Patent US3764820A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3764820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Digital accelerometer
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1971-09-29
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1991-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A threshold accelerator switch is mounted on an object to indicate when the object is being subjected to a predetermined acceleration. The emitter and base terminals of a transistor are connected across the switch contacts. When the object is subjected to a predetermined acceleration, the switch contacts close causing the base electrode of the transistor to be shorted out, thus turning off the transistor. A plurality of switches and transistors can be mounted on a single object in order to measure the acceleration profile of the object.
Inventors
- 👤 Sullivan D O
- 👤 M White
- 👤 R Hamel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/135; H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/14; H01H1/00; H01H1/0036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A switch for indicating when an object is subjected to a predetermined acceleration comprising: support means, a first flat conductive member disposed on a portion of said support means; a second flat conductive member disposed on said support means spaced apart from said first conductive member in at least partial overlapping relationship thereto, the dimensions of said second conductive member and its spacing from said first conductive member being such that said second conductive member is movable and operable to contact said first conductive member only when said object is subjected to said predetermined acceleration thereby closing said switch and wherein for given first and second conductive members said predetermined acceleration is a function only of the spacing between said members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A switch for indicating when an object is subjected to a predetermined acceleration comprising: support means, a first flat conductive member disposed on a portion of said support means; a second flat conductive member disposed on said support means spaced apart from said first conductive member in at least partial overlapping relationship thereto, the dimensions of said second conductive member and its spacing from said first conductive member being such that said second conductive member is movable and operable to contact said first conductive member only when said object is subjected to said predetermined acceleration thereby closing said switch and wherein for given first and second conductive members said predetermined acceleration is a function only of the spacing between said members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
The switch of claim 1 wherein said movable conductive member has first and second extremities, said first extremity resting on said support means; and a portion of said movable conductive member, including said second extremity, extending from said first extremity in a substantially fixed relation which is substantially parallel to said first conductive member and said support means when said object is stationary, said relation being maintained without intervening support material between said support means and said portion and without intervening support material between said portion and said first conductive member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
The switch of claim 2 wherein said substantially fixed relation defines the spacing between said portion and said first conductive member when said object is stationary; and wherein the length of said movable conductive member and said spacing are determined by the predetermined acceleration being indicated according to the equation y 3( Rho L4/2Ed2) (1 + a(t)/g) where y is the spacing, Rho is the density of said movable conductive member, L is the length of the movable conductive member, E is the Young''s modulus of the movable conductive member and d is the thickness of the movable conductive member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The switch of claim 1 wherein a portion of said support means electrically insulates said first conductive member from said movable conductive member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The switch of claim 4 wherein said portion of said support means is selected from the group comprising glass and aluminum oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The switch of claim 5 wherein the height of said support means is selected from the range of 2- 20 mils.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The switch of claim 1 wherein a first portion of said support means is conductive and a second portion of said support means is non-conductive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The switch of claim 1 wherein said first conductive member and said movable conductive member are fabricated from substantially identical material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The switch of claim 8 wherein said material is gold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The switch of claim 1 wherein said movable conductive member has first and second extremities resting on said support means, the portion of said movable conductive member which is between said extremities being in a substantially fixed relation to said first conductive member when said object is stationary.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The switch of claim 10 wherein said first conductive member and said movable conductive member are fabricated from gold.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3177312A
Cited
US3522395A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |