U.S. patent number 3,927,286 [Application Number 05/368,972] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-16 for inertia type switch having bridging ball contactor and plural, concentric conductive ring array.
Invention is credited to Artur Fohl.
United States Patent |
3,927,286 |
Fohl |
December 16, 1975 |
Inertia type switch having bridging ball contactor and plural,
concentric conductive ring array
Abstract
A device responsive to acceleration in any direction in which a
ball rests on an upwardly facing seat in a housing and is moveable
laterally on the seat when acted on by a predetermined force of
acceleration. When the ball moves laterally on the seat an electric
circuit is completed which can be employed for signalling or
control purposes. One of the preferred embodiments consists of a
bridging conductive ball engaging a plural, concentric conductive
ring array.
Inventors: |
Fohl; Artur (7061 Haubersbronn,
DT) |
Family
ID: |
5847600 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/368,972 |
Filed: |
June 11, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
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Jun 13, 1972 [DT] |
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2228683 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
200/61.45R;
200/DIG.29; 200/61.52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H
35/14 (20130101); Y10S 200/29 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01H
35/14 (20060101); H01H 035/02 (); H01H
035/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;200/DIG.29,61.45R,61.52,81.9M,61.45M,1R ;335/205 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Scott; James R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Becker; Walter
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. A device according to claim 10 which includes at least one
metal ring in said bottom wall for cooperation with said ball.
14. 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.
Description
The present invention relates to an acceleration and retardation
responsive electric control device which is intended preferably for
installation in vehicles, especially motor vehicles, airplanes,
ships, and the like, and which is provided with a ball acting as
mass inertia body and movable from its stabile rest position to
different sides when the acceleration or retardation exceeds a
predetermined fixed minimum value, the control device cooperating
with at least one electric contact which is arranged in spaced
relationship to the ball when the latter is in its rest
position.
Control devices of this type are frequently employed for quickly
and safely initiating the winding-up of automatic systems of safety
belts in case of danger when the vehicle which is equipped with
such safety belts is subjected to a certain limit acceleration or
retardation. Devices of this type are frequently called
sensors.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and
safely operating control device of the above mentioned general
character in which the limit value of acceleration or retardation
is adjustable at which the control operation is to be
initiated.
It is a further object of this invention to realize a control
device as set forth in the preceding paragraph in which the control
function will equally well be assured in all directions in the
horizontal or at least approximately horizontal plane.
A still further object of the present invention consists in that
when the device according to the invention is fixedly installed in
motor or rail vehicles, the device will, when the vehicle is driven
over inclines or in inclined position, not show any material
deviation as to its control precision over situations in which the
vehicle is driven on horizontal planes.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear
more clearly from the following specification in connection with
the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a sensor according to the
present invention which shows the fundamental principle of the
invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section through a sensor
according to the invention with contact ring path extending
conically toward the outside.
FIG. 3 is a cross section through another embodiment of the
invention which embodiment includes a cushioning member.
FIG. 4 represents a longitudinal section through a device according
to the invention with a cushioning member which is designed for
extreme vertical accelerations exerted upon the mass ball.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through a liquid-cushioned sensor
according to the invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates a section through a sensor according to the
invention in which the cushioning member has the form of a brush
holder.
FIG. 7 illustrates a modification of a sensor according to the
invention in which a control plate is arranged over the mass ball
which control plate is operatively connected to a microswitch.
FIG. 8 shows a section through a further embodiment of the
invention in which the cushioning member is formed by a permanent
magnet and cooperates with a dry-reed contact.
FIG. 9 shows a sensor of a construction similar to that of FIG. 8
in which the permanent magnet cooperates through a mass ball with
field plates.
FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal section through another sensor
according to the invention with a cushioning member formed by a
soft iron core which immerses into an induction coil.
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section through still another embodiment
of the invention with a permanent magnet arranged below the mass
ball.
