Rotational acceleration sensor and method

Claim 2

An arrangement for responding to rotational acceleration comprising: a looped circuit for containing fluid under fluctuating pressures, said conduit having closed distal ends and being mounted for rotation about an axis, separable first and second subassembly housing means for containing fluid under fluctuating pressures, one of said subassembly means being mounted at said rotational axis of said looped conduit and operatively communicating with said distal ends of said looped conduit for transmission of fluid pressure fluctuations therethrough, the other of said subassembly means defining therewithin first and second expansible chambers and including movable wall means for said expansible chambers mounted for movement upon expansion of the volume of one of said first and second chambers and simultaneous contraction of the volume of the other of said first and second chambers, means for securing said first and second subassembly means in engagement one with the other, and means for operatively communicating from each of said distal ends of said looped conduit through said one subassembly means and thence to fluid filling a corresponding one of said chambers within said other subassembly means fluctuations in relative fluid pressure at said distal ends of said looped conduit and including first and second diaphragm means mounted on respective ones of said subassemblly means for precluding leakage of fluid from said conduit and said chambers upon separation of said subassembly means and for precluding commingling of fluid filling said conduit and fluid filling said chambers upon engagement of said subassembly means.

Claim 3

An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said looped conduit defines a plane and further wherein said movable wall means is mounted for displacement in a direction perpendicular to said plane of the looped conduit.

Claim 4

An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said first and second barrier means comprise opposed flexible diaphragms, each mounted for movement upon fluctuation in relative fluid pressure applied thereto.

Claim 5

An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said first subassembly means and said looped conduit are fixed to a rotating member.

Claim 6

An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said second subassembly means comprises a ring member and a plug member for insertion into said ring member in two alternate positions and for defining portions of said first and second expansible chambers, said plug member further mounting said movable wall means and being arranged for cooperation with said ring member in both of the two alternate positions for readily reversing the direction of displacement of said movable wall means.

Claim 7

An arrangement for responding to rotational acceleration comprising: a looped conduit for containing fluid under fluctuating pressures, said conduit having first and second closed distal ends and being mounted for rotation about an axis, separable first and second subassembly housing means for containing fluid under fluctuating pressures, one of said subassembly means being mounted at said rotational axis of said looped conduit and operatively communicating with said distal ends of said looped conduit for transmission of fluid pressure fluctuations therethrough, the other of said subassembly means comprising a ring member and a plug member insertable into said ring member in two alternate positions, said ring and plug members in both of said alternate positions defining first and second expansible chambers within said other subassembly means, said other subassembly means further comprising movable wall means for said expansible chambers mounted within said plug member for movement upon expansion of the volume of one of said first and second chambers and simultaneous contraction of the volume of the other of said first and second chambers, means for securing said first and second subassembly means in engagement one with the other, and means for operatively communicating from each of said distal ends of said looped conduit through said one subassembly means and thence to fluid filling a corresponding one of said chambers within said other subassembly means fluctuations in relative fluid pressure at said distal ends of said looped conduit, said ring and plug members when in one of said alternate positons establishing operative communication of fluctuations in relative fluid pressure from said first distal end to said first chamber and from said second distal end to said second chamber and reversing that operative communication when said ring and plug members are in the other of said alternate positions.

Claim 8

An arrangement for responding to rotational acceleration comprising: a looped conduit for containing fluid under fluctuating pressures, said conduit having first and second closed distal ends and being mounted for rotation about an axis, separable first and second subassembly housing means for containing fluid under fluctuating pressures, one of said subassembly means being mounted at said rotational axis of said looped conduit and operatively communicating with said distal ends of said looped conduit for transmission of fluid pressure fluctuations therethrough, the other of said subassembly means comprising a ring member and a plug member insertable into said ring member in two alternate positions, said ring and plug members in both of said alternate positions defining first and second expansible chambers within said other subassembly means, said other subassembly means further comprising movable wall means for said expansible chambers mounted within said plug member for movement upon expansion of the volume of one of said first and second chambers and simultaneous contraction of the volume of the other of said first and second chambers, means for securing said first and second subassembly means in engagement one with the other, and means for operatively communicating from each of said distal ends of said looped conduit through said one subassembly means and thence to fluid filling a corresponding one of said chambers within said other subassembly means fluctuations in relative fluid pressure at said distal ends of said looped conduit, said ring and plug members when in one of said alternate positons establishing operative communication of fluctuations in relative fluid pressure from said first distal end to said first chamber and from said second distal end to said second chamber and reversing that operative communication when said ring and plug members are in the other of said alternate positions.

