US2445660A - Electric treadle - Google Patents
Electric treadle Download PDFInfo
- 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
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- treadle
- conductive
- sheet
- electric
- resistance
- Prior art date
- 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
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/01—Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled
- G08G1/02—Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled using treadles built into the road
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01B—CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
- H01B7/00—Insulated conductors or cables characterised by their form
- H01B7/10—Contact cables, i.e. having conductors which may be brought into contact by distortion of the cable
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
- H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
- H01H3/14—Operating 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
- H01H3/141—Cushion 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
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US611065A US2445660A (en) | 1945-08-17 | 1945-08-17 | Electric treadle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US611065A US2445660A (en) | 1945-08-17 | 1945-08-17 | Electric treadle |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US2445660A true US2445660A (en) | 1948-07-20 |
Family
ID=24447484
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US611065A Expired - Lifetime US2445660A (en) | 1945-08-17 | 1945-08-17 | Electric treadle |
Country Status (1)
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US (1) | US2445660A (en) |
Cited By (25)
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)
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 |
-
1945
- 1945-08-17 US US611065A patent/US2445660A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (4)
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)
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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