Foot controller apparatus for air driven dental handpieces or the like

摘要

Foot controller apparatus is characterized by providing for remote foot control by a minimum size foot pedal device of the flow of compressed air to an air driven dental handpiece or the like without the necessity of bulky air lines passing through or the incorporation of complicated electrical or mechanical mechanisms in the foot pedal device, as follows. An outwardly biased, depressible foot pedal device includes a diaphragm therein for forming an air sealed chamber which reduces in volume upon depression of the foot pedal device and conveys an air flow through an elongate tube to a diaphragm operated, air modulating, regulator valve positioned away from the foot pedal device and in the compressed air conduit leading to the dental handpiece for pneumatically operating the valve to control the flow of compressed air to the dental handpiece for driving same. The apparatus may also preferably include a diaphragm operated electrical switch mechanism electrically connected with electrically operated valves in chip air and coolant water conduits to the handpiece and with the foot pedal air tube for being pneumatically operated by the foot pedal device for controlling the flow of chip air and coolant water through the dental handpiece.