US 5,475,372 AGranted

Earthquake detector motion sensitive device

OwnerRobert L. Burkeinventor

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Abstract

An earthquake detector motion sensitive device capable of detecting any one or more of the conditions of angular tilt, vibration or acceleration having an electrically conductive pendulum with a main mass located next to its suspension point and having an extension arm that extends below the main mass. When the pendulum suspension point is acted upon by an outside force of vertical or lateral motion, the extension arms lower end will travel farther than the distance that the main mass travels, causing the lower end of the pendulum extension arm to mechanically amplify the movement of the main mass. At the lower end of the extension arm is an upper switch contact which is suspended into the opening of a lower switch contact. During seismic activity the two switch contacts will be caused to touch each other which will activate an audio signaling device and charge an electrolytic capacitor. When the pendulum swings back toward its normal state of equilibrium, the two switch contacts will no longer be touching and the audio signaling device will continue to produce an audio output until the current in the electrolytic capacitor is discharged. This cycle of pendulum motion continues until the seismic activity acting upon the pendulum suspension point subsides and the pendulum returns to its normal state of equilibrium. The use of the electrolytic capacitor causes the audio output to produce a unique and distinguishable sound and allows the circuit to continue its audio output for an extended duration even when the pendulum switch contacts make minimal contact. Sensitivity adjustment is made by turning in or out an adjusting screw which moves the lower switch contact closer or farther away from the upper switch contact.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An earthquake detector motion sensitive device comprising:

(a) a housing;
(b) a pendulum having normally upper and lower ends and a main mass at said upper end, said lower end extends down below said main mass for a predetermined length;
(c) a pendulum suspension means mounting said pendulum to the inside upper end of said housing, whereby said pendulum has a generally vertical position relative to gravitational forces;
(d) a lower switch contact having an opening to accept the suspension of said pendulum lower end into said lower switch contact, whereby said pendulum lower end remains at a normally fixed distance from said lower switch contact;
(e) a lower switch contact support means for mounting said lower switch contact to the inside lower end of said housing;
(f) a sensitivity adjustment screw for adjusting the relative proximity of said pendulum lower end and said lower switch contact, said sensitivity adjusting screw is threaded through said housing and operatively coupled to said lower switch contact support means;
whereby to provide relative positioning between said pendulum lower end and said lower switch contact;
(g) an electrical means connecting said pendulum lower end and said lower switch contact with an audio signaling device for translating any physical contact between said pendulum lower end and said lower switch contact into an audible signal;
(h) an electrolytic capacitor for sustaining said audible signal for a predetermined duration of time after said pendulum lower end has engaged said lower switch contact and has returned to its normal state of equilibrium;
whereby said audio signaling device will continue to sustain for said predetermined duration of time said audible signal after said pendulum lower end maintains separation from said lower switch contact;
and
(i) a test button for mechanically testing said audible signal, said test button is attached to said pendulum suspension means, whereby physical movement of said test button will disturb said pendulum and cause said pendulum lower end to physically engage said lower switch contact.

9 more elements

An earthquake detector motion sensitive device comprising:

a pendulum-activated switch consisting of a pendulum and a lower switch contact, said pendulum having normally upper and lower ends and a main mass attached at said upper end, said pendulum lower end extends down below said pendulum main mass for a predetermined length, and a pendulum suspension means for suspending said pendulum in a normally vertical position into an opening of said lower switch contact in such a manner that said pendulum lower end remains at a fixed distance from the inside edges of said lower switch contact until said pendulum is disturbed by a force of acceleration, said pendulum activated switch is operatively suspended inside a housing;
(a) said pendulum-activated switch is operatively connected to an alarm means for producing an audible signal when said pendulum-activated switch is caused to close;
(b) an electrolytic capacitor for sustaining said audible signal for a predetermined duration of time after said pendulum-activated switch has been caused to close and has returned to its normal state of equilibrium;
(c) a sensitivity adjustment screw for adjusting the relative proximity of said pendulum lower end and said lower switch contact, said adjusting screw is threaded through said housing and is operatively coupled to said lower switch contact whereby providing relative positioning between said pendulum lower end and said lower switch contact;
and
(d) a test button for mechanically testing said audible signal, said test button is attached to said pendulum suspension means whereby physical movement of said test button will disturb said pendulum and cause said pendulum lower end to physically engage said lower switch contact.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.