US1787275A - Unicontrol apparatus for radio receiving sets - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1930. L. L. JONES UNI-CONTROL APPARATUS FOR RADIO RECEIVING SETS Filed June 23, 1924 3 INVENTOR Lesier Ldones fjz firw ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 30, l93

LESTER L. JONES, OF ORADELL, NEW JERSEY.

UNICONTROL APPARATUS FOR RADIO RECEIVING SETS Application filed June 23,

This invention relates to a radio receiving set, and has special reference to the provision of an apparatus for controlling the adjustable units of a radio receiving set for tuning the a same.

A prime desideratum of my present invention comprehends the provision of a control apparatus for radio receiving sets constructed and designed for mechanically coupling the tuning units of the set for simultaneously adjusting and operating the tuning units from one control handle and for mechanically uncoupling the tuning units to permit inde-' pendent adjustment and operation of the units from separate control handles.

In tuned radio receiving systems having one or more steps of radio frequency amplification, there are provided a number of units which are independently adjustable for tuning the cascaded circuits of the system to a given frequency or wave length; and when a plurality of steps of radio frequency amplification are employed, there are provided three or more units which have to be independently adjusted by operating three or more dials for tuningthe set. This method of tuning is disadvantageous, and for rapid and convenient tuning of the set it is highly Y desirable to simultaneously adjust and operate all the units from a single control handle.

In the tuned radio receiving system of my invention as disclosed and claimed for example in my co ending application Ser. No. 716,124, filed ay 27, 1924, the system is so designed and constructed that each of the tuning elements tunes in like manner practically degree for degree over the whole wave length range, rendering possible simultaneous adjustment of all of the units. It is desirable, however, after approximate settings of the unit are obtained, to adjust the units independently for sensitive and accurate tuning purposes. The provision of an apparatus constructed for mechanically coupling and uncoupling the tuning units to permit of this simultaneous and independent operation of the same is a prime object of my present invention.

When a given approximate or accurate setting of the dials has been obtained, it is highly set showing my invention applied thereto,

1924. Serial No. 721,628.

desirable, when the mechanical coupling or uncoupling of the tuning elements is effected,

to prevent or minimize any disturbance to or modification of the setting already obtained.

It is therefore a further principal object of my present invention to provide a control mechanism of the nature referred to in which the units may be linked and unlinked with a minimum disturbance or change of any previous setting obtained.

Other prime objects of the present invention include the provision of a control apparatus for radio receiving sets in which the means for coupling the units together includes a frictional or flexible connection, the tension on which is adjusted for producing the coupling and uncoupling of the units; the further provision of a control apparatus of this nature in which the flexible coupling means is so connected to the units as to produce substantially balanced thrusts on the operating shafts of the units, this to minimize any change in a previous setting of the dial; and the further provision of a control apparatus in which the construction permits of a great flexibility and convenience of operation, while being of an inexpensive and comparatively simple structural design.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter more particularly described and sought to be defined in the claims; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of my invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a radio receiving Fig. 2 is a view of the control apparatus taken in cross-section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1,

Fi 3 is a view showing the method of inter inking the tuning elements, and

Fig. 4 is a view showing the modified 05 method of inter-linking the tuning elements.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, and having particular reference to Fig. 1 thereof, the control system of my present invention is shown applied to a radio receiv- 10o or dials 18, 19 and The tuning units 10,?

11 and 12 are merely shown herein for diagrammatic purposes, the constructional features thereof being disclosed and claimed in my k 614,404, filed Jan. 23, 1923. It will be un-' derstood that while I have shown my control apparatus applied to the radio IGCQIY- ing set embodying the tunable elements 10,

11 and 12 of my invention, that this has been shown merely for purposes-of illustration, and not by way of limitation, the control apparatus of myinvention being applicable to similar radio receiving sets. I i

I To obtain the results heretofore mentioned, the control apparatus in its preferred form includes means for flexibly connecting the control units 10, 11 and 12,-the said flexible connecting means being mechanically coupled to and uncoupled from the units: at will; and 'more specifically, the preferred construction comprises a flexible connection such as a cord or belt interlinking the units and means for tightening and releasing the tension on the flexible connecting means for effecting the coupling and uncoupling of the units. For simplicity of construction and operation, the linking means comprises the rotative elements such as the pulleys or belt wheels 21, 22 and 23 fixed to the operating shafts 15, 16 and 17,and the flexible connect-i ing means in the form of a belt or cord 24 joining the pulleys 21, 22 and 23, the tension on the connecting means 24 being made-adjustable for coupling and uncoupling the ulleys by meaiis to be described presently. he pulleys 21, 22 and 23 are preferably made of large diameters so that a given amount of stretch in the cord or belt 24 produces a minimum angular rotation of the tuning units, and the cord 24 is preferably of a non-stretchable character, and preferably consists of fish line, commercially known as Irish linen cuttyhunk, which has a suitable.

been found in practice to be very forthe purpose intended;

eisgheretofore mentioned, a 'desideratum of'theinvention resides in the provision of a control mechanism in which the coupling and uncoupling of the units may be obtained without introducing any disturbance or modification of a setting of the tuning units previously obtained, and to this end the control apparatus is designed so that when the tension on the flexible connecting means or cord 24 is varied, substantially balanced and neutralizing thrusts on the opcope'nding application Ser. No.

,erating shafts 15 to 17 are produced, with vleys 21 and 23, the construction bein suchthat the end thrusts due to the 'tensioning of the cord 24 are taken up by the supporting pulleys 2e and 26,, while the engaging thrusts on the pulleys 21 and 23 are in substantially equal and opposite directions, pre; venting any radial unbalancing of the shafts 15 and.17. The flexible connecting means preferably links the pulleys 21, 22 and 23 in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 2 to 4 of the drawings, the upperbight 24a of the cord connecting the end operating pulleys 21 and 23, and the lower bight 24b of the cord connecting the end operating pulleys 21 and 23 to the intermediate pulley 22, the cord being looped about the intermediate pulley producing the loop 240. hFor increasing or releasing the tension on t e vided, and in the preferred construction the end supporting pulley,25.is made adjustable, the said pulley being to this end eccentrically fixed toa spindle 27 journalled in a supporting bracket'28 and in the anel 13, the said spindle being provided Wit 1 a control handle at its front end adjustable from the front of the panel. With thisconstru'ction it will be obvious that, rotation of the handle 29 'release the tension to efiedt the uncoupling of the units. With thecordage system provided, it will be furthermore seen that when the tension on the cord 24 is increased, no unbalancing thrusts will be produced on the central operating shaft 16 due to the forces thereon being in equal and opposite d irec-'f tions. a T

For purposes of taking up the normal stretch of the cord, the pulley 26 may be adjustably mounted, and to this end I provide a supporting arm 30 carrying the pulley 26, the said supporting arm being pivoted at 31 on one of the corner posts of the variotransformer 12 and fastened adjustably through the slot 32 on an adjacent corner post.

. In Fig. 4, of the drawings Ishow a mod!- fied manner of interlinking the rotative' elements on the tuning units, loops being producedin the end operating pulleys as well as in the intermediate operating pulley, the flexible connecting means 33 having a bight cord 24, any suitable means may be pro-' 33a which connects the end operating pulleys together by means of the loops 33d and 336 produced about the pulleys and the lower bight 33b connecting the end pulleys to the intermediate pulley by means of the loop 330 produced in the intermediate pulley. With this construction, as with the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that when the tension on the cord is increased or tightened, there are produced approximately equal and opposing and hence neutralizing rotative forces on the intermediate unit. In the construction shown in Fig. 4, such adjustment of the tension on the cord will produce equal and opposite rotation of the end units, the variation being thereforein opposite directions of the mean so that a minimum amount of detuning of the units is produced; While in the arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and'3, there are equal and opposing tensioning pulls on both of the end units so that these as well as the intermediate unit remain practically stationary when the units are coupled together. i

The use and operation of the control apparatus of my invention will in the main be fully apparent from the above detailed description thereof. It will be apparent that for obtaining an approximate setting of all the units from one. control handle, the lever 29 is moved to increase the tension-on the cording system, and upon operation of the central dial or control handle 19. all of the units will be moved in unison; and that after shafts will be produced, the large diameter pulleys, the non-stretchable cord, the firm support of the end supporting pulleys and the manner of cording the pulleys contributing towards these results.

While I have shown my invention in its preferred form, it will be apparent that many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

Iclaim: V

1. In an apparatus of the class described. a plurality of tuning units. each provided with a separatecontrol handle or dial. a fiexble connection means between the units for mechanically coupling the units for simultaneous ad ustment and means for mechanically uncoupling the units to permit independent adjustment by the operation of the separate control handles.

2. In an apparatus of the class described,

with a separate control handle or dial, means for flexibly connecting the units, and means for tightening and releasing the tension on sa'idfiexible connecting means formechanically coupling the units for simultaneous adjustment and for mechanically uncoupling the units for independent adjustment.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of adjustable units each provided with a rotative element and a control handle, a flexible connection means between the rotative elements for mechanically coupling the units for simultaneous adjustment and mechanism for mechanically uncoupling the said means from the plurality of units simultaneously to permit independentadjustment by the operation of the separate control handles.

at. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of adjustable units each provided with an operating shaft and a control handle or dial, a pulley on each shaft, a cord or belt connecting the pulleys for mechanically coupling the units for simultaneous adjustment and means for mechanicallyuncoupling the units to permit independent adjustment by the operation of the separate control handles.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of adjustable units each provided with an operating shaft and a control handle or dial, a pulley on each shaft, a cord connecting the pulleys and means for tightening and loosening the tension on the cord for mechanically coupling the units for simultaneous adjustment by the operation of one of the control handles and for mechanically uncoupling the units to permit independent adjustment by the operation of the separate control handles.

6; In an apparatus of the class described. a plurality of adjustable units each provided with an operating shaft having a rotative element thereon, pulley and belt means connecting said rotative elements for simultaneous operation, and mechanism for uncoupling and coupling said connecting means to the rotative elements, the said means being connected to each rotative element-so as to pro duce substantially balanced thrusts on each of the operating shafts when the said means is coupled to the rotative elements.

7. In aradio receiving system, a plurality of tuning units each provided with an operating shaft, a pulley on each shaft. end pulleys,

a cord or belt linking the said pulleys and the end pulleys, the end pulleys acting for supporting the end thrusts of said cord, and means for adjusting one of the end pulleys to tighten or loosen the tension on said cord.

8. In a radio receivingsystem, a plurality of tuning units each provided with an operating shaft, an operating pulley on each shaft, end pulleys, a cord or belt linking the said operatlng pulleys and the end pulleys, the end pulleys acting for supporting the end thrusts of said cord, and means for adjusting one of the end pulleys to increase or release the tension on said cord, the cord being connected to the operating pulleys so as to produce balanced thrusts on said operating shafts when the tension of the cord is increased.

9. In a radio receiving system, a system of three adjustable tuning units each provided with an operating shaft having a rotative ele ment thereon, flexible connecting means linking the rotative elements for simultaneous operation, one run of the said connecting means connecting the end rotative elements and the opposite run thereof connecting the end to the intermediate rotative elements and looped about the intermediate element, and mechanism for couplingiand uncoupling said connecting means to the rotative v elements. 10. In an apparatus of the class described,

a system ofthree adjustable units each provided with an operating shaft having a rotative element thereon, and a flexible connecting means linking the rotative elements for simultaneous operation, the said connecting means being arranged for frictionally engaging the end rotative elements at opposite sides thereof, one run of the said means connecting the end rotative elements and the opposite run thereof connecting the end to the intermediate rotative element and looped about the intermediate element, supporting means for the connecting means arranged at opposite ends of the system, and cam means- 36 for adjusting oneof said end supporting means to increase or release the tension on the connecting means. v p 11. A unit control for a plurality of variable circuit elements comprising a plurality 40 of individually adjustable variable circuit elements, each provided with an operating shaft, a pulley on each of said shafts and belt connecting means between said elements, said pulley and belt connecting means being constructcd to impart simultaneous movement to said elements and means loosening the drive connection for permitting individual adjustment of each of said element.

12. A control for a plurality of variable circuit elements comprising a plurality of individually adjustable circuit elements each provided with an operating shaft, a pulley on each of said shafts and a flexible drive connection means joining said pulleys constrlu-ted to impart simultaneous movement of saidi-elements for a uni-control thereof, and means for individually adjusting each of said elements relatively to said drive connec tion means. Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 21st day of June, A. D. 1924.

LESTER l3. JONES.

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