US3844378A — Control system for an aerial device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 209 words

A control system in combination with an aerial device having a movable beam assembly and a workman''s support means movable between an extended limit position and a retracted limit position, said control system comprising a lamp assembly at a first station on said aerial device, said lamp assembly having at least one lamp for producing a light beam, said lamp assmebly having means for controlling and varying the light intensity of said light beam, light transfer path means for transmitting said light beam to a second station remote from said first station, light sensing means at said second station for sensing variable light intensities of said light beam and producing an electric current in response to the light intensity of said light beam, the magnitude of said electric current produced by said light sensing means being proportional to the light intensity of said light beam, said control system further including variably responsive drive means communicating with said light sensing means and said beam assembly for operating said beam assembly at variable speeds in proportion to the magnitude of electric current produced by said light sensing means whereby the rate of movement of said beam assembly by said drive means is substantially proportional to the light intensity of said lamp.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 209 words

A control system in combination with an aerial device having a movable beam assembly and a workman''s support means movable between an extended limit position and a retracted limit position, said control system comprising a lamp assembly at a first station on said aerial device, said lamp assembly having at least one lamp for producing a light beam, said lamp assmebly having means for controlling and varying the light intensity of said light beam, light transfer path means for transmitting said light beam to a second station remote from said first station, light sensing means at said second station for sensing variable light intensities of said light beam and producing an electric current in response to the light intensity of said light beam, the magnitude of said electric current produced by said light sensing means being proportional to the light intensity of said light beam, said control system further including variably responsive drive means communicating with said light sensing means and said beam assembly for operating said beam assembly at variable speeds in proportion to the magnitude of electric current produced by said light sensing means whereby the rate of movement of said beam assembly by said drive means is substantially proportional to the light intensity of said lamp.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the light intensity of said light beam includes a variable resistor.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means include electromagnetic actuating means communicating with said light sensing means, said actuating means having a movable armature member displaceable to variable positions in proportion to the light beam intensity of said lamp.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 79 words

A control system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said drive means further include a hydraulic cylinder having a displaceable piston disposed therein, said piston communicating with said beam assembly and being movable at variable rates in proportion to the light beam intensity of said lamp such that movement of said piston causes movement of said beam assembly at rates of movement proportional to the position of said movable armature member and the light beam intensity of said lamp.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 147 words

A control system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said drive means further comprise hydraulic fluid supply means including pumping means for pumping fluid to said cylinder, said fluid supply means having first control valve means for controlling the rate of fluid pumped To said cylinder, said first control valve means communicating with said movable armature member such that movement of said armature member in one direction opens said first control valve means an amount proportional to the movement of said armature member to permit said pumping means to pump fluid to said cylinder at variable flow rates determined by the position of said armature member and the beam intensity of said lamp, the rate of fluid flow to said cylinder being proportional to the light intensity of said lamp whereby the rate of movement of said piston is proportional to the light intensity of said lamp.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 82 words

A control system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said fluid supply means further include first check valve means in series with said first control valve means, said pumping means pumping fluid through said first check valve means at said variable rates to said cylinder, said first check valve means preventing fluid disposed in said cylinder from flowing out of said cylinder in a reverse direction through said first check valve means when there is no light beam from said lamp assembly.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 105 words

A control system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said hydraulic cylinder is double acting, said piston defining first and second cylinder chambers each said cylinder chamber being associated with said fluid supply means, said fluid supply means and said first and second cylinder chambers forming a closed circulation system, said lamp, said movable armature member, said first control valve means, and said first check valve means being associated with said first cylinder chamber, said second cylinder chamber being identically associated with a separate lamp in said lamp assembly, a separate movable armature member, a second control valve means, and a second check valve means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 99 words

A control system as claimed in claim 7 further including first bypass valve means for bypassing fluid past said first check valve means to said pumping means, said first bypass valve means being in an open position when fluid is pumped into said second cylinder chamber such that movement of said piston causes fluid disposed in said first cylinder chamber to flow through said first bypass valve means past said first check valve means to said pumping means, first bypass valve means being in a normally closed position when fluid is not being pumped into said second cylinder chamber.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 101 words