FIG. 12 is a further embodiment of the invention with an outer
cushioning contact ring.
FIG. 13 shows another control device according to the invention
which is connected in a cushioning and/or resilient manner.
FIG. 14 represents still another control device according to the
invention with an oscillation cushioning suspension, the device
being shown as a vertical section.
FIG. 15 is a vertical section through a modified control device
according to the invention.
As numerous tests have shown, in case of a collision between
vehicles it is always of foremost importance that the safety
devices in such vehicles respond in a minimum of time. Collision
sensors have become known in which the mass inertia body in the
form of a ball is in its starting position subjected to the thrust
of a spring. In practice, however, such control devices have shown
the drawback that their response precision is not sufficient
because it depends too much on the influence of the spring force.
Moreover, when manufacturing such devices, it is difficult so
precisely to tune such springs that only minor deviations from the
desired limit value of acceleration or retardation will occur.
The above mentioned drawbacks have been overcome by the
acceleration and retardation responsive control device according to
the invention which is characterized primarily in that the ball in
its rest position rests upon the confining edges of a cutout which
edges extend at least approximately in a horizontal plane, while
the cutout is designed with a radius determining the engaging depth
of the ball, this radius being smaller than that of the ball. With
such an arrangement, the ball extends in its rest position with a
downwardly pointing sherical section into the cutout. Out of this
stabile rest position the ball can be lifted and moved toward the
side, in view of its mass inertia force, only when an acceleration
or retardation is exerted upon the support containing the cutout
which acceleration or retardation exceeds the limit value derived
from the dimensions of the ball and the dimensions of the cutout.
For this limit value there exists the relationship according to
which the product of ball weight and radius of the cutout must
equal the product of the mass of the ball, the acceleration or
retardation and the vertical distance of the center of gravity of
the ball and the plane passing through the confining edges. This
will precisely furnish the control resolution of the control
device. Particularly stable conditions will be obtained when,
according to a further development of the invention, the radius of
the cutout amounts to from 0.1 to 0.45 times the diameter of the
ball, preferably to from 0.2 to 0.4 times the diameter. If, for
instance, the radius of the cutout amounts to 30% of the ball
diameter, the vertical distance of the center of gravity of the
ball amounts to 30% of the ball diameter. The control resolution
lies in this instance at an acceleration or retardation of 75% of
the acceleration due to gravity.
When the limit value derived from the geometry of the ball and of
the cutout is exceeded, the ball moves out of its rest position and
rolls toward the outside from the center of the cutout. On its way
toward the outside, the ball can carry out a mechanical or electric
control function. A safe and proper control function can be
realized with simple means when, according to a further development
of the invention, a metallic supporting member is provided which
contains the cutout and when the supporting member is connected to
a source of current. When in this connection the ball has a
metallic conductive surface, it will in view of its engagement with
the metallic confining edges likewise receive voltage. Expediently,
the supporting member may be designed as a ring or as a tube, and
the cutout intended for partially receiving the ball may be formed
by the bore of the ring or of the tube. A particularly simply and
effective control arrangement is obtained when as control contacts,
according to a further development of the invention, there are
provided two contact devices in the form of concentric rings
insulated with regard to each other. Expediently, between these two
concentric rings there is arranged a tube section of insulating
material which tube section has its end face which faces the ball
ending at a slight axial distance below the end faces of the two
rings so that between the two rings there is formed a groove. When
due to horizontal acceleration or retardation the ball is lifted
out of its rest position because the control resolution has been
exceeded, the ball will roll radially outwardly and will establish
an electrically conductive connection between the two concentric
rings which consist of metal or have a metallic cover. This
operation practically corresponds to a pulse control operation with
closing contacts. Inasmuch as it is structurally possible without
difficulties to obtain very short distances, the control
retardation can be fixed for very small values. If the end face of
the inner ring toward the ring axis is provided with a inclination
which corresponds to the conditions encountered by the vehicle when
driving uphill or downhill, it will be appreciated that, when a
distinct resting point for the stable starting position of the ball
is provided which resting point determines the control resolution,
the limit values for the acceleration and retardation vary in
conformity with the cosine value of the angle of inclination and
thus can be practically neglected for small angles of
inclination.
When the two rings acting as contact devices are provided with end
faces which are perpendicular to their axes and which extend in a
common horizontal plane, the mass ball will not be able, after it
has been controlled out of its starting position, to return to its
starting position without outside help but will remain in its
control position in which the ball engages the groove between the
two rings. This so to speak bistable behavior may be disturbing in
such instances of application of the control device in which a
contact is desired only as long as the acceleration or retardation
exceeds the adjusted or set limit value. To make sure that the ball
will, after effected control, automatically return to its starting
or rest position, the end face of at least one of the rings,
preferably of the inner ring, may, according to an advantageous
design of the device according to the invention, form the mantle of
a cone which is coaxial with the ring and which has the point of
the cone directed downwardly. In this connection, the line of
intersection of the end face and of the bore will be located at the
outer ring on the conical mantle, and the radial width of the
groove between the two rings will be sufficiently small.
Expediently, walls may be provided outside the outer contact ring
which walls limit the stroke of the ball radially toward the
outside. The angle at which the mantle surface of the cone is
inclined toward the horizontal plane is advantageously selected
slightly smaller than the angle of inclination which the ball will
still be able to overcome after it has been lifted out of its
stabile rest position due to the force of acceleration. In this way
it will be assured that the ball will be able, after it has been
lifted out of the cutout, to roll toward the outside until contact
is established.
When installing a control device according to the present invention
in vehicles which, in addition to the acceleration or retardation
in approximate horizontal plane, are also subjected to shock-like
accelerations acting perpendicularly with regard to this plane,
additional steps might be necessary for the mass ball in order to
stabilize the same in vertical direction. This can be realized in a
simple manner according to the present invention by arranging a
shock-absorbing or cushioning element which acts in a vertical
direction and which is arranged above the ball when the latter is
in its rest position, said cushioning element acting upon the ball
by its weight. In this way it can be realized that with
acceleration shocks acting in a vertical direction, the ball is
held in the cutout acting as contact resolution. Expediently, such
cushioning element may consist of synthetic material. In
particularly difficult instances, very short vibrations may occur
in vertical direction which make it necessary to provide a
cushioning element adapted to perform an increased cushioning
operation. This can be realized according to a further development
of the invention by designing the cushioning element as a sleeve
and closing the same at its lower section by a bottom on which the
ball rests. Expediently, in the interior of the sleeve, small balls
of synthetic material or steel may be filled in which in response
to a corresponding acceleration shock exert a friction upon each
other and thereby consume working energy so that with this
consummation of energy, the mass ball is safely held in its stabile
starting position in the cutout of its support, namely, the bottom
of the sleeve. According to a preferred embodiment of the
invention, the bottom serving as support for the ball may consist
of a cushioning material, for instance, of synthetic material.
Furthermore, the said bottom may contain a central ring or tube
section acting as contact surface and may also contain a lining of
insulating material, which lining is arranged within said ring and
has a central longitudinal bore which forms the cutout for the
ball. In this way it can be realized in a simple manner that also
with increased vertical accelerations, the ball will always safely
remain in its starting position without carrying out control
operation and will only in response to correspondingly high
acceleration values or retarding values leave its support on the
lining when, for instance, an accident occurs.
According to a further suggestion in conformity with the present
invention, a liquid medium may, for increasing the cushioning
effect, be introduced into the chamber which receives the mass
ball. As liquid medium in this instance there is employed a medium
which has no electric conductivity as, for instance, transformer
oil. When the chamber surrounding the ball is filled with oil, the
static pressure of the liquid will act above the ball and also the
dynamic cushioning in view of the viscosity of the liquid will be
effective. The ball will in this way be pressed into the cutout in
the supporting surface or supporting body therefor, and will
undergo a high cushioning in case shocks occur in vertical
direction. This shock absorbing effect depends to a great extent on
the viscosity of the employed liquid. The reduced control speed
resulting therefrom during horizontal acceleration and retardation
may be disadvantageous in various instances of application. For
purposes of increasing the control speed and for avoiding control
sparks or arcs during the establishment and interruption of
contacts, it may be advantageous in conformity with a further
development of the invention with the design described above to
greatly evacuate the chamber surrounding the ball so that
preferably an absolute pressure of 100 Torr or less is obtained.
Advantageous, with regard to the sine curve, is an inner pressure
of approximately 10 Torr which can relatively easily be maintained
and over a normal atmospheric pressure brings about the advantage
that only at considerably increased voltages, sparkovers or light
arcs may occur at the contacts or terminals. According to a further
suggestion in conformity with the present invention, a permanent
magnet may be arranged in the bore on the confining edges of which
the mass ball rests. The ball which has a cover layer of
ferromagnetic material, or which consists of ferromagnetic material
will then be attracted by the permanent magnet.
While using the principle of the invention above referred to, it is
additionally possible above the mass ball to provide a pressure
plate which is mechanically connected to a micro-switch. This
micro-switch is actuated when the mass ball leaves its cutout
defining the stabilizing starting position of the ball, and is
lifted upwardly. According to a further development of the
invention, a permanent magnet may be arranged above the ball which
will act as cushioning element and which, in response to exceeding
the limit acceleration, is lifted off the mass ball to such an
extent that a reed contact arranged above the permanent magnet will
be moved into its closing or turning-on position. Moreover, this is
also possible according to a further development of the invention
by employing a magnet which is arranged above the ball and is
operatively connected thereto, and by controlling by means of said
magnet a so-called field plate and to initiate by the latter a fast
control action. According to a still further development of the
invention, it is possible instead of the above described permanent
magnet, to provide a soft iron core which immerses at its upper end
section into an induction coil. When this mass ball is controlled
in the above mentioned manner and lifts the soft iron core, there
will in this instance, a change of induction occur, by means of
which it is possible safely and quickly to obtain a control pulse
in a manner known per se. Finally, according to the invention it is
also possible for cushioning the mass ball to provide a cushioning
element of the type of a brush holder which is under vertical
spring force and which is provided with a cable connection that
will assure that the ball in response to the limit value of a
horizontal acceleration or retardation gets into contact with a
radially spaced ring zone, thereby carrying out the control
function.
When installing a device according to the invention in a motor
vehicle, the following conditions will result. When the vehicle
drives straight ahead, and when the fixed acceleration or
retardation value is exceeded, a signal will be emitted which
brings about, for instance, the blocking of the rolling-up
kinematics for the provided safety belts. When the vehicle drives
through curves at high speed, the mass ball will, due to the
centrifugal force acting thereupon, be lifted out of its rest
position and will move outwardly whereby likewise a contact will be
closed. If, however, it is desired that the device should not
respond, for instance, when driving through a bank or canted curve,
there exists the possibility so to design the supporting edges for
the ball that the control device will not respond as long as the
critical centrifugal force has not been reached. It is thus
possible within the horizontal plane of function, to set or
determine a desired acceleration or retardation value at which the
device will respond.
Advantageously, the supporting member for receiving the ball may be
produced by injection molding or pressing for which purpose no
complicated or expensive tools are required.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a
longitudinal section through a sensor which illustrates the
principle of the control device according to the invention that is
responsive to an accelerating and/or retarding action. The
pot-shaped housing 1 is connected to a non-illustrated vehicle. A
mass ball 2 rests in the bore 3 of an inner contact ring or device
4 on a ring edge or internal periphery 5. Between the outer contact
ring or device 6 and the inner contact ring or device 4 there is
provided an insulating intermediate layer 7. When considering the
limit situation of the ball control, the center of gravity of the
mass ball 2 is located at S. By "limit situation" is meant that the
housing 1 is suddenly stopped at a certain retardation, as a result
of which the mass ball, due to its inertia moves on in its inertia
direction. In this connection, the following relationship exists:
The weight G of ball 2 times the radius r of bore 3 must equal the
product of mass times acceleration times the vertical distance h
from the supporting ring edge 5. If this limit situation is
exceeded, the mass ball 2 is lifted out above the edge or inner
periphery 5 and rolls over the two ring contacts so that these
contacts are bridged and a control pulse is emitted. Radially
outwardly, the stroke of the mass ball 2 is limited by the inner
wall of the pot-shaped housing 1. According to FIG. 1, the two
annular contacts 4 and 6 are located along one and the same plane.
In practice the result of this is that the moved-out or
controlled-out mass ball 2 is located in the groove between the two
contact rings 4 and 6 and remains there, and that outer forces must
be applied in order to return said ball 2 to its starting position.
Control conduits 11 and 12 for conveying the control pulses are
firmly connected to the contact rings 6 and 4 respectively.
If, after the mass ball has been moved out from the first contact
ring or device 4, and it is desired to have the ball automatically
returned to its starting position, an inclined plane is taken
advantage of.
According to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the contact surfaces of the
inner ring or first contact device 13 and the outer ring or second
contact device 14 are located in a common conical mantle or
inclined surface 15 and thus form the angle 16. The control pulse
can be conveyed from the contact rings or devices through the
conductors 17 and 18. The conical angle 16 is so dimensioned that
it can easily be overcome by the force exerted by the retardation
or acceleration upon the mass ball 2. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the mass
ball is indicated in dash lines 2' in that position in which the
ball 2 moves in and establishes contact with the outer ring 14. If
strong forces occur which act upon the mass ball 2 in a direction
perpendicularly with regard to the acceleration or retardation
direction 19, steps have to be taken for cushioning these forces.
This has been realized in connection with the embodiment of FIG.
3.
According to FIG. 3, above the mass ball 2 there is provided a
pushrod 20 which may, for instance, be cylindrical and which is
displaceable in a cover plate 21 fixedly connected to the housing.
Preferably, the pushrod 20 is made of a synthetic material, such as
polyamide, which has good cushioning properties. When providing an
additional cushioning element, the supporting zones have to be
corrected correspondingly because additionally a further weight
acts upon the ball, and the conditions of friction change within
the region where the cushioning element engages the ball. If
extreme strong accelerations in vertical direction occur and if the
suggested solution according to FIG. 3 is no longer sufficient, it
is suggested according to a further development of this invention
that in conformity with FIG. 4, the cushioning element is formed
substantially by a closed thin-walled hollow cylinder 22 which is
filled with small frictional bodies 23. Expediently, for this
purpose small balls are employed while in case of possibly
occurring vertical accelerations, these filling bodies will perform
a frictional action so that the ball 2 has no possibility to
overcome this frictional work in upward direction.
As will be evident from FIG. 4, the inner ring contact 13 may be
lined with a sleeve 24 made of a highly cushioning material, such
as polyamide. In this way a maximum cushioning of the mass ball 2
can be obtained.
FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a sensor according to the
invention in which the desired cushioning effect is obtained by
liquid means. Similar to the embodiments described above, the ring
contacts or devices 13 and 14 in FIG. 5 are designed similar to
those of FIGS. 1 to 4. Merely the housing is so designed that it is
completely closed at the bottom 1'. The interior of the housing is
filled with a liquid, for instance, transformer oil 24 and is
closed by means of a cover 25 in a liquid-tight manner. The static
pressure which is effective through the liquid column above the
mass ball 2 sees to it that with vertical accelerations, the ball 2
will be safely held and kept upon the inner contact ring 13.
