FR2555344A1 - Indicating or display device with vanes - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an indicator or display element defining a viewing direction. According to the invention, it comprises a first group of vanes 14, each defining a substantially equal angle, and which are configured and arranged so that similar vanes 20 can be turned in one direction and axially advanced and turned in the opposite direction and axially withdrawn between a first position in which they are hidden by the first vanes and a second position in which the second vanes 20 hide the first, and a drive means 30, 22 for driving the second group of vanes between two limit positions. The invention applies especially to an indicator or display element which can be lit by ambient light.

Description

The present invention relates to an element
Indicator or display to be illuminated by ambient light.

 The display elements or indicators concerned by the present invention are those where a mobile display member moves between two limit positions.

Such display members have, at a limit position, at a location in a viewing direction, a surface of a color in the viewing direction while at the other limit position, they are arranged so that in the same location, a contrasting color is presented to you in the viewing direction.

Examples of such display elements where the movable display member has the form of a bar having a face contrasting with the bottom where the two limit positions are separated by 1200 and where the color contrasting with the second position limit is due to occlusion or noticeable visibility of the contrasting face
US inventor patent
3,537,197 CN Smith
3,624,647 CN Smith
Examples of such display elements (where the movable member is usually in the form of a round disc) where the two limit positions are separated by 165-180 and where the color on one side of the disc contrasts with the background while the color on the other side merges with the background are as follows
US Patent Inventor Date
3,303,654 MK Taylor February 7, 1967
DES 241 081 D. Winrow August 17, 1976
3,991,496 G. Helwig and
others November 16, 1976
3,624,941 SWFChantry December 7, 1971
3,996,680 CN Smith December 14, 1976
3,975,728 D. Winrow August 17, 1976
3,469,258 D. Winrow September 23, 1969
US Patent No. 4,223,464 to D. Winrow dated September 23, 1980 shows a display element using a movable display member which is a bar or disc, where two permanent magnets are provided in spaced locations on the mobile display unit.

The mounting of the movable display member carries at least one and preferably two permanently reversible magnetizable elements extending longitudinally, with a pair of free ends just inward of the place of the permanent magnets. The relative location of the permanently magnetizable elements and of such a place was such that an inversion of the magnetization of these magnetizable elements extending longitudinally forced the bar or the disc to move from the display of one of its faces to a position hiding that face.

Furthermore, the location of the permanent magnets towards the inside of the free ends of the magnetizable members meant that, when the magnetization of the latter was reversed, each permanent magnet was initially repelled, the axial component of this repulsion creating an axial space between the mobile and stationary members during the initial movement of the first and the resulting low friction for mobile members was obtained when it was most needed.

 The above mentioned patents represent the most related prior art which is known to the applicant.

 With the point or disc type indicating or display elements indicated above, the depth of the movable disc location was at least its diameter.

Such a depth increased the problems of housing and protection of the disc in use as well as the thickness of the display. A single example of such problems is that encountered when using frosted glass at the front of the display to suppress unwanted reflections. It is well known that the loss of definition of the display member behind such a frosted glass is very high, unless it is very close to the frosted glass. However, due to the geometric shape of a disc and the fact that it is driven around its diameter (usually), there must be a space of the pivot axis of the disc with frosted glass of at least 1/2 disc diameter. This causes a sharp loss of definition when the contrasting side of the disc is presented. These patents using a bar with a shutter effect to hide a display bar at the end of a lever required a shallower depth for the movement of the display element (excluding the mechanism) but were difficult to train properly and mechanically complex.

 On the other hand, both the disc type and the bar type were relatively resistant to air during movement and for this and other reasons were difficult to change quickly.

 On the other hand, the disc type and the bar type were limited in size in the sense that the prices of power and materials increased sharply with increasing size.

 The term "large circular ring" is used here to define the shape of a circle with a relatively small circular center of the contrasting color (in one position). In display budgets, it would be desirable for the entire circle to be uniform. However, due to the mechanism used, the small center of the circle will not be uniform in a display position.

 The invention relates to a display element where a number of stationary fins, which together form substantially 360 of a large circular ring in the viewing direction, define paths for similar rotating rotary fins with a small axial component and which move between two limit positions. In a limit position, the movable fins are behind similar fixed fins and are therefore hidden in the viewing direction. In the other limit position, the movable fins have rotated and advanced (i.e. towards the observer) from the hidden position, each movable fin moving between two fixed fins to a position where the movable fins hide the fixed fins in the viewing direction. As the fixed fins and the background of the display are of a color and the movable fins are of a contrasting color, an indicator or display element is formed which has two contrasting aspects which is very suitable for large multiple displays using many of these elements.

 As the movement of such movable fins has a very small component in the axial or viewing direction, the depth (in the viewing direction) of the space taken up by the display fins is very small and is much smaller than with the examples of discs in the patents indicated above. Thus, the fins of the new invention are very suitable for use with a frosted protective glass unlike the example of the disc given above.

 Furthermore, the fin type display element lends itself to easy and efficient magnetic drive and has been found to change at much faster speeds than disc or bar devices. The lack of air resistance to the helical type movement also increases this speed.

 On the other hand, the fin type display element is almost as light as the discs used with the devices in the earlier patents indicated above, and is. much lighter than the bar type mechanisms. The lightness of the fin type device makes it possible to provide very large devices.

 The terms "forwards" and "backwards" here indicate the parts of the element closest and furthest respectively from the observer.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the explanatory description which follows, made with reference to the appended schematic drawings given solely by way of example illustrating several embodiments of the invention and in which
- Figure 1 shows an indicator or display element seen in the viewing direction showing its darker color (usually the background);
- Figure 2 shows the element of Figure 1 showing its lighter color (usually contrasting with the background)
- Figure 3 shows an arrangement of 7 x 5 elements of the type of Figures 1 and 2 arranged to form the letter "F";
- Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the device of Figures 1 and 2 ;;
- Figures 5 and 6 are side views of the element in the position corresponding to Figures 1 and 2 respectively;
- Figures 7 and 8 are schematic indications of the magnetic drive corresponding to Figures 1 and 2 respectively;
- Figure 9 is a circular section in the viewing direction, made along the line of Figures 1 and 2 and shown in the form of a linear development; and
- Figures 10 and II show another arrangement of the cores and magnets compared to that shown in the preferred embodiment.

 The drawings show a detached view of a mounting box 10 holding at the front a circular outer ring 12 (fixed in the box 10 in any desired manner) supporting the stationary fins 14 extending inwards. The housing 10 can, in certain applications, be closed at its front end by providing transparent glass or transparent plastic 15 attached in any desired manner to the front of the ring 12. As can best be seen in the figure 1, such fin sectors 14 looking in the viewing direction together form a large circular ring extending over 3600 around the center (8 fins each having an arc of 450) with a small opening 16 in the middle. it can be seen that such fixed fins 14 are spaced and oriented relative to the adjacent fins 14 and to the viewing direction to allow the helical path of similar fins 20 between them (one can also refer to the development of FIG. 9) .As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 4, mobile fins 20, each supporting 450, mounted on a central sleeve 22, of the same size but in a color contrasting with the wings. are stationary 14, can move over 450 from a position (Figure 1 and position in solid lines in Figure 9) where each movable fin 20 is hidden in the viewing direction indicated by the arrow "V" in Figure 9 by a fixed fin 14 (and therefore only the fixed fins 14 are visible) to a position where each movable fin 20 hides a fixed fin 14 (Figure 2 and dotted position in Figure 9) (and only the movable fins by a movement of 450 in the other direction from the position of Figure 2 (clockwise in the figures), the movable fins 20 can again be hidden behind the fins fixed 14 (being returned to the position of Figure 1). It should be noted that the axial movement, or movement in the direction of viewing, during this rotation over 450, is only slightly greater than twice the thickness of the fins.

 To give a general view for the use of the invention, it can be noted that when used in an arrangement, the dark appearance of FIG. 1 will usually correspond to the background of the arrangement and the white or light appearance in Figure 2 will usually contrast with the background. Thus, Figure 3- shows 35 elements according to the invention, which are arranged in 7 rows and 5 columns. These elements can be selectively excited according to techniques well known to those skilled in the art. In Figure 3, the elements are illustrated as being selectively actuated so that the elements having white form the outline of the letter "F". As many of these 35 modules can be used as is required for the desired messages. The elements will be placed as close to each other as possible and the modules as close to each other as possible (usually) in order to obtain the maximum effect of the arrangement. (The modules can be spaced to form spaces between letters and lines).

 The indicator or display elements according to the invention can also be used simply as binary indicators. As such, they can have arrows, letters or any desired index on a group (preferably the mobile group) of the fixed and mobile groups of the faces of the fins.

 The preferred training for the fins will now be described. It has a number of similarities to the drive described for the bar or disc of US Patent No. 4,223,464 above indicated.

 A hollow frame 24 for fixed mounting in a housing 10 (anyway desired) carries end members 26 and 28 which are open to hold in rotation a central rotating shaft 30 which extends longitudinally to the frame. In four holes 31 which are formed in each of the end members 26 and 28 are mounted four members forming permanently reversible magnetizable cores 32 which extend longitudinally and which are arranged parallel to the shaft being spaced equiangularly. The reversibly magnetizable elements each have two free ends 34 thus, looking at each end of the device (see FIGS. 7 and 8), there are four poles at 900 of angular spacing around the central shaft 30. A winding d excitation 36 is provided for reversibly magnetizing each core 32. Although the control of the excitation for such windings 36 is not part of the invention, it should be noted that at all times the control of the excitation will be such that at one end the four core ends will have alternating polarities around the central shaft 30. The four windings 36 are excited together to effect the change in magnetization so that all the elements are reversed simultaneously. Thus, FIG. 7 shows four ends 34 with a direction of magnetization, like NSNS from the position at midday and FIG. 8 shows the same four ends with the magnetization of the cores reversed, that is to say that the ends are then magnetized according to SNSN starting from the same position.

 Each individual core 32 is of course magnetized at any given time so that it has a north pole (N) at one end and a south pole (S) at the other.

 Thus, the ends 34, which are distant from the viewing direction, will have the opposite polarity in the case of each core with respect to the polarity shown in Figures 7 and 8 respectively.

 On the shaft 30 and just towards the outside in the axial direction of the respective ends of the poles, disks 38 made of a permanent magnetic material are provided rotatable with the shaft and having four poles which are arranged equiangularly around the axis and alternating again according to NSNS. The magnets are fixed to rotate with the shaft and they are placed just axially outwards from the ends of the poles. Preferably, the magnetic discs 38 are constructed of a nylon-based material which is distributed barium ferrite. Such a disc of such a material can be magnetized according to the pattern of the polarized magnetic zones or poles 40 which can be seen, either during its shaping process or then by selective application of a magnetic flux. Such material and / or the disc can be purchased from Tengam Engineering Inc. in Otsego, MI, 45078, E.U.A.

Although this is the preferred source of discs 38, it should be noted that such a disc can be made in any other desired manner, for example by constructing the disc 38 in a non-magnetic material in which are separated distinct magnets arranged to create the pattern. polar represented.

By means to be described, the rotation of the shaft 30 and of the disc 38 is limited to 450 with each of the poles 40 of permanent magnet moving on an arc of 450 which is only contained between the two ends at the same pole 34 ( the magnetized polar zones 40 are delimited even if they are not distinct and differ from the adjacent material only by the intensity and the direction of the magnetization). Thus, a pole 40 of permanent magnet does not rotate 450 on an arc which would force any pole 40 to pass through one end 34. Preferably, the arcs of 450 are located halfway between the poles 34 so that a permanent magnet pole 40 has an arc of movement from a location 229 2 from an adjacent pole, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

