US1498985A

US1498985A - Dial for instruments

Info

Publication number: US1498985A
Application number: US647999A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry R Van Deventer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1923-06-27
Filing date: 1923-06-27
Publication date: 1924-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 1941-06-24

Description

June 24-, 1924. 1,498,985

H. R. VAN DEVENTER DIAL FOR INSTRUMENTS Filed Jpne 27, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 24 1924.

H. R. VAN DEVENTER DIAL FOR INSTRUMENTS Filed June 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 "a to W /RWM Ja /3%,

Ti? m V Patented dune 2d, 124.

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DIAL FOB INSTRUMENTS.

- Application filed- June 27, 1923. Serial No. 647,999.

as commonly employed on electrical instruments for manually adjusting the same. Such dials are employed with radio apparatus, particularly radio receiving sets, for adjusting variometers, variable condensers, rheostats and the like.

In radio apparatus and apparatus for other purposes, it is customary to mount devices such as rheostats or condensers in the rear of a panel or mounting plate, through which the shaft of the device projects. On the outer end of the shaft is placed the combination knob and dial for the urpose of adjusting the device, and indicating by means of suitable graduations on the dial or adjacent thereto, the adjusted position of the device.

It is obvious that in some cases the dial device must rotate from left to right, while in others it is necessary that the rotation be from right to left. This has in the past necessitated the manufacture of dials reading both right and left-handed, which means that a dealer must carry in stock many more dials than would be necessary if a single dial would serve for devices rotating in either direction.

Another dificultyheretofore met with has been to properly secure the knob and dial to the shaft of the device. When set screws or the like are used for this purpose, the results are unsatisfactory, the screws causing burrs on the shaft which make adjustment dificult, besides causing the knobs (usually made of molded material) to split unless provided with metallic inserts which 1 are an added expense.

This invention has for its object the provision of a dial adapted for either right or left-handed rotation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for clamping the dial and knob' upon a shaft.

Another object is to provide a dial in which the metal parts thereof act as a static shield when the dial is used with electrical as indicated by the numeral 4. this to be the left-hand side'of the disc,

condensers or the like, and a .still further object is to provide a combination knob and dial in which the attaching screw may be completely surrounded by insulating ma- Q terial so that it cannot be touched by the hand, when the knob is grasped.

-A further object is to provide apparatus having a knob, with a separable front forming a name plate, and a dial also having a separable front which, by being reversed, adapts the indicia thereon for either right or left-hand rotation of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front view of a combination knob and dial complete except the screw cover or name plate, and arranged for lefthand rotation;

Figure 2 is the same dial as in Figure 1 except arranged for right-hand rotation;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the dial of Figure 1, with the screw cover or name plate in place;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the dial of Figure 1; y

Figure 5 is a front view of the dial of Figure 2 with a modified form of screw cover in place;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the dial of Figure 5 and also shows a slightly difierent member preferably made of metal. Upon W the sloping surface 2 of this member suitable graduations or other indicia as shown in the figures may be embossed or marked in any suitable manner. The member 1 is further provided with a circular de ression mi in which is placed the separable out or number disc 3. This disc is provided on one side with a set of numerals or other indicia Assuming the numbers would readfrom left to right, as shown in Figure 1. On the back of the disc, the numbers would read from ri ht to left as'indicated b the numeral 5, i re 2, thus adaptin rotation. Mem ers 1 and 3 may said to comprise adial having a separable front.

t e disc for ri ht-hand m It will now be observed that by placing disc 3 on top of the member 1 that a dial is provided having graduations on its outer edge and with numerals or other indicia reading either right or left-handed, as tie-- sired.

The members 1 and 3 being nlaced upon each other as described, a knob 6 of suitable insulating material is placed with its central boss 7 projecting through the central apertures provided in members 1 and 3, and the locking screw 8 is placed through a hole in the knob as shown, and engages the looking member 9.