A control system as claimed in claim 8 further including a second bypass valve means for bypassing fluid past said second check valve means to said pumping means, said second bypass valve means being in an open position when fluid is pumped into said first cylinder chamber such that movement of said piston causes fluid disposed in said second cylinder chamber to flow through said second bypass valve means past said second check valve means to said pumping means, said second bypass valve means being in a normally closed position when fluid is not being pumped into said first cylinder chamber.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 42 words

A control system as claimed in claim 3 including a motor wherein said displaceable armature member is connected to a motor switch such that energization of said armature member actuates said switch to permit the flow of electromotive power to said motor.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 55 words

A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light transfer means include an optic fiber interposed between said lamp assembly and said light-sensing means, said optic fiber providing a continuous path for transmission of light from said lamp assembly to said light-sensing means during movement of said beam assembly between said light positions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

A control system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said optic fiber traverses a non-linear path from said lamp assembly to said light-sensing means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

A control system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said lamp is enclosed within a lightproof transmission chamber and said light-receiving means is enclosed in a lightproof receiving chamber, the opposite ends of said optic fiber being in communication with said transmIssion and receiver chambers.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

A control system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said optic fiber is formed of non-conductive material to prevent electricity from flowing therethrough.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 60 words

A control system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said lamp assembly is provided on said beam assembly, said control system further including insulating means for insulating said lamp assembly from said beam assembly, said light sensing means being spaced from said beam assembly such that said lamp assembly and said light sensing means are electrically insulated from one another.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 50 words

A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable beam assembly is articulated, said first station for said lamp assembly being at one end portion of said articulated beam assembly and said second station for said light-sensing means being at the opposite end of said articulated beam assembly.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light-sensing means includes a photoelectric cell and an amplifier, said cell and amplifier converting the variable light beam intensities from said lamp to proportionate electric currents.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 54 words

A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises displaceable electromagnetic means, said control system further including a motor wherein said displaceable electromagnetic means is connected to a motor switch such that energization of said electromagnetic means actuates said switch to permit the flow of electromotive power to said motor.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 205 words

A control system in combination with an aerial device having a movable beam assembly and a workman''s support means movable between an extended limit position and a retracted limit position, said control system comprising a lamp assembly at a first station on said aerial device, said lamp assembly having at least one lamp for producing a light beam, said lamp assembly having means for controlling and varying the light characteristics of the light in said light beam in a predetermined manner, light transfer path means for transmitting said light beam to a second station remote from said first station, light sensing means at said second station for sensing the variations in said light beam and producing an electrical response to the light variations of said light beam, the electrical response varying in accordance with the variations in light from said lamp assembly, said control system further including variable responsive drive means communicating with said light sensing means and said beam assembly for operating said beam assembly at predetermined variable speeds corresponding to the variable electrical response produced by said light sensing means whereby the rate of movement of said beam assembly by said drive means is dependent upon the variation of light from said lamp.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 205 words

A control system in combination with an aerial device having a movable beam assembly and a workman''s support means movable between an extended limit position and a retracted limit position, said control system comprising a lamp assembly at a first station on said aerial device, said lamp assembly having at least one lamp for producing a light beam, said lamp assembly having means for controlling and varying the light characteristics of the light in said light beam in a predetermined manner, light transfer path means for transmitting said light beam to a second station remote from said first station, light sensing means at said second station for sensing the variations in said light beam and producing an electrical response to the light variations of said light beam, the electrical response varying in accordance with the variations in light from said lamp assembly, said control system further including variable responsive drive means communicating with said light sensing means and said beam assembly for operating said beam assembly at predetermined variable speeds corresponding to the variable electrical response produced by said light sensing means whereby the rate of movement of said beam assembly by said drive means is dependent upon the variation of light from said lamp.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-10-28	1978-04-29	1978-10-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-10-28	1982-04-29	1982-10-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-10-28	1986-04-29	1986-10-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Control system for an aerial device

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