GB1599412A - Position detectors - Google Patents

Position detectors Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1599412A
GB1599412A GB1360477A GB1360477A GB1599412A GB 1599412 A GB1599412 A GB 1599412A GB 1360477 A GB1360477 A GB 1360477A GB 1360477 A GB1360477 A GB 1360477A GB 1599412 A GB1599412 A GB 1599412A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
position detector
detection means
connector
operating members
radiation source
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
GB1360477A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ferranti International PLC
Original Assignee
Ferranti PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ferranti PLC filed Critical Ferranti PLC
Priority to GB1360477A priority Critical patent/GB1599412A/en
Publication of GB1599412A publication Critical patent/GB1599412A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
    • G01B11/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
    • G01B11/14—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO POSITION DETECTORS (71) We, FERRANTI LIMITED, a Company registered under the Laws of Great Britain of Hollinwood in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: his invention relates to position detectors, and in particular each such detector to detect when two co-operating members, one co-operating member comprising a closure for the other co-operating member, are in sealing engagement. Even when initially in sealing engagement it is possible to consider that the two co-operating members are a relative distance apart.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a reliable and sensitive construction for such a position detector for two co-operating members, in particular when the two c operating members comprise an inductive connector to connect an A.C. electrical supply to an associated load.
According to the present invention a position detector to detect the relative spacing of two coKperating members, one co-operating member comprising a closure for the other co-operating member, comprises a radiation source and detection means responsive to such radiation, the radiation source being mounted on one member, and the detection means being mounted on the other member, the arrangement being such that, when the radiation source and the detection means are coincident with a particular axis within the position detector, and when the two co-operating members move relative to each other either into or out of sealing engagement, such relative movement of the co-operating members causing the intensity of radiation incident upon the detection means to vary, the detection means provides an output signal of a predetermined level with the members in sealing engagement with each other.
The detection means may be arranged to produce an output signal of another predetermined level when the co-operating members are not in sealing engagement with each other, and sealing engagement has been broken.
The radiation source may comprise a light source, such as a light emitting diode (LED) and the detection means comprises a photodetector.
The two co-operating members may comprise an electrical connector.
The two co-operating members may comprise the two parts of an inductive connector to connect an A!C. electrical supply to an associated load.
According to another aspect the present invention comprises an assembly including a position detector of a construction referred to above, and associated actuating means, and/ or indicating means, the arrangement being such that the actuating and/or indicating means is, at least, enabled to be operated, and may be operated automatically, in a required way in response to the detection means producing an output signal of a predetermined level.
The actuating means may comprise electrical switching means, and the switching means may control an electrical supply to be associated with two co-operating members comprising an electrical connector to pass electrical energy supplied thereto by the supply.
When the two co-operating members comprise an inductive connector to connect an A;C:. electrical supply to an associated load, the arrangement may be such that the power transmitted by the inductive connector, at least, increases automatically in response to the detection means detecting that the two co-operating members of the inductive connector are satisfactorily operably coupled, for example, the A.C. electrical supply automatically being switched on when the two co-operating members of the inductive connector are satisfactorily operably coupled.The arrangement may be such that, when the power transmitted by the inductive connector increases from a low to a high magnitude in response to the detection means detecting that the two co-operating members of the inductive connector are satisfactorily operably coupled, the radiation source is mounted on the load side of the connector and sufficient power is transmitted between the two co-operating members of the connector, with the two co-operating members not satisfactorily operably coupled, to energise the radiation source.
The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing.
The two parts of an inductive connector, such as that described in British patent specification No. 1,501,502, are indicated schematically at 10 and 11. A high voltage A.C.
electrical supply, indicated generally at 12, is connected via the inductive connector 10 and 11 to a load not shown. The electrical supply has two power output magnitudes, and is switched between these two power output magnitudes by switching means (not shown).
The electrical supply, the switching means and the load are associated with, and the switching means is controlled by, a position detector according to the present invention, and arranged to detect when two co-operating members comprising the inductive connector are satisfactorily operably coupled, or not. The illustrated embodiment of position detector comprises a radiation source, comprising a lightsmitting diode (LED) 13, and a photo detector 14 responsive to light from the LED.
