Seismometer with spring spider suspension

Claim 2

A seismometer comprising first and second relatively movable elements providing an output signal due to their relative movement, said first element being annular with said second element positioned in the opening therein, means yieldingly suspending one of said elements for movement relative to the other in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the opening in said first member, said suspending means comprising a spring spider having a central portion and an outer portion connected together with a plurality of spring arms, means connectinG the outer and central portions to the first and second elements, respectively, at least one of said connecting means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs extending between one of said portions and said element to which said portion is connected, said tabs being positioned to alternately bend said portion in opposite directions to reduce the transverse bending that occurs in said portion as the spring arms attached thereto are flexed by the relative movement of the elements.

Claim 3

The seismometer of claim 1 in which the tabs bend the outer portion of the spring spider.

Claim 4

A seismometer comprising first and second relatively movable elements providing an output signal due to their relative movement, said first element being annular with said second element positioned in the opening therein, means yieldingly suspending one of said elements for movement relative to the other in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the opening in said first member, said suspending means comprising a spring spider having a central portion and an outer portion connected together with a plurality of spring arms, means connecting the outer and central portions to the first and second elements, respectively, at least one of said connecting means including a plurality of tabs connected to one of said portions and circumferentially spaced thereround and an annular flange on said element to which said portion is connected, said flange having a diameter such that the tabs alternately engage opposite sides of the flange to connect the portion of the spring to which they are attached to the flange while allowing said spring portion and flange to rotate relatively as the elements rotate relatively around their axis.

Claim 5

A seismometer comprising first and second relatively movable elements providing an output signal due to their relative movement, said first element being annular with said second element positioned in the opening therein, means yieldingly suspending one of said elements for movement relative to the other in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the opening in said first member, said suspending means comprising a spring spider having a central portion and an outer portion connected together with a plurality of spring arms, means connecting the outer and central portions to the first and second elements, respectively, at least one of said connecting means including a plurality of tabs connected to one of said portions and circumferentially spaced thereround and an annular flange on said element to which said portion is connected, said flange having a diameter such that the tabs alternately engage opposite sides of the flange to connect the portion of the spring to which they are attached to the flange while allowing said spring portion and flange to rotate relatively as the elements rotate relatively around their axis.

Claim 6

The seismometer of claim 3 in which the spring portion with the tabs is preformed to have a wavy configuration with every other tab located at a wave crest and the remainder located at a trough to increase the resilient force that the tabs exert against the flange by alternating the positions of the tabs when placed in engagement with the flange.

Claim 7

The seismometer of claim 3 in which the tabs are on the outer portion of the spring spider.

Claim 8

An electromagnetic seismometer comprising an annular coil-mass assembly, having a central opening therethrough, a permanent magnet assembly located in the central opening, and a spring suspension system for supporting the coil-mass assembly for movement relative to the permanent magnet assembly parallel to the longitudinal axis of the opening through the coil-mass assembly including two spaced flanges on the coil-mass assembly extending inwardly toward the permanent magnet assembly, two spring spiders extending transverse the opening in the annular coil-mass assembly and spaced apart along its longitudinal axis, each spider having a central portion connected to the permanent magnet assembly, an outer portion having a plurality of integrally connected tabs spaced circumferentially around said outer portion with each adjacent pair of tabs positioned adjacent opposite sides of one of the flanges to connect the spider to the coil-mass assembly so that the weight thereof is supported by the spring spiders while allowing the coil-mass assembly to rotate relative to the permanent magnet assembly around the longitudinal axis of the opening therethrough.

Claim 9

An electromagnetic seismometer comprising an annular coil-mass assembly, having a central opening therethrough, a permanent magnet assembly located in the central opening, and a spring suspension system for supporting the coil-mass assembly for movement relative to the permanent magnet assembly parallel to the longitudinal axis of the opening through the coil-mass assembly including two spaced flanges on the coil-mass assembly extending inwardly toward the permanent magnet assembly, two spring spiders extending transverse the opening in the annular coil-mass assembly and spaced apart along its longitudinal axis, each spider having a central portion connected to the permanent magnet assembly, an outer portion having a plurality of integrally connected tabs spaced circumferentially around said outer portion with each adjacent pair of tabs positioned adjacent opposite sides of one of the flanges to connect the spider to the coil-mass assembly so that the weight thereof is supported by the spring spiders while allowing the coil-mass assembly to rotate relative to the permanent magnet assembly around the longitudinal axis of the opening therethrough.

Claim 10

The seismometer of claim 6 in which the outer portions of the spring spiders have a wavy configuration with every other tab located at a wave crest and the other tabs located at wave troughs, said arrangement being reversed when the spider is connected to its associated flange on the coil-mass assembly to increase the force with which the tabs engage the flange.

Claim 11

A seismometer comprising first and second relatively movable elements providing an output signal due to their relative movement, said first element being annular with said second element positioned in the opening therein, means yieldingly suspending one of said elements for movement relative to the other in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the opening in said first member, said suspending means comprising a spring spider having a central portion and an outer portion connected together with a plurality of spring arms, means connecting the outer and central portions to the first and second elements, respectively, at least one of said connecting means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced tab groups with each group comprising at least one tab extending between one of said portions and said element to which said portion is connected, said tab groups being positioned to alternately bend said portion in opposite directions to reduce the transverse bending that occurs in said portion as the spring arms attached thereto are flexed by the relative movement of the elements.

Claim 12

A seismometer comprising first and second relatively movable elements providing an output signal due to their relative movement, said first element being annular with said second element positioned in the opening therein, means yieldingly suspending one of said elements for movement relative to the other in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the opening in said first member, said suspending means comprising a spring spider having a central portion and an outer portion connected together with a plurality of spring arms, means connecting the outer and central portions to the first and second elements, respectively, at least one of said connecting means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced tab groups with each group comprising at least one tab extending between one of said portions and said element to which said portion is connected, said tab groups being positioned to alternately bend said portion in opposite directions to reduce the transverse bending that occurs in said portion as the spring arms attached thereto are flexed by the relative movement of the elements.