Restraining means for limiting speeds of a measuring cable returning to a linear transducer which is a cable extension transducer

A linear transducer, comprising:

• a. a self-contained housing;
• b. a stationary mounting frame affixed to said self-contained housing having open sidewalls and having a pair of cover plates with a respective cover plate on either side;
• c. magnetic flux means affixed to the interior periphery of at least one of said cover plates adjacent said mounting frame;
• d. a precision diameter spool positioned within said mounting frame and coupled to a rotating shaft extending therethrough;
• e. an elongated flexible cable wound on said spool;
• f. a flat wound torsion spring coupled to said rotating shaft for maintaining said cable under tension and driving said spool to retract said cable when said cable is an extended condition;
• and
• g. magnet means affixed to said spool and adjacent to said magnetic flux means for generating a reverse torque proportional to the speed of rotation when said plurality of magnets are rotated at a close proximity to said copper disc, thereby reducing the speed of the return cable which is caused to return by said wound torsion spring.

A transducer, comprising:

• a. at least one magnet;
• b. a spool adjacent to said at least one magnet and coupled to a rotating shaft extending therethrough;
• c. a cable wound on said spool;
• d. biasing means coupled to said rotating shaft for maintaining said cable under tension and driving said spool to retract said cable when said cable is an extended condition;
• e. a spring loaded friction assembly located adjacent to said spool for applying pressure to said cable and prevent said cable from becoming loose when the extended cable is suddenly released;
• and
• f. magnetic flux means located adjacent to said at least one magnet at a fixed distance to produce a constant rotational speed of said spool to restrict the excessive rotational speed of said spool for generating a reverse torque proportional to the speed of rotation, thereby reducing the speed of the return cable which is caused to return by said biasing means.

A linear transducer, comprising:

• a. a self-contained housing;
• b. a precision diameter spool coupled to a rotating shaft extending therethrough;
• c. an elongated flexible cable wound on said spool;
• d. a flat wound torsion spring coupled to said rotating shaft for maintaining said cable under tension and driving said spool to retract said cable when said cable is an extended condition;
• e. an outer stationary housing mounted to said self-contained housing and having an inner surface;
• f. an inner rotating plate housed within said outer stationary housing and coupled to said rotating shaft;
• g. at least two shoe members pivotable connected to said rotating plate at remote locations, each shoe member having an engagement surface for frictionally contacting said inner surface of said outer stationary housing;
• h. at least two compression springs respectively coupled to said at least two shoe members for compressing and biasing said at least two shoe members in a direction radially inwardly from said inner surface of said outer stationary housing;
• and
• i. when said rotating plate has reached a certain speed to overcome the pressure of said at least two compression springs by the action of centrifugal force, said engagement surface of each of said at least two shoe members moves outwardly to press against said inner surface of said outer stationary housing to provide friction and slow down the rotation of said spool;
• and
• j. a spring loaded friction roller assembly located adjacent to said spool for applying a drag to said cable being wound on said spool to maintain said wound cable in continuous contact with said spool as it decelerates from the extended condition so that said wound cable won't jam against said spool.

A transducer, comprising:

• a. a self-contained housing;
• b. a precision diameter spool coupled to a rotating shaft extending therethrough;
• c. a flexible cable wound on said spool;
• d. first spring means coupled to said rotating shaft for maintaining said cable under tension and driving said spool to retract said cable when said cable is an extended condition;
• e. a stationary housing mounted to said self-contained housing and having a surface;
• f. a rotating plate housed within said stationary housing and coupled to said rotating shaft;
• g. at least one shoe member pivotable connected to said rotating plate and having an engagement surface for frictionally contacting said surface of said stationary housing;
• h. second spring means coupled to said at least one shoe member for compressing and biasing said at least one shoe member in a direction radially inwardly from said surface of said stationary housing;
• i. when said rotating plate has reached a certain speed to overcome the pressure of said second spring means by the action of centrifugal force, said engagement surface of said at least one shoe member moves outwardly to press against said surface of said stationary housing to provide friction and slow down the rotation of said spool;
• and
• i. a spring loaded roller assembly relative to said spool for applying a drag to said cable being wound on said spool to maintain said wound cable in continuous contact with said spool as it decelerates so that said wound cable won't jam against said spool.

A restraining assembly for use in conjunction with a transducer having a spool, a cable wound on the spool, and a spring means for maintaining the cable under tension and driving the spool to retract said cable when the cable is an extended condition, and a shaft coupled to the spring means and the spool, the assembly comprising:

• a. a stationary housing;
• b. a rotating plate housed within said stationary housing and being coupleable to said rotating shaft;
• c. stopping means pivotable connected to said rotating plate for frictionally contacting said surface of said stationary housing;
• d. second spring means coupled to said stopping means for compressing and biasing said stopping means in a direction radially inwardly from said stationary housing;
• e. when said rotating plate has reached a certain speed to overcome the pressure of said second spring means by the action of centrifugal force, said stopping means moves outwardly to press against said stationary housing to provide friction and slow down the rotation of said spool;
• and
• f. a roller assembly for applying a drag on said cable as said cable is wound on said spool to keep said wound cable in continuous contact with said spool as said spool is decelerating so that said wound cable won't jam against said spool.