit movement of the operator member to the second position thereof, seismic mass means mounted on the support and moving when subjected to an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time, means mounted on the seismic mass and engageable with the ball means to normally hold the ball means in the first position thereof and moving out of engagement with the ball means upon movement of the seismic mass to permit movement of the ball means to the second position, and means for moving the release member to the second position thereof when the operator member is in the second position thereof to move the shoulder means into axially spaced juxtaposed relationship and move the means mounted on the seismic mass into engagement with the ball means to move the ball means to the first position thereof, the locating means fOr the release member returning the release member and the operator member as a unit therewith to the respective first positions thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
367 words
An acceleration responsive switch comprising, in combination, a support including a pair of spaced electrical contacts, an operator member mounted on the support for axial movement between first and second positions relative thereto, contact means mounted on the operator member and electrically connecting the spaced contacts in the first position of the operator member and disconnecting such contacts in the second position thereof, means biasing the operator member to the second position thereof, a release member mounted on the support for axial movement relative to the operator member, means locating release member in a first position thereof and resisting movement thereof to a second position thereof, the operator and release members each including generally radially extending shoulder means located in axially spaced juxtaposed relationship when the operator member is in the first position thereof and located out of juxtaposed relationship when the operator member is in the second position thereof, ball means mounted on the operator member for movement radially thereof between a first position in engagement with the juxtaposed shoulder means to locate the operator member in the first position thereof against the action of the biasing means and a second position out of engagement with the shoulder means of the release member to permit movement of the operator member to the second position thereof, seismic mass means mounted on the support and moving when subjected to an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time, means mounted on the seismic mass and engageable with the ball means to normally hold the ball means in the first position thereof and moving out of engagement with the ball means upon movement of the seismic mass to permit movement of the ball means to the second position, and means for moving the release member to the second position thereof when the operator member is in the second position thereof to move the shoulder means into axially spaced juxtaposed relationship and move the means mounted on the seismic mass into engagement with the ball means to move the ball means to the first position thereof, the locating means fOr the release member returning the release member and the operator member as a unit therewith to the respective first positions thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-14 | 1975-09-13 | 1976-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-14 | 1979-09-13 | 1980-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-14 | 1983-09-13 | 1984-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |