US3873847A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system for an electrified fence
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-02-19
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1994-02-19
Abstract
Abstract An automatic as well as manually operated switching system for selectively applying relatively high voltage pulses to an electrified fence from one of a pair of fence charger units commonly referred to as ''''fencers.'''' In its automatic mode, an interface switching circuit under the control of a monitoring circuit senses the condition of the high voltage applied to a fence circuit from a first fencer unit and in the event of the occurrence of a predetermined abnormal operating condition, causes a switchover to a second fencer unit which, after a predetermined manually adjustable delay to allow for a varying number of shocks, is caused to turn on and apply its respective high voltage pulses to the fence circuit. The monitor circuit in one embodiment is also adapted to operate as a portable metering unit for trouble shooting the fence circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 John H Finch
- 👤 Marion A Everett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:42
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05C; H05C3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
324 words
An automatic monitoring and switching system including energizing means for transferring an electrified fence from a first fencer unit to a second fencer unit, comprising in combination: first circuit means including circuit transfer means coupled to and adapted to selectively receive a high voltage signal from each of said fencer units when rEspectively energized from said energizing means, said circuit transfer means having a first and second operating state and in said first operating state being operable to apply said high voltage signal from said first fencer unit; switch means having a first and second operating state and in its first operating state initially energizing said first fencer unit and causing said circuit transfer means to assume its respective first operating state and couple said high voltage signal from said first fencer unit to said fence; monitor circuit means coupled to and adapted to be responsive to the high voltage signal applied to the fence and being operable to provide a first type control signal during a predetermined normal operating state of the system and a second type control signal during a predeterined abnormal operating state of the system; and second circuit means coupled to and being responsive to said control signals from said monitor circuit means and including circuit interruptor means coupled to said circuit transfer means, said circuit interruptor means being operable in response to said first type control signal from said monitor circuit means to maintain said circuit transfer means operable in said first operating state and said first fencer unit energized when said switch means is in its respective second operating state, said circuit interruptor means being further operable in response to said second type control signal to cause said circuit transfer means to assume its respective second operating state when said switch means is in its second operating state thereby energizing and coupling said second fencer unit to the fence while deenergizing and uncoupling said first fencer unit therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
324 words
An automatic monitoring and switching system including energizing means for transferring an electrified fence from a first fencer unit to a second fencer unit, comprising in combination: first circuit means including circuit transfer means coupled to and adapted to selectively receive a high voltage signal from each of said fencer units when rEspectively energized from said energizing means, said circuit transfer means having a first and second operating state and in said first operating state being operable to apply said high voltage signal from said first fencer unit; switch means having a first and second operating state and in its first operating state initially energizing said first fencer unit and causing said circuit transfer means to assume its respective first operating state and couple said high voltage signal from said first fencer unit to said fence; monitor circuit means coupled to and adapted to be responsive to the high voltage signal applied to the fence and being operable to provide a first type control signal during a predetermined normal operating state of the system and a second type control signal during a predeterined abnormal operating state of the system; and second circuit means coupled to and being responsive to said control signals from said monitor circuit means and including circuit interruptor means coupled to said circuit transfer means, said circuit interruptor means being operable in response to said first type control signal from said monitor circuit means to maintain said circuit transfer means operable in said first operating state and said first fencer unit energized when said switch means is in its respective second operating state, said circuit interruptor means being further operable in response to said second type control signal to cause said circuit transfer means to assume its respective second operating state when said switch means is in its second operating state thereby energizing and coupling said second fencer unit to the fence while deenergizing and uncoupling said first fencer unit therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system as defined by claim 1 wherein said circuit transfer means and said circuit interruptor means respectively comprise a first and second electrically operated relay, and wherein said switch means comprises a manually operated system reset switch having first and second positions for providing said first and second operating states.