 The movable fins 20 are mounted to project outwards from the sleeve 22 having, toward the rear of the fins a thickened hub 44. The walls of the hub 44 are crossed by two diametrically opposite and axially extending slots 46. The sleeve 22 is slidably mounted on an extension 48 of the shaft 30 projecting in the viewing direction beyond the most forward permanent magnet 38. The extension 48 of the shaft maintains a diametrical pin 52 forming a pair of studs projecting outwards and diametrically opposite, preferably maintaining at their ends roller bearings 50, which studs and / or bearings are designed to be move in the axial slots 46 (as can be seen, the two studs are preferably formed of a single pin 52 which passes through a bore 54 in the extension 48) .Thus, the studs 52 and the slots 46 wedge the fins 20, and the sleeve 22 on the shaft 48-30 for rotation with it while allowing movement of the fins and of the sleeve over the axial distance necessary to move the fins from their hidden position to their exposed position (compare the axial positions of the sleeve in FIGS. 5 and 6). To control such movement of the fins, the hub 44 of the sleeve 22 is provided, on its outer surface, with two helical grooves 58 directed inwards. The frame 24 maintains nipples directed inwards, preferably with roller bearings 60 which move in the slots 58. The slots 58 are placed, oriented and directed to serve as a helical cam, therefore when the shaft 48-30 rotates the fins 20 in one direction (anticlockwise in Figures 1 and 2), the pins 60 moving in the helical slots 58 urge the fins 20 away from the position of Figures 1 and 5, between the fixed fins 14 (see FIG. 9) and at the front of the fixed fins 14, in the position of FIGS. 2 and 6. When the shaft 48-30 rotates the fins 20 in the other direction ( clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2), the pins 60 and the helical slots 58 urge the fins in the opposite direction towards the position behind the fixed fins. The lengths of the helical slots are also chosen to establish the preferred limits. of 450 wing movement heads 20 between the exposed position and the hidden position for the movable fins 20.

 It can be noted that the movement of the fins 20 at limit positions beyond the spaced limits of 450 (450 is the arc subtended by the fins) will still allow correct operation of the device in the sense that the device will have white at one limit position and black at the other. However, this extended rotation will necessarily add axial depth to the device and may change the details of the magnetic drive from those explained with respect to the preferred arc of 45 of motion. It should also be noted, with particular reference to Figures 7 and 8, that the arc of movement which is permitted cannot be such that it allows the poles of the permanent magnets 40 to align or pass through the arched position ends 34 of the cores. Such an alignment or passage will cause hooking or blocking respectively and will prevent operation of the device.

 In operation, with the fins 20 in the hidden position (Figures 1, 5 and 7), the cores 32 polarized as shown in Figure 7 are polarized to attract the magnets 34 to this position (the fins 14 then have, as we can best see in Figure 1, their background black color in the viewing direction). If the four cores are excited by the windings 36 so that their polarity is reversed, then the ends 34 pass to the polarities shown in FIG. 8 to have the same polarity as the adjacent magnetic poles 40 repelling the latter, causing movement in the counterclockwise from the position of the observer. The repulsion of the poles 40 to cause this movement in a counterclockwise direction is of course due to the component of the repulsion force which is in the direction of rotation (i.e. in the plane drawings). However, it should be noted that since the disks 38 of the permanent magnet are axially displaced outward from the ends of the cores 34, the repulsion causing the rotation initially has an axial component which tends to create an approximately equal space between magnets 34 and the poles 40 in relation.

This reduces friction and therefore initially reduces resistance to starting torque and helps change the device. The consequent rotation of the shaft 48-30 rotates the sleeve 22 and the fins 20 by means of the pins 50 in the slots 46 and under the control of the pins 60 in the slots 58, forcing the fins 20 to move in the direction counterclockwise and forward. Thus, the fins 20 pass between the fixed fins 14 and come to rest hiding the fixed fins (as shown in Figures 2, 6 and 8). The device then shows, in the direction of visualization, the white color (contrasting with the background) of the fins 20. A greater inversion by the windings 36, of the polarity of the cores, to bring the ends of the cores to the polarization of the figure 7, causes a rotation from the position of FIGS. 2, 6 and 8 to the position of FIGS. 1, 5 and 7.

Again the reversal of the cores initially has an axial repulsion component which centers the elements 38 relative to the ends 34 and initially reduces the resistance to the starting torque. It can be noted that the rotation stroke of the fins 20 in this arrangement can be greater than 450 (but in the angular criteria preventing a permanent magnet 40 from reaching the arched position of a core end 34).

It should be noted that there is no limit to the eight
fins or 450 movement or four cores and four permanent magnets. The minimum number of nuclei is one and this can lead to any angular rotation of less than 1800.

 Figures 10 and 11 are shown as an alternative to the arrangement of Figures 7 and 8 The numbering of the elements is the same as in Figures 7 and 8, adding 100. There will be four fixed fins and four movable fins, each subtending an arc of 900 (not shown), the movable fins being able to move between the fixed fins by analogy to the movement shown for the preferred embodiment. Two axially extending cores 134 control the movement of the movable fins by attraction and repulsion of two permanent magnets 140 on a disc 138 physically identical to the disc 38.

The permanent magnets, as can be seen, are forced to move over arcs of 900 between the limit positions offset by 450 from one core 134 to a position at 450 from the other. The movable fins are arranged with respect to the arc of movement of 900 so that this arc represents the transition between the hidden position and the exposed position for the movable fins. As in the preferred embodiment, the permanent magnets 140 lie axially outward from the ends of the core 134 so there is again, as in the preferred embodiment, an axial repelling force between the cores 134 and the magnets 140, each time that the cores 134 are changed which centers the rotor relative to the stator and promotes a low friction drive.

 It should further be noted that, with the preferred embodiment, eight core poles (four at each end) drive eight permanent magnet poles (four at each end) for very powerful and efficient training. This is much more powerful than the four (two at each end) cores and magnets of the embodiment of Figures 10 and 11, both because the number of magnetic drive members and because the spaces of attraction and magnetic repellents are lower (and therefore the magnetic force is more powerful according to the law of squares) with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 9.

 It should be noted that the cores and the permanent magnets need not be used in axially spaced pairs but that simple groups of magnets can be used at only one end of the rotor, the ends 34 of the cores 32 being used only at the same ends . However, the magnetic self-centering characteristic immediately after change is then lost.

 The invention also extends to applications where all the core ends at one end of the device have the same polarity. This usually implies that there will preferably be two permanent magnets for each core (and at each end if both ends of the core are used). Reference has already been made to the use of a single core which works best with a north permanent magnet (N) and a south permanent magnet (S) at the useful ends of the core. The use of half the number of cores and permanent magnets can be further illustrated by considering Figures 7 and 8 with the core ends 34 at the noon and six o'clock positions but without the cores with ends at the three o'clock and nine o'clock. The four permanent magnets 40 are still as shown and all the other parts are identical. Thus, in Figure 7 the core ends at twelve and six o'clock are both north (N) and in Figure 8 they are both south (S).

 It is quite obvious that the device will always work between the two positions with a change between a light aspect and a dark aspect although with less torque. Furthermore, this should only be done at one end (however with further reduction of the torque and loss of the self-centering characteristic).

These alternatives are part of the scope of the invention although they have much less certainty of operation and a lower switching speed than the shape shown in the preferred embodiment.

 The use of helical fins moving through fixed fins is not limited in the inventive aspect to a magnetic drive (but it is believed that this magnetic drive will be the most effective).

Claims (8)

