US1958282A

US1958282A - Radio apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1958282A
Application number: US655659A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest T Tregenza
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1932-02-13
Filing date: 1933-02-07
Publication date: 1934-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 1951-05-08

Description

y 8, 1934- E. T. TREGENZA 58,282

RADI OAPPARATUS Filed Feb. "7, 1955 Inventor": Ernest F Tregenza,

His Attorneg.

' switchin Patented May 8, 1934 UNITED STATES RADIO APPARATUS Ernest T. Tregenza, Coventry, England, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York 7 Application February 7, 1933, Serial No. 655,659

In Great Britain February 13, 1932 5 Claims.

My invention relates to radio apparatus and more particularly to an indicator for a multirange tuning or switching device.

My invention has for its object to provide a 5 simple indicator in combination with the multirange tuning and switching device for indicating the proper scale and the frequency range corresponding to the switching operation performed by the operator.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a dial fixed to the variable tuning element of the radio apparatus, and having a plurality of scales, one for each of the frequency ranges over which the radio apparatus operates by adjustment of the variable tuning element. An additional dial mechanically connected to the switching mechanism of the apparatus is mounted with respect to the first dial so as to expose only that scale which is to be used in conjunction with the particular connections in the radio apparatus established by the switching means. The switching mechanism may have' a plurality of positions corresponding to the different frequency bands and'may include an elf position, and in the case of a receiver, a phonograph position. The change-over switch when operated, moves the additional dial so that the proper scale is exposed or appropriate words indicate the condition of the receiver when the dial completely covers up the first scale.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows in elevation one embodiment-of my invention and Fig. 2 shows in elevation the application of my invention to a different type dial.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have illustrated therein a portion of the radio apparatus cabinet 1 provided with an aperture 2 through which both the tuning dial 3 and the switching dial 4 are visible. The tuning dial 3 is mounted upon the shaft 5 of a suitable variable tuning element such as a variometer or condenser. The switching mechanism of the radio apparatus is connected to a shaft 6 which is also provided with a sprocket '7 over which a chain operates to cause rotation of the switching dial 4. It is of course understood that the dial may be operated by any other (c1. ins-124.3)

suitable mechanical means so that the switching dial will indicate the position of the switch attached to the shaft 6. The tuning dial 3 is provided with a plurality of series of indicia or scales representing the resonant frequency of the apparatus so that each one of the series of indicia indicates the frequency range over which the tuning element attached to the shaft 5 ,will operate. The switching dial 4, which is mounted between the tuning dial 3 and the aperture 2 of the apparatus cabinet 1, is preferably opaque and is provided with apertures so that only one of the scales on the tuning dial 3 will be visible at one time. The switching dial 4 isarranged to permit observation of the tuning dial 3 only when the radio apparatus is energized, and when the apparatus is deenergized the dial 4 obscures the view of .the tuning dial 3, and the legend ofi appears in the aperture 2 of the cabinet 1. Suitable legends such as Short wave and Long wave may be placed near the respective apertures in the switching dial 4 to indicate the frequency range at which the apparatus operates with the particular setting of the switching mechanism. 30

A suitable light may be provided to illuminate the scales. The words or notations on the switching dial may be made transparent so that the light will show through or they maybe en- A graved or painted in difierent colors.

The arrangement disclosed in Fig. 2 shows the application of my invention to radio apparatus employing a drum dial. The shaft 5 of a tuning element is provided with a drum dial 8 which has a plurality of series of indicia or scales thereon so that each scale covers one of the frequency ranges through which the tuning element will operate. The switching dial 4 is arranged at right angles to the drum dial 8 and interposed between the dial and the aperture 2 in the cabinet 1 of the radio apparatus. Although I have only shown two scales on each dial, it is of course understood that any number of scales may be employed and that the switching dial 4 may be of sufiicient size so as to have a plurality of apertures equal in number to the number of scales on the tuning dial.

My invention has the advantage that it is possible to ascertain the condition of the radio apparatus by looking at the indication present at a single aperture in the apparatus cabinet. Thus it is not necessary to observe a plurality of dials locatedat remote points on the cabinet. My invention has the further advantage that the poso sibility of confusion is avoided by permitting only one scale to be visible at any time.

While I have shown and described my invention in connection with certain specific embodiments it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since it is apparent that the principles herein disclosed are susceptible of numerous other applications, and modificationsmaybemade intheinstrumentalitiessmployed without departing from the spirit and scopeofmyinventionasseti'orthin theappended WhatIclaimas newanddesiretosecureby Letters Patent oi the United States, is:

1. In multi-range radio apparatus having ad- Jmtable frequency-range ,control means, the combination of a dial having a plurality of series of indicia, each of said series of indicia representing one frequency range of said radio apparatus, and means including a second rotatable dial cooperating with said first dial in accordance 8. The combination, in multi-range radio apparatus having means for changing the frequency range of said apparatus, of a dial havinga plurality of series of indicia representing the resonant frequency of said apparatus, a second dial cooperating with said first dial, means for changingthe angularpositionofsaidseconddialinaccordance with the changes in the frequency range of said radio apparatus whereby the unused portions of said first dial are obscured.

4. The combination, in multi-range radio apparatus having means for changing the frequency of said apparatus, a dial having a plurality of series of indicia, a second dial provided with apertures cooperating with the indicia of said first dial, means for actuating said second dial in accordance with changes in the operating condition of said radio apparatus whereby the appropriate portion of said first dial-becomes visible.

5. The combination, in multi-range radio apparatus having switching means for changing the frequency-range and for energizing and deenergizing said apparatus, a dial having a plurality oi series of indicia, a second dial provided with apertures cooperating with the respective indicia of said first dial, means for actuating said second dial in accordance with changes in the operating condition of said radio apparatus as determined by said switching means whereby the appropriate portion of said first dial is visible when said apparatus is energized and said first dial is obscured when said apparatus is deenergized.

ERNEST T.