US3110014A - Mechanical digital-coded unlocking device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 5, 1963 1 v. sEYFoRTH 3,110,014

MECHANICAL DIGITAL-CODED UNLOCKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24,v 1960 L) 1N V EN TOR.

ZEJLE VSEYFPTH BY ATTRN'EY Stes Patent I 3,ll0,fl4 Patented Nov. 5, 1963 3,110,014 MECHANICAL DIGITAL-CODED UNLOCKING v DEVICE Leshe Vaughan Seyforth, Middletown, NJ., assignor to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 10,743 6 Claims. (Cl. 340-164) The present invention relates to a digital decoding system and more particularly to a digital decoding system for protecting a remotely operated switch from inadvertent or unauthorized operation.

In some applications which require the operation of a remote controlled device it is necessary to provide means to prevent it from being operated inadvertently or unauthorized yet have a fast response for authorized operation. Various types of cam actuated slider bars have been utilized in the past. However, it has been found that they are limited in speed by the mass of the slider bars and also subject to error in resetting the code at the end of a cycle or in the event of a reset caused by the wrong code.

The present invention provides an improved decoding system in which the coding keys are stationary and the decoding steps are performed with one actuator which is simple and may be reset without any danger of causing a change in the position of the coding keys.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved coding system.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanical decoder that is simple and reliable.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved decoder that is accurate and fast in response.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved decoder that may be reset without any danger of upsetting a prearranged sequence.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment is illustrated by way of example.

In the drawing the single FIGURE is a diagrammatical presentation of a system embodying 'the invention.

Referring now to the drawing a decoder is indicated generally by the numeral 1 and is adapted to be mounted on a suitable frame which has been omitted for simplicity. The decoder 1 has a plurality of coding keys 2 having an opening or notch 3 therein. The coding keys 2 are adapted to be positioned so that the notch 3 will be in one of two positions illustrated as 4 and 5L It is understood that the keys 2 would be mounted on a suitable frame (not illustrated) and held in position by a detent or other suitable method.

A feeler bar assembly 6 is pivotally mounted on a follower 7 which is mounted on lead screw 8. The assembly 6 includes a feeler bar 9 mounted by pins 10 to pivot axially in a follower arm 11 which pivots radially on follower 7. The feeler bar 9 is maintained in a normally upright position by a spring 12. A reset switch 13 is secured to the arm 11 and positoned so that it may be actuated by the pivoting of the feeler bar 9.

A shift bar 14 extends through an opening 15 in the arm 11. The shift bar 14 actuates the arm 11 and thereby the feeler bar to one or the other of two positions by means of solenoids 16 and 17. The solenoids 16 and 17 are connected to the shift bar 14 by rods 18 and 19 and yoke 20. The solenoids 16 and 17 are connected by conductors 21, 22 and 23 to a controller 24.

The lead screw 8 is driven in a direction to advance the follower 7 by a drive spring 25. A ratchet 26 and pawl dog 27 are provided for tensioning the spring 25. A drive escapement 23 is provided to control the drive spring 25. The escapement 28 is actuated by a drive solenoid 29 which is energized from the controller 24.

A reset motor 30 is connected to the other end of the lead screw 8 by gears 31 and 32 and clutch 33. The motor 30 is provided with a contaotor 34 which may be energized from the reset switch 13 through flexible cable 35, an end of travel switch 36, or from the controller 24. The contactor 34 is also provided with a switch 37 adapted to be actuated by the follower 7 upon its being returned to a predetermined position. A guide 3S may be provided for the follower 7.

A control switch 39 is positioned for actuation by the feeler bar 9 after it has correctly traversed a predetermined number of sequential steps which is determined by the number of code bars 2. As an additional safety measure the switch 39 cannot be activated until a parity stepping disc 40 has been actuated in a predetermined manner to bring a slot 41 in the disc 40 in alignment with the switch 39. The stepping disc 40 is connected for actuation by the controller 24 through a solenoid 42.