The photodetector 14 is mounted on the supply side 10 of the connector, and the LED 13 is mounted on the load side 11 of the connector.
The LED 13 is connected to the connector part 11 so as to be energised, via a voltage regulator 15, by power supplied to the load side 11 of the connector. The photodetector 14 is connected to the switching means, the arrangement being such that the switching means is actuated in response to the output signal of the photodetector passing through a predetermined level.
The arrangement is such that the photodetector 14 and LED 13 are directly opposite to each other, and is also such that the in density of radiation incident upon the photodetector 14 varies with the distance between the LED 13 and the photodetector 14, with the photodetector and the LED directly op- posite to each other. When the parts 10 and 11 of the connector are not in sealing engagement, and so are not satisfactorily operably coupled with each other, only 10 watts, comprising the lower of the two power output magnitudes from the electrical supply 12, is transmitted between the two parts of the connector. This power is sufficient to enable the LED to be energised, and the electrical energy is supplied to the LED via the voltage regulator 13, but is insufficient to energise the load.As the distance between the connector parts is reduced, and the intensity of the radiation incident on the photo-detector is in creased, the output signal level of the photo detector increases. When the connector parts are in sealing engagement, and so are satis factorily operably coupled together, the radi ation intensity incident on the photodetector is such that the output signal of the photodetector has passed through the predetermined level, and the switching means is actuated automatically. Thus, the electrical supply is switched to the higher of its two power output magnitudes, and 1 Kilowatt is transmitted between the connector parts to energise the load. The electrical energy supplied to the LED, via the voltage regulator 15, is substantially unchanged by the switching of the electrical supply between its two power output magnitudes.
Upon separating the connector parts, when the output signal level of the photodetector falls to pass through the predetermined level, and eventually the two connector parts are not in sealing engagement with each other, the switching means is actuated automatically again. Thus, the electrical supply is switched to its lower power output magnitude, and the electrical power transmitted through the con nectar is sufficient only to energise the LED.
It is convenient to consider that the two connector parts are spaced apart by a predetermined distance when the photodetector output signal is at the predetermined level, and the two connector parts are in sealing engagement with each other.
The A.C. output from the electrical supply may have a frequency of 20 KiloHertz, and hence the output of the LED is distinguishable from ambient light.
it is especially important to monitor when there is sealing engagement between the two parts of an inductive connector to transmit an appreciable electrical power such as 1 Kilowatt, because if the two parts are not fully engaged, for example, because of dirt therebetween, there can be high voltage spikes and/or considerable power loss between the two parts, and the connector may overheat, especially if the connector is to be employed underwater.
The position detector may control the auto matic switching of the electrical supply by being arranged to switch on and off the elec trical supply.
In addition, the arrangement may be such that the photodetector produces an output sig nal of a predetermined level when the closure is not in sealing engagement with the co operating member, i.e., when sealing engage ment is broken.
The arrangement described above is also advantageous in that, conveniently, variations in the radiation intensity from the light source caused by abnormal load conditions en countered by the electrical supply, and which could cause damage to the connector, or to associated circuitry, can be detected and the appropriate action taken. Hence, when such abnormal load conditions occur the arrange ment may be such that the LED output is reduced, or switched off, and the photodetector causes the electrical supply to be switched to its lower power output magnitude, or to be switched off.Alternatively, the supplly frequency on the load side of the connector is arranged to be changed in response to the presence of the abnormal load conditions, the corresponding change in the output pulse frequency of the LED is detected by the photodetector, and the electrical supply is switched to its lower power output magnitude, or is switched off.
It is convenient to consider that one part of the inductive connector comprises a dosure for the other part, and that the arrangement of the photodetector and the LED comprises a closure position detector. It is immaterial which connector part 10 or 11 is considered to be the closure.
A position detector according to the present invention may be employed with other forms of electrical connector having two co-operating members instead of an inductive connector: and the electrical supply may not have an A.C. output.
A position detector according to the present invention may be employed with two cooperating members not comprising an electrical connector.
The radiation source may not comprise a LED, and/or may not emit radiation in the visible part of the spectrum, and the detection means may not comprise a photodetector.
