Becs Technology, Inc.

William J Stewart

David C Macke, Sr

Proximity detector

A sensor package for proximity detectors adapted for use with materials having a significant angle of repose. The sensor package includes a hollow housing defining a cylindrical main body adapted to house proximity detection circuitry and a non-planar tip disposed on one end of the housing adjacent the main body. The tip portion is preferably tapered in its diameter from a dimension generally equal to the diameter of the main body to a dimension less than the diameter of the main body. The tip is adapted to house a sensing element electrically coupled to the proximity detection circuitry and disposed on an inner bottom surface of the tip portion. Preferably, the taper of the tip is selected to substantially match the angle of repose of the materials to be sensed, and may take on a wide variety of shapes including cone, frustum, pyramid, round and hemispherical. One particularly preferred tip is frustum-shaped and comprises a flat end surface having a diameter less than the diameter of the main body and a tapered side portion that extends from the outer edge of the flat end surface outwardly to the main body along a predetermined angle. In this embodiment the sensing element is substantially frustum-shaped and comprises a flat end and a side portion tapered along an angle substantially equivalent to the predetermined angle of the tapered side portion of the tip.

Sensor package for proximity detectors

An apparatus for verifying the installation and alignment of a moveable member of an object, such as, for example, the door of a vehicle. The final closing velocity of the moveable member is measured after the member is moved from an initial first position (e.g. opened) toward a second position (e.g. closed). The apparatus controllably engages and moves the movable member from its initial first position toward the second position by temporarily applying controlled force to the movable member. The apparatus determines the orientation of the object or of the moveable member and also includes a series of platforms that may be translated, rotated and raised so that moving the movable member of the object with the controlled force occurs when the moveable member is in a predetermined spatial position and orientation. The apparatus further determines the distance to the movable member so that the final closing velocity of the moveable member may be determined. The apparatus may be used to determine whether the moveable member closed properly when subjected to a closing force and also may be configured for use with a series of objects as the objects advance in sequence (such as down an assembly line) to be proximate the apparatus.

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Fenton, MO, United States of America

William J Stewart