Patent US3822369A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3822369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Frangible, flexible printed circuit sensor fracturable by derailed cable
Assignee: LIFT ENG AND Mfg Inc
•
Filing: 1973-06-29
•
Granted: 1974-07-02
•
Expires: 1993-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A cable derailment sensing device and method for use with pulley means having a cable carried thereby to detect derailment of the cable from the pulley means is disclosed. The sensing device includes a brittle frangible element positioned by mounting means for impact thereof by the cable upon derailment, and the frangible element carries an electrically conductive path thereon which is connected to electrical sensing circuitry. The brittle sensing element is formed of a material which is vibration and fatigue resistant and has sufficient durability to withstand accidental jarring. The electrically conductive path may be formed by printed circuit techniques on a surface of a frangible element such as a printed circuit board. The brittle frangible element is preferably prestressed by the mounting means to insure complete fracturing thereof upon impact by the cable.
Inventors
- 👤 J Kunczynski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/36; H01H1/40; H01H1/403; B; B61; B61B; B61B12/00; B61B12/06; B61B7/00; B61B7/04; H01H35/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
In a cable derailment sensing device for use with pulley means having a cable carried thereby and including sensing means, mounting means positioning said sensing means adjacent said pulley means and for impact by said cable upon derailment from said pulley means, and electrical sensing circuitry connected to said sensing means, the improvement comprising: said sensing means being formed as a brittle, frangible and fatigue resistant element formed from an electrically insulating material and having an electrically conductive path carried thereby, said electrically conductive path being formed as an open ended loop of electrically conductive material printed on said sensing means and electrically connected at the open end thereof to said sensing circuitry, said element having a brittleness causing complete fracturing thereof at at least one position along said electrically conductive path upon impact of said element by said cable upon derailment from said pulley means, and said mounting means supporting said sensing means adjacent a first and a second end of said sensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a cable derailment sensing device for use with pulley means having a cable carried thereby and including sensing means, mounting means positioning said sensing means adjacent said pulley means and for impact by said cable upon derailment from said pulley means, and electrical sensing circuitry connected to said sensing means, the improvement comprising: said sensing means being formed as a brittle, frangible and fatigue resistant element formed from an electrically insulating material and having an electrically conductive path carried thereby, said electrically conductive path being formed as an open ended loop of electrically conductive material printed on said sensing means and electrically connected at the open end thereof to said sensing circuitry, said element having a brittleness causing complete fracturing thereof at at least one position along said electrically conductive path upon impact of said element by said cable upon derailment from said pulley means, and said mounting means supporting said sensing means adjacent a first and a second end of said sensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a cable derailment sensing device as defined in claim 1 wherein, said loop commences and terminates and is electrically connected to said sensing circuitry adjacent said first end of said strip, and said loop is formed to pass around a portion of said mounting means adjacent said second end of said strip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a cable derailment sensing device as defined in claim 1 wherein, said mounting means is formed to position said element for impact by said cable with said element in a prestressed condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a cable derailment sensing device as defined in claim 3 wherein, said element is formed as a board-like strip, and said strip is secured in said mounting means adjacent the ends of said strip, and said mounting means is formed to mount said strip in a longitudinally twisted orientation between said ends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a cable derailment sensing device as defined in claim 4 wherein, said strip is formed from a resin-based material and is secured in said mountIng means in a substantially horizontal plane adjacent a first end thereof, and said strip is secured in said mounting means in a substantially vertical plane adjacent a second end thereof to provide substantially a 90* twist intermediate said ends to prestress said strip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a cable derailment sensing device as defined in claim 5 wherein, said strip is formed with an opening adjacent said second end dimensioned for receipt of a pin forming a portion of said mounting means, said electrically conductive path is formed as an electrically conductive material printed on a surface of said strip in an open ended loop extending from said first end of said strip along an edge of said strip and around said opening and along an opposite edge of said strip back to said first end; said mounting means is formed with a slotted portion dimensioned for receipt of said strip and formed for demountable securement of said strip in said slotted portion by positioning of a removable pin through said opening and into engagement with said mounting means adjacent said slotted portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a cable derailment sensing device as defined in claim 6 wherein, said strip is positioned in said mounting means with the portion thereof most likely to be impacted upon derailment of said cable oriented with an edge thereof positioned to be impacted first by said cable.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of sensing the derailment of a cable from pulley means carrying said cable comprising: mounting in a prestressed manner a brittle, frangible, and fatigue resistant printed circuit board having an electrically conductive path imprinted thereon adjacent said pulley means for impact thereof by said cable upon derailment from said pulley means; electrically connecting said electrically conductive path to external electrically sensing circuitry formed to sense cable derailment upon breaking of said electrically conductive path by said cable; an fracturing of said printed circuit board and said electrically conductive path by impacting said printed circuit board with said cable upon derailment of said cable from said pulley means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of sensing the derailment of a cable from pulley means carrying said cable comprising: mounting in a prestressed manner a brittle, frangible, and fatigue resistant printed circuit board having an electrically conductive path imprinted thereon adjacent said pulley means for impact thereof by said cable upon derailment from said pulley means; electrically connecting said electrically conductive path to external electrically sensing circuitry formed to sense cable derailment upon breaking of said electrically conductive path by said cable; an fracturing of said printed circuit board and said electrically conductive path by impacting said printed circuit board with said cable upon derailment of said cable from said pulley means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a cable derailment sensing device for use with pulley means having a cable carried thereby and including sensing means, mounting means positioning said sensing means adjacent said pulley means and for impact by said cable upon derailment from said pulley means, and electrical sensing circuitry connected to said sensing means, the improvement comprising: said sensing means being formed as a brittle, frangible and fatigue resistant element formed from an electrically insulating material and having an electrically conductive path of insubstantial strength imprinted thereon, said path being electrically connected to said sensing circuitry, said element having a brittleness and being mounted in said mounting means to cause complete fracturing thereof at substantially any position along said electrically conductive path impacted by said cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a cable derailment sensing device for use with pulley means having a cable carried thereby and including sensing means, mounting means positioning said sensing means adjacent said pulley means and for impact by said cable upon derailment from said pulley means, and electrical sensing circuitry connected to said sensing means, the improvement comprising: said sensing means being formed as a brittle, frangible and fatigue resistant element formed from an electrically insulating material and having an electrically conductive path of insubstantial strength imprinted thereon, said path being electrically connected to said sensing circuitry, said element having a brittleness and being mounted in said mounting means to cause complete fracturing thereof at substantially any position along said electrically conductive path impacted by said cable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a cable derailment sensing device as defined in claim 9 wherein, said mounting means is formed to position said element for impact by said cable with said element in a prestressed condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a cable derailment sensing device for use with pulley means having a cable carried thereby and including sensing means, mounting means positioning said sensing means adjacent said pulley means and for impact by said cable upon derailment from said pulley means, and electrical sensing circuitry connected to said sensing means, the improvement comprising: said sensing means being formed as a brittle, frangible and fatigue resistant printed circuit board formed of an electrically insulating material and having an electrically conductive path of insubstantial strength imprinted thereon, said path being electrically connected to said sensing circuitry.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a cable derailment sensing device for use with pulley means having a cable carried thereby and including sensing means, mounting means positioning said sensing means adjacent said pulley means and for impact by said cable upon derailment from said pulley means, and electrical sensing circuitry connected to said sensing means, the improvement comprising: said sensing means being formed as a brittle, frangible and fatigue resistant printed circuit board formed of an electrically insulating material and having an electrically conductive path of insubstantial strength imprinted thereon, said path being electrically connected to said sensing circuitry.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-01 | 1977-12-31 | 1978-07-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-01 | 1981-12-31 | 1982-07-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-01 | 1985-12-31 | 1986-07-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |