MXPA99006654A - Mechanism for measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

A gage mechanism for a blood pressure measuring device or other similar apparatus includes a supported shaft member (96) having one end in contact with an inflatable bellows (34). A pointer (92) is attached at an opposite end of the shaft and a helically wound ribbon spring (106) is attached to the shaft and a supporting structure (122). As the bellows inflates, the shaft is axially displaced and causes rotation due to the constraint of the helical ribbon spring, causing a corresponding angular deflection of the attached pointer relative to an indicating scale (85). The mechanism includes a first adjustment member (118) for allowing the pointer to be preset to a zero or calibrated position, and a second adjustment mechanism that controls the amount of angular rotation of the shaft and pointer for a displacement of the bellows.

Description

MECHANISM FOR MEASURING DEVICE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of measuring instruments, and in particular to a mechanism used in connection with a measuring instrument that is effective in response and that also allows simple and convenient adjustment. Certain measuring devices are known, such as those found in sphygmomanometers (blood pressure cuffs) that include a pneumatic bulb that inflates a pressure chamber of a connected sleeve that fits over a patient's arm or leg. A bellows assembly, which responds to changes in the fluid pressure of the pneumatic bulb and the sleeve pressure chamber is placed in a disc-shaped indicator housing. The gauge indicator of the graduated disc is interconnected to the bellows assembly by means of a manometer mechanism by means of inflation. of the bellows causing a corresponding circumferential movement of the indicator. Typically, these mechanisms are very complex and intricate, and are similar in terms of their manufacture and accuracy to Swiss watches. For example, in a mechanism like this, a pair of diaphragm springs are bonded adjacent to opposite ends of an axis. A lower end of the shaft is placed in contact with the inflatable bellows assembly and a perpendicularly rotated brass band placed on the upper end of the shaft is connected thereto in parallel by a horizontally bent spring part. As the shaft flexes axially due to inflation of the bellows assembly, the bent spring part is forced to flex causing the belt to rotate. The indicator that is attached to the brass band is thus forced to rotate relative to an indicator face of the graduated disc. Those known mechanisms include a plurality of moving components, each having multiple bearing surfaces. Therefore, such assemblies must be manufactured with a considerable degree of tolerance to minimize errors, thus creating a similar level of cost in their manufacture. In addition, any adjustment required after assembly of such mechanisms, such as to nullify the indicator needle or adjust the sensitivity of the device, requires substantial disassembly or at least significant and undesirable disassembly of the measuring device. A principal object of the present invention is to improve the state of the art of measuring devices. A further object of the present invention is to provide a movement mechanism for a measuring device that is simpler and less expensive to manufacture, although it is as reliable as the known mechanisms.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a measuring device that is easy to adjust and does not require disassembly of the instrument if and when calibration is required. Therefore, and in accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a movement mechanism comprising: an arrow member having first and second exposed ends and an axis defined between the first and second ends; and axial displacement means for moving the first end of the arrow member in an axial direction; characterized by: at least one spring member positioned coaxially with respect to the axis of the arrow member, the spring member that is attached at one end to an intermediate portion of the arrow member and attached at an end opposite a support, at where the displacement means cause the arrow member to move in the axial direction, the spring member flexes and the arrow member rotates. Preferably, the union of the spring member allows the spring to pivot or articulate during the stroke of the arrow to minimize hysteresis or other non-linear effects.

The movement mechanism according to the preferred embodiment includes rotating position adjusting means for adjusting the circumferential location of the indicator and displacement adjustment means for preloading the spring means to thereby control the amount of rotation response induced on a specific axial movement of the arrow movement. More preferably, the rotary position adjusting means includes a rotary element aligned coaxially with the arrow, which allows an arrow member to preset or selectively realign the position of the indicator. The displacement adjustment means includes a coaxial sleeve that selectively preloads the spring member, in whose preload the spring allows adjustment of the amount of angular deflection or sweep of the indicator in response to a predetermined amount of axial displacement of the arrow. with another preferred aspect of the present invention, a mechanism was provided for use in a measuring device, such a device comprising a housing, movement means positioned within the housing, and indicating means responsive to the movement means to indicate a change in a parametric value based on the movement of the movement means, the mechanism including: an arrow member placed in the housing between the indicator means and the displacement means, the arrow member having first and second exposed ends defining an axis between them; and at least