Gerald E Snell

US Patent:

46791175, Jul 7, 1987

Filed:

Mar 14, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/839661

Inventors:

William T. Butcher - Redmond WA
James J. Furlong - Seattle WA
Dwayne E. Howe - Kent WA
Gerald T. Snell - Hillsboro OR
Calvin M. Yara - Kaneohe HI

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

H01H 4712

US Classification:

361181

Abstract:

A wire detector for semi-automatic wire stripper which responds to capacitance changes caused by sensing a capacitance object such as an exposed wire end and includes signal processing through an oscillator and amplifier circuit providing timer control for activating a relay driver circuit for an adjustable duration time period. The wire touch sensor circuit relay driver is then coupled through a mercury wetted relay which provides electrical isolation from external (switched) voltages to an air solenoid which when actuated allows the pneumatic mechanism of the wire stripper to cycle through its functions of wire stripping.