FIG. 6 shows a sensor in which the cushioning element is formed by
a brush holder 26, the free end 27 of which has connected thereto a
flexible conductor 28. The brush holder 26 is made of an
electrically conductive material and rests upon the mass ball 2. A
ball 2 rests on an insulated ring 29 which has its outer periphery
surrounded by a contact ring 30. The outer contact ring 30 is
fixedly connected to a conductor 31 so that when the mass ball is
moved out of its rest position a control pulse is, through brush
holder 26 and ball 2 as well as contact ring 30 conveyed through
conductors 28 and 31.
The embodiment of FIG. 7 comprises a housing 32 which is
advantageously made of an electrically non-conductive material. The
housing 32 has a bore 33 engaged by the ball 34 which rests against
the ring edge 35. Above the ball 34 there is provided a pressure
plate 36 which is designed in the manner of a lever 37. When a
predetermined acceleration or retardation has been exceeded, ball
34 moves over the inclined conical surface 38 in the direction of
the arrow 39 so that the pressure plate 36 is lifted and actuates
the pushrod 40 of the micro-switch 41, which latter is firmly
connected to the housing 32. The control pulse is conveyed through
the conductors 42 and 43.
The housing 44 of the embodiment according to FIG. 8 is
substantially of the same general construction as the housing 32 of
FIG. 7. The only difference consists in that the housing 44 is
closed by a cover 45 which is fixedly connected to the housing.
Above the mass ball 46 there is provided a cushioning element 47
which is vertically displaceably arranged in the cover 45 and is
formed by a permanent magnet. In cover 45, and more specifically,
in a glass tube, there are arranged reed contacts 48 which, when
the mass ball 46 is controlled out of its rest position will, in
view of the permanent magnet 47 move to mutual contact. In this
instance, the control pulse is conveyed by the conductors 49,
50.
As will be seen from FIG. 9, the construction representing a
modification of the design of FIG. 8 may be so selected that the
permanent magnet 47 acting as cushioning element will act, not upon
a reed contact, but upon two field plates 51, 52 and will convey
the control pulse through control conductors 53 and 54.
FIG. 10 shows still another embodiment of a sensor according to the
invention, in which the lower portion corresponds substantially to
that of FIGS. 7 - 9. In the closure cover 55 and, more
specifically, in the center thereof, a soft iron core 56 is
displaceably arranged and surrounded by a coil 57. When controlling
the mass ball 46 out of its rest position, the soft iron core 56 is
displaced upwardly in the direction of the arrow 58 so that a
control pulse is emitted by the change in the induction.
The device according to FIG. 11 shows a substantially open
pot-shaped housing 59 of electrically insulating material, in which
the ring contacts or devices 60 and 61 are arranged so as to be
insulated from each other. The inner ring contact device 61 is
lined with a thin-walled part 62 of synthetic material, such as
polypropylene, on which the mass ball 63 rests at the ring zone 64.
In order safely to hold the mass ball 63 in its position when
vertical accelerations occur, a permanent magnet 65 is provided
below the ball 63. The lines of force of said magnet 65 act
continuously upon the metallic ball and pull the same downwardly.
When controlling the ball out of its rest position, the control
pulse is conveyed through conductors 66 and 67 which are connected
to the contact rings 60 and 61.
The device according to FIG. 12 has a housing which in its
pot-shaped inner portion comprises a contact ring 69 which is lined
with a cushioning or resilient material 70, such as polyurethane
foam. The inner contact ring 71 is designed similar to the ring 13
of FIG. 2. When the mass ball 72 moves into the dash-line position
73, it will be appreciated that between the contact ring 71 and the
contact ring 69 arranged in the pot-shaped portion, the control
function is initiated over the connected conduits 73 and 74. The
lining 70 of the contact ring 69 brings about the advantage that at
an accelerated rolling out of the mass ball 72 no hard shocks are
exerted upon the contact ring 69. The forces which act in a
direction perpendicular to the acceleration plane, and which may
subject the mass ball to oscillations, can be absorbed by
suspending the entire sensor system in a resilient or elastic
manner in the vehicle approximately perpendicularly with regard to
the vehicle plane. Any possible influences exerted upon the mass
ball which may be produced by the cushioning elements depending on
their arrangement need no longer be taken into consideration.
Therefore, by a clear calculation, the corresponding supporting
position for the mass ball can be predetermined.
A suspension of the type referred to in the preceding paragraph is
illustrated in FIG. 13. According to FIG. 13, the sensor housing 75
is closed by a cover 76. Arranged on the cover 76 is a guiding pin
77 for receiving a pressure spring 78. At the bottom of the sensor
there is likewise provided a guiding pin 79 for receiving and
guiding a pressure spring 80. The pressure spring 80 is, in a
dish-shaped manner, held in a supporting cap 81, and the pressure
spring 80 is held in a supporting cap 82. The supporting caps 81
and 82 are connected in a U-shaped manner to the web 83 which is
firmly connected to the vehicle 84. In the driving direction
indicated by the arrow 85 which driving direction simultaneously
illustrates the acceleration plane and the plane in which the
device responds, the device must not carry out any relative
movement with regard to the vehicle. Perpendicularly to this plane
in the direction of the arrow 87, the complete device is
resiliently supported by pressure springs 78 and 80 to cushion any
oscillations so that the mass ball 88 when the vehicle drives
through holes in the road will safely remain in its supporting
position without the necessity of providing inner cushioning
elements.
FIG. 14 shows a further development of the design according to the
invention in which the suspension and outer cushioning means are
particularly favorably designed. The sensor housing 89 is
principally of the same construction as described. Merely the
length is somewhat greater. At its open top side the sensor housing
89 is closed by means of a snap cover 90 which consists of rubber
elastic material, especially synthetic material, such as
polyvinylchloride. The cover 90 has at its top side a neck 91 and
merges with a ball head portion 92. The connecting lines 93 and 94
are flexible and pass toward the outside through the ball head
portion 92. A bearing plate 95 has in its center a spherical
supporting surface 96 for pivotally journaling the sensor. The
bearing plate 95 is in a resilient cushioning element 97 fastened
in the cushioning housing, said cushioning element 97
advantageously embraces the bearing plate 95 in a U-shaped manner.
This cushioning housing may, by means of an element 92 be fixedly
connected to the vehicle. The cushioning housing 98 contains a
cushioning liquid 100. Due to this arrangement, the sensor will,
during normal driving operation, always carry out a pendulum
movement in the direction of the forces of gravity. When suddenly
changes in the vehicle speed occur, the sensor housing will, in
view of the outer liquid cushioning maintain its inertia and the
mass ball 101 will control the control pulse. At the bottom side of
the sensor housing 89 an additional mass 102 may be provided for a
better tuning, or adaptation. By determining the diameter of the
cushioning housing, the maximum position of inclination 103 is
determined, which maximum position of inclination is shown by dash
lines.
The embodiment of FIG. 15 is similar to that of FIG. 14, but
differs therefrom in that it has an outer liquid cushioning which
is effective in all directions. The sensor corresponds to a major
extent to that of FIG. 14. The cushioning housing 14 has a
bottle-neck-like snap cover 105. The bore 106 is slightly greater
than the ball head 92 so that the sensor can be displaced axially.
Moreover, the sensor can be pivoted in conformity with the angle
103. If a cushioning liquid 107 is filled into the container 104,
it will be appreciated that with a corresponding design, the sensor
housing 89 is subjected to a buoyancy and thus floats. In this way,
an outer liquid cushioning is realized in all locations of
operations of the device.
It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is,
by no means, limited to the particular embodiments illustrated in
the drawings, but also comprises any modifications within the scope
of the appended claims.
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