one spring member positioned coaxially with respect to the axis of the arrow member, the spring member having a first end attached to the arrow member and a second end attached to a support, wherein the displacement means cause that the arrow member travels along the arrow axis, the spring member flexes and the arrow member rotates. According to still another preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mechanism for a blood pressure calibrator, such a calibrator that includes a bellows assembly containing a movable element positioned on one side of an inner housing and an indicator face of disc graduated on an opposite side of the interior of the housing, the mechanism comprising: an arrow member having a first end in contact with the bellows assembly and a second opposite end having an indicator attached thereto adjacent to the markings on the Indicator face of the graduated disc, the first and second end that define an axis; characterized by: a spring member positioned coaxially along the axis defined by the ends of the arrow member, the spring member having a first end attached to an intermediate portion of the arrow member and a second end attached to a support, wherein movement of the movable member of the bellows assembly causes the arrow member to move in an axial direction, the spring member flexes, and the arrow member rotates to allow the indicator to move circumferentially relative to the face of the graduated disc. According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for calibrating a measuring device, the measuring device including displacement means placed on one side of a previous housing, a graduated disk indicating face positioned on the side opposite the inner housing, and a movement mechanism positioned therebetween, the movement mechanism comprising an axially movable arrow member held in the inner housing, the arrow member having a first end positioned adjacent to the moving means and a second end that includes an indicator adjacent to the indicator face of a graduated disc, a spring member attached to an end of the arrow member and at an end opposite a support, the method that includes the two steps of: presetting the distance between spring ends as they join the axially movable arrow and the support to a predetermined length for affecting the amount of rotation of the indicator for a given movement of the movement means; and rotate the arrow and the support to align the indicator to a null position relative to the indicator face of the graduated disc. An advantage of this. invention is that the described mechanism uses an extremely large number of support surfaces and less movement of parts than previously known systems. In addition, the described mechanism is simpler and less expensive to manufacture, although it is as reliable as other known systems. An additional advantage is that the entire mechanism can be adjusted in a minimum of space and any calibration adjustments can be made without requiring a • complete disassembly of the mechanism. Even another advantage of the present invention is that each of the elements of the written system are mounted coaxially to the arrow, making the system compact and reliable. These and other objects, features and advantages will be described in greater detail in the following Detailed Description of the Invention which should be read together with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of a blood pressure measuring device (partially shown) using a mechanism according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the mechanism of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the mechanism of FIGURE 2, partially in section, as assembled in the measuring device; FIGURE 3 (a) is an elevation view of an end of a helical spring member used in the mechanism of Figures 2 and 3, illustrating preferred means of joining to allow articulation thereof; FIGURE 4 is an elevation view of the mechanism of Figures 1-3 showing the operation of the mechanism in response to inflation of the bellows assembly; FIGURE 5 is a top view of the graduated disc indicator face of the measuring device of Figure 4; FIGURE 6 is an elevation view of Figure 4 showing the mechanism before inflation of the bellows assembly; FIGURE 7 is a top view of the indicator face of the graduated disk of the measuring device of Figure 6; and FIGURE 8 is a partial elevation view in section of a movement mechanism made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Through the course of the discussion that follows, a number of terms are used to provide a difference chart according to the accompanying drawings. Those terms, which include "top," "bottom," "top," "bottom," "side," etc. are intended as a reference frame only and are not intended to be limiting of the present invention. In addition, each of the following described embodiments are shown together with a blood pressure measuring device having a known design. From the following discussion, it should be readily apparent to one with experience in the field that the mechanism of the present invention can easily be substituted in other blood pressure measuring devices, and can also be modified to be suitably useful in other ways. of measuring devices, such as distance measurement, fluid pressure, forces and the like.

Therefore, and with reference to the FIGURES, the present invention is described for use with a blood pressure measuring device, which is partially shown in FIGURE 1. The measuring device includes an inflatable sleeve or sleeve (not shown). shown) made of a vinyl-coated or other suitable polyethylene material, the sleeve typically including corresponding hook and loop fastener portions on the outside thereof for variable adjustment of the sleeve on the arm or leg of a patient. The sleeve is attached through a hose (not shown) and a conduit 24 provided in the housing 10 which is interconnected to a pneumatic bulb attached 18 to provide fluid communication with an inflatable pressure chamber provided in a sleeve in a manner that It is well known. That is, the pneumatic bulb 18, when compressed, provides a source of pressurized fluid (air) to inflate the pressure chamber of the sleeve (not shown). The above details such as the measuring devices are widely known, such as those manufactured by Tycos, Inc., a subsidiary of Welch Allyn, Inc, among others and does not require further discussion herein except where applicable to the present invention. Referring to Figure 1, the housing 10 is a compact enclosure having a substantially cylindrical shape including a hollow interior 14 defined by a circumferential inner wall 22, a lower wall 26, and an open upper end 30. The interior 14 is sized to retain a plurality of components as described herein, including a bellows assembly 34 comprising a thin cylindrical body 40 made from a flexible material having a contained inflatable bladder component 38, Figure 8, which is mounted on one side of a flat circular support plate 42. The support plate 42 includes a central opening 46 that allows fluid communication between the inflatable bladder component 38, the sleeve (not shown) and the pneumatic bulb 18 through the attachment of a portion threaded 48 with the internal threads of a port 50 provided in the lower wall 26 of the housing 10. A small circular bearing surface 54 is provided pref preferably in the upper part of the flexible body 40. Preferably, the upper support surface 54 is centrally located and is made from a hard jeweled material that prevents the distal end 100, Figure 2, from an arrow member being vertically extends 96, Figure 2, strike directly on the bellows assembly 34. According to the preferred embodiment, the surface 54 is made from sapphire, although other suitably hard materials may be used to prevent puncture or damage of the bellows assembly 34, and to minimize the rotational bending between the arrow member 96, Figure 2, and the bellows assembly 34. A bridge member 58 positioned adjacent to the inner housing 14 holds the bellows assembly 34, in the housing 10. The bridge member 58 is fabricated from a section of a substantially rectangular shape and thickened with aluminum or other material having a pair of opposite lateral ends 62, each end having a through opening 72 aligned with similar openings 70 provided on the outer periphery of the circular support plate 42 to allow engagement of screws 64 or other threaded fasteners. The screws 64 are preferably attached from the upper side of the bridge member 58 and are secured within the openings 70 of the support plate 42, or alternatively to the inner housing 14. The bellows assembly 34 is sandwiched between the upper surface of the supporting plate 42 and the lower part of the bridge member 58, the assembly being maintained in a recess 65 between the lateral ends 62, as more clearly shown in Figures 4 and 6. In addition, each of the lateral ends 62 they are also lowered in the upper part of the bridge member 58 so that the heads of the screws 64 do not extend over an upper surface 75. A central passage opening 76 is aligned coaxially with the upper support surface 54 of the bellows assembly. interleaved 34 to the assembly. Turning briefly to Figure 3, opening 76 includes machined upper and lower portions 77, 78 to accommodate mechanism 80 of the present embodiment, as described in greater detail below. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, 4 and 5, a graduated disk face 84 having a readable indicator portion 85 is held within the housing 10 at a predetermined distance on the upper surface 75 of the assembled bridge member 58 by means of installed tabs circumferentially and 27 apart (only one is shown in Figure 1) and a glass or transparent plastic cover or window 88 is joined by known means to the open upper end 30 of the housing 10. An indicator element 92 is integrally folded or otherwise attached to the upper or proximal end 104 of a vertically positioned arrow member 96, extending through the central opening 76 of the bridge member 58 and an engraved disc face opening 83. The indicator element 92 is aligned with the portion readable indicator 85 of the graduated disc face 84 as seen through the transparent window 88. The alignment of the indi 92 is described more fully in a later portion of this description. Going back to Figures 2 and 3, the mechanism 80 according to the present embodiment includes the arrow member referred to above 96, which is an elongated cylindrical body having a distal end 100 and an opposite proximal end 104. According to the present embodiment, the arrow member 96 is made from hardened stainless steel 304, although other materials and the like can be easily substituted. A spring member 106 positioned on a portion of the cylindrical arrow member 96 is attached at respective upper and lower ends to the arrow member and a lower cover member 122. According to this embodiment, the spring member 106 is fabricated from of a thin copper beryllium band that is wound helically into a cylindrical shape, so that it has this cylindrical shape in its free state. Although the above material is particularly useful, it will be readily apparent that other suitable materials formed in a similar manner can be substituted. The spring material is relatively thin, in accordance with this embodiment, and has a suitable width dimension to avoid twisting and potential frictional interference with the arrow member 96 when operated. The operational characteristics are described more fully below. In specific terms, the spring member 106 described herein has a thickness of approximately 0.013 mm (0.0005 inches) in thickness, and is wound