Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Patent
1998-03-25
1999-08-24
Mullen, Thomas
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
318478, G08B 1326
Patent
active
059429755
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and a device for sensing the distance between a first object and a second object being moved relative to each other and for activating or facilitating a predetermined action or predetermined actions when said distance has attained a value including zero.
In many situations, applications and processes it is useful and often essential that a certain action or certain actions be initiated or facilitated when one object attains a certain distance from another object during relative motion of the two objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main purpose of the invention is to provide a method for automatically sensing attainment of said certain distance and automatically initiating or facilitating said certain action or actions.
According to the invention this is obtained by the method comprising the steps of between the first object and a third object, between the second object and a third object or between a third object and a fourth object, object and the second object are moved relative to each other and predetermined condition.
One of the objects may be a portion of a human body or an electrical cable or any other object suitable for performing the method.
The method comprises an object closing or interrupting a circuit by the first object being interposed between two points which respectively may be coupled to a generator (for instance a handle) and a receiver (for instance a chain saw chain center piece). The first object may also be interposed between earth and an earthing sensitive electronic means (between the floor and a saw blade) or between the plates of a condenser, in magnetic or electromagnetic fields or in connection with a discharge of static electricity.
The object (for instance a portion of a human body) thus may function either--in the first case above--as a contact element in connection with a relative short circuit (as an electrical conduit) or--in the latter cases above--as a disturbance/alteration of an existing field.
This may be implemented by physical contact with two points (for instance two security contacts (for instance a so-called dead man switch) or some other protection of two handles--for instance a hand-held cutting or abrasion tool or a hedge trimmer) or at a defined distance--for instance the smallest distance/security distance between a dangerous tool portion and a portion of a human body.
More particularly, this invention relates to a method and a device for protecting an object such as for instance a portion of a human body or an electrical cable, from the action of an active portion of an apparatus such as for instance a hand-held power tool, a stationary processing machine, excavating equipment and the like.
In connection with such apparatus many accidents happen causing damage to human beings and material objects as a result of unintentional contact between said active portion and said object. This is for instance the case in connection with human operation of a great variety of tools, equipment and processing apparatus where it is necessary or possible for part of a human body to enter the field of action of the active part or where the active portion may come into unintentional engagement with an object such as for instance a conduit embedded in a wall of an edifice or in the ground.
Many methods and devices have been proposed to solve this problem or to diminish the risk of serious damage. Among these may be mentioned arranging a light beam curtain between the active portion and the object reacting to interruption of part of the light beam curtain by the object or the active portion, establishing an electromagnetic field around the object giving a signal to an antenna arranged in the vicinity of the active portion and so on.
These known methods and devices may function reasonably well in particular circumstances, but they usually limit the flexibility of use of the apparatus in question and the mobility of the apparatus and the operator thereof.
It is important that the protective system function quickl
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Mullen Thomas
Pham Toan
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