Feb 25th: Accelerometer Patent (3,643,513) - Andrew McBride

Notes on claims:

Object:

"An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved maneuvering accelerometer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a maneuvering accelerometer having new and improved means for generating an electrical signal proportional to acceleration loads to which the aircraft is subjected.

Another object of this invention is to provide a maneuvering accelerometer having new and improved means for discriminating between parasitic accelerations and maneuvering accelerations.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved means in a device of the type described for ignoring high-frequency impulses.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved acceleration sensing and recording arrangement." (us patent no. 3,643,513)

Claims:

1. An accelerometer comprising means to mount it to an aircraft for use, means to provide a voltage signal proportional to accelerations (output), a method to detect and store acceleration values that exceed predetermined thresholds and a way to count the number of times each threshold acceleration is exceeded, and a way to measure the amount of time for which each threshold acceleration is exceeded.

2. The accelerometer of claim 1, also able to filter out high frequency accelerations (wind, mechanical vibrations, etc.) which have no appreciable effect on determining when the aircraft needs to be inspected and serviced.

3. The method to count the number of times each threshold acceleration is exceeded in claim 1, using "a plurality of counters, each counter arranged to be advanced by one of said sensing and storing means", using gates, each gate set to give the signal to advance the count from the sensing/storing means.

4. A means for the accelerometer of claim 1 to sense when the output voltage "signal exceeds a reference value, and disabling said sensing and storing means if the signal falls below said threshold value."