on approximately three helical coils. For the application described, the thickness on the scale of 0.008-0.018 mm (0.0003-0.0007 inches) is acceptable. The parameters of thickness and size, of course, will vary with the size of the measuring device and the magnitude of the displacement, among other factors. A pair of cylindrical pins 134, 130 are provided for coupling attachment holes 108 at respective upper and lower ends of the spring member 106. Each pin 130, 134 is welded or otherwise attached to the exterior of the arrow member 96 and the member. of bottom cover 122, respectively. According to this embodiment, the pins 130, 134 are manufactured from stainless steel wire 304 and are welded to the exterior of the above components. Preferably, for better described reasons below, the connecting holes 108 are oversized as compared to the diameters of the cylindrical pins 130, 134. A hollow cylindrical sleeve 110 inserted over the coaxially positioned arrow member 96 and the attached spring member 106 includes a lower end 111 which, during assembly, fits over the concentric upper and intermediate portions 123, 124 of the lower cover member 122, the end which splices a similar shoulder portion 125. The intermediate portion 124 has a diameter that allows that the lower cover cap member 122 is press fit within the lower end 111 of the sleeve 110. An opening 128 that passes through each of the concentric portions 123, 124, and 125 of the cover member 122 is sized to accommodating a lower portion extending 98 of the cylindrical arrow member 96. The sleeve 110 is predominantly A thin-walled tubular section having a collar or portion of rings 113 positioned along a portion of its main longitudinal dimension. A spring screw 114 having a passage opening 121 essentially engages the diameter of a tubular sleeve 110 which is fitted over the upper portion thereof, the screw having an externally threaded lower portion 116 and a circular upper portion 115. The portion threaded 116 further includes a coupling portion 105 for receiving an O-shaped ring 107 mounted thereon. When finally assembled, the lower part of the externally threaded lower portion 116 is spliced against the upper circumferential edge of the outer ring portion 113 of the sleeve 110 and the upper portion 115 that extends slightly over the upper end thereof. The upper portion 115 also includes a pair of circumferential grooves 112diametrically opposed to each other, which are machined or otherwise cut into the upper part of the spring screw 114. According to this embodiment, the spring screw 114 and the tubular sleeve 110 are each made from stainless steel 302. A cylindrical top cover member 118 (also referred to herein as a zero adjustment member) includes a coupling portion 117 that can be snapped into the upper end of the hollow tubular sleeve 110. A top portion 127 of the member of adjustment 118 includes a circular pendant shoulder 129 that splices the upper edge of the sleeve 110 with opposed parallel parallel fins 119 which allow engagement by a tool (not shown). The adjustment member 118 also includes a passage opening 120 dimensioned to accommodate an upper extending section 94 of the cylindrical arrow member 96, the aperture tapering preferably so that the arrow member is in contact only over a short portion. adjacent to the upper part of the upper section 127 only. According to the alternative embodiment, (not shown) the zero adjustment member 118 can be constructed integrally with the upper part of the tubular sleeve 110. A biasing spring 126 is also fitted on the tubular sleeve 110 opposite the spring screw 114, with respect to the portion of rings 113. Referring to Figures 3 and 4 one end of the spring 126 is placed in contact with a lower circumferential edge of the ring section 113, with the remaining end which is in contact with a sizing shoulder similarly 79 provided in the central opening 76 of the bridge member 58. The shoulder 79 separates the upper portion 77 from the central opening 76 of the lower portion 78, the upper portion also including a set of internal threads that engage those of the lower threaded portion 116 of the spring screw 114. As is clear from the enlarged section view of the assembled mechanism 80 illustrated in Figure 3, the zero adjustment cover 118, the lower cover member 122, and the tubular sleeve 110, form an enclosure containing the portion of the cylindrical arrow member 96 having the coaxially attached spring member 106. formed enclosure is contained within the central opening 76 of the bridge member 58 with the zero adjustment member 118 and part of the upper portion 115 of the spring screw 114 extending from the upper surface 75 of the bridge member 58 and which is extends through the opening 83 of the graduated disc face 84. Preferably, the anterior openings 120, 128 in the zero adjustment member 118 and the lower cover member 122, respectively, do not prevent the arrow member 96 from moving. along the vertical direction, or axis, shown as the reference number 99, Figure 3. With reference to Figures 3 and 4, when assembled, the arrow member 96 has a dimension d The length so that the distal end 100 is in substantial contact with the upper support surface 54 of the bellows assembly 34. The arrow member 96 extends through the coaxial openings 128, 120 provided in the lower cover member 122. and the zero adjustment member 118. The extending upper portion 94 of the arrow member 96 further extends further through the opening 83 provided in the graduated disc face 84 with the indicated element 92, as previously observed, being integrally or securely connected to the proximal end 104 thereof. Preferably, the opening 83 in the face of the graduated disk 84 is large enough to allow tools (not shown) for adjustment in the mechanism 80, as described now.

