US 12,332,135 B2
Spring oscillation based inertia measurement device
William J. Endres, Houghton, MI (US); and Christopher M. Endres, Houghton, MI (US)
Assigned to WECE Innovations, LLC, Houghton, MI (US)
Filed by William J. Endres, Houghton, MI (US); and Christopher M. Endres, Houghton, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/809,165.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/215,945, filed on Jun. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0412833 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. G01M 1/10 (2006.01); G01D 5/56 (2006.01); G01H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01M 1/10 (2013.01) [G01D 5/56 (2013.01); G01H 1/003 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inertia measurement device that facilitates periodic angular oscillatory motion of an object comprising:
a. a base having three or more legs;
b. a rotor comprising a shaft, a primary platter, and a top surface that rotates about an axis;
c. a bearing affixed to the base and intermediate the base and the shaft;
d. a pair of primary helical springs each attached at one end to the base and at the other end to a cord, the cord communicating between each helical spring and the shaft and wrapping at least partially around a cord guide on the shaft, the cord guide being cylindrical about the axis and having a helical groove to facilitate more than 360 degrees of cord wrap without the cord overlapping itself;
e. one or more pair of auxiliary-spring sets attached at one end to the base and connected at their other ends to a spring catch that allows connection to and disconnection from the cord, where each auxiliary-spring set of each pair of auxiliary-spring sets when connected to the cord works in parallel with the respective primary helical spring; and
f. a noncontact sensor affixed to the base in a permanent way for observing angular motion of the rotor.