Abstract:
A transducing apparatus that is sensitive to physical vibrations. The transducing apparatus converts physical manifestations into electrical signals.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention generally relates to a transducer device to convert physical manifestations into electrical signals. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A transducer that converts physical manifestations into electrical signals can have infinite number of real life applications. They can be used for example to detect the level of highway and bridge deterioration by detecting differences in frequency of vibrations from year to year. They can be used to gage the level of danger of a potential landslide. They can be used to detect earthquakes and intensity of earthquakes. They can also be used as a power cutoff device if anticipated events occurred in industrial or commercial applications. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is a first object to electro-mechanically detect physical vibrations. 
         [0004]    It is a second object to use the present invention to count the number of power interruptions. 
         [0005]    It is a third object to use the present invention as a switch to interrupt signal output. 
         [0006]    It is a fourth object to use the present invention as a switch to initiate electrical output. 
         [0007]    It is a fifth object to use the present invention to serve as a level switch. 
         [0008]    It is a sixth object to use the present invention as an automatic control device. 
         [0009]    It is a seventh object of the present invention to promote safety by utilizing a level safety switch mechanism. 
         [0010]    It is an eighth object of the present invention to report an occurrence of an anticipated event. 
         [0011]    Other objects of the present invention would become self evident upon a review of the following written specification, drawings and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cross sectional view along a longitudinal direction of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross sectional view along a depth direction of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates how the present invention is mounted onto an industrial, commercial or residential application such as a heater. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates how the present invention is electrically connected to the industrial, commercial or residential application such as a heater. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom interior view of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates another bottom interior view of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of an interior chamber with a vertical wall mounted thereon an electrical switch. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates a ball bearing inside the interior chamber. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates a ball bearing inside the interior chamber which is a  90  degrees rotated view of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  illustrates a switch pin underneath an opening of the interior chamber. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The transducer of the present invention is shown in a cross-sectional view along a longitudinal direction in  FIG. 1  and a cross-sectional view of which along a depth direction is shown in  FIG. 2 . A box  1302  is mounted on a mounting bracket  714  along a curved engagement segment  1502  on both sides. The curved engagement segment  1502  has interior accommodation zones  1602  to house complimentary curved engagement segments of the mounting bracket. Degrees of curvature on the curved engagement segment  1502  and the curved engagement segments of the mounting bracket are complementary. Once it is determined that the box  1302  is leveled thus substantially parallel to the floor, a fastener is tightened to the mounting bracket  714  via hole  1514 . Though the example usage given herein below is for a heater, the present invention could be used in many other applications. The mounting bracket could be in a U-shape where the complimentary curved engagement segments reside by both distal ends of the U-shaped bracket. The mid-section of the U-Shaped mounting bracket can be mounted to the floor/ground depending upon the application. The present invention could be mounted on top of the mounting bracket. 
         [0023]    There could be applications where the U-shaped mounting bracket could not be mount on a top-down position but must be mounted on a sideway position. Then another side-mount bracket for example an L-shaped bracket whereby the vertical segment of the L-Shaped bracket is mounted to a vertical wall and whereby the horizontal segment of the L-shaped bracket is for accommodating a U-shaped bracket to be mounted thereon. 
         [0024]    In one example, the purpose of the box  1302  is to cut-off electrical supply in case a level condition no longer exists. In heater applications, cutting-off power supply of a toppled heater unit would effectively prevent any accidental fires from starting. Within the box is a ball bearing  1504 . As the heater unit is standing upright, the weight of the ball bearing  1504  sits on top of a switch trigger  1506  making an electrical connection. The ball bearing  1504  is channeled by the interior chamber  1507  with the help of gravity pull to engage the switch trigger  1506 . Upon sufficient tilting away from being level, the ball bearing  1506  affected by gravity would roll away from the center thus disengage the switch trigger  1506 . 
         [0025]    The angle that causes the engagement and disengagement of switch trigger  1506  can be of critical importance. It cannot be so sensitive as to cause power disruption upon any minute detection of shaking such as due to blowing winds, accidental bumping into the heater during routine use, uneven floor-boards any movements of which transmits vibration to the heater, etc. It also cannot be so insensitive that even in situations of a real danger, the level switching mechanism does not disrupt electrical power transmitted to the heater. It is determined that a good angle to cutoff power supply could be substantially in a range between 30-40 degrees from a perfectly level horizontal position, as could be easily established by a bubble leveler. Anywhere between this range of angles should be safe. However, 34 degree is determined to be the ideal angle to ensure cutoff when needed and maintain power on when inconsequential random movements occurred. 
         [0026]    However, the level of sensitivity to trigger an event could be application specific and could be tailor to specific needs. One way to change sensitivity is changing the weight of ball bearing  1504 . The heavier is the ball bearing, the less sensitive is the present invention. The lighter is the ball bearing, the more sensitive is the present invention. Of course, the minimum weight is the weight necessary to activate trigger switch  1506 . 
         [0027]    Another way to affect sensitivity of the present invention is to change the slope of interior chamber  1508 . The shallower is the slope, the more sensitive is the present invention. The steeper is the slope of the interior chamber  1508 , the less sensitive is the present invention. 
         [0028]    The third way to change sensitivity of the present invention is changing the amount of pressure needed to engage the trigger switch  1506 . Some trigger switches are fixed to a predetermined trigger pressure. Other trigger switches may have calibration features for the trigger pressure. Regardless which type of trigger switches being used, one should bear in mind a proper amount of trigger pressure could affect the sensitivity of the present invention. 
         [0029]    By designating a combination of the slope of the interior chamber, the weight of the ball bearing and the trigger pressure of the trigger switch, one can find the appropriate sensitivity desired for the needed application. 
         [0030]    In addition to turning on and off electrical connections as determined by the level switching mechanism, there are situations the present invention could be manually turned off completely such as during periods of non-use. To implement a manual on/off mechanism, a push-in/pull-out mechanical push rod  1604  as shown by way of an example in  FIG. 2  is used. Switch trigger  1506  is situated in the box  1302 . Upon pushing the push rod  1604  into box  1302 , the push rod physically pushes the ball bearing  1504  off-centered thus render it unable to engage switch trigger  1506 . Hence, the present invention could never be turned on. Conversely, upon pulling-out of the push rod  1604 , the impediment to engage switch trigger  1506  would be removed thus allow ball-bearing  1504  to roll onto the switch trigger  1506 , thus engage it to utilize the present invention. Push rod  1604  is prevented from fully retrieved out of the safety box  1302  by the presence of a retaining clip  1606 . Similarly, push rod  1604  could never be fully pushed too far by the presence of a stop buffer  1605 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a view of the box  1302  fully mounted onto a mount coupler  714 . As can be visually verified, once the box  1302  is acceptably level and the interior accommodation zones  1602  sufficiently engage the house complimentary curved engagement segments  713  of the mounting bracket  714 , a fastener  1702  is transversely inserted into holes  1514  and tightened into a locked position. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows a box  1302  that is dismounted from the mounting bracket. As shown, two electrical wires  1802  and  1804  are connected to the box  1302 . Electrical wire  1802  is connected to a plug in power source for example. Electrical wire  1804  is connected to the heater for example. Both electrical wires are secured to the box by through-hole buffers  1806 , each buffer is tightly squeezed there-in-between each wire opening and associated wire to close any air gaps to prevent moisture infiltration into the box  1302 . With the explanations given above, it should be apparent to a skilled person in the art that power source is transmitted from wire  1802  into safety box  1302 , to wires  1804  and finally to an application such as a heater used herein as an example via a moisture proof coupler  1808 . Should the box  1302  tilt passed a predetermined angle away from a level horizontal position, switch trigger  1506  is disengaged, thus power to the heater is cut-off. 
         [0033]    Coupler  1808  has a mount piece  1810  and a cap piece  1812 . One end of mount piece  1810  is thread fitted into part of the heater and another end serves as a receptor for cap piece  1812 . By the distal end of said receptor are collapsible columns  1814 . As cap piece  1812  is tightened onto mount piece  1810 , the collapsible columns  1814  are squeezed in-between wire  1804  and cap piece  1812  to ensure a secured fit and to prevent moisture from entering into the heater. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show a bottom interior view of box  1302  and its cover  1816 . A switch  1501  is mounted to wall mount  1512 . As better shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , wall mount  1512  indeed is offset from a central axis  1608  of the cone or concave openings. This offset is mainly to ensure the switch trigger  1506  would be located on the bottom along the central axis  1608  of interior chamber  1508 , as best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 9 . This is the perfect location for ball bearing  1504  to engage the switch trigger  1506 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  8 . 
         [0035]    Switch  1501  has three terminals  1902 ,  1904  and . Terminal  1906  is connected to wire  1802  leading to a power supply source such as a wall plug, a battery or a renewable energy power source, and terminal  1904  is connected to wire  1814  leading to the heater in this example application. Terminal  1902  is shown not connected to any wire. In effect, terminals  1902  and  1904  are two way switches, meaning that the power source from terminal  1906  is either supplied to terminals  1902  or  1904  at any moment in time. In this invention, when ball bearing  1504  engages switch trigger  1506 , power from terminal  1906  is solely supplied to terminal  1904  which in turn is supplied to the heater in our example. When the ball bearing  1504  disengages switch trigger  1506 , power from terminal  1906  is solely supplied to terminal  1902  leaving the heater completely without power. Though not shown, terminal  1902  may be used for such optional features as 1) empowering a siren to alert end users that attention is needed, 2) activate a counter to record the number of power interruptions, 3) use as a trigger to cutoff the power source to wire  1802 , or 4) activate a transmitter to report the activate event in real time to a remote location. By so cutoff the power source to wire  1802 , even if the ball bearing  1504  engages switch trigger  1506  again, there would not be any power source until an operator resets the external power supply source. There are many more scenarios where terminal  1904  could provide optional features. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show a set of screw receiving stems  2002  located at four interior corners of the box. They are present to allow a cover  1816  with a set of through-holes  1818  located about its four interior corners to accommodate four fasteners to secure and seal the box  1302 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  6  show that the interior chamber  1507  has multiple segments. The first segment is the cone or concave segment  1508  without a closure end. The second segment is a cylinder segment  1550  that has a diameter substantially the same as the largest diameter of the cone or concave segment. While the cone or concave segment  1508  is used to channel the ball bearing  1504  to engage the switch trigger  1506 , the cylinder segment  1550  is used to house the ball bearing  1504  in case of a toppling event. The third segment is a mount segment  2102  that has a circular interior shape and a quadrilateral exterior shape. At interior corners between the circular shape and quadrilateral exterior shaped are a set of through-holes  1552 . Underneath-holes  1552  and on the interior side of the safety box  1302  are a set of screw-receiving stems to receive a set of fasteners to secure the interior chamber  1507  thereto the box  1302 . 
         [0038]    In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The inventions defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.