Earthquake latch
OwnerJohn A. Micheinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latching device which detects the initial shocks of major earthquakes and activates safety devices before the onset of destructive ground motions. A unidirectional vertical threshold seismoscope is integrated with mechanical and electromechanical safety devices to latch cabinets closed, secure movable objects, shut off gas, water, and electric utilities, activate alarms, early warning networks, and related automated response systems. The device is fully self contained, requires no external power, and is virtually impervious to nonearthquake noise in that it is designed to respond specifically to the vertical acceleration and displacement characteristic of the initial shock waves of a major earthquake.
Claims8
A latch which detects the initial shocks of major earthquakes and locks cabinet doors and drawers closed before the onset of destructive ground motions, comprised of;
- a) a frame for fastening to objects within, or elements of, structures in contact with the earth;
- b) and a latch mass suspended within the frame by an integral spring and friction forces acting between the latch mass and frame, so as to decouple the motion of the latch mass from that of the frame, allowing the latch mass to move vertically downward, when the frame experiences the upward acceleration and displacement characteristic of the initial shocks of a major earthquake;
- c) the spring being adjustable to friction forces acting between the latch mass and frame so as to tune the spectral response of the latch mass specifically to the acceleration and displacement characteristic of the initial shocks of major earthquakes;
- d) means to retain the latch mass in an extended position below the frame when the latch is activated;
- e) means to keep the latch mass down and locked in its extended position below the frame;
- f) means to reset the latch mass to its up and ready position within the frame so as to be ready to detect another major earthquake or its after shocks;
- g) and a flexible catch which is fastened to cabinet doors or drawers so that it engages the latch mass when the latch mass is in its down and locked position and restricts the motion of cabinet doors or drawers;
- h) means to release the catch after the earthquake subsides so as to reset the latch mass to its up and ready position to detect another major earthquake or after shocks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.