# US 6,917,004 B1 · Earthquake actuated micro switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,917,004 B1 - Document ID: US6917004B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 10/844,884 - Filed: 2004-05-14 - Granted: 2005-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 2004-05-14 - Inventors: Paul D. Engdahl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6917004B1 ## CPC - H01H 35/14: Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch {(wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002)} - Y10T 137/0318: Processes - Y10T 137/0777: With second control - Y10T 137/0923: By pendulum or swinging member - Y10T 137/0947: With servo connection to valve - Y10T 137/8242: Electrical - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An earthquake actuated micro switch includes a ball which falls into a micro switch actuating position when disturbed. The ball normally resides in a shallow ball seat. A sufficient disturbance causes the ball to escape the ball seat, and fall into a switch seat. When the ball comes to rest in the switch seat, a lower surface of the ball pushes a micro switch actuator, thereby actuating the micro switch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A motion actuated electrical switch comprising: a ball; a switch body having a floor, the ball residing in the switch body; a ball seat on the floor, wherein the ball is positionable by the ball seat when the floor is functionally in the horizontal plane; a switch seat in the floor; and an electrical switch residing under the floor and having an upward facing switch actuator positioned at least partially under the switch seat, wherein motion of the body allows the ball to escape the ball seat and fall into the switch seat, and wherein the switch seat is of sufficient diameter and shape to allow the ball, if residing in the switch seat, to actuate the switch actuator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the electric switch is a micro switch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 2, wherein the micro switch is a Single-Pole Double-Throw (SPDT) micro switch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 2, wherein the switch actuator is a straight lever. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, further including a four conductor cable electrically connected to the electrical switch, wherein the conductor cable comprises: a normally open conductor; a normally closed conductor; a neutral conductor; and a ground conductor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the switch body has a sealed interior. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the ball seat is a shallow conical recess in the floor, wherein the recess has a substantially vertical central axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, further comprising a set control actuable from external to said body for moving said ball from the ball seat to the switch seat. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 8, wherein said set control comprises: a set shaft supported by said body above the ball seat; and at least one first downwardly extending arm rotatable by said set shaft and extending downwardly to a first lower end positioned adjacent said ball and opposite to said switch seat when said ball is residing in said ball seat, wherein, rotating the first downwardly extending arm toward the ball causes the ball to move out of the ball seat and toward the switch seat. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, further comprising a reset control actuable from external to said body for moving said ball from the switch seat to the ball seat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 10, wherein said reset control comprises: a reset shaft supported by said body above the switch seat; and at least one second downwardly extending arm rotatable by said reset shaft and extending downwardly to a lower end positioned adjacent said ball and opposite to said ball seat when said ball is residing in said switch seat, wherein, rotating the second downwardly extending arm toward the ball causes the ball to move out of the switch seat and toward the ball seat. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, further including a sight glass in said body adjacent a position of said ball when said ball rests in at least one of said ball seat and said switch seat, whereby the position of the ball may be determined by looking through said sight glass. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the body comprises: a center body portion; a cover portion affixed to said center body portion; and a base portion affixed to said center body portion, said base portion including the floor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 13, wherein the center body portion includes an inner shaped wall for deflecting the ball toward the switch seat. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 14, wherein the inner shaped wall is shaped to be within one ball radius from the switch seat. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 14, wherein the ball escapes the seat if the body experiences an acceleration of at least 0.4 of Gravity G, and at least ten Hz. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the electric switch has a plunger type actuator. ### Claim 18 An earthquake sensor comprising: a ball; a switch body having a floor, the ball residing in the switch body; a ball seat on the floor, wherein the ball is positionable by the ball seat when the floor is functionally in the horizontal plane; a switch seat in the floor; an electrical switch having a switch actuator positioned at least partially under the switch seat; a set control actuable from external to said body for moving said ball from the ball seat to the switch seat; and a reset control actuable from external to said body for moving said ball from the switch seat to the ball seat, wherein motion of the body allows the ball to escape the ball seat and fall into the switch seat, and wherein the switch seat is of sufficient diameter and shape to allow the ball, if residing in the switch seat, to actuate the switch actuator. ### Claim 19 A motion actuated electrical switch comprising: a ball; a switch body having a floor and including a cover portion having an inlet and a base portion having an outlet, the ball residing in the switch body; a ball seat on the floor, wherein the ball is positionable by the ball seat when the floor is functionally in the horizontal plane; a switch seat in the floor; an electrical switch having a switch actuator positioned at least partially under the switch seat; and wherein motion of the body allows the ball to escape the ball seat and fall into the switch seat, and wherein the switch seat is of sufficient diameter and shape to allow the ball, if residing in the switch seat, to actuate the switch actuator. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The motion actuated electrical switch of claim 19, further including: a set control actuable from external to said body for moving said ball from the ball seat to the switch seat; and a reset control actuable from external to said body for moving said ball from the switch seat to the ball seat.