In use, the zero adjustment member 118, the tubular sleeve 110 and the lower cover member 122 provide a first position of adjustment means for calibrating the described mechanism 80 and for allowing the indicator element 92 to be aligned with a zero position. or null on the indicator portion 85 of the graduated disk face 84. The zero adjustment member 118, either integral or separately attached to the tubular sleeve 110, allows the entire arrow member 96 to be rotated about the vertical arrow shaft 99 by engagement of a tool with any pair of fins 119. The arrow member 96, which is being supported through the openings 120, 128, provided in the zero adjustment member 118 and the lower cover member 122, is forced to rotate - together with the tubular sleeve 110 and the lower cover member 122. Accordingly, both the arrow member 96 and the spring member 106 are forced to rotate together with the indi element. united gauge 92, allowing the gauge to be initially set, Figure 7, relative to a null position on the graded disk face 84. The present mechanism 80 also includes a second gauging mechanism that provides for 'adjustment of the degree of rotation of the gauge member. arrow 96 in response to a displacement provided by the bellows assembly 34. The premise of this calibration is based on controlling the amount of preload placed on the helically wound spring member 106. Returning to Figures 2-7, the lower portion threaded externally 116 of the spring screw 114 cooperates with the internal threads shown in Figure 3, provided in the central opening 76 of the bridge member 58. The slots 112 provided in the adjacent upper section 115 of the spring screw 114 allow engagement with a proper tool (not shown). As shown in Figure 3, a portion of the upper portion 127 of the coupled upper cover member 118 and the upper portion 115 of the spring screw 114 extends slightly over the upper surface 75 of the bridge member 58 and the disk face. graduated 84 to allow the engagement without requiring, of that extensive assembly of the housing 10. Preferably, the graduated disk face opening 83 is large enough to allow access of the tool (not shown) directly to the slotted portion 112 of the screw spring 114 and / or the flat faces 119 of the zero adjustment member 118. By turning the spring screw 114 in a closing direction (clockwise), the lower end thereof compresses the ring portion 113 of the sleeve 110, causing the entire sleeve to flex downward and compress the bias spring 126 against the shoulder 79 within the central opening 76 of the bladder member. bridge 58. The downward deflection of the sleeve 110 causes the lower end of the spring member 106, attached to the lower cover member 122 to also flex downwards, thereby preloading the spring member and subsequently increasing the amount of movement rotational of the arrow member, and the indicator member 92 for a predetermined displacement of the bellows assembly 34. The spring member 106 originally has a predetermined axial length that can be varied based on a corresponding rotation of the spring screw 114. Expanding is axial length of the spring member 106 by moving the spring screw 114 downwards tends to increase the amount of rotation for a given axial displacement of the arrow member 96 while moving the spring screw 114 upwardly shortens the predetermined axial length and decreases the amount of circumferential movement of the arrow member, and also of the indicator element 92 relative to the graduated disk face 84. The 0-shaped ring 107 helps to provide a frictional load so that the vibrations do not cause rotation of the spring screw 114, such rotation undesirably alters a fixed axial location of the spring screw. In operation, bladder component 38, Figure 8, is forced to inflate in the direction shown as 41 in Figure 3 in response to pressure changes in the cuff (not shown) in a commonly known manner as is induced by the pneumatic bladder 118 and the patient to which the sleeve is attached (not shown). The inflation of the bellows assembly 34 causes a vertical displacement of the flexible body 40, Figure 1, and the upper support surface 54 that impacts the distal end 100 of the arrow member 96. The arrow member 96, therefore, is driven to move in the vertical direction 99, as shown in shading by the proximal end 104 (a). Due to the restriction provided by the attachment of the lower end of the spring member 106 to the lower cover member 122, the arrow member 96 is forced to rotate as well as to move due to the vertical displacement of the inflated bellows in the clockwise direction (as seen in the lower part of shaft 99) as the spring member is unwound. The rotation of the arrow member 96 thereby causes the indicator element 92 attached to the proximal end 104 thereof to sweep in a circumferential direction relative to the indicator portion 85 of the recorded disc face 84. More preferably, and making Referring to Figure 3 (a), the connection of the cylindrical pin 130, with the end hole 108 at one end of the spring member 96, causes the ends of the spring member 96 to pivot or articulate during movement of the limb member. arrow 96 in the direction indicated by reference numeral 44. The remaining end (not shown) of spring member 106 is affected in a similar manner. This pivoting minimizes any hysteresis and ensures a greater linearity. As noted above, the amount of sweep in the circumferential movement of the indicator element 92 can be easily controlled by adjusting the preload amount of the spring member 106. A resulting change in the preload amount invariably produces a deviation in the indicator element 92 to the graduated disk face 84 that can be easily calibrated against a known pressure load to determine the proper amount of preload. Therefore, a zero calibration also follows it by coupling the planes 119 of the zero adjustment member 118 by suitable rotation thereof. When passing, it should be noted that the spring member 106 is also preferably manufactured so that the internal diameter is greater than the diameter of the arrow member 96, even when the spring member has been unwound in the manner described below to avoid the friction interference that could impact the repeatability and the linearity of the mechanism.

