Inertia type switch having bridging ball contactor and plural, concentric conductive ring array

Claim 2

An acceleration responsive electric control device in combination comprising a mass inertia element in the form of a ball having a surface of conductive material, a support member having a seat supporting said ball seated thereon, said member comprising a first fixed contact device having a circular internal periphery of substantially less diameter than said ball normally lying in a horizontal plane, the top of said device forming a ring surrounding the lower portion of the ball resting thereon, said contact device having conductive material on its surface to contact the ball in engagement with said ring, a second fixed contact device having a second circular periphery forming a second ring coaxial with said first ring and spaced radially outwardly and upwardly of said first ring, a distance less than the diameter of said ball, and normally lying in a horizontal plane, said second contact device having conductive material on its surface to contact a ball in engagement with said second ring, said ball being displaced from said first ring by acceleration to span the space between said two contact devices and engage said two rings, the lines of contact of said rings engageable by said ball lying in a surface inclined downwardly toward the axis of said rings, so that the ball returns to its seat on said first ring when said acceleration ceases, and means to retain said ball in association with said contact devices.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1 in which the radius of the seat is from about 0.10 to about 0.45 times the diameter of said ball.

Claim 4

A device in combination according to claim 1 in which said support member and ball are located in housing and at least the outer surface of said ball is electrically conductive, said support member being electrically conductive and forming one terminal oF said switch means, and an electrically conductive annular member surrounding said support member and forming the other terminal of said switch means, said ball bridging between said support member and said annual member when the ball moves laterally on said seat.

Claim 5

A device in combination according to claim 3 in which said annular member is a sleeve supported in said housing and in turn insulatingly supporting said support member.

Claim 6

A device in combination according to claim 4 in which said support member is also a sleeve, and a ring of insulating material interposed coaxially between said support member and said annular member.

Claim 7

A device in combination according to claim 4 in which said support member is a sleeve element, said seat being formed cup-shaped on the upper end of said sleeve element and being upwardly concave.

Claim 8

A device in combination according to claim 3 in which said housing is closed, and a damping medium in the form of a dielectric liquid provided for cushioning in said housing.

Claim 9

A device in combination according to claim 3 in which said housing is closed, and a chamber therein with subatmospheric pressure of from about 10 Torr up to about 100 Torr in said housing.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 3 in which said housing is cup shaped so as to have a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from the periphery of the bottom wall, said support member being a conductive ring mounted in said bottom wall, said ball being conductive, and a conductive sleeve resistently supported on the inside of said side wall, said support member and said sleeve forming the terminals of said switch means and said ball bridging therebetween upon lateral movement of the ball on said seat.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 1, in which said control device is mounted in a housing, and said housing has a bottom wall formed of synthetic material, said support member being mounted in said bottom wall of said housing.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 10 which includes a metal ring in said bottom wall, a ring of insulating material in said metal ring and having said seat on the upper end thereof, said ball being electrically conductive and forming one switch terminal and said metal ring forming the other switch terminal.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 1, in which said control device is mounted in a housing, and said housing has a bottom wall, at least said bottom wall being formed of electrically nonconductive synthetic material, said bottom wall forming said support member, and a vertical hole in said bottom wall the upper end of which forms said seat.

Claim 14

A device according to claim 10 which includes at least one metal ring in said bottom wall for cooperation with said ball.

Claim 15

An acceleration responsive electric control device in combination comprising a mass inertia element in the form of a ball having a surface of conductive material, a support member having a seat supporting said ball seated thereon, said member comprising a first fixed contact device having a circular internal periphery of substantially less diameter than said ball normally lying in a horizontal plane, the top of said device forming a ring surrounding the lower portion of the ball resting thereon, said contact device having conductive material on its surface to contact the ball in engagement with said ring, a second fixed contact device having a second circular periphery forming a second ring coaxial with said first ring and spaced radially outwardly and upwardly of said first ring, a distance less than the diameter of said ball, and normally lying in a horizontal plane, said second contact device having conductive material on its surface to contact a ball in engagement with said second ring, said ball being displaced from said first ring by acceleration to span the space between said two contact devices and engage said two rings, the lines of contact of said rings engageable by said ball lying in a surface inclined downwardly toward the axis of saId rings, so that the ball returns to its seat on said first ring when said acceleration ceases, force applying means acting on said ball to resist displacement from its seat on said first ring, and means to retain said ball in association with said contact devices.

Claim 16

An acceleration responsive electric control device in combination comprising a mass inertia element in the form of a ball having a surface of conductive material, a support member having a seat supporting said ball seated thereon, said member comprising a first fixed contact device having a circular internal periphery of substantially less diameter than said ball normally lying in a horizontal plane, the top of said device forming a ring surrounding the lower portion of the ball resting thereon, said contact device having conductive material on its surface to contact the ball in engagement with said ring, a second fixed contact device having a second circular periphery forming a second ring coaxial with said first ring and spaced radially outwardly and upwardly of said first ring, a distance less than the diameter of said ball, and normally lying in a horizontal plane, said second contact device having conductive material on its surface to contact a ball in engagement with said second ring, said ball being displaced from said first ring by acceleration to span the space between said two contact devices and engage said two rings, the lines of contact of said rings engageable by said ball lying in a surface inclined downwardly toward the axis of saId rings, so that the ball returns to its seat on said first ring when said acceleration ceases, force applying means acting on said ball to resist displacement from its seat on said first ring, and means to retain said ball in association with said contact devices.