A Step-Bearing Accelerometer With Pneumatic Signal Output

A novel pneumatic acceleration sensor utilizing a single gas-bearing supported element is described. System damping and pneumatic signal output are obtained by reverse-flow flapper-nozzle valves which act as negative springs with respect to the inertial mass. Approximate design relationships for the static and dynamic performance of a two-axis accelerometer are presented. A prototype unit built to verify feasibility is described and experimental results are presented and compared with the analysis.