US3876969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-10-04
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Granted: 1975-04-08
•
Expires: 1993-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A safety device for machine tools including a transmitter for delivering a signal of sonic frequency to a selected area of the tool, a receiver arranged in a predetermined relation to the selected area and operable to provide an output signal when an emitter signal of predetermined magnitude is received and a control responsive to the output signal from the receiver for enabling the machine operation in response to an output signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr James R Price
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:36
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01G; D01G31/00; F; F16; F16P; F16P3/00; F16P3/12; F16P3/14; F16P3/141; G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A safety device for a power operated apparatus having an operative means movable through a work area and from a first position to a second position, a sonic frequency transmitter for transmitting a sonic frequency signal through said work area, a sonic receiver disposed to receive said signal after passage through said work area, control means connected to said operative means for effecting the movement thereof for performing a work operation, operation initiating means for actuating said control means, and enabling means coupled to said control means and operative when in a first state to prevent operation of said operative means and when in a second state to enable such operation, said receiver being coupled to said enabling means and operative to switch said enabling means from its first state to its second state when the level of the sonic frequency signal received by the receiver rises above a predetermined magnitude, said receiver returning said enabling means to its first state when said level falls below said magnitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A safety device for a power operated apparatus having an operative means movable through a work area and from a first position to a second position, a sonic frequency transmitter for transmitting a sonic frequency signal through said work area, a sonic receiver disposed to receive said signal after passage through said work area, control means connected to said operative means for effecting the movement thereof for performing a work operation, operation initiating means for actuating said control means, and enabling means coupled to said control means and operative when in a first state to prevent operation of said operative means and when in a second state to enable such operation, said receiver being coupled to said enabling means and operative to switch said enabling means from its first state to its second state when the level of the sonic frequency signal received by the receiver rises above a predetermined magnitude, said receiver returning said enabling means to its first state when said level falls below said magnitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The device set forth in claim 1 and including means for adjusting the level of the sonic frequency signal received by said receiver so that said level is above the predetermined magnitude when the work area is unoccupied by a portion of the operator''s body and below said magnitude when a portion of the operator''s body is disposed in said work area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein a work piece is located within the work area, said transmitter being oriented such that the transmitted sonic frequency signal will be reflected from said work piece when the latter has a predetermined position relative to the power operated apparatus, said receiver being positioned to receive said reflected signal when said work piece is in said predetermined position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said transmitter and receiver are located in a generally elevated lateral position relative to said work piece, said transmitter being oriented to transmit said sonic signal generally downwardly, first reflective means disposed to receive said signal and oriented for reflecting said sonic signal generally horizontally and inwardly toward said work piece, second reflective means disposed above the work piece and oriented for reflecting said signal downwardly, third reflective means disposed above said work piece for receiving the signal and oriented to reflect the same laterally toward said receiver, and fourth reflective means disposed below said receiver for reflecting the signal upwardly toward said receiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device set forth in claim 3 and including time delay means coupled to said enabling means for disabling said enabling means after a predetermined time delay to prevent repeat operations of said power operated apparatus after the initiation of an operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said transmitter is constructed and arranged to transmit a sonic frequency signal functionally related to an input pressure signal and said receiver is constructed and arranged to provide a predetermined output pressure signal in response to a predetermined input pressure signal and functionally related to the received sonic frequency signal, pressure amplifier means coupled to receive the output pressure signal from said receiver, said enabling means being pressure responsive and coupled to said amplifier means and operative to perform an enabling function upon the receipt of a predetermined amplified pressure signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device set forth in claim 6 and including means for adjusting the input pressure to at least one of said amplifier and receiver means for adjusting the receiver output signal to some predetermined value in the absence of interferring mass in said work area in excess of a predetermined amount.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein a work piece is located within the work area, said transmitter being oriented such that the transmitted sonic frequency signal will be reflected from said work piece when the latter has a predetermined position relative to the power operated apparatus, said receiver being positioned to receive said reflected signal when said work piece is in said predetermined position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter is constructed and arranged to transmit a sonic frequency signal functionally related to an input pressure signal and said receiver is constructed and arranged to provide a predetermined output pressure signal in response to a predetermined input pressure signal and functionally related to the received sonic frequency signal, pressure amplifier means coupled to receive the output pressure signal from said receiver, said enabling means being pressure responsive and coupled to said amplifier means and operative to perform an enabling function upon the receipt of a predetermined amplified pressure signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device set forth in claim 9 and including means for adjusting the input pressure to at least one of said amplifier and receiver means for adjusting the receiver output signal to some predetermined value in the absence of interferring mass in said work area in excess of a predetermined amount.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device set forth in claim 9 wherein said sonic frequency signal is in the order of 50 KHz.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device set forth in claim 1 and including time delay means coupled to said enabling means for disabling said enabling means after a predetermined time delay to prevent repeat operations of said power operated apparatus after the initiation of an operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter is constructed and arranged to transmit a sonic frequency signal functionally related to an input pressure signal and said receiver is constructed and arranged to provide a predetermined output pressure signal in response to a predetermined input pressure signal and functionally related to the received sonic frequency signal, pressure amplifier means coupled to receive the output pressure signal from said receiver, said enabling means being pressure responsive and coupled to said amplifier means and operative to perform an enabling function upon the receipt of a predetermined amplified pressure signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device set forth in claim 13 and including means for adjusting the input pressure to at least one of said amplifier and receiver means for adjusting the receiver output signal to some predetermined value in the absence of interferring mass in said work area in excess of a predetermined amount.
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) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |