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US3762494A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Vehicle inertia sensor

Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1971-03-01
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1991-03-01
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Abstract

Abstract A sensor includes a housing mounted on a vehicle body for swinging movement about a vertically disposed pin. A coiled torsion spring mounted on the pin normally locates the housing in a predetermined position with respect to the supporting body structure. Mounted within the housing are a pair of normally closed switch contacts. A lever swingably mounted within the housing for movement about a generally horizontally disposed axis adjacent its lower end mounts a weight adjacent its upper end. A permanent magnet normally locates the lever in a predetermined position in engagement with an insulating abutment on one of the switch contacts to maintain the switch in open position. When an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time is received, the housing moves about the pin until it is oriented or aligned with the general direction of such pulse. Upon orientation being achieved, the weight on the lever moves the lever out of engagement with the magnet and against the force of the magnetic flux so that the lever moves out of engagement with the abutment of the one contact and permits the contacts to close.

Inventors

  • 👤 T Peters

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 20:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/14; H01H35/145; B; B60; B60K; B60K28/00; B60K28/10; B60K28/14

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 163 words
In combination with a vehicle having a source of power, a sensor comprising, support means, means mounting the support means on the vehicle fOr inertial movement about an axis from a normal position to another position, means locating the support means in normal position and resisting movement thereof to said another position unless the support means is subjected to a pulse of predetermined amplitude and time resulting from impact forces applied to the vehicle, switch means mounted on the support means for movement therewith, inertial actuated means mounted on the support means for movement therewith about the first axis and movement relative thereto about a second axis transverse of the first axis for connecting the switch means across the source of power upon movement of the support means to said another position, and means resisting movement of the inertial actuated means about the second axis unless the pulse is of predetermined amplitude and time when the support means is in said another position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 163 words
In combination with a vehicle having a source of power, a sensor comprising, support means, means mounting the support means on the vehicle fOr inertial movement about an axis from a normal position to another position, means locating the support means in normal position and resisting movement thereof to said another position unless the support means is subjected to a pulse of predetermined amplitude and time resulting from impact forces applied to the vehicle, switch means mounted on the support means for movement therewith, inertial actuated means mounted on the support means for movement therewith about the first axis and movement relative thereto about a second axis transverse of the first axis for connecting the switch means across the source of power upon movement of the support means to said another position, and means resisting movement of the inertial actuated means about the second axis unless the pulse is of predetermined amplitude and time when the support means is in said another position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 205 words
In combination with a vehicle having a source of power, a sensor comprising, support means, means mounting the support means on the vehicle for inertial movement about an axis from a normal position to another position, means locating the support means in normal position and resisting movement thereof to said another position unless the support means is subjected to a pulse of predetermined amplitude and time resulting from impact forces applied to the vehicle, switch means connectable across the source of power, means mounting the switch means on the support means for movement therewith, inertial actuated means mounted on the support means for movement therewith about the first axis and movement relative thereto about a second axis transverse of the first axis, means resisting movement of the inertial actuated means about the second axis unless the pulse is of predetermined amplitude and time when the support means is in said another position, and cooperating means on the switch means and inertial actuated means for disconnecting the switch means from the source of power when the inertial actuated means moves with the support means and for connecting the switch means across the source of power when the inertial actuated means moves relative to the support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 205 words
In combination with a vehicle having a source of power, a sensor comprising, support means, means mounting the support means on the vehicle for inertial movement about an axis from a normal position to another position, means locating the support means in normal position and resisting movement thereof to said another position unless the support means is subjected to a pulse of predetermined amplitude and time resulting from impact forces applied to the vehicle, switch means connectable across the source of power, means mounting the switch means on the support means for movement therewith, inertial actuated means mounted on the support means for movement therewith about the first axis and movement relative thereto about a second axis transverse of the first axis, means resisting movement of the inertial actuated means about the second axis unless the pulse is of predetermined amplitude and time when the support means is in said another position, and cooperating means on the switch means and inertial actuated means for disconnecting the switch means from the source of power when the inertial actuated means moves with the support means and for connecting the switch means across the source of power when the inertial actuated means moves relative to the support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 161 words
In combination with a vehicle having a source of power, a sensor comprising, support means, means mounting the support means on the vehicle for inertial movement about an axis from a normal position to another position, means locating the support means in normal position and resisting movement thereof to said another position unless the support means is subjected to a pulse of predetermined amplitude and time resulting from impact forces applied to the vehicle, switch means mounted on the support means for movement therewith, inertial actuated lever means swingably mounted on the support means for movement relative thereto about a pivotal axis transverse of the first axis, means normally resisting movement of the lever means about the pivotal axis thereof unless the pulse is of predetermined amplitude and time when the support means is in said another position, and means for connecting the switch means across the source of power upon movement of the lever means about the pivotal axis thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 161 words
In combination with a vehicle having a source of power, a sensor comprising, support means, means mounting the support means on the vehicle for inertial movement about an axis from a normal position to another position, means locating the support means in normal position and resisting movement thereof to said another position unless the support means is subjected to a pulse of predetermined amplitude and time resulting from impact forces applied to the vehicle, switch means mounted on the support means for movement therewith, inertial actuated lever means swingably mounted on the support means for movement relative thereto about a pivotal axis transverse of the first axis, means normally resisting movement of the lever means about the pivotal axis thereof unless the pulse is of predetermined amplitude and time when the support means is in said another position, and means for connecting the switch means across the source of power upon movement of the lever means about the pivotal axis thereof.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2406427A Cited
US2618712A Cited
US2802204A Cited
US2783321A Cited
US3389607A Cited
US3641290A Cited
US3654410A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-10-01 1977-04-02 1977-10-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-10-01 1981-04-02 1981-10-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-10-01 1985-04-02 1985-10-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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