Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Special application – Feeler moves into detecting contact with object
Patent
1999-01-11
2000-12-26
Friedhofer, Michael
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Special application
Feeler moves into detecting contact with object
200 6173, H01H 316
Patent
active
061663387
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tubular switch which is normally off, instantaneously turned on by external pressure, and has a long detection distance, and a connecting device therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 29 presents drawings representing an example of conventional long length switches (tape switch).
This switch is constituted by two pieces of belt-shaped conductors 1 and 2 composed of a spring material which has been subjected to hardening and thickly plated with copper, insulation film 3 holding both sides of the belt-shaped conductors 1 and 2 in their longitudinal direction so that the conductors should be substantially parallel, and a covering member 4 covering the aforementioned components and composed of a highly corrosion-resistant resin.
However, the aforementioned conventional tape switch has a belt-like shape as a whole and operates in response to a load in the thickness direction. Therefore, it has a problem that its detection direction is limited.
In addition, it may be damaged when twisted, and it cannot be used at a location having irregularity, or a curved place.
Moreover, because of its belt-like shape, it should be wound up on its surface and it lacks flexibility. Therefore, its handling is troublesome in use where its installation and storage should be repeated.
Furthermore, because the belt-shaped conductors should be kept in parallel, its structure is complicated, and it becomes expensive. In addition, a long length one cannot practically be used.
Further, when permanent contact of the belt-shaped conductors is caused due to their permanent deformation, or the conductors are broken, the break down points cannot easily be found, and it is difficult to repair and reuse it even when it is damaged partially.
Moreover, actuation force is defined by the structure, and it is difficult to alter the actuation force afterward.
The object of the present invention is to provide a tubular switch wherein it has durability, it can be installed any place, and can have long detection range, and, in addition, its faults are easily found, repaired and adjusted, it has a simple structure and flexibility, and it can be manufactured at a low cost, and to provide a connector device therefor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the aforementioned object, there are provided: comprising a tubular hose member having insulating property and elasticity, and a plurality of flexible conductive members which are spirally fixed to the internal surface of the hose member so that the surfaces of the conductive members should be partially exposed to the internal space of the hose member at any section of the hose member; transparent or translucent; are composed of a plurality of twisted or woven fine metal strands; comprise a conductive layer having flexibility and/or elasticity and a bare electric wire member disposed so that it should be in contact with the conductive layer; composed of a conductive rubber or conductive resin; are composed of a conductive layer having flexibility and elasticity and an insulation layer having flexibility and elasticity which are alternately wound in a spiral and a bare electric wire member wound on the external surface of the conductive layer, and the hose member is composed of an insulating material and covers the conductive layer, the insulation layer, and the bare electric wire member; is composed of a conductive layer having flexibility and elasticity spirally wound with a gap and a bare electric wire member wound on the external surface of the conductive layer, and the hose member is composed of an insulating material and covers the conductive layer and the bare electric wire member; comprises a bare electric wire member and a joint member for jointing the bare electric wire member to the hose member, which is composed of a material having flexibility and elasticity and capable of being adhered to the hose member; member is a tubular mesh member composed of metal wires woven in a tubular shape
REFERENCES:
patent: 3778805 (1973-12-01), Gould
patent: 4317970 (1982-03-01), Hafner et al.
patent: 4617433 (1986-10-01), Hoshikawa et al.
patent: 4876420 (1989-10-01), Lodini
patent: 5118910 (1992-06-01), Duhon et al.
patent: 5192837 (1993-03-01), Chardon
patent: 5880421 (1999-03-01), Tsuge et al.
Ebac Corporation
Frank Robert J.
Friedhofer Michael
Wells Ashley J.
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