US3111653A

US3111653A - Remote control signaling system

Info

Publication number: US3111653A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward M Massell; Melvin M May; Jr George J Meyer
Original assignee: Electronic Associates Inc
Current assignee: Electronic Associates Inc
Priority date: 1960-03-10
Filing date: 1960-03-10
Publication date: 1963-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1980-11-19

Description

Nov. 19, 1963 M. MASSELL ETAL 3,

REMOTE CONTROL SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed March 10. 1960 r N K E ll. S!

a a El q- T N (D E?" Y? a g INVENTORS EDWARD M. MASSELL MELVIN M. MAY

GEORGE J. MEYER JR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,111,653 REMOTE CONTROL SIGNALING SYSTEM Edward M. Massell, Red Bank, Melvin M. May, Mamasquan, and George J. Meyer, Jr., Monmouth Beach,

N.J., assignors to Electronic Associates Inc., Long Branch, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 14,077 3 Claims. (Cl. 346-176) This invention relates generally to remote control signaling systems and more particularly to such systems in which'a single relay can be operated at a time in response to a particular signal corresponding to that relay.

As remote signaling systems become more and more complex and are operated over greater and greater distances, the need to effect operation of these systems with a minimum number of circuit components and with a minimum amount of control and signal wiring becomes more pronounced. Various schemes, such as coded relays and coded signal sources, have been resorted to in an attempt to minimize the amount of wiring that must be utilized to connect the remote location to a controlling source. Although such systems are quite satisfactory for their intended purpose, their over-all usefullness is degraded by the requirement of an expensive signal source and equally expensive apparatus at the remote location.

The present signaling system, to be described as being adapted for selecting any one of plural relays at a remote position, utilizes readily available and inexpensive components which are controlled from a readily available and inexpensive D.C. source. According to the present invention any one of n relays at a remote location can be energized from a DC. signal source through the use of only 11/2 signaling conductors.

In the preferred embodiment .n relay coils, to be located at a remote location, are connected in a closed loop. Another closed loop comprising n diodes, each respectively corresponding to one of the n relay coils, is provided at the remote location with each of the diodes being connected in shunt circuit to the corresponding relay coil. n/2 conductors operatively connect the n diodes and n relays to a source of operating potential and are adapted to be selectively energized therefrom in selected pairs to cause energization of any one of the relay coils.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to selectively energize any one of n remote relay coils from a DC. source through the use of only n/2 conductors.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel selection system for electrical-to-rnechanical transducers which utilizes inexpensive and simple components.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novel selection system for electrical-to-mechanical transducers which materially reduces detrimental arcing which may occur at switch contacts within the system.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the single FIGURE of the accompanying drawing illustrating an embodiment of this invention.

In the figure there is shown a plurality of similar electrical-to-mechanical transducers, such as relay coils 10. The coils are connected in a series circuit arrangement to form a closed loop and are preferably disposed at a remote controlling or telemetering location. Each of the relay coils 16 may respectively correspond to a suitable physical quantity or device, not shown, which is to be measured and/ or controlled.

A plurality of asymmetrical conducting devices, such as the diodes 12, each respectively corresponding to one of the relay coils 1b are connected in series circuit arrangement in a closed loop. Each diode 12 and its corresponding relay coil 10 are connected in parallel, and furthermore each diode is connected in an opposite sense to each adjacent diode in the closed loop.

As illustrated in the figure, the relay coils 10 and corresponding diodes 12 are grouped in pairs, designated as A, B, C, D, E, and F, each pair being controlled by similar suitable switch means, designated at 14A through 141? inclusive. Each of the switch means 14, only one shown in detail, preferably comprises a manually operated double-pole-double-throw switch, the movable pole portions 18, 20 of which are suitably connected across a source of DC. potential 16. Alternatively, the several pairs of diode coils 1t) and corresponding diodes 12 may be energized through a single suitable electromagnetic stepping switch, not shown, to perform the switching operations to be described. Each pair of diagonally opposed stationary pole portions of each of the switch means 14 is interconnected, and in turn connected across a pair of the coils 1th and diodes 12 by a pair of

signaling conductors

22, 24. The switch means 14 are each located at a convenient controlling position which may be disposed at some considerable distance from the remote controlled location.

Assuming that each of the switch means 14 are in an inactive position, viz, none of the movable pole portions 18, 20 engage any of the stationary pole portions, and it is desired to select or energize, for example the right hand relay coil 10 corresponding to pair A, it will become apparent that the movable pole portions 18, 20 of switch means 14a need only be closed upon the left hand stationary pole portions thereof. In this condition of switch means 14A, a positive potential from the source 16 is applied to the corresponding conductor 24 and a negative potential is applied to the corresponding conductor 22. This potential, it is apparent, is now applied across the relay coils 10 corresponding to pair A as well as to the relay coils 10 corresponding to pairs B, C, D, E, and F connected in series. As determined by the operating characteristics ofthe relay coils 10, corresponding diodes 12, and the number n of each of these respective components, the operating potential from the source 16 is selected to be great enough to energize the selected relay coil, and yet be of an insuflicient amplitude to energize any unselected relay coil. Thus, if the potential amplitude V is selected to energize a selected relay coil, the potential amplitude should be of an insufiicient amplitude to energize an unselected relay coil.

With the potential V of the described polarity applied across relay coil 10 corresponding to pair A, the right hand diode 12 will be biased to a non-conductive condition, and a current conducting path will be provided between the

conductors

22, 24 via the left hand diode 12 and the right hand relay coil 10. Right hand relay coil 10 of pair A is accordingly energized or selected and it will remain energized so long as the movable pole portions 18, 2t) of switch means 14a is not altered in position.

In order to deenergize the right hand relay coil 10, the movable pole portions 18, 20 of switch means 14a are merely returned to a neutral or disengage position relative to the corresponding stationary pole portions.

As is well known, the counter E.M.F.s produced in the right hand coil 10 immediately upon opening of the switch means 14a will produce destructive arcing at the pole portions 18, 20 thereof unless means are provided to suppress the influence of these potentials. It has been found that the arrangement of the diodes 12 in the circuit of the present invention admirably and automatically eliminates this arcing. Considering for the moment the condition of the right hand coil 10 immediately upon the opening of the switch means 14A, it is apparent that if an excessive counter tends to be produced it will cause the previously non-conducting right hand diode 12 to conduct. Accordingly, the effect of the conduction of this diode is to provide a short circuit across the right hand coil 10 and prevent the occurrence of arcing at the pole portions of switch means 14A.

It is important to note that the potential should be completely removed from the coils between selections so that a previously selected coil 10 will be completely deenergized before the potential is applied thereacross. Although this potential is selected to be of an insufficient amplitude to energize an unselected coil, it may be of a sufficient amplitude to maintain a coil energized. As is Well known, suitable interlock means can be provided between the individual switch means 14A through 14F to prevent simultaneous closure of a pair of the switch means.

When it is desired to select the left hand relay coil corresponding to pair A, the movable portions 18, 20 of switch means 14A are moved to engage the right hand stationary pole portion thereof and apply a positive potential to conductor 22 and a negative potential to the conductor 24. As is apparent, the left hand diode 12 is now rendered non-conductive and a current conducting path is provided between the

conductors

22, 24 through the left hand relay coil 10 and the right hand diode 12. Upon interruption of this circuit, the counter produced in the energized coil is short circuited by the previously non-conducting left hand diode 12.

In a similar manner, any one of the n relay coils It) can be selectively energized and deenergized by selective manipulation of the switch means 14A through 14F.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein and inasmuch as the invention is subject to many variations, modifications and reversals of parts, it is intended that all matter herein be considered as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

We claim:

1'. In a relay selection system, the combination comprising means including an even number n of at least 4 relay coils connected in a series circuit arrangement to form a closed loop, a unidirectional conducting device connected across each of said relay coils with adjacent unidirectional conducting devices being connected in an opposite polarity sense, whereby adjacent relay coils are polarized to be energized in an opposite sense, n/Z conductors each having one end connected to alternate junctions of said relay coils, and switch means selectively connecting a source of operating potential in one of two polarity senses to the other ends of particular ones of selected pairs of said n/2 conductors whereby current flows in either one or an opposite direction therethrough for energizing any one of said n relay coils.

2. In a relay selection system, the combination comprising an even number n of at least 4 relay coils connected in a series circuit arrangement to form a closed loop, unidirectional conducting means connected in shunt to each of said It relay coils whereby alternate relay coils are polarized to be energized in an opposite sense, 11/2 conductors each having one end connected to alternate junctions of said relay coils, and means selectively connecting a source of DC. potential to the other ends of selected pairs of adjacent conductors to apply such direction to said DC. potential as to permit current to flow in either one or an opposite direction therethrough for energizing any one of said 11 relay coils.

3. In a relay selection system, the combination comprising an even number of at least 4 relay coils connected in a series circuit arrangement to form a closed loop, a diode element connected in shunt circuit to each said relay coils with alternate diode elements poled in an opposite sense, n/ 2 conductors each having one end connected to alternate junctions of said elements, and switch means selectively connecting a source of operating potential in one of two polarity senses to the other end of particular ones of selected pairs of said n/2 conductors for selectively energizing any one of said 12 relay coils.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,424,243 Lowell July 22, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 337,896 Great Britain Nov. 13, 1930

Claims

1. IN A RELAY SELECTION SYSTEM, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING MEANS INCLUDING AN EVEN NUMBER N OF AT LEAST 4 RELAY COILS CONNECTED IN A SERIES CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT TO FORM A CLOSED LOOP, A UNIDIRECTIONAL CONDUCTING DEVICE CONNECTED ACROSS EACH OF SAID RELAY COILS WITH ADJACENT UNIDIRECTIONAL CONDUCTING DEVICES BEING CONNECTED IN AN OPPOSITE POLARITY SENSE, WHEREBY ADJACENT RELAY COILS ARE POLARIZED TO BE ENERGIZED IN AN OPPOSITE SENSE, N/2 CONDUCTORS EACH HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO ALTERNATE JUNCTIONS OF SAID RELAY COILS, AND SWITCH MEANS SELECTIVELY CONNECTING A SOURCE OF OPERATING POTENTIAL IN ONE OF TWO POLARITY SENSES TO THE OTHER ENDS OF PARTICULAR ONES OF SELECTED PAIRS OF SAID N/2 CONDUCTORS WHEREBY CURRENT FLOWS IN EITHER ONE OR AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION THERETHROUGH FOR ENERGIZING ANY ONE OF SAID N RELAY COILS.