Omni Signal, Inc.

Robert J Husmann

Claude A Hamrick

Lawrence R Healy, Jr

An alarm actuating sensor device for use in a picket barrier intrusion detection and location system including a generally t-shaped rocker element for rigid attachment to the upper end of a picket and for disposition within the upper longitudinally extending rail providing support for the picket, an elongated rocker spring pivotally engaged at its mid-point by a pin passed through the end of the picket and including downwardly turned end legs for engaging the lower wall of the rail and for exerting a biasing force on the picket pending to resist downward translation thereof, and a length of dual conductor 'tape switch' the longitudinal axis of which extends generally along the longitudinal axis of the rail and passes between the rocker element and the rocker spring, whereby downward forces applied to the picket, or lateral forces tending to bend to the picket, cause the tape switch to be pinched between at least one extremity of the rocker spring and a portion of the rocker element thereby creating an electrical short at the pinch point which emulates the closing of a switch that can be sensed by suitable electrical or electronic apparatus coupled to the conductors forming the tape switch. A modified embodiment includes a lever arm pivotally attached to the rocker element and having one end connectable to a finial plate and a second end for pinching the tape switch in the event a finial is deflected.

Sensor device for picket barrier intrusion detection and location system

An alarm locator module for use in association with a picket fence having a plurality of picket elements disposed along a tubular rail, each picket being armed with an intrusion detection device connected to a three line supervised conductive loop contained within said rail and in constant communication with the intrusion locator module. The intrusion locator module supplies voltage and current down a first line of the loop, having a plurality of resistive elements disposed in spaced apart relationship along a portion of its length. Current normally flows back up the loop via a return line to ground, unless an intrusion is detected, in which case the intrusion detection device causes a short between the first line and a second line of the loop thereby causing current to flow through the second line back to the intrusion locator device, which is capable of detecting and reporting the intrusion. Multiple intrusions cause an increase in current in the first line, which may be detected and measured to determine the distance between the first and last intrusions on the fence. An open circuit on any of the three lines halts the flow of current on the particular line affected and may also be detected. Location of a single short can be calculated by polling the voltage on the second line provided an open circuit has not also occurred.

Alarm locator module for picket barrier intrusion detection and location

A picket barrier and intrusion sensing system including a plurality of vertically oriented, hollow, picket elements, connected together by means of a horizontal rail that also serves as a communication conduit. Each picket element has disposed therein a picket deformation sensor which is communicatively coupled to a supervised conductive loop contained within the connecting rail conduit. In the event that one or more of the pickets is deformed more than a predetermined amount, the internally contained sensor causes a signal to be generated, transmitted to the supervised loop and in turn sensed by an associated alarm system.

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Soquel, CA, United States of America

Robert J Husmann