US1821568A

US1821568A - Tuning indicator for radioreceivers

Info

Publication number: US1821568A
Application number: US474271A
Authority: US
Inventors: Adolph J Neef
Original assignee: Thomas A Edison Inc
Current assignee: Thomas A Edison Inc
Priority date: 1930-08-09
Filing date: 1930-08-09
Publication date: 1931-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 1948-09-01

Description

Sept. 1, 1931. A. J. NEEF 1,821,563

TUNING INDICATOR FOR RADIORECEIVERS Filed Aug. 9, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ADOLPH J NEEF A ORNEY Sept. 1, 1931. A. J. NEEF 82 TUNING'INDICATOR FOR RADI ORECEIVER Filed Aug. 9, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 l5 FIG. 7

FIG.6

INVENTOR ADOLPH J NEEF A ORNEY Patented Sept. 1, 193i ADOLPH J. NEEF, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. ASSIGNOR ,TO'THOMAS A. EDI SON, IN- CORPORATED, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY TUNING INDICATOR FOR mmolmonivnas Application filed August 9, 1930. Serial No. 474,271.

This invention relates to tuning indicators for radio receivers and the like and more particularly to indicators of the class described adapted to give a light signal when the tuning mechanism is adjusted to the position for selecting a desired station.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus of the class described in which the flash of light indicating the correct setting of the tuning apparatus may be obtained without the use of auxiliary contacts for closing the lamp circuit at particular. positions of the dial.

It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus of the class described in which the lamp which forms the source ofthe station indicating flash is maintained continuously illuminated when the receiver is in operation and the light from which is mechanically intercepted except when the tun: ing mechanism is set to a particular predetermined adjustment.

It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus of the class described in which the light intercepting member is normally invisible and is provided with a removable opaque coating.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide apparatus of the class described embodying means "operable from the exterior of the receiver housing for removing the opaque coating from the light intercepting member. V

It is still a further object of this invention to provide apparatus of the class described so arranged that a considerable area of the indicating dial may be illuminated thereby.

Still other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the specification.

The features of novelty which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself however both as to its fundamental principles and as to its particular embodiments will best be un-.

derstood by reference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in Which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tuning 1n- :30 dicator according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof showing the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View showing the indicating dial, the light intercepting ing a down-turned base portion 2 by means of which the tuning indicator mechanism may be secured to the baseboard or frame. The upstanding portion of the bracket 1 is provided with a U-shaped cutout 3 for receiving and rotatably supporting the driven shaft 4 of the tuning indicator. The said shaft may be hollow, if desired, and is provided with an annular groove 6 for positioning the shaft in the bracket 1. Suitably secured on the end ofthe shaft there may be provided the driven Wheel 5.

The shaft 4 is provided with a shoulder 7 to rceive'a disc 8 having a peripheral flange 14 and cut away at 13 over more than half its circumference; The indicating dial which in the form shown is a peripheral drum member 15 is secured to the flange '14 of disc 8 and is preferably divided peripherally into two coextensive peripheral sections'side by side, one of which may be provided with permanent graduations and a scale and the other of which'is preferably left blank and provided with a roughened surface adapted to be marked with a pencil.

The member 15 is preferably translucent and the rear side may be coated with a pigment or coloring matter over the markable portion thereof, whereby when light falls I shoulder 19 to receive a second disc 9. Disc 9 is likewise provided with a peripheral flange portion 10 and carrying a drum 11 which may be of celluloid or other suitable translucent material provided on its outer surface with an opaque coating 12. The coating 12 is removable and is applied in such a way that it maybe easily scratched off. Printers ink has been found to be a suitable coating but it will be understood that other materials may be utilized.

The disc 9 is provided with a radial slot 9a for permitting the disc 9 and the drum 12 attached thereto to be slid into position on shaft 4, and disc 8 carries

studs

8a and 8?) against which disc 9 abuts to fix its position. The assembly may be locked in position by means ofa spring locking plate 16 having a radial slot 17 and having a finger piece 18 struck up therefrom. The plate 16 is preferably slightly dished so that when inserted in position the

discs

8 and 9 and the locking plate 16 are firmly but removably held 1n position upon shaft 4.

The mechanism for scraping or scratch I fall upon member 15. The housing for the scraping mechanism 30 is provided with an end portion 31 engaging the cover 32 and a shaft 33 extends therethrough provided w1th a pin 34 and carrying an eccentric 35.- For.

the purpose of holding the shaft rotatably in position in the housing there may be provided a leaf spring 38 having its ends positioned within stirrups 38a and 381). A washer 39 maybe positioned around shaft 33 and a pin 40 passed therethrough, whereby it will be seen that shaft 35 is held resiliently in position. Mounted upon the slider 36 there is provided a scraper 41 terminating in a blade 42 and having one or more bends therein as at 43 and rigidly secured to the slider 36 as at 44. The casing is depressed as at 45 to engage the bend 43 in, the scraper 41 whereby it will be observed,'.upon rotation of shaft 33, as by a screw driver inserted in the notch in the outer end of the shaft, ec-

centric 35 is rotated carrying with it slider 36 to the left as shown in Fig. 3, thereby forcing the scraper 41 inward until the blade 42 comes in contact with member 11. Con- 'tinued rotation of the shaft 33 causes the scraper blade to travel across the face of the member 11, scraping away a portion of the coating 12 and leaving a translucent line on the member 11 as more particularly shown in Fig. 5.

A lamp bracket 50- terminating in spring clips 51 and 52 carries an offset portion 55 to which is 7 attached socket 56 for lamp 57. Also socket 53 carrying lamp' 54 is attached to bracket 50 in such manner that the spring clips 51 and 52 may he slid over the outer end of the bracket extension 29, thereby securing lamp 54 behind and in close proximity to member, 11 and lamp 57 behind and in close proximity to member 15. The spring an opening in which there is mounted a slid-- ing member 67 carrying idler pulleys and 66. A member 69 is biased downwardly by a suitable spring in order to maintain the tension on the driving cord which passes over the periphery of pulley wheel 5 over the pulleys 65 and 66 and one or more times around Shaft thethreaded member 62, whereupon it will beseen that by rotation of shaft-59 the move ment is transmitted to pulley 5, thence to shaft 4 and thence to the tuning apparatus coupled thereto in any suitable manner.

In operation, the tuning mechanism and the tunmg instrumentalities coupled thereto are preferably arranged within the housing diagrammatically indicated as at 70 and through which

shafts

59 and 33 project. Also the housing is provided with a pair of

windows

71 and 72, one of which exposes to view the graduated central portion of member 15', the other of which exposes the markable portion ofmember 15. Thetuning apparatus is adjusted by means of shaft 59 until the desired station is tuned in, whereupon the shaft 33 maybe rotated to cause the scraper blade 42 to inscribe a llI16.'0Il member 11. If the lamp 54 has previously been illuminated by means ofa switch, which for example may be connected with the on and off switch of the receiver, the portion of the markable part of dial 15 observable through window 72 will now be illuminated and the user may inscribe on the dial 1 5 the call letters of the station.

As the tuning is varied the translucent line on member 11 passes out of register with lamp 54 and window 72 and the portion of the dial observable through window 72 is no longer illuminated. f

In order to obtain a clean cut flash of light the lamp 54 is preferably placed immediately adjacent and behind member 11 and the width i as of the scraper blade 42 is made such that the angle subtended at the source of illumination, that is the filament of the lamp, corresponds with the angle subtended at the filament of the lamp by the Width of window 72, in the direction of dial motion, whereby when the shaft 33 is operated to scrape a line on member 11, the entire area of dial 15 visible through Window 72 isillurninated, and any change in adjustment of the tuning mechanism, even through a small amount, causes a portion of the light which would otherwise fall on the portion of the dial 15 visible through window 72 to be intercepted by the coating 12, whereby it will be seen. that by ad'- justing the tuning mechanism until the en'- tire area of dial 15 observable through window 72 is illuminated a very precise adjustment of the tuning mechanism is had. Also it will be seen that once having located a desired station and indicated its presence by operation of the scraper and by marking the call lehers on dial 15 through window 72 the station may be tuned in easily, quickly and accurately at any subsequent time. While I have indicated the

members

11 and 15 as peripheral or drum members concentric or coaxial with respect to each other and movable simultaneously, it will be understood that the principles herein discussed may be utilized with circular dials, sliding scales or the like, and that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as will be understood by those skilled in theart.

1. A tuning indicator for radio receivers and the like, comprising, in combination, a

movable translucent indicating member, a

second movable translucent member having an opaque portion which is adapted to be rendered translucent at a selected point, said portion being disposed adjacent and behind said first member, and a source of light disposed behind said portion of said second member.

2. A tuning indicator for radio receivers and the like, comprising, in combination, a movable translucent indicating member, a second movable translucent member having a portion disposed adjacent and behind said first member,and having a removable opaque coating, and a source of light disposed behind said portion of said second member.

3. A tuning indicator for radio receivers and the like, comprising, in combination, a movable translucent drum indicating member, a second movable translucent drum mem ber having an opaque portion which is adapted to be rendered translucent at a selected point, said second member being disposed within said first member, and a source of light disposed within said second member.

4. A tuning indicator for radio receivers and the like, comprising, in combination, a movable translucent drum indicating member, a second movable translucent drum member having an opaque portion which is adapted to be rendered translucent at a selected point, said second chamber being disposed within said first member and coaxial therewith and a source of light disposed within said second member.

5. A tuning indicator for radio receivers and the like, comprising in combination, a

ber having an opaque portion which is adapted to be rendered translucent at a selected point, said second member being disposed within said first member and movable synchronously therewith, and a source of light disposed within said second member and in immediate proximity to said opaque portion. 7. A tuning indicator for radio receivers and the like, comprising, in combination, a movable translucent indicating member, a second movable translucent member, having a removable opaque coating, and having a port-ion disposed adjacent and behind said first member, and a source of light disposed adjacent and behind said portion of said second member. 8. A tuning indicator for radio receivers and the like, comprising, in combination, a

movable translucent indicating member, a.

second movable translucent member having a removable opaque coating, and having a portion disposed adjacent and behind said first member, a source of light disposed adjacent and behind said portionof said second member, and means for removing a portion of said opaque coating from said second member.

9. A tuning indicator for radio receivers and the like, comprising, in combination, a housing, a movable translucent indicating member disposed within said housing, and having a portion exposed to view through an opening in said housing, a second movable translucent member having a removable opaque coating and having a portion disposed adjacent and behind said first member, a source of light disposed adjacent and behind said portion of said second member, means for removing a portion of said opaque coating from said second member, and means operable from the exterior of said housing for operating said removing means,

10. A tuning indicator for radio receivers and the like, comprising, in combination, a housing, a movable translucent indicating no i drum disposed within said housing and having a portion exposed to view through an opening in said housing, a second movable translucent drum disposed within said first 5 drum and having a removable opaque coating, a source of light disposed within said second drum, and means for removing a portion of said opaque coating from said second drum.

11. A tuning indicator for radio receivers,

"I and the like, comprising, in combination, a

housing, a movable translucent indicating drum positioned within sald housing and having a portion visible through an opening 16 in said housing, a second movable translucent ond movable translucent member having a removable opaque coating disposed Within said housing and having a portion disposed behind the visible portion of said first member, a source of light positioned behind said portion of said second member, and means 'for removing a portion of said opaque coating. from said second member, from an area so chosen with respect to the position of said source of light and the position of said aperture that the entire visible portion of said first member is illuminated only for settings of said indicator corresponding to those desired.

13. A tuning indicator for radio receivers and the like, comprising, in combination, a

housing having an aperture therein, a mov- I able translucent indicating member positioned within said housing and having a portion visible through said aperture, a second movable translucent member having a removable opaque coating disposed within said housing and having a portion disposed behind the visible portion of said first member, I

a source of light positioned behind said portion of said second member whereby light which would fall on the visible portion of said first member is intercepted by said second member, and means for removing a portion of said coating at desired settings of said indicator to permit said visible portion of -1 said first member to be illuminated at said just suflicient to illuminate the width of said first member visible through said aperture.

14. A tuning indicator for radio receivers and the like, comprising, in combination, a housing-having an aperture therein, a movable translucent indicating member p0 sitioned within said housing and having a portion visible through said aperture, a second movable translucent member having a removable opaque coating disposed within said housing and having a portion disposed behind the visible portion of said first member, a source of light positioned behind said portion of said second member whereby light which would fall on the visible portion of said first member is intercepted by said second member, and-means for removing a portion of said coating at desired settings of said indicator to permit said visible portion of said first member to be illuminated at said settings, said means being arranged to remove said coating over a strip the width oi which subtends an angle at the source of light substantially. equal to the angle substended at said source by the width of the visible portion of said first member.

This specification signed this 7th day of August, 1930.

ADOLPH J. NEEF.