In the operation a predetermined binary code is set up by moving the code bars 2 so that the notches 3 are in either the position 4 or 5. Each notch, depending upon its transverse position, corresponds to a zero or a one-bit in the code. Decoding is a functon of sequentially stepping the feeler bar through a labyrinth of preset notches. With the correct code being transmitted from the controller, the solenoids 16 and 17 move the feeler bar 9 to the zero or one-bit position in accordance with the code signal and at the same time energize the drive solenoid to actuate the escapement thus permitting the drive spring to actuate the lead screw and advance the feeler bar one step. Also the parity stepping disc is advanced one step. If the received code agrees with the manually inserted code, the feeler bar will enter a notch and be ready for the next step. Upon being correctly coded, and if the parity check is correct, the feeler bar will contact and actuate the switch 39. In the event that a bit is incorrect, the code bar will block the feeler bar and cause it to swing to actuate the reset switch. This will energize the reset motor and cause it to drive the feeler bar back to its original position. The disc, stepped in parallel with the drive solenoid directly from the input counting pulses, has a single clearance notch so that the contact circuit can be closed if, and only if, the feeler bar and the notch arrive in the correct position simultaneous. Thus the switch 39 can only be operated upon the correct code pattern being received by the decoding mechanism.

Although a longitudinal array of code bars with a transverse motion of the code sensing actuator has been described, a radial array of code bars could be utilized. In the latter case, the bit-counting motion would be rotational with the y'bit-polarity motion parallel to the axis of rotation.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes in the form and relative arrangement of the parts, which will now appear to those skilled in the art, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical decoder comprising a plurality of code bars having openings therein, said code bars being positioned so that the openings therein are in one or the other of two positions, a feeler bar positioned for transversing said openings, a lead screw adapted to advance said feeler bar, means for driving said feeler bar, means for actuating said feeler bar to one of said two positions, and means responsive to a predetermined input signal to synchronize and operate said driving and actuating means to cause said feeler bar to traverse said openings in said code bars.

2. Apparatus for actuating a device upon the receipt of a predetermined code, comprising a lead screw, drive means for said lead screw, a follower assembly mounted on said lead screw and adapted for axial travel thereon, a plurality of code keys, mounted in operable relationship with said follower assembly, said code keys having an opening therein and positioned so that said openings are in one of two positions, means for simultaneously actuating said drive member and shifting said follower assembly transversely to one of `two positions in alignment with said openings in response to a predetermined code to move said follower assembly through the openings in said code keys, and a device operable upon said follower assembly passing through said code keys.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and including means for automatically resetting said follower assembly upon the receipt of a wrong code.

4. A coded actuator for operating a device upon the receipt of a predetermined code, comprising a device to be actuated, a plurality of code keys having openings therein, means for positioning said keys so that the openings therein are in one of two positions, a feeler bar, means for actuating said feeler bar into alignment with either of said two positions in response to a predetermined code, other means responsive to said code to move said feeler bar axially through said openings in proper sequence to operate said device.

5. The combination as set for-th in claim 4 and including means for resetting said feeler bar upon said feeler bar coming in contact with one of said code keys.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 4 and including a stepping disc operatable by said code to position said disc to permit operation of said device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,203,289 Zenner June 4, i940 2,544,330 Koenig Mar. 6, 1951 2,568,264 Zenner Sept. 18, 1951 2,794,969 Barnhart June 4, 1957

Claims (1)

1. A MECHANICAL DECODER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CODE BARS HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN, SAID CODE BARS BEING POSITIONED SO THAT THE OPENINGS THEREIN ARE IN ONE OR THE OTHER OF TWO POSITIONS, A FEELER BAR POSITIONED FOR TRANSVERSING SAID OPENINGS, A LEAD SCREW ADAPTED TO ADVANCE SAID FEELER BAR, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID FEELER BAR, MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID FEELER BAR TO ONE OF SAID TWO POSITIONS, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A PREDETERMINED INPUT SIGNAL TO SYNCHRONIZE AND OPERATE SAID DRIVING AND ACTUATING MEANS

Images