US3493701A - Inertia switches having holding means - Google Patents

Inertia switches having holding means Download PDF

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Publication number
US3493701A
US3493701A US645012A US3493701DA US3493701A US 3493701 A US3493701 A US 3493701A US 645012 A US645012 A US 645012A US 3493701D A US3493701D A US 3493701DA US 3493701 A US3493701 A US 3493701A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
actuating member
peg
seating
magnet
inertia
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US645012A
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English (en)
Inventor
Walter Wilson Hugh Clarke
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CB ASS Ltd
Cb Associates Ltd
Original Assignee
CB ASS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by CB ASS Ltd filed Critical CB ASS Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3493701A publication Critical patent/US3493701A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
    • F16K31/02—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic
    • F16K31/06—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic using a magnet, e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid
    • F16K31/08—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic using a magnet, e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid using a permanent magnet
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K28/00—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions
    • B60K28/10—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle 
    • B60K28/14—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle  responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H35/00—Switches operated by change of a physical condition
    • H01H35/14—Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H5/00—Snap-action arrangements, i.e. in which during a single opening operation or a single closing operation energy is first stored and then released to produce or assist the contact movement
    • H01H5/02—Energy stored by the attraction or repulsion of magnetic parts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H35/00—Switches operated by change of a physical condition
    • H01H35/14—Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch
    • H01H35/141—Details
    • H01H35/143—Resetting means

Definitions

  • An inertia switch comprises an operating mass, preferably a ball of magnetic material, normally held on a seating by a magnet. A sutlicient acceleration of the switch dislodges the mass and impels it to make or break a pair of contacts, preferably by axial movement between the contacts of an insulating peg having a conductive collar.
  • the invention relates to inertia switches, that is to say, switches operated by movement of the switch as a whole, for example by tilting, impact, vibration or acceleration.
  • Switches are costly to manufacture and in consequence have not been widely used in domestic appliances since their provision would necessitate a diS- proportionate increase in the retail price of the appliance.
  • Such switches have many uses, for example to cut out the supply of electricity to a drive motor when a washing machine or spin drier exceeds a determined amplitude of oscillation due to overor eccentric-loading of the drum.
  • Another use is to disconnect the electrical system of a vehicle, for example in the event of a crash.
  • the invention has among its objects to provide an inertia switch which can be produced cheaply.
  • an inertia switch comprises a housing defining a seating, a magnet positioned adjacent the seating and an operating mass of magnetic material adapted to be held on the seating by the magnet until dislodged by an acceleration of determined magnitude applied to the switch, thereby causing the mass to move an elongated member axially to make or to break a pair of electrical contacts.
  • the operating mass is spherical and located on a frusto-conical seating, the magnet being adjacent the smaller face of the frustum.
  • the elongated member is a peg of electrically insulating material having a collar of electrically conducting material thereon, movement of the peg axially being effective to move the collar to engage or disengage a pair of contacts co-operatng therewith to -make or break an electrical circuit.
  • the frusto-conical seating advantageously tapers inwardly with the magnet mounted axially thereof so that the spherical operating mass is held by the magnet within the frusto-conical seating.
  • the seating is preferably so formed that an air gap exists between the magnet and the operating mass.
  • the peg member is positioned in a bore in the end face of a sleeve of plastics or other non-magnetic material and engages a magnet assembly with a snap action.
  • Spring members passing between the sleeve and the magnet assembly engage opposite sides of the peg, the spring members being so spaced apart that the operating mass cannot engage both spring members at the same time. If the magnet assembly and/or the sleeve are electrically conductive, the spring members must be insulated therefrom.
  • the operating mass may be provided in other than a spherical form, for example as a cylinder located on a recessed circular seating. In this case the switch will only respond to an acceleration in the direction of its axis. Furthermore, 4by small modifications of the switch additional contacts may be operated if required.
  • FIGURES l and 2 illustrate two central cross-sectional Views of a switch with normally closed contacts, shown set in FIGURE 1 and tripped in FIGURE 2;
  • FIGURE 3 illustrates a central cross-sectional view of a switch with normally open contacts shown in the set position.
  • the switch shown in FIGURES l and 2 is formed with a sleeve-like housing 1 and a seating assembly 2 engaged therewith, formed by injection moulding from a plastics material.
  • a cylindrical magnet 3 is secured in a bore of a seating assembly 2 adjacent a frusto-conical seating 4, a ball 5 of magnetic material being held in the frustoconical seating by the attraction of the magnet 3.
  • a peg 6 of plastics material has a copper collar 7 secured thereon and is provided in a bore, co-axial with the axis of the magnet 3, in an end face of the sleeve 1. There is a small gap, of the order of 1/16 between the ball 5 and the peg 6.
  • Contact springs 8 passing between the sleeve 1 and the seating assembly 2 engage the collar 7 and, for eX- ample, complete the circuit of a vehicles electrical systern or carry the motor current for a washing machine drive.
  • the ball 5 Upon vibration or acceleration of the switch in a plane at right angles to its axis, the ball 5 is shaken loose from the seating 4 and rides up the seating to strike the end of the peg ⁇ 6, knocking it axially outwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 2, so that the springs 8 engage with the axially outward face of cap 9 on the end of the peg 6, and are insulated one from the other.
  • the small gap between ball and peg allows the ball to build up momentum before having to overcome the frictional resistance to sliding of peg 6.
  • the portion of the peg 6 between the collar 7 and the cap 9 is tapered as shown so that the action of the springs 8 assists the movement of the peg 6, the tapered portion also forming a holding recess in which is positioned the ends of the springs 8 when peg 6 is moved outwardly.
  • the peg is pressed axially inwardly by means of a block 10 thus pressing the ball 5 into its seating 4 and making electrical contact between the springs 8 by means of the collar 7.
  • the end face of the cup is to some extent resilient, thereby permitting a gap between the ball 5 and cap 9 while allowing the ball 5 to be pressed firmly into its seating.
  • the conductive collar 7 can if required be provided on the portion of the peg 6 immediately behind the cap 9 so that a connection is made upon outward movement of the peg 6.
  • An inertia-operated switch device comprising:
  • housing means having seating means including a seat formed therein;
  • an actuating member movably mounted on said housing means for movement between first and second positions, said actuating member having a portion disposed opposite said seat with said actuating member being normally maintained in said first position, movement of said actuating member to said second position causing said portion to be moved away from said seat;
  • contact means including a pair of relatively movable electrical contacts coacting with said actuating member for creating an electrical circuit when said actuating member is in one of said positions;
  • an inertia mass movably disposed within said housing means between said seat and said portion of said actuating member, said inertia mass being normally magnetically attracted to said magnet means so as to be held in engagement with said seat whereby imposition of a predetermined shock force on said switch device causes said inertia mass to be moved away from said seat so as to contact said portion of said actuating member and move said actuating member from said rst position to said second position;
  • said contact means and said actuating member including means for releasably holding said actuating member in said second position after it has moved to said second position.
  • a switch device according to claim 1, wherein said last-mentioned means includes resilient means coacting with said contacts and a recess formed in the actuating member whereby said contacts are resiliently urged into 1 said recess for engaging and holding said actuating member in said second position.
  • a switch device wherein said actuating member includes an annular recess thereon, and wherein said releasable holding means includes a pair of elongated spring members having end portions resiliently urged into engagement with said actuating member so as to be positioned within said recess when said actuating member is in said second position.
  • a switch device wherein said pair of elongated spring members are electrically conductive and said end portions comprise a pair of electrical contact portions, and said actuating member has an electrically conductive means ixedly secured thereto and contacted by said pair of contact portions when said actuating member is in said one of said first and second positions.
  • a switch device wherein said seat is frusto-conical and said magnet means is positioned adjacent the apex of said seat, and wherein said inertia mass is of a spherical configuration.
  • a switch device comprising:
  • housing means including an elongated tubular portion having a base member, said base member having an opening extending therethrough;
  • a seat member iixedly secured to one end of said tubular member, said seat member having a bearing surface thereon positioned within the interior of said housing means yand spaced opposite from said openlng;
  • magnet means fixedly secured to Said seat member and having a portion disposed adjacent said bearing surface;
  • an elongated actuating member slideably mounted on said housing means and disposed within and extending through the opening formed in said base member, said actuating member being movable relative to the elongated direction of said housing means between rst and second positions, said actuating member further having an end portion disposed within the interior of said housing means between said base member and said bearing surface, and said actuating member including electrically conductive means disposed within the interior of said housing means when said actuating member is in at least one of said positions;
  • said electrical contact means mounted on said housing means and adapted to coact with the electrically conductive means of said actuating member, said electrical contact means including a pair of elongated resilient members of electrically conductive material having free end portions dening a pair of spaced contacts with said free end portions being disposed within the interior of said housing means within the space between said base member and said seat member, and the contacts on said free end portions being adapted to resiliently contact the electrically conductive means of said actuating member when said actuating member is in said one position; and
  • an inertia member movably disposed within the interior of said housing means between said bearing surface and the end portion of said actuating member, said inertia member being normally magnetically attracted to said magnet means and held in bearing engagement with said bearing surface, movement of said inertia member away from said bearing surface causing same to contact the end portion of said actuating member so as to move same from said first position to said second position.
  • a switch device wherein said contacts are resiliently urged into contact with said actuating member when said actuating member is in both said rst and said second positions.
  • a switch device wherein said end portion of said actuating member is formed with a tapered surface thereon, said contacts being resiliently urged into engagement with said tapered surface to assist in moving said actuating member from said rst position to said second position.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
US645012A 1966-06-10 1967-06-09 Inertia switches having holding means Expired - Lifetime US3493701A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB26100/66A GB1145204A (en) 1966-06-10 1966-06-10 Improvements relating to inertia switches
AU49302/69A AU435578B2 (en) 1966-06-10 1969-01-21 Improvements in or relating to inertia actuated switching devices

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3493701A true US3493701A (en) 1970-02-03

Family

ID=25628577

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US645012A Expired - Lifetime US3493701A (en) 1966-06-10 1967-06-09 Inertia switches having holding means

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3493701A (de)
AU (1) AU435578B2 (de)
DE (1) DE1615895B2 (de)
FR (1) FR1557265A (de)
GB (1) GB1145204A (de)
NL (1) NL6900265A (de)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3569643A (en) * 1968-09-03 1971-03-09 Cb Ass Ltd Inertia switch having releasable latch means
US3649786A (en) * 1968-10-30 1972-03-14 Peugeot Safety switch and system for a vehicle
US3737599A (en) * 1971-10-26 1973-06-05 Gulton Ind Inc Acceleration switch with magnetic permeable metal sleeve for shunting magnetic field
US3743849A (en) * 1970-09-21 1973-07-03 Mitsubadenkiseisakusho Co Ltd Apparatus for automatically disconnecting power circuit for vehicles due to impact
US3778572A (en) * 1971-03-25 1973-12-11 Nissan Motor Inertia sensor switch assemblies with magnetic holding means or the like
US3780314A (en) * 1971-01-28 1973-12-18 Hitachi Ltd Vehicle collision detecting apparatus
US4788517A (en) * 1987-10-08 1988-11-29 Beta Mfg. Co. Sealed proximity switch assembly
US4982664A (en) * 1988-01-22 1991-01-08 Peter Norton Crash sensor with snap disk release mechanism for stabbing primer
US5334963A (en) * 1992-10-22 1994-08-02 The University Of Alabama In Huntsville Inertia and inductance switches
DE19754653A1 (de) * 1997-12-09 1999-09-09 Siemens Ag Beschleunigungssensor
US20140138219A1 (en) * 2012-11-20 2014-05-22 Tien-Ming Chou Electrical switch and method of producing the same

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2824210A1 (de) * 1978-06-02 1979-12-06 Sachs Systemtechnik Gmbh Beschleunigungs- oder lagesensor
US5011182A (en) * 1989-10-06 1991-04-30 Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. Velocity change sensor with contact retainer
US5178323A (en) * 1991-01-02 1993-01-12 Blue Bird Body Company Heating system with safety features
FR2821601B1 (fr) * 2001-03-02 2003-11-21 Garage Patrick Allart Dispositif de signalisation du retournement d'un engin agricole
RU2754918C1 (ru) * 2020-10-26 2021-09-08 Российская Федерация, от имени которой выступает Государственная корпорация по атомной энергии "Росатом" (Госкорпорация "Росатом") Пороговый датчик инерционного типа

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2056494A (en) * 1934-06-08 1936-10-06 Jr Edwin W Tucker Electric switch
US2552665A (en) * 1949-12-12 1951-05-15 Cirone Joseph Accelerator actuated switch for signal lights
US3165574A (en) * 1961-10-20 1965-01-12 Carling Electric Inc Insulating and/or dust cover for switches
US3270159A (en) * 1962-04-05 1966-08-30 Controllix Corp Shock responsive circuit breaker

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2056494A (en) * 1934-06-08 1936-10-06 Jr Edwin W Tucker Electric switch
US2552665A (en) * 1949-12-12 1951-05-15 Cirone Joseph Accelerator actuated switch for signal lights
US3165574A (en) * 1961-10-20 1965-01-12 Carling Electric Inc Insulating and/or dust cover for switches
US3270159A (en) * 1962-04-05 1966-08-30 Controllix Corp Shock responsive circuit breaker

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3569643A (en) * 1968-09-03 1971-03-09 Cb Ass Ltd Inertia switch having releasable latch means
US3649786A (en) * 1968-10-30 1972-03-14 Peugeot Safety switch and system for a vehicle
US3743849A (en) * 1970-09-21 1973-07-03 Mitsubadenkiseisakusho Co Ltd Apparatus for automatically disconnecting power circuit for vehicles due to impact
US3780314A (en) * 1971-01-28 1973-12-18 Hitachi Ltd Vehicle collision detecting apparatus
US3778572A (en) * 1971-03-25 1973-12-11 Nissan Motor Inertia sensor switch assemblies with magnetic holding means or the like
US3737599A (en) * 1971-10-26 1973-06-05 Gulton Ind Inc Acceleration switch with magnetic permeable metal sleeve for shunting magnetic field
US4788517A (en) * 1987-10-08 1988-11-29 Beta Mfg. Co. Sealed proximity switch assembly
US4982664A (en) * 1988-01-22 1991-01-08 Peter Norton Crash sensor with snap disk release mechanism for stabbing primer
US5334963A (en) * 1992-10-22 1994-08-02 The University Of Alabama In Huntsville Inertia and inductance switches
DE19754653A1 (de) * 1997-12-09 1999-09-09 Siemens Ag Beschleunigungssensor
US20140138219A1 (en) * 2012-11-20 2014-05-22 Tien-Ming Chou Electrical switch and method of producing the same
US9058945B2 (en) * 2012-11-20 2015-06-16 Tien-Ming Chou Electrical switch and method of producing the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU435578B2 (en) 1973-05-10
AU4930269A (en) 1970-07-23
NL6900265A (de) 1970-07-10
DE1615895A1 (de) 1970-07-30
DE1615895B2 (de) 1971-03-18
GB1145204A (en) 1969-03-12
FR1557265A (de) 1969-02-14

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