A second embodiment of a movement mechanism according to the present invention is now described with reference to Figure 8. For purposes of clarity, similar parts are marked herein with the same reference numerals. A similar elongate cylindrical shaft member 96 is positioned vertically within a housing 140 (shown only partially). A support member 142 includes an upper support portion 148 and a lower support portion 152 separated by a distance to determine, as defined by transverse members 154, the supports that are interconnected by fasteners 160 inserted through holes (not shown). ) in a conventional manner. The upper support portion 148 includes a central opening 164 dimensioned to allow passage of the vertically positioned arrow member 96, the opening also preferably includes a circularly tapered support surface 166 for impacting the point of contact therein. The lower support portion 152 includes a coaxial but larger circular opening 174 accommodating a pair of coaxial adjustment members. A sweep adjusting screw 170 having a cylindrical configuration is sized to fit within the boundaries of the opening 174, which is preferably threaded to allow engagement of a corresponding assembly. of external threads 172 provided on the outside of the adjustment member. A zero adjustment member 180 adjusts with a central opening 184 of the sweep adjustment screw 170, the zero adjustment member also having a coaxial central opening 188 to allow passage through the same arrow members 96. The opening 188 , like the upper support portion 148 also include a tapered bearing surface 186. The cylindrical shaft member 96 includes a pair of ends 100, 104. An indicator element 92 is integrally attached or formed at the proximal end 104 and the opposite distant end 100 is positioned in proximity to a bellows assembly 34. Each of the support portions 148, 152, are designed to allow axial movement of the arrow member 96 therethrough. Thin-band-like spring members 190 are wound helically around a substantial portion of the cylindrical shaft member 96 between the lower and upper support portions 148, 152, the spring member that is fixedly attached to the arrow member adjacent to the portion of upper support and the zero adjustment member 180 adjacent to the upper lower support portion. As the above embodiment, the spring member 190 is fabricated from a thin band of a suitable material, such as, copper, beryllium. The spring member 190 may be joined by welding 194 at either end 192 of the arrow member 96 and the interior of the zero adjustment member 180, respectively, alternatively, the ends of the spring member 190 may be joined in a manner similar to that described in the above embodiment to allow the spring member to articulate or pivot during row movement of the arrow member 96. The zero adjustment member 180 is dimensioned to retain the arrow member 96 in the opening of the adjusting screw 170 with the lower circular support surface 186 that provides the point of contact against the outside thereof. The upper support portion 148 includes a similar support surface 166 located within the opening 164 that guides and supports the arrow member 96 for displacement along a predominantly axial path as indicated along the vertical direction 99, Figure 3. The operation of the movement mechanism is described as follows. When the air pressure is applied to the interior of the inflatable bladder component 38, the upper support surface 54 bears against the distal end 100 of the arrow member 96., causing the arrow to move. Since the lower end of the spring member 190 is fixed to the stationary zero adjusting member 180, the spring member is forced to extend (unwind) in an axial direction. In doing so, the arrow member 96 is also forced to rotate in the clockwise direction, in accordance with this mode, and the attached indicator element 92 is displaced circumferentially relative to the indicator portion 85 of the graduated disk face 84. The adjustment of the zero adjustment members 180 is achieved by rotation relative to the sweep adjustment screw 170. The rotation of the zero adjustment member 180 also rotates the arrow member 96, allowing the zero circumferential position of the indicator element 92 to be fixed relative to the indicator portion of the graduated disk face 84. The rotation of the sweep adjusting screw 170 changes the effective overall or axial length of the spring member 190. The change in effective axial length of the spring member 190 changes the amount of torsional movement effected by a given axial movement of the arrow member 96. The sweep adjusting screw 170 fixed in this way l to sensitivity of the indicator element 92 or, in other words, the amount of circumferential indicator movement relative to the recorded disc face 84. Because the scanning calibration mechanism is used which also affects the zero position of the indicator element 92 , the zero calibration member 180 must be reset after a sweep adjustment has been made. Although the present invention has been described in terms of a pair of specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations are possible using the concepts described herein that are within the intended scope of the invention in accordance with the appended claims. For example, the zero adjustment number 180 and / or the sweep adjustment screw 170 in the above embodiment should be moved towards the upper support portion as opposed to the lower support portion to allow calibration without significant disassembly of the housing of the housing. measuring device 140.

Claims (57)

1. CLAIMS 1. A movement mechanism comprising: an arrow member having opposite first and second ends and a defined axis between the first and second ends; and axial displacement means for moving the first end of the arrow member in an axial direction; the mechanism which is characterized by: at least one spring member positioned coaxially with respect to the axis of the arrow member, the spring member being attached to an intermediate portion of the arrow member and attached at an end opposite a support, wherein the displacement means causes the arrow member to move in the axial direction, the spring member flexes and the spring member rotates.
2. 2. The movement mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized by displacement adjustment means for adjusting the amount of rotation of the arrow member for a given axial translation thereof.
3. 3. The movement mechanism according to claim 2, further characterized in that the spring member has an initial predetermined axial length when attached at each end to the arrow member and the support, the displacement adjustment means that are capable of of varying the predetermined axial length to vary the amount of rotation of the arrow member for a given axial displacement.
4. 4. The movement mechanism according to claim 3, further characterized in that the displacement adjustment means include means for axially displacing one of the support and arrow member to vary the initial predetermined axial length of the spring member.
5. 5. The movement mechanism according to claim 4, further characterized in that the displacement adjustment means are positioned coaxially relative to the axis of the arrow member.
6. The movement mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that the first end of said arrow member is positioned adjacent to the movement means, the arrow member that is held to allow axial movement to the movement of said members of displacement.
7. 7. The mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that the indicating means for indicating the amount of rotation of the arrow member.
8. The movement mechanism according to claim 7, further characterized in that the indicator means includes an indicator attached to the second end of the arrow member, the indicator being capable, of circumferential movements during the rotation of the arrow member.
