Resetable mechanical tilt sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12578192-B2
Application number	US-202217839001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2022
Priority date	Jun 13, 2022
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

A tilt sensor includes a one-way rotational drive configured to translate rotational motion of an input shaft in a first rotational direction about a first axis of the input shaft and in a second rotational direction about the first axis into rotational movement in a first rotational direction about a second axis of an output shaft. The tilt sensor further includes a pendulum coupled to the input shaft. The pendulum is configured to rotate the input shaft in the first rotational direction or the second rotational direction responsive to a tilt motion of the tilt sensor. The tilt sensor further includes a motion meter coupled to the output shaft. The motion meter is configured to display a measure of total tilt motion of the tilt sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A tilt sensor comprising:
a rotational drive configured to translate rotational motion of an input shaft in a first rotational direction about a first axis of the input shaft and in a second rotational direction about the first axis of the input shaft into rotational movement in a first rotational direction about a second axis of an output shaft; a pendulum coupled to the input shaft of the rotational drive, wherein the pendulum is configured to rotate the input shaft in the first rotational direction about the first axis or the second rotational direction about the first axis responsive to a tilt motion of the tilt sensor; and a motion meter coupled to the output shaft of the rotational drive, wherein the motion meter is configured to display a measure of total tilt motion of the tilt sensor.

2 . The tilt sensor of claim 1 , wherein the rotational drive comprises:
a first one-way motion controller coupled to the input shaft; and a first gear, wherein the first one-way motion controller is configured to drive the first gear in the first rotational direction about the first axis responsive to the tilt sensor tilting in a first direction and the input shaft rotating in the first rotational direction about the first axis.

3 . The tilt sensor of claim 2 , wherein the rotational drive further comprises:
a second one-way motion controller coupled to the input shaft; a second gear, wherein the second one-way motion controller is configured to drive the second gear in the second rotational direction about the first axis responsive to the tilt sensor tilting in a second direction and the input shaft rotating in the second rotational direction about the first axis; and a third gear, wherein the first gear and the second gear are configured to drive the third gear, wherein the third gear is coupled to the output shaft.

4 . The tilt sensor of claim 2 , wherein the first one-way motion controller comprises at least one of a ratchet gear, a one-way roller bearing or a springless roller ramp clutch.

5 . The tilt sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular.

6 . The tilt sensor of claim 1 , wherein the pendulum comprises a weight coupled to a first end of an arm, wherein a second end of the arm is coupled to the input shaft, and wherein the weight is configured to move opposite the tilt motion of the tilt sensor to rotate the input shaft.

7 . The tilt sensor of claim 1 , wherein the motion meter comprises a mechanical counter configured to count one or more increments of rotational movement of the output shaft, wherein the one or more increments of rotational movement of the output shaft are indicative of a total measure of tilt motion of the tilt sensor.

8 . The tilt sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first pin; and a side portion forming a channel, the channel comprising a first plurality of ratchet slots, wherein the channel is configured to guide the first pin in a first path along the channel responsive to the pendulum pushing the first pin in a first direction along the channel, wherein the first plurality of ratchet slots are configured to prevent motion of the first pin in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein a position of the first pin retained by a ratchet slot of the first plurality of ratchet slots is indicative of a maximum tilt of the tilt sensor in the first direction.

9 . The tilt sensor of claim 8 , further comprising:
a second pin, wherein the channel further comprises a second plurality of ratchet slots and is configured to guide the second pin in a second path along the channel responsive to the pendulum pushing the second pin in the second direction along the channel, wherein the second plurality of ratchet slots are configured to prevent motion of the second pin in the first direction, and wherein a position of the second pin retained by a ratchet slot of the second plurality of ratchet slots is indicative of a maximum tilt of the tilt sensor in the second direction.

10 . The tilt sensor of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the motion meter, the first pin or the second pin is resettable.

11 . The tilt sensor of claim 1 , wherein the tilt sensor is unpowered.

12 . A tilt-sensing system comprising:
a housing forming an interior volume; and a first tilt sensor disposed within the interior volume of the housing, wherein the first tilt sensor is configured to detect tilt in a first plane, the first tilt sensor comprising: a rotational drive configured to translate rotational motion of an input shaft in a first rotational direction about a first axis of the input shaft and in a second rotational direction about the first axis of the input shaft into rotational movement in a first rotational direction about a second axis of an output shaft; a pendulum coupled to the input shaft of the rotational drive, wherein the pendulum is configured to rotate the input shaft in the first rotational direction about the first axis of the second rotational direction about the first axis responsive to a tilt motion of the tilt-sensing system; and a motion meter coupled to the output shaft of the rotational drive, wherein the motion meter is configured to display a measure of total tilt motion of the tilt-sensing system.

13 . The tilt-sensing system of claim 12 , wherein the rotational drive comprises:
a first one-way motion controller coupled to the input shaft; and a first gear, wherein the first one-way motion controller is configured to drive the first gear in the first rotational direction about the first axis responsive to the tilt-sensing system tilting in a first direction and the input shaft rotating in the first rotational direction about the first axis.

14 . The tilt-sensing system of claim 13 , wherein the rotational drive further comprises:
a second one-way motion controller coupled to the input shaft; a second gear, wherein the second one-way motion controller is configured to drive the second gear in the second rotational direction about the first axis responsive to the tilt-sensing system tilting in a second direction and the input shaft rotating in the second rotational direction about the first axis; and a third gear, wherein the first gear and the second gear are configured to drive the third gear, wherein the third gear is coupled to the output shaft.

15 . The tilt-sensing system of claim 12 , wherein the motion meter comprises a mechanical counter configured to count one or more increments of rotational movement of the output shaft, wherein the one or more increments of rotational movement of the output shaft are indicative of a measure of total tilt motion of the tilt-sensing system.

16 . The tilt-sensing system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first pin; a second pin; and a side portion forming a channel, the channel comprising: a first plurality of ratchet slots, wherein the channel is configured to guide the first pin in a first path along the channel responsive to the pendulum pushing the first pin in a first direction along the channel, wherein the first plurality of ratchet slots are configured to prevent motion of the first pin in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein a position of the first pin retained by a ratchet slot of the first plurality of ratchet slots is indicative of a maximum tilt of the tilt-sensing system in the first direction; and a second plurality of ratchet slots, wherein the channel is further configured to guide the second pin in a second path along the channel responsive to the pendulum pu

Assignees

• Nvidia Corp

Inventors

• Albright Ryan Kelsey
• Mecham William Andrew
• Weese William Ryan
• Goska Benjamin Joseph
• Carkin Aaron Richard
• Thompson Michael Scott

Classifications

• B65D79/02 Primary

  Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport ({B65D79/005 takes precedence } ; measuring devices G01) · CPC title

• G01C9/12

  by using a single pendulum (plumb lines G01C15/10) · CPC title

• G01C9/14 Primary

  movable in more than one direction · CPC title