# US 5,700,068 A · Positioning apparatus for inertial sensors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,700,068 A - Document ID: US5700068A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/543,356 - Filed: 1995-10-16 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1995-10-16 - Assignees: Tekonsha Engineering Company - Inventors: Barry G. Austin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700068A ## CPC - B60T 8/171: Detecting parameters used in the regulation; Measuring values used in the regulation - B60T 7/20: specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of {or overrunning by} trailer (inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08) - G01P 15/093: by photoelectric pick-up - G01P 21/00: Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES - G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G}) ## Abstract An inertial sensor of the type having an inertially responsive pendulum and a rigid support structure for operatively supporting the pendulum, includes an improved pendulum attitude adjustment assembly which allows precise adjustment of the verticality of the pendulum. The rigid support structure includes a base portion and a pendulum mount portion which is pivotally attached to the base portion. The base is secured at a fixed location and at a fixed attitude relative to the housing. The pendulum is attached at one end to the pendulum mount portion and another end of the pendulum is free to move in response to inertial forces. The attitude adjustment assembly includes an adjustment shaft which is operably coupled to the pendulum mount portion to achieve rotation of the pendulum mount portion with respect to the base portion through a first angle when the adjustment shaft is rotated through an angle greater than the first angle. The pendulum mount portion is preferably rotatable with respect to the base portion through an angle in excess of ninety degrees, and the adjustment shaft has a threaded coupling arrangement which preferably requires rotation of the shaft through a number of degrees in order to rotate the pendulum mount portion a single degree relative to the base portion, thereby providing a desirably high order of resolution while also achieving ease and convenience of operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inertial sensor, comprising: a housing; a flexible pendulum; a rigid support structure having a base portion and a pendulum mount portion pivotally attached to said base portion by a torsionally flexible structure, said base portion being secured at a fixed location and at a fixed attitude relative to said housing, said pendulum being attached at one end to said pendulum mount portion, another end of said pendulum being free to move in response to inertial forces; and a pendulum attitude adjustment assembly which permits precise adjustment of the verticality of said pendulum, said adjustment assembly including an adjustment shaft operably coupled to said pendulum mount portion at a point spaced from said torsionally flexible structure to achieve rotation of said pendulum mount portion with respect to said base portion by torsionally flexing said member through a first angle when said adjustment shaft is rotated through an angle greater than said first angle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inertial sensor of claim 1, wherein said adjustment shaft has a longitudinal axis about which it is rotatable, and wherein said adjustment shaft undergoes translational movement along the longitudinal axis thereof when rotated about its longitudinal axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inertial sensor of claim 1, wherein said pendulum mount portion is rotatable with respect to said base portion through an angle in excess of ninety degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inertial sensor of claim 1, wherein said pendulum mount portion is pivotally connected to said base portion by a living hinge. ### Claim 5 An inertial sensor, comprising: a housing; a flexible pendulum; a rigid support structure having a base portion and a pendulum mount portion pivotally attached to said base portion, said base portion being secured at a fixed location and at a fixed attitude relative to said housing, said pendulum being attached at one end to said pendulum mount portion, another end of said pendulum being free to move in response to inertial forces; and a pendulum attitude adjustment assembly which permits precise adjustment of the verticality of said pendulum, said adjustment assembly including an adjustment shaft operably coupled to said pendulum mount portion to achieve rotation of said pendulum mount portion with respect to said base portion through a first angle when said adjustment shaft is rotated through an angle greater than said first angle said adjustment shaft being threaded and engaging a complementary threaded member which is retained at a substantially fixed position with respect to said housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The inertial sensor of claim 5, wherein said threaded member is a nut which is non-rotatably captured in a slot on a retainer connected to said housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The inertial sensor of claim 6, wherein said adjustment shaft includes a head portion integrally attached at one end; and an arm connecting said adjusting shaft with said pendulum mount portion, said arm including a slot for receiving said head portion of said adjustment shaft, and said arm being pivotally attached to said pendulum mount portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The inertial sensor of claim 7, further comprising a knob which projects outwardly through said housing and is directly coupled to said adjustment shaft so that said knob and said adjustment shaft rotate together. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The inertial sensor of claim 8, wherein said knob includes a hexagonal shaped recess whose walls are engaged by a hexagonal nut fixedly secured to said adjustment shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The inertial sensor of claim 9, wherein said base portion of said support structure is secured to a printed circuit board mounted within said housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The inertial sensor of claim 10, wherein said base portion of said support structure includes a plurality in integral, resilient mounting clips which project through said circuit board to retain said support structure thereon. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The inertial sensor of claim 11 further comprising a sleeve disposed on said adjustment shaft between said nut engaging knob and said nut captured in said slot of said retainer, whereby over-rotation of said shaft in a particular direction is prevented or at least restricted by said sleeve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The inertial sensor of claim 12, wherein said retainer is engageable by said arm to prevent or at least restrict over rotation of said adjustment shaft in a particular direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The inertial sensor of claim 7, wherein said pendulum mount portion includes a mounting flange having a circular aperture, and said arm includes a cylindrical axle which projects into said aperture to provide said pivotal attachment of said arm to said pendulum mount portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The inertial sensor of claim 14, further comprising a retainer flange integral with said pendulum mount portion, said arm being retained between said mounting flange and said retainer flange. ### Claim 16 An inertial sensor, comprising: a housing; a flexible pendulum; a rigid support structure having a base portion and a pendulum mount portion pivotally attached to said base portion through a living hinge, said base portion being secured at a fixed location and at a fixed attitude relative to said housing, said pendulum being attached at one end to said pendulum mount portion, another end of said pendulum being free to move in response to inertial forces; and a pendulum attitude adjustment assembly including an externally threaded adjustment shaft having a head portion, an internally threaded member which is retained at a substantially stationary position with respect to said housing, and an arm connecting said adjustment shaft with said pendulum mount portion, said external thread of said adjustment shaft engaging said internal thread of said internally threaded member, said arm including a slot for receiving said head portion of said adjustment shaft and an axle which is pivotally attached to said pendulum mount portion, rotation of said adjustment shaft causing rotation of said pendulum mount portion with respect to said base portion, the ratio of the angular displacement of said adjustment shaft to the angular displacement of said pendulum mount portion with respect to said base portion being greater than one. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The inertial sensor of claim 16, wherein said pendulum mount portion is rotatable with respect to said base portion through an angle in excess of ninety degrees.