9. The movement mechanism according to claim 8, further characterized by rotary position adjusting means for selectively adjusting the rotational position of the arrow member to a predetermined position.
10. The movement mechanism according to claim 9, further characterized in that the indicator means includes a graduated disc face having indicia, the rotary position adjusting means allowing the circumferential position of the indicator to be adjusted to a position reference located on the face of the graduated disc.
11. 11. The movement mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized by means for joining the ends of the. spring member to the support and such an arrow member, the means allow articulation and spring members during axial translation and rotation of arrow member.
12. The movement mechanism according to claim 11, further characterized in that at least one spring member includes attachment holes at each end thereof, such holes having diameters that are oversized relative to the coupling members that are extend from the arrow member and the support.
13. 13. The movement mechanism according to claim 12, further characterized in that the coupling members are cylindrical pins extending from each of the arrow member and the support.
14. The movement mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that the spring member is a thin band wound helically around a portion of such an arrow member.
15. The movement mechanism according to claim 9, further characterized in that the rotary portion adjusting means and the displacement adjustment means are coaxial with the shaft member axis.
16. The movement mechanism according to claim 9, further characterized in that the rotary portion adjustment means includes at least one adjustment member having an aperture sized to engage the arrow member, at least one adjustment member which is rotatable to rotate simultaneously the arrow member and the support.
17. The movement mechanism according to claim 14, further characterized in that the spring member is made from beryllium copper.
18. 18. A mechanism for use in a measuring device, the device comprising a housing, displacement means positioned within the housing and indicating means responsive to the movement means to indicate a change in the parametric value based on the movement of the means of movement. displacement, the mechanism of movement that includes: an arrow member placed in the "accommodation between the indicating means and the displacement means, the arrow member having first a second opposite end defining an axis between them, and characterized in that: at least one spring member positioned coaxially with respect to the arrow shaft member, the spring member having a first end attached to the arrow member and a second end attached to the support, wherein the displacement means cause the member of arrow is translated along the arrow axis, the spring member flexes and the arrow member rotates.
19. The mechanism according to claim 18, further characterized by displacement adjustment means for adjusting the amount of rotation of the arrow member for a given axial translation thereof.
20. 20. The mechanism according to claim 19, further characterized in that the spring member has a predetermined axial length when joined at each end of the arrow member and the support, such displacement adjustment means are capable of varying the predetermined axial length for vary the amount of rotation of the arrow member for a given axial displacement.
21. 21. The mechanism according to claim 20, characterized in that further such displacement adjustment means include means for axially displacing one of the support and the arrow member to vary the initial predetermined axial length of the spring member.
22. 22. The mechanism according to claim 21, further characterized in that the displacement adjustment means are arranged coaxially with respect to the axis between the ends of the arrow member.
23. 23. The mechanism according to claim 18, further characterized in that the first end of the arrow member is positioned adjacent to the displacement means, the arrow member is held to allow axial movement on the axial movement by the displacement means. .
24. 24. The mechanism according to claim 18, further characterized by indicating means for indicating the amount of rotation of the arrow member:
25. 25. The mechanism according to claim 24, further characterized in that the indicating means includes an indicator attached to the second end of the Arrow member, the indicator that is capable of circumferential movement during rotation of the arrow member.
26. 26. The mechanism according to claim 25, further characterized by means of rotating position adjustment for selectively adjusting the rotational position of the arrow member to a predetermined position.
27. 27. The mechanism according to claim 26, further characterized in that the indicating means further includes a graduated disc face having indicia, the rotary position adjusting means allows the circumferential position of the indicator to be adjusted to a reference position. in relation to the face of the graduated disc.
28. 28. The mechanism according to claim 18, further characterized by means for joining the ends of at least one spring member to the support and the arrow member, such means allow the articulation of one end of the attached spring member during the axial translation and rotation of the arrow member.
29. 29. The mechanism according to claim 28, further characterized in that at least one spring member includes attachment holes at each end thereof, such holes having diameters that are oversized relative to the coupling members extending from such arrow member and such support.
30. 30. The mechanism according to claim 29, further characterized in that the coupling members are cylindrical pins extending from each of the arrow member and the support.
31. 31. The mechanism according to claim 18, further characterized in that the spring member is a thin band helically wound around the arrow member.
32. 32. The mechanism according to claim 26, further characterized in that the rotational position adjusting means and the displacement adjustment means are located coaxially along the axis between the ends of the arrow member.
33. 33. The mechanism according to claim 26, further characterized in that the rotational position adjusting means includes at least one adjustment member having an aperture sized to engage the arrow member, at least one adjustment member that is rotating to rotate simultaneously the arrow member and the support.
34. 34. The mechanism as described in claim 31, further characterized in that the spring member is fabricated from a thin section of beryllium copper.
35. 35. The mechanism according to claim 32, further characterized in that the arrow is retained in a support having an opening to allow axial translation thereof.
