Patent US3836770A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3836770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for measuring the distance between two successive objects
Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
•
Filing: 1972-08-03
•
Granted: 1974-09-17
•
Expires: 1992-08-03
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to and an apparatus for measuring the distance between two spaced objects and wherein either or both of said objects may be movable with respect to each other and/or with respect to a fixed point. Said objects, such as vehicles arranged along a track, each carry a transmitter for the emanation of signals and a receiver for the reception of signals emanated by an adjacent object. The signals are fed to a conductor extending along said track and able to provide a sufficiently rapid attenuation of said signals whereby same may serve as an accurate indicator of relatively short distances between the objects. For example, such conductor can comprise at least two parallel conductors connected throughout their length by resistive means of relatively high conductivity. Supplemental transmitters may also be applied to said objects to suppress transmitted signals in one direction while permitting such transmission in another direction in order to minimize interference with the signal received from another object, as a vehicle, in the one direction. Thus, in a line of three vehicles, the transmitter on the second vehicle will not interfere with the receiver on the second vehicle but will effectively send signals to the receiver of the third vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 C Helmcke
- 👤 W Hermann
- 👤 P Kraus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:56
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/08; B; B61; B61L; B61L3/00; B61L3/16; B61L3/22; B61L3/225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
In an apparatus for continuously measuring the distance between two successive track carried objects each having at least a signal transmitter and a signal receiver thereon, a signal transmitted by said signal transmitter in one object being received by said signal receiver in the next object on said track, the improvement comprising: stationary signal transmission line means extending coextensively with said track, said signal transmission line means comprising at least two laterally spaced and parallel electrical signal transmitting conductors and electrical connection means for electrically connecting said conductors continuously along the length of said conductors, the cross leakage of an electrical signal between said conductors through said electrical connection means effecting a higher than normal continuous attenuation of said electrical signal in a longitudinal direction along said conductors so that the amplitude of said electrical signal transmitted over said conductors will be continuously diminished in said longitudinal direction, said signal transmitter and said signal receiver being coupled to said signal transmission line means, said signal transmitter on said one object being adapted to transmit a signal along said signal transmission line means toward the next located object on said track, said signal receiving means in said next object being adapted to receive said signal from said signal transmission line means; and travel control means in said next object being responsive to the received signal in said signal receiver, the amplitude of the received and attenuated signal being a measure of the distance between said one and next objects.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
In an apparatus for continuously measuring the distance between two successive track carried objects each having at least a signal transmitter and a signal receiver thereon, a signal transmitted by said signal transmitter in one object being received by said signal receiver in the next object on said track, the improvement comprising: stationary signal transmission line means extending coextensively with said track, said signal transmission line means comprising at least two laterally spaced and parallel electrical signal transmitting conductors and electrical connection means for electrically connecting said conductors continuously along the length of said conductors, the cross leakage of an electrical signal between said conductors through said electrical connection means effecting a higher than normal continuous attenuation of said electrical signal in a longitudinal direction along said conductors so that the amplitude of said electrical signal transmitted over said conductors will be continuously diminished in said longitudinal direction, said signal transmitter and said signal receiver being coupled to said signal transmission line means, said signal transmitter on said one object being adapted to transmit a signal along said signal transmission line means toward the next located object on said track, said signal receiving means in said next object being adapted to receive said signal from said signal transmission line means; and travel control means in said next object being responsive to the received signal in said signal receiver, the amplitude of the received and attenuated signal being a measure of the distance between said one and next objects.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement according to claim 1, including a compensating transmitting device mounted on each of said objects and adapted to transmit a counter signal into said signal transmission line means opposite in phase and polarity of the signal generated by said signal transmitter to effect an isolation of said signal receiving means from said signal transmitter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said objects are personnel carrying vehicles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said signal transmission line means includes an additional laterally spaced and parallel electrical signal transmitting conductor coplanar with the plane defined by said two conductors and wherein the centrally positioned conductor is equidistant from each of the remaining two conductors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said electrical connection means comprises a continuous foil electrically connected to said conductors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement according to claim 3, wherein said signal transmitter and said signal receiver is inductively coupled to said signal transmission line means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improvement according to claim 6, wherein said inductive coupling is accomplished by means defining a pair of U-shaped iron cores located on opposite sides of said signal transmission line means and being spaced from said signal transmission line means to define air gaps therebetween and having windings thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 7, wherein the width of said signal transmission line means is greater than the width of said iron cores.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement according to claim 8, wherein said iron cores include means defining pole shoes, the width of said pole shoes being less than the distance between said conductors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said signal transmission line meaNs includes an additional laterally spaced and parallel electrical signal transmitting conductor coplanar with the plane defined by said two conductors and wherein the centrally positioned conductor is equidistant from each of the remaining two conductors; and including an additional pair of conductors coplanar with said plane, said three conductors being located between said additional pair of conductors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement according to claim 10, including means defining a signal generator connected to said additional pair of conductors, the internal impedance characteristic of which is substantially greater than the impedance characteristic of said signal transmission line means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3172627A
Cited
US2509331A
Cited
US2702342A
Cited
US2762913A
Cited
US2965188A
Cited
US3179904A
Cited
US3305682A
Cited
US3377587A
Cited
US3546593A
Cited
US3694751A
Cited
US3544788A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |