CN1177411A

CN1177411A - Earthquake sensor

Info

Publication number: CN1177411A
Application number: CN95197756A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 梅厄·吉特利斯; 阿隆·齐翁
Original assignee: EARTHQUAKE Co Ltd
Current assignee: EARTHQUAKE Co Ltd
Priority date: 1995-03-03
Filing date: 1995-09-27
Publication date: 1998-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-27
Also published as: CA2214440A1; AU3732695A; KR19980702746A; EP0813725A4; CN1102784C; AU721303B2; MX9706603A; EP0813725A1; NZ294505A

Abstract

An earthquake sensor includes a base (18), a first element (22) pivotably supported on the base (18) at a first pivot location (20), and a second element (32) pivotably supported on the first element (22) at a second pivot location (30). A sensor apparatus (34) senses earthquake actuated vibration of the second element (32) and provides an output indication (41) thereof.

Description

Seismic sensor

Invention field

The present invention relates generally to seismic sensor and alarm.

Background technology

People can be known various types of sensors by patent documentation, can think that following United States Patent (USP) represented the present situation of this area: 4,086,807; 4,262,289; 4,297,690; 4,358,757; 4,484,186; 4,662,225; 4,689,997; 4,764,761; 4,764,762; 4,789,922; 4,841,288; 4,904,943; 4,945,347; 4,978,948; 4,980,644; 5,001,466; 5,101,195; 5,248,959; 5,278,540.

Summary of the invention

The present invention attempts to overcome the shortcoming of prior art and attempts to provide a kind of relatively inexpensive and reliable seismic sensor.

According to the seismic sensor of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprise a base, one first element, second element and a sensor device.Wherein this first element pivotally is supported on the base at first pivot position, this second element pivotally is supported on first element at second pivot position, and this sensor device operationally second element that causes of sensing earthquake vibration and an output indication is provided.

Preferably be provided with alarm, response output indication is to provide the audible alarm that shows that earthquake takes place.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this sensor device responds the relative displacement of first element and second element.

Further, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, this sensor device is between first and second pivot positions.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this sensor device comprises piezo-electric device.

Further, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a regulating device is arranged, this regulating device operationally changes the amplitude that the self-sensing apparatus provides the vibration of output indication second element that needed earthquake causes.

Further, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this sensor device can respond on the base scope roughly the frequency between 0.1Hz and 10Hz so that output indication to be provided.

Brief Description Of Drawings

From the detailed description below in conjunction with accompanying drawing, the present invention will be understood more fully.Wherein:

Figure 1A is for constituting according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the synoptic diagram of the earthquake alarming device operated;

Figure 1B is along the cut-away view that installs among Figure 1A of B-B line among Figure 1A;

Fig. 2 is along the Figure 1A of II-II line among Figure 1B and the cut-away view of the device among the 1B;

Fig. 3 is the block diagram of the simplification of circuit used in the device among Figure 1A and the 1B;

Fig. 4 is the cut-away view of another embodiment of the device among Figure 1A to Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is the rough schematic view of the earthquake alarming device that constitutes according to another embodiment of the invention and operate; And

Fig. 6,7,8,9,10 and 11 is each rough schematic view that is used for the transducer module of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

With reference to Figure 1A and 1B, the earthquake alarming device that constitutes according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and operate shown in it.This earthquake alarming device comprises a housing 10, is made of plastics typically, and has transparent or semitransparent top 12, is used for ccontaining lamp 14 or other visible attention displays.

In this illustrative embodiment, a needle bar that is directed upwards towards 16 is located on the base portion 18 of housing 10, makes the summit of needle bar 16 determine first pivot position 20.Being pivotably mounted on the summit of needle bar 16 with what move pivotly around this first pivot position 20 is first element 22.This first element 22 can be made by one or more pieces, preferably connects one first counterbalance weight 24 thereon, and this counterbalance weight is positioned at a position of the below of first pivot position 20.

This first element 22 is preferably determined one second needle bar that is directed upwards towards 26 similarly, makes that one second pivot position 30 is determined on the summit of this second needle bar 26.Be arranged on pivotly on the summit of this needle bar 26, what be used for moving pivotly around second pivot position 30 is one second element 32, this element can be made of monolithic or multi-disc, and preferably have an earthquake to cause vibration transducer 34 to connect thereon, and this sensor 34 is under second pivot position 30, the position of first pivot position more than 20.Earthquake causes the operationally vibration that causes of the earthquake of sensing second the element 32 and output indication is provided of vibration transducer 34 thereon.

In illustrative embodiment, earthquake causes vibration transducer 34 to comprise the sensor rod 35 of a conduction, and it passes the sensor ring 36 of a conduction, as Figure 1B and shown in Figure 2.The sensor rod 35 of conduction links to each other with second element 32 in the top, and one second counterbalance weight 33 is connected to the lower end of the sensor rod 35 of conduction.

The sensor ring 36 of conduction is shown in Figure 2 to be the line of a bending, and two end is urged to 37 and 38 places of first element.Be appreciated that and also have many methods that other form ring 36 and assemble with first element 22 thereon.

The general assembly (TW) of first element 22 and first counterbalance weight 24 typically is about 500-600 gram.The vertical range of the center of gravity of first pivot position, 20 to first elements 22 and counterbalance weight 24 is typically about 40mm.

The weight of the sensor rod 35 of second element 32, second counterbalance weight 33 and conduction typically is about 50-55 gram.Vertical range between the center of gravity of the sensor rod 35 of second pivot position 30 and second element 32, second counterbalance weight 33 and conduction typically is approximately 60-65mm.

Vertical range between first pivot position 20 and second pivot position 30 typically is approximately 80-100mm.

The sensor rod 35 of conduction typically is made of copper, and has thin gold plaque.The diameter of the sensor rod 35 of conduction typically is about the 1-1.5 millimeter.The internal diameter of the sensor ring 36 of conduction typically is about 3-4mm.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that for being familiar with earthquake alarming device 10 can respond the vibration of 0.1 to 10 hertz of scope.Should be appreciated that also that earthquake alarming device 10 can respond the vibration that is caused by earthquake, this vibration is usually in about 2 to 8 hertz frequency range.Be appreciated that also earthquake alarming device 10 will can not respond the vibration that non-earthquake causes, such as the vibration that roar or numerous vehicles nearby cause, the frequency of these vibrations is usually between 14 to 25 hertz.

Warning device preferably is provided, response output indication, with sound is provided and or the alarm of the generation of visible demonstration earthquake.Circuit block diagram with the simplification that this warning device is associated is shown among Fig. 3.

The sensor rod 35 of conduction and the sensor ring 36 of conduction are in series with lamp 14, battery 40, buzzer 41, switch 42 and electronic circuit 43.Switch 42 is used to connect earthquake alarming device.When earthquake took place, vibration made rod 35 36 contact with ring, thereby made circuit become the loop and make buzzer 41 and lamp 14 is worked.Electronic circuit 43 is determined duration and the type that the run duration of buzzers 41 and lamp 14 are luminous, for example is stabilized illumination or flashes.

Referring now to Fig. 4,, itself and Figure 1A, the embodiment of 1B and Fig. 2 is the same, just comprises the sensitivity characteristic that can regulate, promptly is that this characteristic will be described now.The manipulable button 50 operation rack-and-pinion chains 52 of user, this rack-and-pinion chain is raised or is reduced arm 54, thereby changes the sensor ring 36 of conduction and the distance between second counterbalance weight 33.Reduce or increase the sensor ring 36 and the distance between second counterbalance weight 33 of conducting electricity all to change the required Oscillation Amplitude of generation warning.

Be appreciated that the backlash in the rack-and-pinion chain 52 is enough big, make earthquake alarming device among Fig. 4 will have basically and the above-mentioned the same frequency response characteristic of embodiment with reference to Figure 1A to 2 explanation.

Referring to Fig. 5, it is the rough schematic view of earthquake alarming device that constitute according to another embodiment of the invention and operation.This device comprises a seat element 78, and it can be fixed on wall or other the suitable objects, and a sharp corner has been determined one first pivot position 80 thereon.

Being pivotably mounted on the seat element 78 in order to what move pivotly round a pivot position 80 is first element 82, it can by one or more pieces make and its on preferably connect one first counterbalance weight 84, be positioned at first position of pivot position below 80.

This first element 82 is preferably determined one second pivot position 90 equally.Installing pivotly in order to what move pivotly around second pivot position 90 is one second element 92, it can be made of one or more pieces, and preferably connect an earthquake thereon and cause vibration transducer 94, this sensor is positioned under second pivot position 90 and on first pivot position 80.The vibration that earthquake causes the earthquake of vibration transducer 94 sensing second element when operation to cause, and provide the output of this vibration to indicate.One second counterbalance weight 96 is preferably arranged on second element 92, be positioned at the below that earthquake causes vibration transducer 94.

For those skilled in the art, should be appreciated that, the earthquake alarming device among Fig. 5 with have essentially identical frequency response characteristic with reference to embodiment described above among Figure 1A to Fig. 2.

Best, be provided with warning device, response output indication shows the generation of earthquake in order to sound and/or visible warning to be provided, here basically with aforementioned with reference to Figure 1A to Fig. 3 illustrated and describe the same.

Now referring to Fig. 6,7,8,9,10 and 11, be respectively the synoptic diagram of the simplification of transducer module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.Earthquake among the embodiment shown in Figure 1A to Fig. 3 that has been appreciated that replacement that each transducer module among Fig. 6-11 is just simplified causes vibration transducer 34.

Referring now to Fig. 6,, a counterbalance weight 105 is fixed on the base 106, base 106 and piezoelectric element 107 mechanical connections.Piezoelectric element 107 operationally responds the mechanically deform that the displacement of the counterbalance weight 105 that caused by seismic oscillation and base 106 causes, and produces electric signal.

Now referring to Fig. 7, counterbalance weight 115 dangles and descends from centring point 120 among the figure, and when earthquake takes place, in the bump

piezoelectric element

121 and 122 any.

Piezoelectric element

121 and 122 mechanical-stretchings that will cause are converted to electric signal.

Now referring to Fig. 8, one is generally spherical operationally rolling on surface 126 of counterbalance weight 125 among the figure.The vibration of earthquake is rolled and impact

microphone

127 or 128 counterbalance weight 125.

Sensor

127 and 128 can be piezoelectric element or contact loudspeaker that it is converted to electric signal with this bump.

Now referring to Fig. 9, among the figure, a mercury pool 130 has an electrode 132 that permanently submerges wherein.Electrode 134 and 136 is positioned at the top of mercury pool 130, and does not contact with this pond at first.The vibration of earthquake one of makes in mercury and

electrode

134 or 136 and to contact, thereby makes the warning circuit closure.

Now referring to Figure 10, a magnet 140 and an adjacent static coil 144 of hanging from centring point 142 in showing among the figure.The vibration of earthquake causes magnet 140 to produce electric signal with respect to coil 144 motions.

Now referring to Figure 11, there is shown a setting similar to FIG. 10, just in the embodiment of Figure 11, coil 154 hangs and magnet 152 is static from centring point 152.

For it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited in the above-mentioned content that specifically illustrates and describe, but should comprise its equivalent and various variation.Scope of the present invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims

1, a kind of seismic sensor comprises:

A base;

One first element is supported on first pivot position on the described base pivotly;

One second element is supported on second pivot position of described first element pivotly; And

Sensor device, the operationally vibration that causes of the earthquake of described second element of sensing and produce an output indication thereon.

2, device according to claim 1 also comprises a warning device, responds described output indication, produces the audible alarm of the generation that shows earthquake.

3, device according to claim 1 also comprises a warning device, responds described output indication, produces the visible warning of the generation that shows earthquake.

4, device according to claim 1, wherein, described sensor device responds the relative displacement of described first and second elements.

5, device according to claim 1, wherein, described sensor device is between described first and second pivot positions.

6, device according to claim 1, wherein, sensor device comprises piezo-electric device.

7, device according to claim 1 also comprises a regulating device, and described regulating device operationally changes the earthquake that produces required described second element of described output indication from described sensor device and causes the amplitude vibrated.

8, device according to claim 1, wherein said sensor device respond the frequency range vibration between 0.1Hz and 10Hz substantially that causes in the described base, to produce described output indication.