FR2535984A1 - Shock-detecting memory device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device is intended to determine whether or not goods have received an abnormal shock during transport or handling. It consists of a weight held in position by a system of taut wires or by pushing elements, or immersed in a liquid contained in a glass vessel. Shocks are revealed by the breakage of one or more of the wires supporting the weight, by the movement of the pushing elements, or by the destruction of the vessel containing the weight.

Description

It is known that the transport of goods is an important source of de-
chets as a result of shocks of all kinds to which may be subjected
goods transported Even when the packages examined are apparently in good condition, surprises are not excluded when they are opened or when their contents are tested.

One of the aims of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device enabling the recipient to realize whether the goods are
received, suffered one or more abnormal shocks, and, if necessary, specify
the direction of these shocks.

Such an indication is valuable, both for carriers and manu
tentionnires, (who, knowing that they are under surveillance, will be more careful ...) to
suppliers (who will find proof that their product has not been badly-
treated), and finally for the receiver, who will be able to verify in one
wink, that his property was handled and transported with the required care.

In its simplest execution (FIg. 1), the shock detector is "mono
axis ", and consists of a mass 1, held in position by two wires ta
res, fixed in two two opposite points in a suitable case, which can be cu
bique or cylindrical. The edges of this cube, or the height of the cylinder
wind vary between 5 and 10cm, for example. The end of the loose wires
to earth, can be connected to display boards, one of which
is shown in 2, Fig. 2, under which there are calibrated springs 3,
leaning on the case. These springs give a certain freedom of
movement to the whole. In the event of a shock, vertical in this case, the
calibrated wire breaks and the plate 2, released, is rejected by the spring:
the shock is thus visualized.

Of course, the auspention by two points which we have just described, does not re
shows that 1P is one of the forms of the invention. We can also position
the flyweight by four wires 1, 2, 3, 4, as shown in Fig 3, the flyweight
being then in the center of the tetrahedron 5, 6, 7, 8, or cncore, one can plan three
orthogonal axes 1, 2, 3, as shown in Fig. 4.

The devices are calibrated according to the type of package to be checked and according to
accelerations that the goods can accept. An action on the expansion
springs 3 (Fig. 2) can for example bring the tension wires very close
of their breaking limit. Variable diameter wires can also
be used, the type of case being able to remain the same, its color for example
indicating acceleration (therefore shock), which the device can withstand without
cluttered. It can be understood from the above, that it is very possi
ble to have several "single-axis" devices in various places and along several axes of a large package. Their installation can either be planned
in advance or be carried out after packaging, by cutting, positioning and fixing
tion using a suitable tool.

Fig. 5 shows a reusable variant of the invention. The counterweight 1 is held in place by a series of spring plungers 2, the number of which can vary from 2 to 6, two of them being shown in FIG. 5. These lice
evenings can be attached to the flyweight. They can also hold it in place by means of supports, of spherical shape, 10,
Their free end slides in a support 3, integral with the wall 4, of the re
container containing the device. A perforated, colored disc, 5, slides freely
on the end, 7, pushers.

In the event of a shock causing the movement of the counterweight in the direction
represented by the arrow 8, the disc 5 emerges from the pusher 7 and falls, until it bears on the support 3. The color of the disc 5 (Fig. 6), is then visible through the opening 6, formed in the wall 4, thus visualizing the shock suffered.

 The replacement of the disc (s) 5 will then allow the reuse of the device.

In another embodiment, the weight 1 (Fig. 7), will bathe in a
liquid 5, itself contained in a glass ampoule 6, sealed at its end 7, enclosed in a second plastic container 8, in which
there is a second liquid 9. The bulb is held in position by the pins 10. In the event of impact, the counterweight 1, breaks the bulb 7, which brings the mixture of the two liquids. It is enough to choose colorless liquids, reacting by mixing, giving a colored reaction, to have the visualization of the breakage of the bulb, ie of the shock suffered.

Such liquids are for example for 5, a dilute hydrochloric acid solution. The mixture gives a red color. Or again for 5, a solution of diazo of dimethylaniline and for 9, a solution of 2-3 dihydroxy naphthalene, the mixture of which turns blue.

Claims (6)

1) Memory device for detecting shocks to which packages are subjected during their handling and transport, produced by the movement of a metal counterweight, said movement being memorized by a display device. 2) Device according to 1, in which the counterweight is held in position inside a container by one or more calibrated wires breaking during an impact exceeding the acceleration accepted for the package 3) Device according to 1 or 2, in which the suspension wire of the counterweight comprises at their end a disk on which a calibrated spring presses, the rupture of said wire leading to an election of said disk under the influence of said spring, displaying alnsi the direction of the shock suffered 4) Device according to 1, in which the counterweight is integral or not with a system of lifters provided with a spring, the displacement of the monkfish mass bringing that of the lifters, a colored disc located at 1 end of said lifters being then moved, the said displacement showing the direction of the shock suffered, 1L seems to be reusable after replacing the colored discs 5) Device according to d, in which the counterweight is immersed in a first liquid contained in a glass bulb, said bulb being immersed in a second liquid contained in a container, the rupture of the bulb, during a visualizing shock. this one. 6) Device according to X and 5, in which the two liquids are colorless or slightly colored chemical reagents, reacting by mixing to give a colored product visualizing the breakage of the bulb, therefore the shock suffered.