Apparatus and method for selectively activating plural electrical loads at predetermined relative times
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for selectively activating a plurality of electrical loads at respectively corresponding predetermined relative times, said apparatus comprising:
- a central unit for providing reference timing signals, anda separate electrical timing and load activation device electrically connected with each electrical load and also connected to receive said reference timing signals,each of said devices including timing means,means for providing first and second signals from the reference timing signals,a source of locally generated clock pulses,a timing counter means for counting the number of said clock pulses occurring between said first and second signals, andactivation means for activating the connected electrical load after a subsequent time delay measured by counting a number of said clock pulses, the number of clock pulses counted bearing a predetermined relationship to the number counted between said first and second signal.
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Abstract
Separate electrical timing and load activation devices are provided for each of plural electrical loads and each device is connected to receive reference timing signals from a central unit. Each of the separate timing and load activation devices measures a reference time interval accurately defined by the reference timing signals and subsequently activates its associated electrical load after a respectively corresponding predetermined time delay which is determined as a function of the locally measured reference time interval.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. Apparatus for selectively activating a plurality of electrical loads at respectively corresponding predetermined relative times, said apparatus comprising:
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a central unit for providing reference timing signals, and a separate electrical timing and load activation device electrically connected with each electrical load and also connected to receive said reference timing signals, each of said devices including timing means, means for providing first and second signals from the reference timing signals, a source of locally generated clock pulses, a timing counter means for counting the number of said clock pulses occurring between said first and second signals, and activation means for activating the connected electrical load after a subsequent time delay measured by counting a number of said clock pulses, the number of clock pulses counted bearing a predetermined relationship to the number counted between said first and second signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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5. Apparatus for selectively activating a plurality of electrical loads at respectively corresponding predetermined relative times, said apparatus comprising:
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a central unit for providing reference timing signals, and a separate electrical timing and load activation device electrically connected with each electrical load and also connected to receive said reference timing signals, each of said devices including timing means for measuring a reference time interval defined by said reference timing signals and for subsequently activating its associated electrical load after a respectively corresponding predetermined time delay which delay is determined as a function of said measured reference time interval and wherein said reference timing signals comprise a sequence of accurately timed events and wherein each of the timing means in said devices comprises a source of locally generated clock pulses, a preset counter means for counting said timed events and for providing first and second signals respectively corresponding to first and second predetermined counter contents, timing counter means for counting the number of said clock pulses occurring between said first and second signals, and activation means for activating the connected electrical load after a subsequent time delay measured by counting a number of said clock pulses, the number of clock pulses counted bearing a predetermined relationship to the number counted between said first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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20. An explosives firing control system for selectively energizing a plurality of electric fuseheads after respectively corresponding predetermined time delays, said system comprising:
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a fire control unit located at a remote site for providing reference timing signals, and an electrical timing device situated at the site of each electric fusehead and connected to energize its associated fusehead in response to said reference timing signals, each of said timing devices including means for providing first and second signals from the reference signals, a source of locally generated clock pulses, timing counter means for counting the number of said clock pulses occurring between said first and second signals, and means for energizing the associated fusehead after a subsequent time delay measured by counting a number of said clock pulses related to the number previously counted between the occurrence of said first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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24. An explosives firing control system for selectively energizing a plurality of electric fuseheads after respectively corresponding predetermined time delays, said system comprising:
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a fire control unit located at a remote site for providing reference timing signals, and an electrical timing device situated at the site of each electric fusehead and connected to energize its associated fusehead in response to said reference timing signals, each of said timing devices including timing means for measuring a reference time interval defined by said reference timing signals and for subsequently energizing its associated fusehead after a respectively corresponding predetermined time delay which delay is determined as a function of said measured reference time interval wherein said reference timing signals comprise a sequence of accurately timed events, and wherein each of said timing means comprises a source of locally generated clock pulses, preset counter means for counting said timed events and for providing first and second signals respectively corresponding to first and second predetermined counter contents, timing counter means for counting the number of said clock pulses occurring between said first and second signals, and means for energizing the associated fusehead after a subsequent time delay measured by counting a number of said clock pulses related to the number previously counted between the occurrence of said first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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39. An electrical timing device for activating an electrical load after a predetermined time delay operating in conjunction with a remote unit which provides accurately timed reference signals, said device comprising:
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time interval measuring means adapted to receive said accurately timed reference signals and to measure a first time interval associated therewith, said time interval measuring means comprising means for providing first and second signals from said time interval, a source of locally generated clock pulses, and timing counter means for counting the number of clock pulses occuring between said first and second signals, and output means for thereafter activating said electrical load after said predetermined time delay which is determined as a function of said measured first time interval said output means comprising means for activating the electrical load after a subsequent time delay measured by again counting said clock pulses as a function of the number earlier counted between said first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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43. An electrical timing device for activating an electrical load after a predetermined time delay operating in conjunction with a remote unit which provides accurately timed reference signals, wherein said accurately timed reference signals comprise a sequence of accurately timed events said device comprising:
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time interval measuring means adapted to receive said accurately timed reference signals and to measure a first time interval associated therewith, comprising a source of locally generated clock pulses, preset counter means for counting said timed events and for providing first and second signals respectively corresponding to first and second predetermined counter contents, and a timing counter means for counting the number of clock pulses occurring between said first and second signals; and output means for thereafter activating said electrical load after said predetermined time delay which is determined as a function of said measured first time interval comprising means for activating the electrical load after a subsequent time delay measured by again counting said clock pulses as a function of the number earlier counted between said first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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52. A time delay electric fusehead assembly for use in conjunction with a remote fire control unit providing accurately timed reference signals, said fusehead assembly comprising:
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an electrically activated fusehead, time interval measuring means for receiving said accurately timed reference signals and measuring a time interval associated therewith comprising means for providing first and second signals from said reference signals, a source of locally generated clock pulses and timing counter means for counting the number of clock pulses occurring between said first and second signals, and output means for thereafter activating said fusehead after a predetermined time delay measured by again counting said clock pulses as a function of the number earlier counted between said first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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56. A time delay electric fusehead assembly for use in conjunction with a remote fire control unit providing accurately timed reference signals wherein said accurately timed reference signals comprise a sequence of accurately timed events said fusehead assembly comprising:
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an electrically activated fusehead, time interval measuring means for receiving said accurately time reference signals and measuring a first time interval associated therewith, comprising a source of locally generated clock pulses, preset counter means for counting said time events and for providing first and second signals respectively corresponding to first and second predetermined counter contents, and a timing counter means for counting the number of clock pulses occurring between said first and second signals; and output means for thereafter activating said fusehead after said predetermined time delay which is determined as a function of said first measured time interval, comprising means for activating the fusehead after a subsequent time delay measured by again counting said clock pulses as a function of the number earlier counted between said first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification