Optically coupled remote control system

Claim 2

Apparatus for controlling the operation of an articulated loading arm characterised by a light source, a plurality of optical switches and a plurality of optical fibres connecting said optical switches to said-light source, a plurality of light-operated actuator means for controlling the operation of a plurality of load devices, and fibre optic means connecting each of said optical switches to a corresponding one of said actuator means.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that each of said actuator means includes a light-operated relay and a hydraulic actuator for controlling pressurised fluid to operate one of said load devices.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that one of said optical switches includes a reflective prism, a first end of said prism being mounted adjacent one end of one of said optical fibres, one end of said fibre means being mounted adjacent a second end of said prism, a knife blade pivotally mounted between said prism and the end of said fibre means and means for pivotally moving said knife blade away from the end of said fibre means to provide a path for light to pass between said prism and the end of said fibre means.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 characterised in that said prism is arranged to receive light from the end of one of said optical fibres and to reflect the light to the end of said fibre means when said knife blade is pivotally moved from between said prism and the end of said fibre means

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that said knife blade includes a notch in the portion adjacent the end of said fibre means to allow the passage of light from said prism to said fibre means with a minimum amount of pivotal movement of said knife blade.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to any preceding claim characterised by a rotary multiple position switch comprising a generally disc-shaped rotor mounted for rotation in a support frame, an input optical fibre having one end thereof adjacent the centre of said rotor, a right-angle prism mounted on the face of said rotor with a portion of said prism adjacent the end of said input optical fibre, a plurality of output fibre means mounted with the ends thereof at spaced intervals adjacent the periphery of said rotor, means for rotating said rotor and said prism in discrete steps, and means for stopping said rotation at a plurality of stations with a portion of said prism adjacent one of said output fibre means at each of said stations.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 characterised in that said means for rotating said rotor includes a plurality of teeth mounted at evenly spaced intervals and at positions equidistant from the centre of said rotor, and a push button. having a shaft portion which meshes with one of said teeth when inward pressure is applied to said push button, so that a predetermined pressure causes said rotor to move from one station to an adjacent station.

Claim 9

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a plurality of articulated loading arms by providing power to a plurality of hydraulic rams connected to the loading arms, said apparatus being characterised by a light source, a rotary multiple position switch having an input and a plurality of outputs, a plurality of optical switches, a plurality of optical fibres each connected to a corresponding one of said optical switches and to said input of said rotary switch, a plurality of light-operated actuator means for controlling the operation of a plurality of load devices, said light-operated actuator means being coupled to said hydraulic rams, and fibre optic means connecting each of said optical switches and each output of said rotary switch to a corresponding one of said actuator means.

Claim 10

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a plurality of articulated loading arms by providing power to a plurality of hydraulic rams connected to the loading arms, said apparatus being characterised by a light source, a rotary multiple position switch having an input and a plurality of outputs, a plurality of optical switches, a plurality of optical fibres each connected to a corresponding one of said optical switches and to said input of said rotary switch, a plurality of light-operated actuator means for controlling the operation of a plurality of load devices, said light-operated actuator means being coupled to said hydraulic rams, and fibre optic means connecting each of said optical switches and each output of said rotary switch to a corresponding one of said actuator means.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to any preceding claim characterised by a proportional light switch comprising a reflective prism, one end of which is mounted adjacent one end of an input optical fibre, a pair of light polarising filters, a first one of which is mounted between said prism and said end of said input optical fibre, a second of said polarising filters being mounted between said prism and said end of said input optical fibre, push button means for rotating said second polarising filter, arid fibre optic means mounted between one of said actuator means and a second end of said prism.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to any preceding claim characterised by a proportional light switch comprising a reflextive prism, a first end of said prism being mounted adjacent one end of an input optical fibre, a Variable density filter rotatably mounted between said prism and said end of said input optical fibre, push button means for rotating said filter, the quantity of light being transmitted through said filter being a function of the rotational position of said filter, and fibre optic means mounted between one of said actuators and a second end of said prism.