Acoustic pulse transfer system for event counting

Abstract

An acoustic pulse transfer device according to the invention has one or more carrier segments that can be connected together to transport acoustic pulses through them. Acoustic pulses generated by events in a first segment are transported through a second segment, which may or may not have its own acoustic pulse generator generating acoustic pulses in response to different events. Acoustic pulses generated in the first and second segments are then independently transported through a third segment. Any number of such segments can be connected together. Typically, acoustic pulses are generated by compressing a pneumatic tube in a carrier segment. The pneumatic tube is connected to a substantially non-compressible acoustic pulse carrier tube connected to the segment's pneumatic tube through a trough in a wall separating the pneumatic tube from the acoustic pulse carrier tube. Multiple carrier segments can be linked together so that a acoustic pulse generated in a distant carrier segment can be transported through one or more segments toward a device actuated by the acoustic pulse such as a counter. The invention is particularly useful in traffic counting applications.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.