The complete assembly may now be placed upon the shaft 10 and secured thereto by tightening screw 8. This pulls the locking member 9 sideways upon the shaft, which is tightly gripped. The screw 8holds the assembly consisting of knob 6 and the mem bers 1 and 3 together, or if desired, auxiliary screws 11 and 12 ma be used to attach the members 1 and 3 to the knob 6 independently of the screw 8. Y

The locking member 9 is raised suficiently from the lower surface of the member 1 to prevent pulling the knob and dial assembly sideways by providing some means, such as the projection 13 which will raise the outer or free end of the lockin member 9 so that the said member, when in its tightened osition, will tightly grip the shaft 10 at substantially right angles thereto.

After the knob and dial have been attached to the shaft 10, it is desirable to close the opening 14 in the end of the knob. This is accomplished by providing the screw cover or name plate 15 which may be of metal, celluloid, or any other suitable material, and which is simply pressed into the depression 14 in the knob, as shown in Figure 3. The name plate 15 may be reversible.

The knob 6 and plate 15 may be said to comprise a knob having a separable front.

An alternate arrangement is shown in Figures 5 and 6 in which the screw cover 15 consists of a fiat piece of material held in position by means of the spring ring 16. I consider these methods of covering'the screw 8 of importance for it prevents the possibility of the hand making contact with the screw 8, which is undesirable, and also,

the screw covers may form the name plate and being arranged in the manner shown, a ready means of changing the name plates is provided which is of extreme importance to a manufacturer supplying a large number of concerns, each of whom desires the dials with their own name plate. Heretofore it has been necessary to furnish aseparate and complete dial for each customer or make up some part of thedial special in each case, whereas with the arrangement shown, the customers name plate formed by the member 15 may be put on the dial at any time.

neeeeee In Figure 6 l have shown a modified tion the locking member in relation to the shaft. By providing the screw 20 as well as the screw 8, the knob 6 may be very securely attached to the dial members land 3 which in the case of large and heavy dials and knobs is preferable.

I claim:v

1. Apparatus embodying a knob having a separable front and a dial having a separable front supported by said dial connected to said knob and supported thereb 2. Apparatus embodyin a limb and a dial havi a separable ont, and means securing said knob and dial together.

3. Apparatus embodying a Mob, a dial supported thereby and having a separable front with indicia on both sides thereof.

4. Apparatus embodying a hob, a dial member secured thereto and having indicia marked thereon, and a disc ada ted to overlie said dial member having in icia on both sides thereof whereby said ap aratus may be adapted to indicate either rig t or left-hand rotation.

5. Apparatus embodying a ob and a circular disc-like member forming a dial having indicia thereon supported by said hob a reversible disc ada ted to overlie said dial and rovided with lndicia ada ted to cooperate with said first mentioned in ioia for the pur ose set forth.

6. In com ination, a shaft, a hob, means for securing the knob to the shaft and a reversible name plate mounted upon said knob and concealing said securing means.

7. In comblnation, a shaft, a knob and dial mounted thereon and means ada ted to secure said knob and dial together 1n relative osition and attach them to said shaft.

8. ln combination, a shaft, a dial carried thereby, a knob mounted upon said shaft,

means carried by said dial for changing the indicia thereon, and common means for secfirifrt g all of the foregoing parts to said s a 9. In combination, a shaft a knob mounted thereon, a dial having indicia thereon and secured to said knob, means for changin said indicia to read in either direction, an means for securing said knob and dial to said shaft.

10. In combination, a aft, a mob mounted thereon, a dial having indicia thereon secured to said knob, means for changing said means.

11. In combination, a shaft, a knob mounted thereon, a dial adapted to move with said knob, an apertured member on said shaft and a screw passing thro ugh said knob and dial and engaging said member whereby all of said parts are secured to said shaft, substantially as described.

12. A combination knob and dial for instruments embodying a part adapted to be reversed for the purpose of indicating rotation in either direction. v

- In testimon whereof I afiix my signature.

HAR Y R. VAN DEVENTER.