 1.- Indicator or display element defining a viewing direction, characterized in that it comprises  a first group of fins (14) together forming a first predetermined area in the viewing direction,  each of said fins defining a substantially equal angle,  said fins conforming roughly instead of a line perpendicular to an axis extending in said viewing direction, each point on the line roughly describing a helix relative to said axis,  said fins being configured and arranged so that a group of similar fins (20) can be rotated in one direction and axially advanced and rotated in opposite directions and axially withdrawn relative to the first between a first position where said similar group of fins is hidden by the first in the direction of viewing and a second position where said second group of fins hides the first in the direction of viewing,  a similar group of movable fins (20) mounted so as to move between the first and second positions,  a stop means designed to stop the movement of the similar group of fins in the first and second positions,  a guide connection between a movable member with said similar fins and a stationary member for forcing said similar fins to be advanced and withdrawn axially during rotation in one direction and the opposite direction of said similar fins,  means (30,22) for moving said group of similar fins between said two positions.  2.- Indicator or display element, characterized in that it includes  a frame (24),  a display member which is rotatably mounted therein to rotate about an axis of rotation relative to it,  said axis of rotation roughly corresponding to the viewing direction of said element,  means limiting the angular rotation of said member to a rotation between two predetermined limit positions,  said display member being arranged and mounted to move axially in and out during rotation in one or the other direction respectively between the two limit positions,  said display member comprising a number of movable fins (20) forming, in the viewing direction, a first predetermined surface,  a number of stationary fins (14) of an appearance contrasting with the movable fins forming a predetermined surface corresponding to said first surface  said movable fins and said stationary fins being configured and arranged with respect to each other so that each movable fin passes between two stationary fins during its movement between the two limit positions and so that, at a limit position, the movable fins are substantially hidden by the fixed fins in the viewing direction and, at the other limit position, the fixed fins are substantially hidden by the movable fins,  a guide connection between a movable member with said movable fins and a stationary member to cause axial displacement upon rotation of said rotary fins,  means for controlling said rotation of said movable fins.  3.- element according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the aforementioned means for controlling the movable fins comprises  at least one permanently reversible and stationary magnetizable magnetic member (32) extending between first and second free ends, said free ends being offset from one another in the axial direction,  an electrical excitation coil (36) corresponding to each magnetizable member, for magnetizing the latter at each polarity,  first and second permanent magnets (40) mounted on said display member and rotating with it respectively towards the outside of the first and second free ends,  each of said first and second magnets being and being oriented so that for each magnetization of said magnetizable element, the flux from the end of said magnetizable element exerts a torque in one direction on the corresponding magnet during the rotation of said magnet on the range of rotation between the two limit positions, and so that said torque is in the same direction for the two magnets.  4.- Element according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the movable fins are driven by a rotary drive member, said drive member comprising a rotary shaft (30), said movable fins being attached to a sleeve (22) around said shaft, with means (52-, 56) for wedging said sleeve to said shaft for rotation therewith, said means for wedging allowing axial movement of said movable fins relative to said sleeve for movement of said movable fins during movement between limit positions and between said stationary fins.  5.- element according to claim 4, characterized in that it provides  at least one permanent magnetizable and reversible stationary magnetic member (34), extending between first and second ends,  an electrical excitation coil (36) corresponding to each magnetic member to magnetize the latter at each polarity,  first and second permanent magnets (40) mounted on and rotating with said shaft respectively, towards the outside of said first and second ends,  each of said first and second magnets being and being oriented so that for each magnetization of said magnetizable member, the flux from each end of said magnetizable element exerts a torque in one direction on the corresponding permanent magnet, during the rotation of said shaft between said two limit positions of the fins and so that said torque is in said direction for the two magnets.  6.- Element according to claim 3, characterized in that eight fixed fins and eight movable fins are provided, each fin subtending about 450 in the viewing direction, said movement between the limit positions thus being 450,  four permanent reversible magnetizable magnetic members, arranged approximately symmetrically around the shaft, each permanently magnetizable magnetic member extending longitudinally between the first and second free ends, with its major component in the axial direction of said shaft,  an electrical excitation coil corresponding to each magnetizable element to magnetize it,  the four free ends extending in a direction defining pole pieces approximately on an arc of 900,  four permanent magnet poles mounted on said shaft towards the outside of each group of free ends, each p81e being placed to rotate on a portion of 450 of one of said arcs of 90,  thus when said magnetizable members are magnetized to present at each end alternating north and south poles, said permanent magnets force said shaft to rotate on said extent of 450 each time the magnetization reverses of said four magnetizable elements, said permanent magnets being arranged one by one with respect to the others and with respect to respectively adjacent pairs of pole pieces so that whatever the magnetization of said magnetizable elements, the torque is in the same direction on the two permanent magnets.  7.- Element according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it provides  a permanent magnet rotating with the movable fins defining a magnetic field having a component transverse to the axis of rotation of the shaft,  means for producing a reversible magnetic field in the location of said magnetic field of the permanent magnet effective at each inversion to move said shaft, by means of said permanent magnet, from one limit position to the other.  8.- Element according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that there are provided four fixed fins and four movable fins, each of said fins subtending about 900 in the viewing direction, the movement between said positions being therefore approximately 900,  two permanently reversible and stationary magnetizable magnetic members, each having a free end,  an electrical excitation coil corresponding to each magnetizable element to magnetize it,  said two ends defining a space between them,  at least one permanent magnet mounted on and rotatable with said movable fins,  said permanent magnet being located and being oriented so that for each opposite magnetization of the magnetizable members, the flux in said space exerts a torque in one direction on said permanent magnet, during the rotation of said magnet over said range of 900.