Claim 9

In combination with a braking effect control for interrupting and releasing pressure of an actuating fluid supplied to a brake for a rotating member and an arrangement for responding to rotational acceleration of the rotating member and having a fluid filled, looped conduit mounted for rotation with the rotating member, an improvement in means for responding to fluctuations in relative fluid pressures within the looped conduit at locations on closed distal ends thereof and comprising: separable first and second subassembly housing means for containing fluid under fluctuating pressures, one of said subassembly means being mounted at said rotational axis of said looped conduit and operatively communicating with said distal ends of said looped conduit for transmission of fluid pressure fluctuations therethrough, the other of said subassembly means defining therewithin first and second expansible chambers and including movable wall means for said expansible chambers mounted for movement upon expansion to the volume of one of said first and second chambers and simultaneous contraction of the volume of the other of said first and second chambers, means for securing said first and second subassembly means in engagement one with the other, means for operatively communicating from each of said distal ends of said looped conduit through said one subassembly means to fluid filling a corresponding one of said chambers within said other subassembly means fluctuations in relative fluid pressure at said distal ends of said looped conduit and including first and second diaphragm means mounted on respective ones of said subassembly means for precluding leakage of fluid from said conduit and said chambers upon separation of said subassembly means and for precluding commingling of fluid filling said conduit and fluid filling said chambers upon engagement of said subassembly means, and control motion transmitting means operatively connected with said movable wall means for displacement upon predetermined movement of said movable wall means and with said braking effect control for effectuating interruption and release of actuating fluid pressure upon deceleration of the rotating member.

Claim 10

In combination with a braking effect control for interrupting and releasing pressure of an actuating fluid supplied to a brake for a rotating member and an arrangement for responding to rotational acceleration of the rotating member and having a fluid filled, looped conduit mounted for rotation with the rotating member, an improvement in means for responding to fluctuations in relative fluid pressures within the looped conduit at locations on closed distal ends thereof and comprising: separable first and second subassembly housing means for containing fluid under fluctuating pressures, one of said subassembly means being mounted at said rotational axis of said looped conduit and operatively communicating with said distal ends of said looped conduit for transmission of fluid pressure fluctuations therethrough, the other of said subassembly means defining therewithin first and second expansible chambers and including movable wall means for said expansible chambers mounted for movement upon expansion to the volume of one of said first and second chambers and simultaneous contraction of the volume of the other of said first and second chambers, means for securing said first and second subassembly means in engagement one with the other, means for operatively communicating from each of said distal ends of said looped conduit through said one subassembly means to fluid filling a corresponding one of said chambers within said other subassembly means fluctuations in relative fluid pressure at said distal ends of said looped conduit and including first and second diaphragm means mounted on respective ones of said subassembly means for precluding leakage of fluid from said conduit and said chambers upon separation of said subassembly means and for precluding commingling of fluid filling said conduit and fluid filling said chambers upon engagement of said subassembly means, and control motion transmitting means operatively connected with said movable wall means for displacement upon predetermined movement of said movable wall means and with said braking effect control for effectuating interruption and release of actuating fluid pressure upon deceleration of the rotating member.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 7 wherein each of said barrier means comprises first and second annular diaphragms mounted in each of said subassembly housings for precluding leakage of fluid from either of said subassembly housings upon separation thereof.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 7 wherein said other subassembly means comprises a ring member defining two annular recesses and a plug member received within said ring member and defining said first and second chambers, said plug member being movable between a selected one of two alternative positions within said ring member, one of said positions opening operative communication between an outer one of said annular recesses and said first chamber and opening operative communication between an inner one of said annular recesses and said second chamber, and the other of the alternate positions opening operative communication between said outer annular recess and said second chamber and opening operative communication between said inner annular recess and said first chamber.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 7 wherein said movable wall means comprises at least one flexible membrane and said control motion transmitting means comprises a pin member fixed to said at least one flexible membrane for movement in response to movement thereof and electrical switch means operatively coupled with said pin member for changing conductive state in response to predetermined movement of said pin member.

Claim 14

A combination according to claim 7 further comprising pressure control means interposed between said first and second chambers for balancing fluid pressures therebetween, said pressure control means including means biasing the same towards a normally closed position in which fluid flow between said first and second chambers is blocked.

Claim 15

A combination according to claim 7 further comprising expansion chamber means defining an expansion volume within said first subassembly means and operatively communicating with the fluid filled, looped conduit for accommodating variations in specific volume of the fluid filling the looped conduit, said expansion chamber means comprising flow restriction means interposed between the fluid filled looped conduit and the expansion volume for restricting the rate of flow therebetween, and means for biasing the expansion volume against the admission of fluid from the looped conduit.

Claim 16

The combination according to claim 7 wherein alcohol fills said looped conduit and said first and second chambers.

Claim 17

The combination according to claim 7 wherein fluid filling said first and second chambers is pressurized above ambient atmospheric pressure.

Claim 18

The combination according to claim 7 wherein each of said subassembly means has a pair of concentric annular recesses disposed in aligned opposition to the concentric annular recesses of the other of said subassembly means, said annular recesses of said one subassembly means operatively communicating with distal sides of the fluid filled, looped conduit, and said annular recesses of said other subassembly means operatively communicating with corresponding ones of said first and second chambers.

