Apparatus for detecting the initial shock of an earthquake and automatically locking a cabinet door before the occurrence of destructive ground motions having an accelerometer located to measure the acceleration of a shock wave of an earthquake coupled to an integrator which obtains the time integral of the acceleration of the shock wave of the earthquake. Comparing means which is coupled to the integrator to compare the value of the time integral of the acceleration of the shock wave with a preset value sends a signal to a signal generating means when the value of the time integral of the acceleration of the shock wave is equal or greater than the preset value. A power amplifier coupled to the signal generating means generates a signal which locks a cabinet door by operating a latch when the value of the time integral of the acceleration is equal or greater than the preset value.
James G. Bradley - Altadena CA Joseph M. Conley - La Canada CA David B. Wittry - Pasadena CA
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC
International Classification:
H01J 302
US Classification:
250396ML
Abstract:
An electron beam source having a single electron optical axis is provided with two coplanar cathodes equally spaced on opposite sides from the electron optical axis. A switch permits selecting either cathode, and a deflection system comprised of electromagnets, each with separate pole pieces equally spaced from the plane of the cathodes and electron optical axis, first deflects the electron beam from a selected cathode toward the electron optical axis, and then in an opposite direction into convergence with the electron optical axis. The result is that the electron beam from one selected cathode undergoes a sigmoid deflection in two opposite directions, like the letter S, with the sigmoid deflection of each being a mirror image of the other.