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system as defined by claim 2 wherein said first and second type control signals from said monitor circuit means comprises first and second voltage amplitude signals, and wherein said second circuit means comprises voltage amplitude responsive circuit means coupled to said second relay for energizing said relay in response to said first amplitude voltage signal and deenergizing said relay during said second voltage amplitude signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as defined by claim 3 wherein said voltage amplitude responsive circuit means comprises a Schmitt trigger circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system as defined by claim 3 wherein said first and second voltage amplitude signals comprise DC signals, and wherein said second circuit means includes a charging capacitor having a selectable resistive discharge path, said capacitor being adapted to be charged by said first DC signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system as defined by claim 5 and wherein said monitor circuit means comprises: a voltage divider network coupled across said high voltage signal applied to said fence; a source of direct current voltage and a variable impedance element coupled between said DC source and said capacitor; and means coupled to said voltage divider network and being responsive to a portion of the voltage thereacross for varying the impedance of said variable impedance element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The monitor circuit means as defined by claim 6 wherein said last recited means comprises a light emitting device, the intensity of which is a function of said voltage portion, coupled to an intermediate voltage tap of said voltage divider network and wherein said variable impedance element comprises a light sensitive device optically coupled to said light emitting device and being adapted to vary its impedance in accordance with the intensity of the light generated by said light emitting device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
179 words
The system as defined by claim 5 and additionally including first tRansformer means coupled to said high voltage signal and providing an oscillatory signal therefrom and wherein said monitor circuit means comprises: input circuit means disconnectably coupled to said first transformer means and being responsive to said oscillatory signal provided thereby; circuit means developing a DC voltage, the amplitude of which is a function of the oscillatory signal coupled to said input circuit means; and a voltage controlled oscillator coupled to said last recited circuit means generating an AC output signal whose frequency varies according to the DC voltage developed by said last recited circuit means, said output signal being coupled to said second circuit means; and wherein said second circuit means additionally includes frequency filter circuit means adapted to pass selected output signal frequencies from said voltage controlled oscillator, and rectifier means coupled between said filter means and said charging capacitor for providing a DC voltage of a predetermined polarity from said output signal frequencies passed by said filter circuit means to control said amplitude responsive circuit means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The monitor circuit means as defined by clalim 8 and additionally including a voltage meter and calibrating means therefor coupled across said circuit means developing said DC voltage for providing an indication of the amplitude level of said high voltage signal coupled to said input means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The monitor circuit means as defined by clalim 8 and additionally including a voltage meter and calibrating means therefor coupled across said circuit means developing said DC voltage for providing an indication of the amplitude level of said high voltage signal coupled to said input means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
121 words
The monitor circuit means as defined by claim 9 wherein said monitor circuit means when disconnected from said first transformer means is utilized as a portable metering unit, and additionally including a high voltage probe connected to said monitor circuit means and coupled to said input circuit means, said probe including an insulated housing, second transformer means located in said housing and coupled to said input means and being adapted to provide an oscillatory signal in response to said high voltage signal, and a conductive probe tip attached to said housing and electrically coupled to said second transformer means, said tip being adapted to sense said high voltage signal and shock excite said second transformer means to generate said oscillatory signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The monitor circuit means as defined by claim 10 wherein said input circuit means additionally includes variable gain signal amplifier means coupled between said second transformer means and a rectifier means, and DC amplifier means coupled between said rectifier means and said voltage controlled oscillator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The monitor circuit means as defined by claim 11 and additionally including at least one charging capacitor and a discharge path therefor of predeterined time constant coupled to said rectifier means, said capacitor being charged therefrom and the voltage appearing thereacross being applied to said DC amplifier means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The monitor circuit means as defined by claim 12 wherein said variable gain amplifier means comprises transistor amplifier means including an emitter follower output circuit coupled to said rectifier means and potentiometer means coupling said second transformer means to the input of said transistor amplifier means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The monitor circuit means as defined by claim 8 wherein said voltage controlled oscillator comprises a voltage controlled free running multivibrator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The monitor circuit means as defined by claim 14 and additionally including an audio transducer coupled across said multivibrator providing an audio indication of the output frequency of said multivibrator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3409783A
Cited
US3772529A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |