Mechanical-electrical code generating device employing fluid switching

Claim 2

A mechanical-electrical code generating device comprising: a plurality of substantially parallel, contiguous, transversely resilient, closed tubes, each of the tubes carrying a noncompressible fluid; means responsive to a change of pressure of the fluid in each of the tubes to produce, for each tube, an electrical signal; and a plurality of actuating means positioned transversely to the tubes and each adapted to compress the tubes selectively whereby the pressure responsive means is actuated.

Claim 3

A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the actuating means comprises a key having a member positioned transversely to the tubes and crenellated to provide slots receiving the tubes, the slots being of different lengths for selectively compressing the tubes on depression of the key.

Claim 4

A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the crenellated member comprises a plate slidable in the key and movable against compressive means mounted on the key and remote from the slots, the compressive means being yieldable when the selected tubes have been compressed, and including a closed, transversely resilient strobe tube carrying a noncompressible fluid and compressible by the key when the compressive means yields, the strobe tube having means connected therewith adapted to produce an electrical signal on compression of the strobe tube by the key.

Claim 5

A device claimed in claim 1 in which the pressure-responsive means comprises a plurality of pressure-actuated switches, one switch being connected with each of the tubes.

Claim 6

A device as claimed in claim 1 including a closed, transversely resilient bumper tube actuable by any of the actuating means and substantially filled with a noncompressible fluid whereby only one of the actuating means is operable at one time.

Claim 7

A device as claimed in claim 1 including a closed, transversely resilient strobe tube carrying a noncompressible fluid and actuable by any one of the actuating means, and means responsive to a change in pressure of the fluid in the strobe tube to produce an electrical signal, the strobe tube being actuable after the selected ones of the plurality of tubes have been compressed.

Claim 8

A mechanical-electrical device for the digital selection of coded electrical signals, comprising: a plurality of transversely resilient, closed tubes lying in parallel relationship one with another, each of the tubes carrying a noncompressible fluid therein; a keyboard having a plurality of keys each having a member located transverse to the tubes and crenellated to receive the tubes one in each slot formed thereby, the slots being of a selected pattern of lengths whereby on depression of the key and movement of the member transverse To the tubes selected ones of the tubes are simultaneously compressed; and means actuable on a change of pressure of the fluid in each of the tubes to generate a code unique to the selected combination of tubes compressed.

Claim 9

A mechanical-electrical device for the digital selection of coded electrical signals, comprising: a plurality of transversely resilient, closed tubes lying in parallel relationship one with another, each of the tubes carrying a noncompressible fluid therein; a keyboard having a plurality of keys each having a member located transverse to the tubes and crenellated to receive the tubes one in each slot formed thereby, the slots being of a selected pattern of lengths whereby on depression of the key and movement of the member transverse To the tubes selected ones of the tubes are simultaneously compressed; and means actuable on a change of pressure of the fluid in each of the tubes to generate a code unique to the selected combination of tubes compressed.

Claim 10

A mechanical-electrical device for the digital selection of coded electrical signals, comprising: a housing having a base portion and a keyboard mounted on the base portion; a plurality of transversely resilient, closed tubes lying in parallel relationship in a common plane and supported by the base portion of the housing, each of the tubes carrying a noncompressible fluid therein; a plurality of keys mounted on the keyboard, each key having a member positioned transverse to the tubes and crenellated to receive the tubes one in each slot formed thereby, the slots being of a selected pattern of depth whereby on depression of the key and movement of the member across the plane of the tubes selected ones of the tubes are simultaneously compressed; and a plurality of pressure-actuated switches one connected with an end of each of the tubes and actuable on a change of pressure of the fluid in each of the tubes to generate a code unique to the selected combination of tubes compressed.

Claim 11

A mechanical-electrical device for the digital selection of coded electrical signals, comprising: a housing having a base portion and a keyboard mounted on the base portion; a plurality of transversely resilient, closed tubes lying in parallel relationship in a common plane and supported by the base portion of the housing, each of the tubes carrying a noncompressible fluid therein; a plurality of keys mounted on the keyboard, each key having a member positioned transverse to the tubes and crenellated to receive the tubes one in each slot formed thereby, the slots being of a selected pattern of depth whereby on depression of the key and movement of the member across the plane of the tubes selected ones of the tubes are simultaneously compressed; and a plurality of pressure-actuated switches one connected with an end of each of the tubes and actuable on a change of pressure of the fluid in each of the tubes to generate a code unique to the selected combination of tubes compressed.

Claim 12

A device in claim 8 including compressive means mounted on the key and bearing against the crenellated member remote from the slots, the crenellated member being slidable in the key and the compressive means being yieldable when the selected tubes have been compressed, and a closed, transversely resilient strobe tube supported by the base portion of the housing and carrying a noncompressible fluid, the strobe tube being compressible by the key when the compressive means yields and having means connected therewith adapted to produce an electrical signal on compression of the strobe tube by the key.

Claim 13

A device as claimed in claim 9 in which the key comprises a cap having a chamber therein and a guide member mounted on the cap, the crenellated member being slidable in the guide member and into the chamber, and the compressive means comprises a compression spring mounted in the chamber with one end of the spring bearing against the cap and the other end of the spring bearing against the crenellated member, the guide member having a shoulder engageable with the strobe tube on compression of the spring.

Claim 14

A device as claimed in claim 8, including a closed, transversely resilient bumper tube supported by the base portion of the housing the bumper tube being compressible by any one of the keys and being substantially filled with a noncompressible fluid whereby only one the keys is operable at one time.