US1801663A - Radio indicating device - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1931.-

E. GFDANIELSON I 1,801,663 RADIO INDIQATING DEVI JE Filed July. 22. 1929 INVENTOR." Ernesfflam'sbon A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST G. DANIELSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO GRAY- &

DANIELSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCQ, CALIFORNIA; A CO- PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING F ERNEST Gr. DANIELSON AND THOIIIAS B. GRAY RADIO InnIcA'rING DEVICE Applicationfiled July 22;

increase the visibility and ease of operation of radio indicating devices whereby the tuning instrument of a radio setcan be quickly and accurately set for reception of any desired station.

It is a further object of this invention to devise an indicating device of the above character which will enable an operator to adjust a radio set according to the call letters of any desired station, as well as according to the wave length or frequency of operation.

It is a further object of this invention to devise a radio indicating device which can be adjusted according to the call letters of the different stations, and which'can be readily modified in case of a shift in the wave length assignments to different broadcast stations, or in order to adapt a given radio set to different localities.

It is a further object of this invention to devise a radio indicating device having substantially full visibility of wave lengths or frequency graduations and also of the call letters of the principal nearby stations, whereby an operator can turn directly to the station r uired,

It is a rther object of this invention to secure an illuminating effect for a radio indicating device, whereby better visibility is afforded for the markings upon the dial or other indicating members.

Further ob'ects of the invention will appear from the following description in which I have set forth the preferred embodiment of my invention. It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent with the state of the prior art.

Referring to the drawing: 4

Figure 1 is a front view illustrating the panel of a radio receiving set together with an indicating device corresponding to that of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

1929. Serial 11.. 379,917.

tions are made with the variable tuning instrument of the radio set, whereby when the instrument isadjusted for different wave lengths or different frequencies of operation,

relative movement occurs between the pointer and the graduated member. Thus referring to the drawing, I have illustrated a panel 11, which corresponds to the front wall of a radio receiving set. The variable tuning instrument incorporated in the radio receiving set has not been illustrated in the drawing but can be a variable condenser, or equivalent variable tuning reactance. As a movable member for changing the adjustment of the tuning instrument, I have shown a rotatable control shaft 12, suitably supported and journalled by means of bracket 13. Shaft 12 can be directly connected to the tuning instrument, or can be connected by motion reducing mechanism represented in part by a pinion 14. I prefer that shaft 12 extend substantially normal or perpendicular to the instrument panel 11.

As representative means for manually rotating shaft 12, I have shown another shaft 16 projecting through the instrument panel 11, and having a suitable control knob 17 connected to its forward end. To provide a convenient mechanical-oonection between shafts 16 and 12, a collar or hub 15 is fixed to shaft 12, and carries a driving "disc 18. The edge of disc 18 is frictionally engaged between collars 19 and 21 mounted u on shaft 16. Collar 19 is fixed to shaft 16, w 'le collar 21 is slidable thereon, and is urged against disc 18 by means of a compression spring 22. The inner end portion of shaft 16is shown journalled in bracket13, while the outer portion can be journalled in panel 11, or in a finishing or escutcheon plate 23 which can be provided over the front face of panel 11.

In order to set shaft 12 to any predetermined position with precision and accuracy, I have shown a member 24, carrying graduations 26. While the form of member 24 may vary within the scope of my invention, it is preferably in the form of a circular disc with the graduations 26 arranged upon the peripheral edge portions of the same. I also prefer to expose substantially the entire surface of dial 24 to view from the front of the panel, and therefore the escutcheon plate 23 is provided with an opening 27, which is only slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of dial 24. As previously mentioned, the graduations of dial 24 cooperate with a pointer or equivalent means, and since the dial is pre ferably rotatable corresponding to rotative movement of shaft 12, I have shown a pointer 28 which is mounted relatively stationary .upon the escutcheon plate 23. This pointer closely overlies the peripheral edge portion of disc 24, to facilitate its use in connection with graduations 26.

In order to rotate dial 24 according to rotation of shaft 12, a shell or cup-shaped member 29 is fixed upon hub 15, and the forward edge or lip 31 of this member is secured to the peripheral portion of disc 24, as by means of flanged ring 32. In this manner shell 29 and disc 24 form a hollow drum having two substantially parallel plane faces.

In addition to the dial 24 I also preferably employ a member 33, having call letters 34 marked thereon. In its preferred form member 33 is also a disc but is smaller in diameter than disc 24, so as not to overlie the graduations 26. For a reason which will be presently explained, disc 33 is preferably removable from disc 24, and to facilitate its ready removal, it is held in place by a thumb nut 35 threaded upon a stud 36. Stud 36 is suitably fixed to the center of disc 24. Pointer 28 also overlies a portion of disc 33, so that an operator can either determine the posit-ion of shaft 12 by noting graduations 26 with reference to pointer 28, or by bringing any one of the call letters 34 beneath pointer 28.

In order to secure a novel illuminating effect, I preferably form dial 24 of translucent material, as for example pyroxyline, which is not'entirely transparent but which will transmit a certain amount of light. Dial 33 is also formed of suitable material which will transmit light, such as pyroxyline, translucent material being preferred.

In order to illuminate both the dials 24 and 33, a source of light is provided behind the instrument panel 11. For example, a

lamp socket 41 is mounted within the shell 29, connected to a source of current by flexible leads which are of sufficient length to allow rotation of the shell or drum through approximately 360 and a small electric lamp 42 is positioned within this socket. Vhcn arranged in this manner, the lamp 42 rotates together with shaft 12, and shell 29 serves as a light reflector and reflects light thru the dials 24 and and \Vhen my device is in use the radio set is equipped with a dial 33, having call letters marked thereon corresponding to the principal stations which can be received by the set in that particular locality These call letters are properly spaced so that when an operator tunes in a given station and then shifts dial 33 with respect to dial 24, until the call letter corresponding to this station is laced under pointer 28, all of the other calI letters will bring in the corresponding station when control knob 17 is turned to bring these letters in turn under pointer 28. Accurate and precise adjustment can be effected by noting graduations 26. The illuminated effect afforded by the translucent dials is decidedly different from indicating devices of the prior art. Both dials as viewed from the front of the panel appear to glow with light and the markings thereon stand out with great distinctness. These markings can be of different characters, but good results are secured by printing them upon the dials in black or colored ink, which will not readily transmit the light. It'is to be understood that in place of using translucent material such as pyroxyline, the pyroxyline can be clear with a backing of translucent material, such as paper.

It frequently happens that the wave lengths or frequency assignments to the stations being received are shifted so as to make it necessary for the operator to determine the new corresponding settings of the dial, if the graduations 26 are relied upon. In such event, manufacturers or dealers can supply the operator with a new dial 33, provided with the same call letters but spaced differently, corresponding to the new wave length assignments. The old dial is then removed and the new dial placed upon stud 36, after which it can be readily fixed in proper position by tuning in one well known station, and placing its corresponding call letters under pointer 28, as previously explained. Radio manufacturers and dealers can also supply different dials 33 for different localities, so that the dial for any one set will have call letters marked thereon, corresponding to the nearby local stations.

Because of the full visibility afforded by my device, the operator need not hesitate in shifting from one station to another. The call letters of all the principal stations are in full vision, and any one station can be material and provided with opaque graduations and a lamp dis osed Within said drum.

8. An indicating evice fora radio tuning instrument comprising a hollow drum having two substantially parallel plane faces, means for securing one of said faces toa rotatable shaft to rotate therewith, the other of said faces constituting a graduated dial and a replaceable auxiliary dial superposed over said last mentioned face.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ERNEST G. DAN IELSON.

2. An indicating device for a radio tuning instrument comprising a translucent circular disc provided with graduations near its periphery extending through an arc of not less than 180 and a lamp disposed behind said disc for transilluminating said disc substantially uniformly over the area through which said graduations' extend, said lamp being disposed substantially v in alignment with the center of said area.

3. An indicating device for a radio tuning instrument comprising a translucent graduated disc, a second translucent disc having station call letters marked-thereon detachably superposed on said first disc and a lamp disposed behind said discs for transilluminating said discs substantiallyv uniformly ding two substantially parallel plane faces,

throughout the range of markings on said discs, said lamp being disposed substantially in alignment with the center of the area through which said graduations extend.

4. n indicating device'for a radio tuning instrument comprising an instrument panel, a dial having graduations thereon and visibl'e from the front of said panel, a rotatable instrument control shaft directly connected to said dial, and a lamp behind said dial carried by said'shaft, said dial being formed of light transmitting material whereby light from the lamp is projected thru the dial.

5. An indicating device for a radio tuning instrument comprising an instrument panel, a rotatable instrument control shaft,- a shell mounted upon the shaft, a dial mounted upon the open face of said shell and visible from the front of the panel, said dial being formed of light transmitting material, and a, lamp disposed within said shell.

6. An indicating device for a radio tuning instrument comprising a hollow drum having two substantially parallel plane faces, means for securing one'of said faces to a rotatableshaft to rotate therewith and the plthisr of said faces constituting a graduated 7. An indicating device for a'radio tuning instrument comprising a hollow drum havmeans for securing one of said faces to a rotatable shaft torotate therewith, the other of said faces being composed of translucent

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