Shock insensitive tilt switch with floating spherical restrictor to inhibit flow of conductive liquid
US5198628A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 1992 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H35/02
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A tilt switch comprises a housing forming a cylindrical inner chamber and having two electric terminals extending through an end wall of the chamber. A mercury mass of less volume than the chamber is disposed within the chamber and is arranged to electrically interconnect the terminals when the switch is in a first position relative to vertical, and to break the electrical contact when the switch is tilted to a second position relative to vertical. A spherical body of less density than the liquid and including a non-electrically conductive outer surface floats upon a surface of the liquid and is pushed upwardly against a surface of the chamber. The spherical body has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the chamber to define a restriction passage which inhibits the flow of liquid when the switch is subjected to shock.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.