US2445660A - Electric treadle - Google Patents

Electric treadle Download PDF

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Publication number
US2445660A
US2445660A US611065A US61106545A US2445660A US 2445660 A US2445660 A US 2445660A US 611065 A US611065 A US 611065A US 61106545 A US61106545 A US 61106545A US 2445660 A US2445660 A US 2445660A
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United States
Prior art keywords
treadle
conductive
sheet
electric
resistance
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US611065A
Inventor
Carl O Bruestle
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ELEVATOR SUPPLIES CO Inc
ELEVATOR SUPPLIES COMPANY Inc
Original Assignee
ELEVATOR SUPPLIES CO Inc
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Publication date
Application filed by ELEVATOR SUPPLIES CO Inc filed Critical ELEVATOR SUPPLIES CO Inc
Priority to US611065A priority Critical patent/US2445660A/en
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Publication of US2445660A publication Critical patent/US2445660A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08GTRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/01Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled
    • G08G1/02Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled using treadles built into the road
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01BCABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
    • H01B7/00Insulated conductors or cables characterised by their form
    • H01B7/10Contact cables, i.e. having conductors which may be brought into contact by distortion of the cable
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/02Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
    • H01H3/14Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot
    • H01H3/141Cushion or mat switches

Definitions

  • This invention relates to improvements in electric treadles of the type commonly used, for example, in controlling the operation of vehicle doors.
  • a broad object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified form of electric treadle involving constructional features whereby the vertical height or thickness thereof is kept small.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an electric treadle construction in the form of a fluid-tight or fully sealed portable mat thin enough so that it can be placed on the floor in front of a door to be controlled by it.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an electric treadle characterized in that it normally forms a conductive path of high resistance in the control circuit in which it is connected-the resistance of which falls to a low value under pressure.
  • This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement and relative location of parts as will be described in detail below.
  • Figure 1 is a vertical, transverse, cross-sectional view through the treadle construction of this invention diagrammatically showing a portion of the circuit controlled thereby;
  • Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified construction.
  • the treadle comprises a flexible deformable envelope 13 of any suitable material forming a water-tight housing.
  • the envelope [3 can be constructed in many ways, the details of which are no concern of this invention. By way of example, however, it may be: stated that the envelope may consist of a pair of similarly shaped rubberized fabrics hermetically sealed at the joints to make it fluid-tight.
  • a body preferably in the form of a sheet ID of a conductive and compressible material.
  • a material suitable for this purpose consisting of a conductive rubber compound moldable into the desired shape and having sufiicient elasticity so as to return to normal shape after deformation.
  • one form of such material consists of a mixture of rubber and conductive particles such as graphite or the like present in suflicient quantity so as to form a conductive path therethrough.
  • conductive material By controlling the amount of conductive material in the mixture its specific resistivity can readily be controlled, for example, to a high value.
  • conductive sheets II and I2 Arranged in juxtaposed relation are a pair of conductive sheets II and I2 which, in the form illustrated, comprise a woven wire screen or wire mesh of suitable material preferably of a hard springy nature such as spring brass, bronze and the like.
  • the screens II and !2 are normally held in contact substantially throughout their areas with the member ID and are closely enveloped by the capsule l3.
  • a suitable source of current having the output Voltage V is connected to the two screens H and I2, respectively, by wires which include in series circuit relation therewith the operating magnet M of a relay including the movable contact l5.
  • This relay has a pair of fixed contacts to which the control circuit wires it are connected.
  • the wires [6 will be included in a circuit in the case of the use of this treadle for door operation with the control devices for the door operating motor.
  • the high resistance element I0 is included in this circuit and, therefore, the relay is constructed and proportioned so as to be of the sensitive type operable upon a change of current but not operable while the normally low current is flowing through the resultant high resistance path.
  • FIG. 2 The modification shown in Figure 2 is substantially similar to that of Figure l. in most respects.
  • an envelope 20 like I3 encloses the conductive screens I8 and l 9 and there is imposed therebetween a conductive, deformable and compressible sheet H.
  • the sheet I! is given a corrugated form as illustrated so that, as will readily be apparent, the paths of current flow through the sheet I? are much longer in relaxed condition of the treadle than when the treadle is stepped upon.
  • the treadle is stepped upon the corrugated treadle tends to flap down and at the same time is pinched as before to reduce the resistance to current flow in the circuit including the wires 2
  • This construction normally provides a much higher resistance effect forrelaxed treadle condition.
  • an electric treadle comprising a housing, a sheet of conductive and compressible material in said housing formed of a mixture of a conductor and a non-conductor and having a normally high resistance to the pass-age of electric current, said sheet being of sepentine cross-section; and a pair of conductor sheets disposed on opposite sides of said first sheet and in contact therewith, the resistance to current fiow of said first sheet being reduced under pressure.

Description

July 20, 1948.
c. o. BRUESTLE 2,445,660
ELECTRIC IREADLE Filed Aug. 17, 1945 V Waferpraof envelope z g [0 7? Canducfiva and cvmlaressibla D IA 5 l I ,I. I7
' INVENTOR. l 0. B uesflc Patented July 20, 1948 ELECTRIC TREADLE Carl 0. Bruestle, Rahway, N. J assignor to Elevator'supplies Company, Inc., Perth Amboy, N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 17, 1945, Serial No. 611,065
1 Claim. 1
This invention relates to improvements in electric treadles of the type commonly used, for example, in controlling the operation of vehicle doors.
A broad object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified form of electric treadle involving constructional features whereby the vertical height or thickness thereof is kept small.
Another object of this invention is to provide an electric treadle construction in the form of a fluid-tight or fully sealed portable mat thin enough so that it can be placed on the floor in front of a door to be controlled by it.
Another object of this invention is to provide an electric treadle characterized in that it normally forms a conductive path of high resistance in the control circuit in which it is connected-the resistance of which falls to a low value under pressure.
Other and more detailed objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the several embodiments thereof illustrated in the attached drawings.
This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement and relative location of parts as will be described in detail below.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical, transverse, cross-sectional view through the treadle construction of this invention diagrammatically showing a portion of the circuit controlled thereby; and
Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified construction.
As illustrated, the treadle comprises a flexible deformable envelope 13 of any suitable material forming a water-tight housing. The envelope [3 can be constructed in many ways, the details of which are no concern of this invention. By way of example, however, it may be: stated that the envelope may consist of a pair of similarly shaped rubberized fabrics hermetically sealed at the joints to make it fluid-tight. Within the envelope I3 is a body preferably in the form of a sheet ID of a conductive and compressible material. For example, there is now known a material suitable for this purpose consisting of a conductive rubber compound moldable into the desired shape and having sufiicient elasticity so as to return to normal shape after deformation. It is understood that one form of such material consists of a mixture of rubber and conductive particles such as graphite or the like present in suflicient quantity so as to form a conductive path therethrough. By controlling the amount of conductive material in the mixture its specific resistivity can readily be controlled, for example, to a high value. Arranged in juxtaposed relation are a pair of conductive sheets II and I2 which, in the form illustrated, comprise a woven wire screen or wire mesh of suitable material preferably of a hard springy nature such as spring brass, bronze and the like.
It will be seen from Figure 1 that the screens II and !2 are normally held in contact substantially throughout their areas with the member ID and are closely enveloped by the capsule l3. A suitable source of current having the output Voltage V is connected to the two screens H and I2, respectively, by wires which include in series circuit relation therewith the operating magnet M of a relay including the movable contact l5. This relay has a pair of fixed contacts to which the control circuit wires it are connected. The wires [6 will be included in a circuit in the case of the use of this treadle for door operation with the control devices for the door operating motor. it will be seen that the high resistance element I0 is included in this circuit and, therefore, the relay is constructed and proportioned so as to be of the sensitive type operable upon a change of current but not operable while the normally low current is flowing through the resultant high resistance path.
It will be seen, however, that when the treadle is subjected to pressure such as results when a person steps on it, the compressible conductive sheet ID will be compressed at the points of pressure bringing the two mats H and I2 closer together thereby reducing the resistance in the circuit of the winding M. To look at it another way, when the sheet l 0 is under pressure, the material thereof at the pressure points will be compressed bringing the conductive particles in closer relationship and thereby reducing the resistance of current flow at this point. Thus when the treadle is stepped upon sufficient current will flow through the winding M to the sensitive relay to cause movable contact 15 to disengage the fixed contacts in the case of the mechanism illustrated. Of course, as those skilled in the electrical arts will immediately appreciate the relay can operate in a reverse sense in that it will be closed when the treadle is stepped upon completing the control circuit l6 rather than interrupting it.
The modification shown in Figure 2 is substantially similar to that of Figure l. in most respects. In this case an envelope 20 like I3 encloses the conductive screens I8 and l 9 and there is imposed therebetween a conductive, deformable and compressible sheet H. In this case, however, the sheet I! is given a corrugated form as illustrated so that, as will readily be apparent, the paths of current flow through the sheet I? are much longer in relaxed condition of the treadle than when the treadle is stepped upon. When the treadle is stepped upon the corrugated treadle tends to flap down and at the same time is pinched as before to reduce the resistance to current flow in the circuit including the wires 2| and 22 connected to the conductive elements 18 and I 9. This construction normally provides a much higher resistance effect forrelaxed treadle condition. The high resistance sheets l and I].
are not necessarily made of rubber since there are other materials available for the purpose such as some of the natural and synthetic resins which are normally elastic.
From the above description, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the subject matter of thisinvention is capable of considerable variation and I do not therefore, desire to be limited tO the illustrative embodiments herein but rather by the appended claim.
Number What is claimed is:
In an electric treadle the combination comprising a housing, a sheet of conductive and compressible material in said housing formed of a mixture of a conductor and a non-conductor and having a normally high resistance to the pass-age of electric current, said sheet being of sepentine cross-section; and a pair of conductor sheets disposed on opposite sides of said first sheet and in contact therewith, the resistance to current fiow of said first sheet being reduced under pressure.
CARL O. BRUESTLE.
"REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:
, TUNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date *Gardner -"Feb. 14," 1905 Kotowski June 2, 1936 Kemper June 16, 1936 La Bell Dec. 22, 1942
US611065A 1945-08-17 1945-08-17 Electric treadle Expired - Lifetime US2445660A (en)

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Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2626381A (en) * 1948-01-27 1953-01-20 Texas Instruments Inc Variable resistance distributed seismometer
US3245018A (en) * 1958-08-14 1966-04-05 Microdot Inc Strain gages
US3386067A (en) * 1967-04-24 1968-05-28 Raphael J. Costanzo Pressure-sensitive electrical switch and application therefor
US3696408A (en) * 1970-11-23 1972-10-03 Sanders Associates Inc Keyboard encoder
US3794790A (en) * 1972-02-04 1974-02-26 Rists Wires & Cables Ltd Electrical switches
US3927593A (en) * 1973-12-28 1975-12-23 Nippon Musical Instruments Mfg After-control signal detecting sensor for keyboard of electronic musical instrument
US3960044A (en) * 1973-10-18 1976-06-01 Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha Keyboard arrangement having after-control signal detecting sensor in electronic musical instrument
US4273682A (en) * 1976-12-24 1981-06-16 The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. Pressure-sensitive electrically conductive elastomeric composition
US4419653A (en) * 1980-10-17 1983-12-06 Bosch-Siemens Hausgerate Gmbh Variable resistance switch
EP0167341A2 (en) * 1984-06-25 1986-01-08 Bridgestone Corporation A pressure-sensitive conductive strip switch assembly and a method of manufacturing the same
US4639710A (en) * 1986-01-24 1987-01-27 Mcmillan Thomas A Foot pedal for varying resistance in an electrical circuit
US4777346A (en) * 1986-09-24 1988-10-11 Swanton Jr Joseph E Electrically heated therapeutic pillow
US4971065A (en) * 1985-02-11 1990-11-20 Pearce Stephen D Transducer for detecting apnea
US4978177A (en) * 1989-07-06 1990-12-18 Nartron Corporation Signal mechanism responsive to force applied to vehicular brake pedal and the like
US5010972A (en) * 1989-07-06 1991-04-30 Nartron Corporation Combination vehicular braking and accessory control system
US5137338A (en) * 1991-02-11 1992-08-11 Nartron Corporation Combination vehicular braking and accessory control system
US5217280A (en) * 1989-07-06 1993-06-08 Nartron Corporation Pressure sensitive signal device for vehicle brake pedal
US5305644A (en) * 1989-03-14 1994-04-26 Ercon, Inc. Force sensor
US5625333A (en) * 1995-09-22 1997-04-29 Morton International, Inc. Bend sensor horn switch assembly
US6031212A (en) * 1991-04-09 2000-02-29 The Boeing Company Heating apparatus for composite structure repair
US6270603B1 (en) 1991-04-09 2001-08-07 The Boeing Company Repair method for uniformly heating composite structure
US6452479B1 (en) * 1999-05-20 2002-09-17 Eleksen Limited Detector contructed from fabric
US20040163939A1 (en) * 2003-02-20 2004-08-26 Iee International Electronics & Engineering S.A. Foil-type switching element with improved spacer design
WO2005001865A1 (en) * 2003-06-30 2005-01-06 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. A pressure activated interface
US20070084293A1 (en) * 2005-10-14 2007-04-19 Terrance Kaiserman Pressure responsive sensor

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US782232A (en) * 1904-05-09 1905-02-14 Charles K Woolner Composition of matter and process of making it.
US2042606A (en) * 1932-05-26 1936-06-02 Telefunken Gmbh Variable resistor unit
US2044080A (en) * 1935-07-31 1936-06-16 Charles R Kemper Circuit controlling device
US2305717A (en) * 1939-10-23 1942-12-22 Bell Oidric Joseph La Circuit controlling means

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US782232A (en) * 1904-05-09 1905-02-14 Charles K Woolner Composition of matter and process of making it.
US2042606A (en) * 1932-05-26 1936-06-02 Telefunken Gmbh Variable resistor unit
US2044080A (en) * 1935-07-31 1936-06-16 Charles R Kemper Circuit controlling device
US2305717A (en) * 1939-10-23 1942-12-22 Bell Oidric Joseph La Circuit controlling means

Cited By (30)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2626381A (en) * 1948-01-27 1953-01-20 Texas Instruments Inc Variable resistance distributed seismometer
US3245018A (en) * 1958-08-14 1966-04-05 Microdot Inc Strain gages
US3386067A (en) * 1967-04-24 1968-05-28 Raphael J. Costanzo Pressure-sensitive electrical switch and application therefor
US3696408A (en) * 1970-11-23 1972-10-03 Sanders Associates Inc Keyboard encoder
US3794790A (en) * 1972-02-04 1974-02-26 Rists Wires & Cables Ltd Electrical switches
US3960044A (en) * 1973-10-18 1976-06-01 Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha Keyboard arrangement having after-control signal detecting sensor in electronic musical instrument
US3927593A (en) * 1973-12-28 1975-12-23 Nippon Musical Instruments Mfg After-control signal detecting sensor for keyboard of electronic musical instrument
US4273682A (en) * 1976-12-24 1981-06-16 The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. Pressure-sensitive electrically conductive elastomeric composition
US4419653A (en) * 1980-10-17 1983-12-06 Bosch-Siemens Hausgerate Gmbh Variable resistance switch
EP0167341A2 (en) * 1984-06-25 1986-01-08 Bridgestone Corporation A pressure-sensitive conductive strip switch assembly and a method of manufacturing the same
EP0167341A3 (en) * 1984-06-25 1987-05-20 Bridgestone Corporation A pressure-sensitive conductive strip switch assembly and a method of manufacturing the same
US4971065A (en) * 1985-02-11 1990-11-20 Pearce Stephen D Transducer for detecting apnea
US4639710A (en) * 1986-01-24 1987-01-27 Mcmillan Thomas A Foot pedal for varying resistance in an electrical circuit
US4777346A (en) * 1986-09-24 1988-10-11 Swanton Jr Joseph E Electrically heated therapeutic pillow
US5305644A (en) * 1989-03-14 1994-04-26 Ercon, Inc. Force sensor
US4978177A (en) * 1989-07-06 1990-12-18 Nartron Corporation Signal mechanism responsive to force applied to vehicular brake pedal and the like
US5217280A (en) * 1989-07-06 1993-06-08 Nartron Corporation Pressure sensitive signal device for vehicle brake pedal
US5010972A (en) * 1989-07-06 1991-04-30 Nartron Corporation Combination vehicular braking and accessory control system
US5137338A (en) * 1991-02-11 1992-08-11 Nartron Corporation Combination vehicular braking and accessory control system
US6031212A (en) * 1991-04-09 2000-02-29 The Boeing Company Heating apparatus for composite structure repair
US6270603B1 (en) 1991-04-09 2001-08-07 The Boeing Company Repair method for uniformly heating composite structure
US5625333A (en) * 1995-09-22 1997-04-29 Morton International, Inc. Bend sensor horn switch assembly
US6452479B1 (en) * 1999-05-20 2002-09-17 Eleksen Limited Detector contructed from fabric
US6714117B2 (en) 1999-05-20 2004-03-30 Eleksen Limited Detector constructed from fabric
US20040163939A1 (en) * 2003-02-20 2004-08-26 Iee International Electronics & Engineering S.A. Foil-type switching element with improved spacer design
US7187264B2 (en) * 2003-02-20 2007-03-06 Iee International Electronics & Engineering S.A. Foil-type switching element with improved spacer design
WO2005001865A1 (en) * 2003-06-30 2005-01-06 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. A pressure activated interface
US20060157334A1 (en) * 2003-06-30 2006-07-20 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Pressure activated interface
US20070084293A1 (en) * 2005-10-14 2007-04-19 Terrance Kaiserman Pressure responsive sensor
US7594442B2 (en) 2005-10-14 2009-09-29 T-Ink Tc Corp Resistance varying sensor using electrically conductive coated materials

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