Dynapar Corporation

Cathleen Mary Clausen

David Donovan

John Marshall Thomasson

Nicholas Graham Hartman

Andrew Nicholas Dames

Edward Colby

Edward J Taylor

Troy A Kloss

Douglas Coe

John William Petty

Edward Grellier Colby

Sensor and/or power-harvesting apparatus are provided for sensing and/or harvesting energy across a relatively wide dynamic range of a driving rotational input. The apparatus may include a rotor magnet () responsive to a driving rotational input (). Utilization of a togging effect or a magnetic spring effect results in certain rapid-rotation events where the rotor magnet can rapidly rotate regardless of a low rate of rotation of the driving rotational input. A coil assembly () is magnetically coupled to the rotor magnet to generate a signal in response to rotation of the rotor magnet during the rapid-rotation events. This signal may be used to harvest electrical energy and/or may be processed to determine characteristics of the driving rotational input.

Sensor and/or power harvesting apparatus having a wide dynamic range for responding to a driving rotational input

A proximity switch (A) that snaps quickly and locks between first and second positions of movable electrical contacts (). A magnet () moves a first shaft () toward a magnetic target () when the target is proximate a sensor end () of the switch housing (). A spring () urges the first shaft () away from the sensor end. Movement of the first shaft causes a second spring () to urge a second shaft () in the direction of the first shaft. Next the second shaft is released () to move in the direction urged by the second spring. The switch may be adapted to a client cable pin configuration via an adapter plug () in the housing with a flexible interconnection circuit () folded in a chamber between the adapter plug and leads from fixed electrical contacts () of the switch.

Proximity switch with snap lock

Electrical contactor

Growing community of inventors

Wilmington, NC, United States of America

Cathleen Mary Clausen