36. 36. The mechanism according to claim 35, further characterized in that the displacement adjustment means includes an adjustment member attached to the support through the opening, the member having an opening for receiving the arrow.
37. 37. The mechanism according to claim 36, further characterized in that the opening and the adjustment member can include corresponding threads to allow the adjustment member to rotate to force a change in the predetermined axial distance between the ends of the spring member.
38. 38. A mechanism for a blood pressure gauge, the gauge including a bellows assembly containing a movable member positioned at one end of an inner housing, and a disc-indicating face graduated on an opposite side of the inner housing, the mechanism comprising : an arrow member having a first end in contact with the bellows assembly and a second opposite end having an indicator attached thereto adjacent to the markings on the dial indicator face, the first and second ends defining an axis; and characterized by: a spring member positioned coaxially along the axis defined by the ends of the arrow member, the spring member having a first end joined to an intermediate portion of the arrow member and a second end attached to a support , wherein the movement of the movable member of the bellows assembly causes the arrow member to move in an axial direction, the spring member to flex and the arrow member to rotate to allow the indicator to move circumferentially relative to the face of graduated disc.
39. 39. The mechanism according to claim 38, further characterized by adjustment and displacement means for adjusting the amount of rotation of the arrow member for a given axial translation thereof.
40. 40. The mechanism according to claim 38, further characterized in that the spring member has a predetermined axial length when the displacement adjustment means allowing selective variation of the axial length is attached at each end to the arrow member and the support. predetermined to change the amount of circumferential movement of the indicator relative to the graduated disc face for a given axial translation of the arrow member.
41. 41. The mechanism according to claim 40, further characterized in that the adjustment and displacement means include means for axially displacing one of the support and the arrow support member to vary the initial predetermined length of the spring member.
42. 42. The mechanism according to claim 41, further characterized in that said displacement adjustment means are positioned coaxially with respect to the axis between the ends of the arrow member.
43. 43. The mechanism according to claim 42, further characterized in that the displacement adjustment means includes a rotatable member engageable with the support, wherein the rotation of the member varies the predetermined axial length of the spring member.
44. 44. The mechanism according to claim 43, further characterized in that the graduated disc face includes an opening, the rotating member that is accessible through the opening.
45. 45. The mechanism according to claim 41, further characterized by means of rotating position adjustment for selectively adjusting the circumferential position of the indicator relative to the face of the graduated disc.
46. 46. The mechanism according to claim 38, further characterized by means for joining the ends of the spring member to the support and the arrow member, such means allow the articulation of such ends during axial translation and rotation of the arrow member. .
47. 47. The mechanism according to claim 46, further characterized in that the spring member includes attachment holes at each end, such holes having diameters that are oversized relative to the coupling members extending from the arrow member and the support.
48. 48. The mechanism according to claim 47, further characterized in that the coupling members are cylindrical pins.
49. 49. The mechanism according to claim 48, further characterized in that such rotary portion adjusting means and displacement adjusting means are aligned coaxially with the axis defined between the ends of the arrow member.
50. 50. The mechanism according to claim 49, further characterized in that the rotational position adjusting means and the displacement adjustment means include an internal member and an external rotatable member coaxially attached to the holder, wherein the rotation of the internal element affects the circumferential movement of the indicator and the rotation of the external element. affects the movement of a spring end to cause variation in the predetermined axial length of the spring member.
51. 51. The mechanism according to claim 50, further characterized in that the graduated disc face has an opening that allows the portion of the internal and external rotating elements to extend therethrough to access said elements.
52. 52. The mechanism according to claim 51, further characterized in that the support includes a threaded opening that allows engagement by a threaded portion of the external rotating element.
53. 53. The mechanism according to claim 52, further characterized by means for providing a frictional load to the threaded portion of the external rotating member.
54. 54. The mechanism according to claim 53, further characterized in that the friction means include at least one O-ring inserted between the threaded portion and the support opening.
55. 55. The mechanism according to claim 38, further characterized in that the spring member is made from a thin section that is wound helically about the axis defined between the ends of the arrow member.
56. 56. The mechanism according to claim 55, further characterized in that the spring member is made from beryllium copper.
57. 57. A method for calibrating a measuring device, the measuring device including displacement means positioned on one side of an inner housing, a graduated disc indicating face positioned on an opposite side of said inner housing, and a movement mechanism placed therebetween, the movement mechanism comprising an axially movable arrow member held in the inner housing, of the arrow member having a first end positioned adjacent to the movement means and a second end including an indicator adjacent to the face Indicator disc graduated, and characterized by a spring member attached to one end of the arrow member and an end opposite a support, the method including the steps of: presetting the axial distance between the spring ends when they join the axially movable shaft and support to a predetermined axial length to affect the amount of rotation of the indicator for a given movement of the movement means; and rotate the arrow and the support to align the indicator to a null position relative to the indicator face of the graduated disc.