Wireless power controller for a machine device

• US 4,959,647 A
• Filed: 03/05/1990
• Issued: 09/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alternative Industrial Devices For Safety Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alternative Industrial Devices For Safety Incorporated
• Inventors: Daigle, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pudpud, Eric O.
• Application Number:
  US07/489,859
• Time in Patent Office: 204 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.66, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.73, 340/825.76, 341/176, 361/189, 361/191, 361/192, 361/193, 361/199, 307/117, 358/194.1, 455/603
• US Class Current: 340/13.23
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A wireless power controller for use with a machine device to selectively connect and disconnect a machine device power source from the machine device includes a transmitter for transmitting an energy wave toward a receiving unit located at the machine device. The receiving unit has an electric switching circuit which is wired in series with the machine device power source and the machine device and provides electrical continuity through normally open transfer contacts are connected one-for-one with the voltage lines carrying power between the power source and the machine device and which contacts are closed during normal operation. The receiving unit senses an energy wave and causes the relay to become energized through operation of the switching circuit to disconnect power from the machine device.

Claims

1. A wireless power controller apparatus for use with a machine device capable of presenting some imminent danger to an operator, said controller apparatus selectively connecting and disconnecting power from the machine device in response to instructions inputted to it by a person recognizing the imminent danger to the operator of the machine, said apparatus comprising:

transmitter circuit means for transmitting an energy wave having at least one predetermined frequency, said transmitter circuit having means for generating said energy wave at said at least one predetermined frequency and means for selecting said generated energy wave whereby said selected energy wave is transmitted by said transmitter circuit means;

receiving circuit means sensitive to said at least one predetermined frequency for sensing and detecting an energy wave transmitted from said transmitter circuit means, said receiving circuit means being located at the machine device;

electrical switching circuit means connected in series with a power source supplying power to the machine device and a power ON/OFF switch associated with the machine device to selectively connect and disconnect the power source from the power ON/OFF switch, said electrical switching means being coupled to and responsive to said receiving circuit means for connecting and disconnecting the power in response to sensing the absence and presence, respectively of said at least one predetermined frequency;

said transmitter circuit means including encoder circuit means for generating a number of different predetermined frequency energy waves;

said receiving circuit means including decoding circuit means for selectively setting one of a number of different sensing frequencies, each of said number of different sensing frequencies corresponding to one of said number of different predetermined frequency energy waves transmitted by said transmitter circuit means;

said receiving circuit means further including a receiving relay having a normally open transfer contact, said receiving relay being operated to provide a contact closure upon the sensing and detecting of said at least one predetermined frequency, said normally open contact being electrically coupled to said electrical switching circuit means;

said electrical switching circuit means further including a first relay having a normally closed transfer contact, said first relay being coupled to said receiving circuit means and being energized upon the sensing and detecting of said at least one predetermined frequency to open said normally closed contact, and a second relay having at least one normally open transfer contact, said second relay having an energizing coil connected in series with said normally closed contact of said first relay and a voltage power source for energizing said second relay when said first relay is unenergized to cause said at least one normally open contact of said second relay to provide a contact closure, said at least one normally open transfer contact being electrically connected in series with an associated voltage power line from the machine device power source and an input to the ON/OFF power switch; and

wherein said second relay includes one-four-one a normally open transfer contact in series with each voltage power line connecting the machine device power source to the ON/OFF power switch.