Rolamite sensor
AssigneeTRW Technar Inc.
InventorRichard J. Russell, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rolamite sensor for use in sensing deceleration of a vehicle includes two separate electrical circuits for actuating one or more occupant restraints such as air bags. The sensor has a base mounted on a chassis and a cover welded to the chassis to enclose the base. One surface of the base acts as a guide surface for a roller. A pair of thin metal bands are wrapped around the roller. The ends of the bands are fixed to the base. The roller is rollable on the guide surface under an applied force to cause the bands to engage firing contacts to complete the electrical circuits. The roller has a pair of spaced apart tubular metal caps supported on a non-conductive insert. Each band is welded to a respective one of the conductive metal caps of the roller.
Claims10
An apparatus comprising:
- a movable member having a longitudinal axis;
- a base having a guide surface defining a path along which said movable member is displaced from a first position to a second position, said axis being displaced along with said movable member;
- a band of flexible electrically conductive material which at least partially encircles said movable member about said axis and which is partially displaced with said movable member upon movement of said movable member, said band being welded to said movable member;
- and
- an electrically conductive member in the path of displacement of said band at a location spaced from said movable member and said band when said movable member and band are in a first position, said movable member being movable along said guide surface from said first position to a second position in which a portion of said band movable with said movable member contacts said conductive member to complete a circuit for electrical current through said conductive member and said band.
A rolamite sensor comprising:
- a roller having a longitudinal axis;
- a base having a guide surface defining a path along which said roller is displaced from a first position to a second position, said axis being displaced along with said movable member;
- a band of flexible electrically conductive material which at least partially encircles said roller about said axis and which is partially displaced with said roller upon movement of said roller;
- and
- an electrically conductive member in the path of displacement of said band at a location spaced from said roller and said band when said roller and band are in a first position, said roller being movable along said guide surface from said first position to a second position in which a portion of said band movable with said roller contacts said conductive member to complete a circuit for electrical current through said conductive member and said band;
- said roller comprising a non-conductive plastic insert and a conductive tubular metal cap molded on an outer surface of said non-conductive insert, said band being welded to said metal cap of said roller to attach said band rigidly to said roller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.