US3167753A

US3167753A - Proximity warning system

Info

Publication number: US3167753A
Application number: US262905A
Authority: US
Inventors: A John B Fairburn
Original assignee: United States Steel Corp
Current assignee: United States Steel Corp
Priority date: 1963-03-05
Filing date: 1963-03-05
Publication date: 1965-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-26

Description

Jan. 26, 1965 A J. B. FAIRBURN PROXIMITY WARNING SYSTEM Filed March 5, 1963 INVENTOR. A JOHN B. FAIREURN Attorney United States Patent 3,167,753 PROXIMITY WARNING SYSTEM A John B. Fairburn, Lorain, Ohio, assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 262,905 2 Claims. ((21. 340-441) The present invention relates generally to signal devices and, more particularly, has as its primary object the provision of an improved proximity warning system for signalling the approach of a vehicle coming within collision range of another vehicle or object.

It is a more specialized object of my invention to provide a pneumatic proximity warning system in which a blower delivers a jet air stream to operate a switch to actuate an alarm when a vehicle approaches collision course with another vehicle or object.

It is another object of my invention to provide a proximity warning system of the character described which can be easily installed and operated on existing equipment.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a proximity warning system as set forth above which can be assembled with relatively inexpensive, readily available materials.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the transmitter and receiver components of the system of the invention installed on two overhead cranes operating on a common trackway;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic illustration of the electric circuit of the transmitter component of the system of the invention; and

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the electric circuit of the receiver component of the system of the invention.

Although the present invention is hereinafter described in detail as it would be applied to and used in conjunction with the operation of overhead cranes, this is done by way of example for illustrative purposes only and it is to be understood that the system of the invention can be used with equal effectiveness with other vehicles.

Reference numeral 2 designates an overhead crane track having two

cranes

4 and 6 mounted for travel therealong. The proximity warning system of the invention includes a transmitter component which is mounted on crane 4 and a receiver component which is mounted on crane 6.

The transmitter component includes an air blower 8 directly coupled to a drive motor 10. The blower 8 is driven continuously to discharge a jet air stream 12 directed toward crane 6 while the cranes are operating.

The receiver component on crane 6 includes a box 14 which houses a normally-open air-actuated mercury capsule switch 16 of the type disclosed by U.S. Patent No. 1,720,180. The box 14 is open on its side facing crane 4 and is so disposed on crane 6 that switch 16 is positioned to be actuated by the jet air stream 12 when either crane approaches within collision range of the other. If the cranes approach within collision range, the jet air stream 12 strikes the vane of switch 16 and causes it to tilt the capsule and close the contacts of the switch. The switch 16 is connected in series with bell alarm 18 and battery 20 so that when the switch 16 is closed by action of the jet air stream a circuit to the bell alarm is completed through the battery 20 and the bell, which is preferably located inside the operators cab 22 of crane 6, is energized by the battery and caused to ring. Although I have shown the use of a bell as an alarm in the receiver component, it will be understood that other sensory 3,167,753 Patented Jan. 26, 1965 perceptible means, such as signal lights, horn, etc., could be used as the alarm, as desired.

The electrical circuit of the receiver component of the assembly of the invention is shown schematically in FIGURE 3, and its operation is thought to be clear from the foregoing description.

As an added safety measure, [the transmitter component of the assembly of the invention may be provided with means for signalling the crane operator of the crane on which the transmitter component is carried in the event that the blower 8 fails to function and a jet air stream is not being generated. Such means includes a normallyclosed air-actuated mercury capsule switch 24, of the type disclosed by U.S. Patent No. 1,720,180, disposed on the crane 4 in the path of the jet air stream 12. The switch 24 is connected in series through a battery 26 with a buzzer alarm 28 located in the operators cab 30 of crane 4. Switch 24 is tiltably mounted so that it will remain open so long as the jet air stream 12 is flowing. If the air stream should fall for any reason, the switch 24, no longer restrained by the air stream, will tilt due to gravity and close. Closing of switch 24 will cause a circuit to be completed to the buzzer 28 through the battery 26. Sounding of the buzzer in the cab 30 will alent the crane operator to the fact that the warning system is not functioning properly. A manual switch 32 may be provided in the circuit between the switch 24 and the buzzer 28 so that the circuit can be interrupted when the crane is idle.

The complete electrical circuit of the transmitter component of the system of the invention is shown schematically in FIGURE 2. Power source L L supplies current to motor 10 through a manually-operated switch 34 to drive the blower 8 to generate the jet air stream 12. Switch 24 is disposed adjacent the mouth of the blower 8 in the path of the air stream and is connected in series by means of a separate circuit with the buzzer 28, battery 26 and the normally-closed manual switch 32. As explained above, normally-closed switch 24 is kept open by the air stream and if the air stream fails, switch 24 closes and a circuit is completed to the buzzer 28 through battery 26 to actuate the buzzer. Switch 32 is opened to maintain the circuit between the switch 24 and buzzer 28 open when the equipment is idle. The circuit as shown in FIGURE 2 shows

switches

32 and 34 open and switch 24 closed as they would be when crane 4 is idle. When crane 4 is operating,

manual switches

32 and 34 are closed and mercury switch 24 is open so that the alarm system is in operation.

If desired, complete transmitter and receiver components of the warning system of the invention can be installed on each crane. Such a dual installation would provide an additional safety factor since each crane operator would be warned simultaneously if the cranes approached within collision range.

Although I have shown the system of the invention as used installed on two moving cranes, it will be understood that the system could also be used on a moving vehicle and an immobile object, such as on a crane and the end-of-track bumpers on the crane trackway, to give warning if the moving vehicle approaches too closely to the immobile object.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle and an object approachable by said vehicle the improvement therewith of a system for warning of the proximity of said vehicle to said object, said system comprising a transmitter on one of said vehicle and said object and a receiver on the other of said vehicle and said object, said transmitter comprising means for generating a jet air stream directed toward said receiver, said receiver including an alarm, and an airactuated switch controlling said alarm, said switch being positioned to be actuated by said jet air stream and completing a circuit to said alarm when said transmitter is within a predetermined proximity of said receiver.

2. The improvement as defined by claim 1 in which said transmitter includes an alarm, and a normally closed air-actuated switch controlling said alarm, said switch being disposed in the path of said jet air stream and normally held open thereby, said switch completing a circuit to said alarm in the absence of said jet air stream.

No references cited.

Claims

1. IN A VEHICLE AND AN OBJECT APPROACHABLE BY SAID VEHICLE THE IMPROVEMENT THEREWITH OF A SYSTEM FOR WARMING OF THE PROXIMITY OF SAID VEHICLE TO SAID OBJECT, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING A TRANSMITTER ON ONE OF SAID VEHICLE AND SAID OBJECT AND A RECEIVER ON THE OTHER OF SAID VEHICLE AND SAID OBJECT, SAID TRANSMITTER COMPRISING MEANS FOR GENERATING A JET AIR STREAM DIRECTED TOWARD SAID RECEIVER, SAID RECEIVER INCLUDING AN ALARM, AND AN AIRACTUATED SWITCH CONTROLLING SAID ALARM, SAID SWITCH BEING POSITIONED TO BE ACTUATED BY SAID JET AIR STREAM AND COMPLETING A CIRCUIT TO SAID ALARM WHEN SAID TRANSMITTER IS WITHIN A PREDETERMINED PROXIMITY OF SAID RECEIVER.