It is not essential that the position detector should control the automatic switching of an electrical supply between high and low power output magnitudes, or to switch on and off an electrical supply. However, if it is not possible, when the position detector is required to operate, to energise the radiation source or the detection means from an electrical supply to be switched, a suitable separate electrical supply for the radiation source or the detection means has to be provided.
A position detector according to the present invention may be employed to control any form of associated actuating means and/or indicating means, the arrangement being such that, possibly, the actuating and/or indicating means is at least enabled to be operated, and may be operated automatically, in a required way in response to the detection means producing an output signal of a threshold level.
It is not essential that the radiation source is mounted directly opposite to the detection means in the position detector, when the two co-operating members are to move relative to each other into and out of sealing engagement.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS: - 1. A position detector to detect the relative spacing of two co-operating members, one cooperating member comprising a closure for the other co-operating member, the position detector comprising a radiation source and detection means responsive to such radiation, the radiation source being mounted on one member, and the detection means being mounted on the other member, the arrangement being such that, when the radiation source and the detection means are coincident with a particular axis within the position detector, and when the two co-operating members move relative to each other either into or out of sealing engagement, such relative movement of the co-operating members causing the intensity of radiation incident upon the detection means to vary, the detection means provides an output signal of a predetermined level with the members in sealing engagement with each other.
2. A position detector as claimed in claim 1 in which the detection means is arranged to produce an output signal of another predetermined level when the co-operating members are not in sealing engagement with each other, and sealing engagement has been broken.
3. A position detector as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the radiation source comprises a light source, and the detection means comprises a photodetector.
4. A position detector as claimed in claim 3 in which the light source comprises a lightemitting diode.
5. A position detector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the two co-operating members comprise an electrical connector.
6. A position detector as claimed in claim 5 in which the two co-operating members comprise the two parts of an inductive connector to connect an A.C. electrical supply to an associated load.
7. An assembly including a position detector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and associated actuating means, and/or indicating means, the arrangement being such that the actuating and/or indicating means is at least enabled to be operated, in a required way in response to the detection means producing an output signal of a predetermined level.
8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 in which the actuating and/or indicating means is to be operated automatically in a required way in response to the detection means producing an output signal of a predetermined level.
9. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 in which the actuating means comprises electrical switching means.
10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 in which the switching means controls an electrical supply to be associated with two cooperating members comprising an electrical connector to pass electrical energy supplied thereto by the supply.
11. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 in which the two co-operating members comprise an inductive connector to connect an A.C. electrical supply to an
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (14)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. to its lower power output magnitude, or to be switched off. Alternatively, the supplly frequency on the load side of the connector is arranged to be changed in response to the presence of the abnormal load conditions, the corresponding change in the output pulse frequency of the LED is detected by the photodetector, and the electrical supply is switched to its lower power output magnitude, or is switched off. It is convenient to consider that one part of the inductive connector comprises a dosure for the other part, and that the arrangement of the photodetector and the LED comprises a closure position detector. It is immaterial which connector part 10 or 11 is considered to be the closure. A position detector according to the present invention may be employed with other forms of electrical connector having two co-operating members instead of an inductive connector: and the electrical supply may not have an A.C. output. A position detector according to the present invention may be employed with two cooperating members not comprising an electrical connector. The radiation source may not comprise a LED, and/or may not emit radiation in the visible part of the spectrum, and the detection means may not comprise a photodetector. It is not essential that the position detector should control the automatic switching of an electrical supply between high and low power output magnitudes, or to switch on and off an electrical supply. However, if it is not possible, when the position detector is required to operate, to energise the radiation source or the detection means from an electrical supply to be switched, a suitable separate electrical supply for the radiation source or the detection means has to be provided. A position detector according to the present invention may be employed to control any form of associated actuating means and/or indicating means, the arrangement being such that, possibly, the actuating and/or indicating means is at least enabled to be operated, and may be operated automatically, in a required way in response to the detection means producing an output signal of a threshold level. It is not essential that the radiation source is mounted directly opposite to the detection means in the position detector, when the two co-operating members are to move relative to each other into and out of sealing engagement. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -
1. A position detector to detect the relative spacing of two co-operating members, one cooperating member comprising a closure for the other co-operating member, the position detector comprising a radiation source and detection means responsive to such radiation, the radiation source being mounted on one member, and the detection means being mounted on the other member, the arrangement being such that, when the radiation source and the detection means are coincident with a particular axis within the position detector, and when the two co-operating members move relative to each other either into or out of sealing engagement, such relative movement of the co-operating members causing the intensity of radiation incident upon the detection means to vary, the detection means provides an output signal of a predetermined level with the members in sealing engagement with each other.
2. A position detector as claimed in claim 1 in which the detection means is arranged to produce an output signal of another predetermined level when the co-operating members are not in sealing engagement with each other, and sealing engagement has been broken.
3. A position detector as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the radiation source comprises a light source, and the detection means comprises a photodetector.
4. A position detector as claimed in claim 3 in which the light source comprises a lightemitting diode.
5. A position detector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the two co-operating members comprise an electrical connector.
6. A position detector as claimed in claim 5 in which the two co-operating members comprise the two parts of an inductive connector to connect an A.C. electrical supply to an associated load.
7. An assembly including a position detector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and associated actuating means, and/or indicating means, the arrangement being such that the actuating and/or indicating means is at least enabled to be operated, in a required way in response to the detection means producing an output signal of a predetermined level.
8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 in which the actuating and/or indicating means is to be operated automatically in a required way in response to the detection means producing an output signal of a predetermined level.
9. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 in which the actuating means comprises electrical switching means.
10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 in which the switching means controls an electrical supply to be associated with two cooperating members comprising an electrical connector to pass electrical energy supplied thereto by the supply.
11. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 in which the two co-operating members comprise an inductive connector to connect an A.C. electrical supply to an
associated load, and the arrangement is such that the power transmitted by the inductive connector, at least, increases automatically in response to the detection means detecting that the two cooperating members of the inductive connector are satisfactorily operably coupled.
12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 in which when the arrangement is such that the power transmitted by the inductive connector increases from a low to a high magnitude in response to the detection means detecting that the two co-operating members of the inductive connector are satisfactorily operably coupled, the radiation source is mounted on the load side of the connector, and sufficient power is transmitted between the two cooperating members of the connector, with the two co-operating members not satisfactorily operably coupled, to energise the radiation source.
13. A position detector to detect the relative distance spacing of two co-operating members substantially as described herein with reefrence to the accompanying drawing.
14. An assembly of a position detector to detect the relative distance spacing of two co-operating members, and associated actuating means, and/or indicating means, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB1360477A 1978-05-12 1978-05-12 Position detectors Expired GB1599412A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1360477A GB1599412A (en) 1978-05-12 1978-05-12 Position detectors

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1360477A GB1599412A (en) 1978-05-12 1978-05-12 Position detectors

Publications (1)

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GB1599412A true GB1599412A (en) 1981-09-30

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1360477A Expired GB1599412A (en) 1978-05-12 1978-05-12 Position detectors

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0357829A1 (en) * 1988-09-09 1990-03-14 Toppan Moore Company, Ltd. Non-contacting power supplying system

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0357829A1 (en) * 1988-09-09 1990-03-14 Toppan Moore Company, Ltd. Non-contacting power supplying system
US4942352A (en) * 1988-09-09 1990-07-17 Toppan Moore Co., Ltd. Non-contacting power supplying system

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee