Acceleration integrating switch

Claim 2

An acceleration responsive timing device comprising a substantially cylindrical housing, a motor and gearing contained within said housing, a shaft coupled to said gearing to be rotated thereby at a predetermined rate, said shaft being coaxial with said cylindrical housing, switch carrying discs mounted within said housing about said shaft, said switches being sequentially actuated upon rotation of said shaft, a power source for said motor, and acceleration responsive means for operatively connecting the power source to the motor only after the device has been subjected to a sustained acceleration of at least a predetermined level for at least a predetermined period of time said acceleration responsive means having a base attachable to said housing, an inertial mass slideably mounted on said base between initial and final positions, a follower slideably mounted on said base, resilient means coupling said follower to said inertial mass for movement therewith, and contact means mounted on said follower and said base and operable to perform switching functions in the motor input circuit upon movement of said follower.

Claim 3

An acceleration responsive timing device as recited in claim 1 including an escapement mounted on said base and connected to said follower for providing a time delay in the follower movement, second resilient means for normally urging said inertial mass and follower to said initial position, and locking means operable by said follower when said escapement has timed out for holding the inertial mass and follower in said final position.

Claim 4

An acceleration responsive timing device comprising a substantially cylindrical housing, a motor and gearing contained within said housing, a shaft coupled to said gearing to be rotated thereby at a predetermined rate, said shaft being coaxial with said cylindrical housing, switch carrying discs within said housing about said shaft, said switches being sequentially actuated upon rotation of said shaft, said switch carrying discs comprising a plurality of ring-shaped discs surrounding said shaft in coaxial relation thereto, said discs being fixed within said housing in nonrotating relationship with said shaft, each of said discs having a plurality of fixed contacts positioned thereon, a flat disc-shaped rotor rotatably secured within the central portion of each ring shaped disc, each of said rotors being provided with an arcuate conductive strip adapted to connect the fixed contacts on said disc when the rotor is in a given angular relationship therewith, each rotor being interlocked with said shaft for rotation therewith, whereby selected circuits including the fixed contacts on said ring-shaped discs may be operatively closed and opened upon rotation of said shaft and rotors by said motor, a power source for said motor, and acceleration means for operatively connecting the power source to the motor only after the device has been subjected to a sustained acceleration of at least a predetermined level for at least a predetermined period of time.

Claim 5

An acceleration responsive timing device comprising a substantially cylindrical housing, a motor and gearing contained within said housing, a shaft coupled to said gearing to be rotated thereby at a predetermined rate, said shaft being coaxial with said cylindrical housing, switch carrying discs within said housing about said shaft, said switches being sequentially actuated upon rotation of said shaft, said switch carrying discs comprising a plurality of ring-shaped discs surrounding said shaft in coaxial relation thereto, said discs being fixed within said housing in nonrotating relationship with said shaft, each of said discs having a plurality of fixed contacts positioned thereon, a flat disc-shaped rotor rotatably secured within the central portion of each ring shaped disc, each of said rotors being provided with an arcuate conductive strip adapted to connect the fixed contacts on said disc when the rotor is in a given angular relationship therewith, each rotor being interlocked with said shaft for rotation therewith, whereby selected circuits including the fixed contacts on said ring-shaped discs may be operatively closed and opened upon rotation of said shaft and rotors by said motor, a power source for said motor, and acceleration means for operatively connecting the power source to the motor only after the device has been subjected to a sustained acceleration of at least a predetermined level for at least a predetermined period of time.

Claim 6

An acceleration responsive timing device as recited in claim 3 wherein said switch carrying discs are separated by non-conductive spacing discs.