Claim 19

An acceleration sensor comprising: a conduit defining an annular chamber for confining a body of liquid and having a principal plane, the conduit being adapted to rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to said principal plane and that intersects the center of curvature of the annular chamber; a housing comprising separable first and second subassembly housings, said first subassembly housing being fixed to said conduit, said second subassembly housing comprising a ring member and a plug member for insertion into and rotation relative to said ring member, said plug member defining first and second expansible chambers adapted to contain fluid under fluctuating pressure and having movable wall means for said first and second chambers, said plug member including plug wall means cooperating with said ring member such that said plug member has two alternate operable orientations in said ring member; and means for securing said first and second subassembly housings together; said housing being mounted for rotation on said axis with said movable wall means being movable in the direction of said axis upon expansion of the volume of one of said chambers and simultaneous contraction of the volume of the other of said chambers; and means for transmitting fluid pressure between one end of said conduit and one of said expansible chambers, and between the other end of said conduit and the other of said expansible chambers; whereby said movable wall means moves in one axial direction when said plug member is in one orientation and said conduit is rotated in one direction, and said movable wall means moves in the same axial direction when said plug member is in the other orientation and said conduit is rotated in the opposite direction.

Claim 20

An acceleration sensor comprising: a conduit defining an annular chamber for confining a body of liquid and having a principal plane, the conduit being adapted to rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to said principal plane and that intersects the center of curvature of the annular chamber; a housing comprising separable first and second subassembly housings, said first subassembly housing being fixed to said conduit, said second subassembly housing comprising a ring member and a plug member for insertion into and rotation relative to said ring member, said plug member defining first and second expansible chambers adapted to contain fluid under fluctuating pressure and having movable wall means for said first and second chambers, said plug member including plug wall means cooperating with said ring member such that said plug member has two alternate operable orientations in said ring member; and means for securing said first and second subassembly housings together; said housing being mounted for rotation on said axis with said movable wall means being movable in the direction of said axis upon expansion of the volume of one of said chambers and simultaneous contraction of the volume of the other of said chambers; and means for transmitting fluid pressure between one end of said conduit and one of said expansible chambers, and between the other end of said conduit and the other of said expansible chambers; whereby said movable wall means moves in one axial direction when said plug member is in one orientation and said conduit is rotated in one direction, and said movable wall means moves in the same axial direction when said plug member is in the other orientation and said conduit is rotated in the opposite direction.

Claim 21

The sensor according to claim 16 including pressure balancing means for permitting fluid flow between said expansible chambers when fluid pressure in the chamber that should contract is greater than that in the other chamber.

Claim 22

Apparatus for sensing acceleration in each of a plurality of wheels of an automotive vehicle comprising: a plurality of separable, two-part, acceleration sensors each of said sensors including a corresponding first part mounted on a rim and a corresponding second part mounted on a hub, each first part being identical to each other first part, all second parts on the left hand side of the vehicle being identical to each other, all second parts on the right hand side being identical to each other, and the left hand side second parts being different from the right hand side second parts, whereby any wheel rim can be mounted on any wheel hub without affecting the operation of the corresponding one sensor.

Claim 23

Apparatus for sensing acceleration in each of a plurality of wheels of an automotive vehicle comprising: a plurality of separable, two-part, acceleration sensors each of said sensors including a corresponding first part mounted on a rim and a corresponding second part mounted on a hub, each first part being identical to each other first part, all second parts on the left hand side of the vehicle being identical to each other, all second parts on the right hand side being identical to each other, and the left hand side second parts being different from the right hand side second parts, whereby any wheel rim can be mounted on any wheel hub without affecting the operation of the corresponding one sensor.

Claim 24

The apparatus according to claim 18 including a plurality of switches each mounted on a corresponding hub adjacent a corresponding second part and said sensor including means for activating said switch when said first part is subjected to more than a predetermined acceleration.

Claim 25

The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein each of said second parts includes a reversible member having two different possible orientations, one for left hand operation and one for right hand operation.

Claim 26

The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein each of said first and second parts are fluid filled and each includes a flexible diaphragam, said diaphragms being located such that said diaphragms are in pressure transmitting contact with each other when a wheel rim having a first part is mounted on a wheel hub having a second part.

Claim 29

The method according to claim 22 including mounting a switch on each hub adjacent said corresponding second part, and activating said switch when said corresponding first part is subjected to more than a predetermined acceleration.

Claim 30

The method according to claim 22 wherein each of said second parts includes a reversible member having two different possible orientations, one for left wheel operation and one for right wheel operation, and including orienting said reversible member for one of said left and right hand operation previous to installing said second part on said hub, and then installing said second part on that side of a vehicle corresponding to the selected orientation.

Claim 31

The method according to claim 22 wherein said first and second parts are filled with fluid, and including sealing said fluid in each part by a flexible diaphragm, and locating said diaphragms such that the diaphragm of a first part is in pressure transmitting contact with the diaphragm of a second part when a wheel rim having said first part is mounted on a wheel hub having said second part.