Accelerometer damped with self contained viscous material

Claim 2

An accelerometer, comprising: a stationary member; an inertial member movable relative to the stationary member in response to acceleration, the inertial member spaced from the stationary member; means for detecting movement of the inertial member relative to the stationary member; and a self contained viscous gel extending between the inertial member and the stationary member for damping movement of said inertial member.

Claim 3

The accelerometer of claim 1 wherein: the inertial member is a cantilever beam having a deflectable end; and the self contained viscous gel is a silicone gel extending between the deflectable end of the cantilever beam and the stationary member.

Claim 4

The accelerometer of claim 2 wherein the deflectable end of said cantilever beam is configured with a first depending leg extending toward the stationary member, a portion of the first depending leg being immersed in the silicone gel.

Claim 5

The accelerometer of claim 3 wherein the silicone gel is of a type which cures in place to form a cushioning, resilient gel-like mass which adheres to the stationary member.

Claim 6

The accelerometer of claim 4 wherein the deflectable end of said cantilever beam is configured with a second depending leg extending toward the stationary member, a portion of the second depending leg being immersed in the silicone gel.

Claim 7

The accelerometer of claim 5 wherein said means for detecting movement of the inertial member relative to the stationary member comprises: a magnet carried by the deflectable end of said cantilever beam; and a Hall chip located on said stationary member for providing a signal representative of the movement of the magnet.

Claim 8

The accelerometer of claim 6 wherein the first and second depending legs are immersed in the silicone gel to a depth of from 0.004 to 0.005 inches.

Claim 9

An accelerometer, comprising: a stationary member; a deflectable cantilever beam having a fixed end and a deflectable end, the deflectable end being spaced from the stationary member; a magnet secured to the cantilever beam at a location spaced from the fixed end; a magnetic field detector located for detecting movement of the magnet relative to the stationary member; and a self contained viscous damping gel extending between the deflectable end of the cantilever beam and the stationary member for damping movement of said inertial member.

Claim 10

An accelerometer, comprising: a stationary member; a deflectable cantilever beam having a fixed end and a deflectable end, the deflectable end being spaced from the stationary member; a magnet secured to the cantilever beam at a location spaced from the fixed end; a magnetic field detector located for detecting movement of the magnet relative to the stationary member; and a self contained viscous damping gel extending between the deflectable end of the cantilever beam and the stationary member for damping movement of said inertial member.

Claim 11

The accelerometer of claim 8 wherein said self contained viscous damping gel is a silicone.

Claim 12

In an accelerometer of the type having a stationary member and a cantilever beam having a deflectable end and means for detecting movement of the deflectable end relative to the stationary member, the improvement which comprises: a self contained viscous gel extending between the deflectable end of the cantilever beam and the stationary member for damping movement of said inertial member gel of a type which cures in place to form a cushioning resilient gel-like mass that adheres to the stationary member.

Claim 13

In an accelerometer of the type having a stationary member and a cantilever beam having a deflectable end and means for detecting movement of the deflectable end relative to the stationary member, the improvement which comprises: a self contained viscous gel extending between the deflectable end of the cantilever beam and the stationary member for damping movement of said inertial member gel of a type which cures in place to form a cushioning resilient gel-like mass that adheres to the stationary member.

Claim 14

The accelerometer of claim 10 wherein the deflectable end of the cantilever beam includes a depending leg extending toward the stationary member with a portion of the leg immersed in the self contained viscous gel.

Claim 15

The accelerometer of claim 11 wherein the depending leg is immersed in the self contained viscous gel to a depth of from 0.004 to 0.005 inches.

Claim 16

The accelerometer of claim 12 wherein said self contained viscous gel is a silicone gel of a type which cures in place to form a cushioning, resilient gel-like mass which adheres to the stationary member.