I claim:
1. An electronic equipment communications system comprising:
a) electronic equipment, at least one control terminal and at least one external storage device,
b) a repeater to which is connected said at least one control terminal and said at least one external storage device,
c) an external storage device communications system for performing communications between said at least one external storage device and said electronic equipment via said repeater, and
d) a control terminal communications system for performing communications between said at least one control terminal and said electronic equipment via said repeater,
e) said control terminal communications systems being arranged independent of said external storage device communications system, and
f) wherein control signals output from said electronic equipment are input to said repeater via said external storage device communications system.
2. An electronic equipment communications system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said repeater further comprises:
a) at least one control terminal connector connected to said at least one control terminal,
b) at least one external storage device connector connected to said at least one external storage device and corresponding to said at least one control terminal connector,
c) a control terminal communications switcher capable of selecting one of said at least one control terminal connector and permitting communications between said selected control terminal connector and said electronic equipment,
d) an external storage device communications switcher capable of selecting one of said at least one external storage device and permitting communications between said selected external storage device and said electronic equipment, and
e) a communications controller that, based on a control signal from said electronic equipment, outputs a switching control signal to said control terminal communications switcher and said external storage device communications switcher.
3. A repeater comprising:
a) a plurality of control terminal connectors to which control terminals are connected,
b) a plurality of external storage device connectors adapted to correspond to said plurality of control terminal connectors and to which external storage devices are connected, and
c) a system connection terminal adapted for connection to electronic equipment and that permits communication between connected control terminals and connected external storage devices with said electronic equipment,
d) wherein communication between said plurality of control terminal connectors through a control terminal communication system and said electronic equipment occurs independent of communication between said plurality of external storage devices through an external storage device communication system and said electronic equipment, and
e) wherein control signals output from said electronic equipment are input to said repeater via said external storage device communications system.
4. A repeater in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:
a) a control terminal communications switcher that permits communication between said electronic equipment and a control terminal connected to a control terminal connector selected from said plurality of control terminal connectors,
b) an external storage device communications switcher that permits communications between said electronic equipment and an external storage device connected to an external storage device connector selected from said plurality of external storage device connectors, and
c) a communications controller that outputs a switching control signal to said control terminal communications switcher and said external storage device communications switcher,
d) wherein controls signals output from said electronic equipment are input to said communications controller.
5. Electronic equipment comprising:
a) a control terminal connector to which a control terminal is connected,
b) an external storage device connector to which an external storage device is connected, and
c) a repeater to which is connected a plurality of control terminals and a plurality of external storage devices,
d) wherein said repeater is controlled based on a control signal output from said electronic equipment or from said external storage device connector.
6. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for causing a computer control system to manage communications between said computer control system and a repeater control system where a plurality of control terminals and a plurality of external storage devices may be connected to said repeater control system, the communications is managed by performing the steps of:
a) signaling from said computer control system a data transmission start notification;
b) signaling from said repeater control system a consent to begin transmission;
c) providing a synchronizing clock signal for synchronizing transmission and reception of data;
d) transmitting data to said repeater control system, said data including identification codes for identifying an object of control and commands for performing control of said the object of control; and
e) transmitting response data to said computer control system, said response data including identification codes for identifying an object of control and results of control on said object of control, wherein
f) the object of control comprises at least one of said repeater control system, said plurality of control terminals andor said plurality of external storage devices.
7. A method for managing communications between a computer control system and a repeater control system, said repeater control system having a plurality of slots for connecting control terminals and external storage devices, comprising the steps of:
a) signaling from said computer control system a data transmission start notification;
b) signaling from said repeater control system a consent to begin transmission;
c) providing a synchronizing clock signal for synchronizing transmission and reception of data;
d) transmitting data to said repeater control system, said data including identification codes for identifying an object of control and commands for performing control of said the object of control; and
e) transmitting response data to said computer control system, said response data including identification codes for identifying an object of control and results of control on said object of control, wherein
f) the object of control comprises at least one of said repeater control system, said plurality of control terminals andor said plurality of external storage devices.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A high-strength pintle anchoring system for use in a wall having an inner wythe and an outer wythe in a spaced apart relationship the one with the other and having a cavity therebetween, said outer wythe formed from a plurality of courses with a bed joint of predetermined height between each two adjacent courses, said bed joint being filled with mortar, said system comprising:
a wall anchor fixedly attached to said inner wythe and having a free end thereof extending into said cavity, said free end of said wall anchor comprising:
one or more receptor portions disposed in said cavity, said one or more receptor portions being openings disposed substantially horizontally; and, a wire-formative veneer tie comprising:
an insertion portion for disposition in said bed joint of said outer wythe;
one or more ribbon pintles each forming an interengaging portion for disposition into said one or more receptor portions of said wall anchor; and,
one or more cavity portions each connecting said insertion portion and said interengaging portion.
2. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 1 wherein said insertion portion further comprises:
one or more hooks set opposite each other, each said one or more hooks contiguous with and extending from said one or more cavity portions; and
an insertion bar contiguous with and connecting said one or more hooks, said insertion bar set opposite said one or more cavity portions.
3. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 2 wherein said one or more receptor portions further comprise two eyelets spaced apart at a predetermined interval and disposed substantially horizontally in said cavity; and,
said wire-formative veneer tie having two ribbon pintles formed by compressively reducing said interengaging portion of said veneer tie with each of said ribbon pintles dimensioned to closely fit one of said openings of said one or more receptor portions.
4. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 3 wherein each of said two eyelets is welded closed and has a substantially circular opening therethrough with a predetermined diameter.
5. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 4 wherein said inner wythe is formed from successive courses of masonry block with a bed joint of predetermined height between each two adjacent courses and having a reinforcement ladder or truss in said bed joint, said wall anchor further comprising:
a wire formative fixedly attached to said reinforcement having at least two legs extending into and terminating within said cavity.
6. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 5 wherein said width of said ribbon pintles is in a close fitting functional relationship with said diameter of said eyelet.
7. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 6 wherein the major cross-sectional axes of said ribbon pintles are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said legs of said wall anchor.
8. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 7 wherein said veneer tie is a wire formative and said ribbon pintles of said interengaging portion at least one compressively reduced portion is compressively reduced in thickness up to 75% of the original diameter thereof.
9. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 2 wherein said inner wythe is a dry wall structure having wallboard panels mounted on columns or framing members, said wall anchor further comprising:
a surface-mounted sheetmetal bracket fixedly attached to said columns of said inner wythe, said sheetmetal bracket being L-shaped and having a mounting portion and an extending portion for extending substantially horizontally into said cavity, said extending portion with said one or more receptor portions therethrough.
10. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 9 wherein said one or more receptors further comprise an elongated aperture; and,
said wire-formative veneer tie has two ribbon pintles formed by compressively reducing said interengaging end portion of said veneer tie.
11. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 10 wherein said elongated aperture is shaped substantially similar to the cross section of said ribbon pintles.
12. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 10 wherein said width of said ribbon pintles is in a close fitting functional relationship with the opening of said aperture.
13. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 10 wherein the major cross-sectional axes of said ribbon pintles are substantially normal to said wallboard panels.
14. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 10, wherein said anchoring system further comprises:
a reinforcement wire disposed in said bed joint; and, wherein said veneer tie insertion portion further comprises:
one or more housings each having a clamping jaw for receiving said reinforcement wire; whereby, upon installation of said anchoring system with an interconnected reinforcing wire in said outer wythe, said system provides a high degree of seismic protection
15. A high-strength pintle anchoring system for use in a cavity wall formed from a backup wall and a facing wall in a spaced apart relationship with a vertical surface of the backup wall forming one side of a cavity therebetween, said cavity in excess of four inches, said backup wall formed from a plurality of successive courses of masonry block with a bed joint of predetermined height between each two adjacent courses, said high-span anchor and reinforcement device comprising, in combination:
a wall reinforcement with an upper surface in one plane and a lower surface in a plane substantially parallel thereto, said wall reinforcement adapted for mounting in said bed joint of said backup wall;
at least one wall anchor fusibly attached at an attachment end thereof to said wall reinforcement, and, upon installation in said bed joint of said backup wall, extending between said plane of said upper surface and said plane of said lower surface from an attachment end thereof to the vertical surface of said backup wall; said wall anchor, in turn, comprising:
an extended leg portion for spanning said cavity, said extended leg portion having a free end contiguous therewith, opposite said attachment end, and having one or more receptor portions therein; and,
a wire-formative veneer tie having an insertion end portion for disposition in said bed joint of said outer wythe and a ribbon pintle forming an interengaging end for disposition into said one or more receptor portions of said wall anchor, said insertion end portion further comprising:
one or more cavity portions contiguous with said interengaging end;
one or more hooks set opposite each other, each said one or more hooks contiguous with and extending from said one or more cavity portions and set opposite said interengaging end; and,
an insertion bar contiguous with and connecting said one or more hooks, said insertion bar set opposite said one or more cavity portions.
16. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 15 wherein said wall anchor has two extended leg portions each having a receptor, said receptors further comprise two wire-formative eyelets spaced apart at a predetermined interval and disposed substantially horizontally in said cavity; and,
said wire-formative veneer tie has two ribbon pintles formed by compressively reducing said interengaging end of said veneer tie with each of said ribbon pintles dimensioned to closely fit one of said openings of said two receptor portions.
17. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 16 wherein each of said two eyelets is welded closed and has a substantially circular opening therethrough with a predetermined diameter.
18. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 17 wherein said width of said ribbon pintles is in a close fitting functional relationship with said diameter of said eyelet and wherein the major cross-sectional axes of said ribbon pintles are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said legs of said wall anchor.
19. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 18 wherein said veneer tie is a wire formative and said ribbon pintles of said interengaging end has at least one compressively reduced portion reduced in thickness up to 75% of the original diameter thereof.
20. A high-strength pintle anchoring system as described in claim 19, wherein said ribbon pintle is fabricated from a 316 inch wire and when reduced by one-third has a tension and compression rating at least 130% of the rating for a non-reduced pintle.