Wire operated remote control system

Claim 2

Apparatus for remotely controlling the energization of a load comprising: a source of voltage; a relay assembly; a load; said relay assembly including means for selectively coupling and uncoupling said load and said voltage source; a switch assembly, said switch assembly including switch actuation means and electromechanical voltage generating means to generate a voltage pulse each time said switch assembly is actuated; and means to transmit said generated voltage pulse to said relay assembly to control said means for coupling and uncoupling said load and said voltage source.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to generate said voltage pulse includes a magnet and armature assembly.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said switch assembly actuation means comprises a switch handle operative from a neutral position to an ''''on'''' position and from said neutral position to an ''''off'''' position, said voltage generating means generating a voltage pulse each time said switch is moved from its neutral position.

Claim 5

The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said switch assembly includes an ''''on'''' contact that is closed when said switch handle is moved from said neutral position to said ''''on'''' position and an ''''off'''' contact that is closed when said switch handle is moved from said neutral position to said ''''off'''' position.

Claim 6

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said means to transmit said generated voltage pulse to said relay assembly incLudes means to transmit a pulse to said load coupling and uncoupling means when said ''''off'''' contact is closed to uncouple said load from said source and when said ''''on'''' contact is closed to couple said load to said voltage source.

Claim 7

Apparatus for remotely controlling the energization of a load comprising: a source of voltage; a relay assembly; a load; said relay assembly including means to couple and uncouple said load and said voltage source; electromechanical voltage pulse generating means located remote from said relay assembly; and means to couple said voltage pulse generating means to said relay assembly.

Claim 8

Apparatus for remotely controlling the energization of a load comprising: a source of voltage; a relay assembly; a load; said relay assembly including means to couple and uncouple said load and said voltage source; electromechanical voltage pulse generating means located remote from said relay assembly; and means to couple said voltage pulse generating means to said relay assembly.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said voltage generating means includes a switch mechanism; a cylindrical magnet and a coil, said magnet cooperating with said coil to induce a voltage in said coil each time said switch mechanism is actuated.

Claim 10

The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said voltage generating means comprises: a switch mechanism having ''''on'''' contact means and ''''off'''' contact means; a switch operator having a neutral position, an ''''off'''' position and an ''''on'''' position; means to maintain said switch operator normally in said neutral position such that said operator automatically returns to said neutral position after the operator has been moved from said neutral position to either said ''''on'''' or ''''off'''' position; first and second pawls operatively connected to said switch mechanism operator; a cylindrical magnet; an armature coil magnetically coupled to said magnet; and a sprocket coupled to said cylindrical magnet and positioned with respect to said first and second pawls such that movement of said switch mechanism operator from said neutral position to said ''''on'''' position causes said first pawl to engage said sprocket thereby rotating said magnet and inducing a voltage pulse in said armature coil and such that movement of said switch mechanism operator from said neutral position to said ''''off'''' position causes said second pawl to engage said sprocket thereby rotating said magnet and inducing a voltage in said armature coil.

Claim 11

The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said sprocket is coupled to said magnet through a gear train comprising a first gear integrally fabricated with said sprocket and a second gear secured to said magnet.

Claim 12

The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said means to couple said voltage pulse generating means to said relay assembly comprises: a first conductor connected between said armature coil and said relay assembly; a second conductor connected between said armature coil and a common contact of said switch mechanism; a third conductor connected between said ''''on'''' contact and said relay assembly; and a fourth conductor connected between said ''''off'''' contact and said relay assembly.

Claim 13

The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said relay assembly comprises: a first reed relay responsive to said generated pulse when said operator is moved to said ''''on'''' position; a second reed relay responsive to said generated pulse when said operator is moved to said ''''off'''' position; a double solenoid having an ''''on'''' latch coil responsive to the closing of said first reed relay for coupling said load to said voltage source; and an ''''off'''' latch coil responsive to the closing of said second reed relay for uncoupling said load from said voltage source.

Claim 14

The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said first reed switch when closed places said ''''on'''' latch coil across said voltage source and said second reed switch when closed places said ''''off'''' latch coil across said voltage source.

Claim 15

The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein a voltage source switch is responsive to a momentary energization of said ''''on'''' latch coil for coupling said load to said voltage source aNd is responsive to the momentary energization of said ''''off'''' latch coil for uncoupling said load from said voltage source.

Claim 16

The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said first reed relay is connected to said third conductor and said second reed relay is connected to said fourth conductor.

Claim 17

In a system for remotely controlling the energization of a load, a switch assembly comprising: a common contact; an ''''on'''' contact; an ''''off'''' contact; an operator having a neutral position, an ''''on'''' position connecting said ''''on'''' contact to said common contact and an ''''off'''' position connecting said ''''off'''' contact to said common contact; means for automatically returning said operator to said neutral position from said ''''on'''' position and from said ''''off'''' position; and electromechanical pulse generating means responsive to the movement of said operator from said neutral position for generating a voltage pulse.

Claim 18

In a system for remotely controlling the energization of a load, a switch assembly comprising: a common contact; an ''''on'''' contact; an ''''off'''' contact; an operator having a neutral position, an ''''on'''' position connecting said ''''on'''' contact to said common contact and an ''''off'''' position connecting said ''''off'''' contact to said common contact; means for automatically returning said operator to said neutral position from said ''''on'''' position and from said ''''off'''' position; and electromechanical pulse generating means responsive to the movement of said operator from said neutral position for generating a voltage pulse.

Claim 19

The switch assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein said means for generating a voltage pulse comprises a cylindrical magnet and an armature coil.

Claim 20

The switch assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein first and second pawls are operatively connected to said operator and a sprocket is coupled to said cylindrical magnet through a gear train whereby movement of said operator from said neutral position rotates said cylindrical magnet thereby inducing a voltage in said armature coil.

Claim 21

The switch assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said armature coil has a first lead connected to said common contact and a second lead whereby movement of said operator to said ''''on'''' position provides a voltage pulse between said second lead and on said ''''on'''' contact and movement of said operator to said ''''off'''' position provides a voltage pulse between said second lead and said ''''off'''' contact.

Claim 22

The switch assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein said gear train comprises a first gear integrally formed with said sprocket and a second gear directly connected to said magnet, said first and second gears having a gear ratio such that a small degree of movement of said operator from said neutral position provides a proportionally large degree of movement of said magnet.