Vibration detection apparatus

Claim 2

Vibration-responsive apparatus comprising: means for sensing vibration including a light source, a lightsensitive element positioned for receiving light from the light source and producing change in electron flow in response to changes in the incidence of light thereon, and a movable member supported for oscillatory movement in any direction transverse with respect to an axis extending between said light source and said element in response to vibration to cause changes in the incidence of light on the element to an extent dependent upon the magnitude of the vibration; circuit means, interconnected with the vibration sensing means, for producing a first signal in response to changes in said electron flow, said signal having an amplitude varying directly according to the magnitude of the vibration; means for supplying a preselected reference potential; voltage comparing means, interconnected with the circuit means and the means for supplying a reference potential, for algebraically comparing the magnitude of the first signal and the reference potential, and delivering an output signal when the algebraic sum of the magnitude of the first signal and the reference potential crosses a predetermined threshold voltage; and control means, operative in response to said output signal from the voltage comparing means, for performing a control function at a preselected magnitude of vibration.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the voltage comparing means comprises a gas-filled glow discharge device providing a glow discharge at a voltage thereacross of said predetermined threshold, and a photocell adapted to be illuminated by said glow discharge to deliver said output signal.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further comprising means for directing a preselected degree of radiation to the photocell for stabilizing the response thereof.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first signal is a pulsating signal and the circuit means comprises a resistive-capacitive circuit including a capacitance connected to provide said pulsating signal in response to change in direct current electron flow produced by the sensing means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further comprising an amplifier means interconnected with the resistive-capacitive circuit for amplifying the pulsating signal.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the resistive-capacitive circuit includes a selectively variable resistance interconnected with the capacitance for preselecting the magnitude of the vibration at which said control function is performed.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control means further comprises time-delay means for causing said control function to be performed only after a predetermined time interval after said algebraic sum crosses said predetermined threshold.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable member is adapted when at rest to provide only limited passage of light to said light-sensitive element and thereby producing a relatively low level of electron flow through said light-sensitive element.

Claim 10

Vibration sensing apparatus comprising: a light source; a light-sensitive element positioned for receiving light from the light source and producing a change in electron flow therethrough in response to changes in the incidence of light thereon; a movable member adapted when at rest to provide only limited passage of light to the element and thereby producing a relatively low level of electron flow through the element; means for resiliently supporting the movable member for oscillating movement thereof in any direction transverse with respect to an axis extending between said light source and said element in response to vibration, said oscillatory movement causing changes in the incidence of light on the element to an extent dependent upon the magnitude of vibration; and circuit means interconnected with the element and responsive to changing electron flow therethrough for indicating the magnitude of the vibration.

Claim 11

Vibration sensing apparatus comprising: a light source; a light-sensitive element positioned for receiving light from the light source and producing a change in electron flow therethrough in response to changes in the incidence of light thereon; a movable member adapted when at rest to provide only limited passage of light to the element and thereby producing a relatively low level of electron flow through the element; means for resiliently supporting the movable member for oscillating movement thereof in any direction transverse with respect to an axis extending between said light source and said element in response to vibration, said oscillatory movement causing changes in the incidence of light on the element to an extent dependent upon the magnitude of vibration; and circuit means interconnected with the element and responsive to changing electron flow therethrough for indicating the magnitude of the vibration.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the movable member has at least one aperture.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the light-sensitive element has a light-receiving surface having areas with different degrees of response to light.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the light-sensitive element is constituted by a photoresistive cell.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the movable member has at least one aperture.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the movable member has at least one additional aperture of a size larger than that of the first-said aperture, the first-said aperture providing said limited passage of light to the element and said additional aperture providing substantially no passage of light to the element when the movable member is at rest, the first-said aperture causing limited change in the incidence of light on the element for slight oscillatory movement of the member and the additional aperture providing increased change in the incidence of light on the element for increased oscillatory movement of the member.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the means for resiliently supporting the movable member comprises a relatively long, thin, resilient element, the movable member being carried at one end thereof, the other end thereof being secured and subject to vibration.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein the resilient element comprises a length of spring wire, said axis constituting the longitudinal axis of said spring wire when stationary.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein the spring wire is angled with respect to vertical.

Claim 20

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein the movable member is a substantially circular opaque disk secured to the resilient element substantially at the center of the disk.

Claim 21

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein the movable member is positioned between the light source and the light-sensitive element.

Claim 22

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein the light source, the light-sensitive element, the movable member, and the resilient element are enclosed in a substantially light-tight enclosure.

Claim 23

Vibration sensing apparatus comprising: an electrically energizable light source providing a light of an intensity varying as a function of the energizing potential supplied thereto; a light-sensitive element poSitioned for receiving light from the light source and having an electrical resistance decreasing to produce an increase in electron flow therethrough in response to increase in the intensity of light received thereby; a movable member disposed when at rest to at least partially block light from being received by the element from the light source; means for resiliently supporting the member for oscillatory movement thereof in any direction transverse with respect to an axis extending between said light source and said element in response to vibration, said oscillatory movement causing changes in the incidence of light on the element to an extent dependent upon the magnitude of vibration; first circuit means for connecting the light source and the element to a source of power, including resistance means electrically interconnected with the light source and the element for causing concomitant increase in energizing potential supplied to the light source with decrease in the resistance of the element whereby changes in the resistance of the element upon said oscillatory movement are amplified by changes in the intensity of the light source; and further circuit means interconnected with the element and responsive to changing electron flow therethrough for indicating the magnitude of the vibration.

Claim 24

Vibration sensing apparatus comprising: an electrically energizable light source providing a light of an intensity varying as a function of the energizing potential supplied thereto; a light-sensitive element poSitioned for receiving light from the light source and having an electrical resistance decreasing to produce an increase in electron flow therethrough in response to increase in the intensity of light received thereby; a movable member disposed when at rest to at least partially block light from being received by the element from the light source; means for resiliently supporting the member for oscillatory movement thereof in any direction transverse with respect to an axis extending between said light source and said element in response to vibration, said oscillatory movement causing changes in the incidence of light on the element to an extent dependent upon the magnitude of vibration; first circuit means for connecting the light source and the element to a source of power, including resistance means electrically interconnected with the light source and the element for causing concomitant increase in energizing potential supplied to the light source with decrease in the resistance of the element whereby changes in the resistance of the element upon said oscillatory movement are amplified by changes in the intensity of the light source; and further circuit means interconnected with the element and responsive to changing electron flow therethrough for indicating the magnitude of the vibration.

Claim 25

Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein the first circuit means includes a first resistance connected with the light-sensitive element in a series circuit adapted to be connected across the source of power, and a further resistance connected with the light source in a series circuit across the first resistance.