US2305123A - Preselecting mechanism - Google Patents

Description

1366- 15, 1942' .1. H. WILLIAMS PRESELECTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 8, 1940 2 Shee'tgs-Sheet l Dec. 15, 1942. J. H. WILLIAMS 2,305,123

PRESELECTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 R M mw Patented 15, 1942 s PATENT OFFICE ransnnnc'rmo MECHANISM John H.

Williams, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Oak Mtg. 00., a corporation of Illinois Application August 8, 1940', Serial No. 351,883

16 Claims.

This invention relates to preselecting mechanism and is particularly useful for indexing one of a number of predetermined index positions of any device normally movable over a continuous range between two end positions.- In one form, the preselecting mechanism is applied to a gang condenser, which may be the. tuning ,element of a radio receiver. Such condensers are ordinarily movable over a, definite angular range, usually about 180.

However, the mechanism may be applied to any means movable over a curved or straight path. element consists of a core of compacted iron particles movable in and out of a pair of windings in transformer. relationship. The movement of the core alters the inductance of the transformer and thus affects the receiver tuning. The invention is shown applied to this kind of tuning means also.

Various preselectors have been made for the above purposes. Most have been of the pure Thus in some radio receivers, the tuning other end position by the power drive and after I manual type in which a button or lever is operated and the power spent in the operation furnished the motive power for indexing purposes. This is unsatisfactory in some instances. Thus an operator may actuate the mechanism by an impulse too quick and short to permit the mechanism to reach its new indexed position. In addition, the movable member may require substantial effort on the part of an operator, which effort it is desired to eliminate.

While attempts have been made to provide a power. drive for preselectors, they have'been unsuccessful. The lack of success has been due carried by the rotor shaft it. As is clearly evi-' to the extreme complexity, making forhigh cost and doubtful freedom from trouble, and also to the complexity of manipulation on the part of an operator. Y

By virtue of the invention herein, a simple, reliable device is provided and the manual operation is like an ordinary push button preselector. In fact, in the absence of power, the device hecomes an ordinary mechanical preselector.

In general, the invention contemplates a constant bias on the indexed means, to one of its two end positions. When the preselector button is operated to select an index position, the previous button setting disappears. The button being operated'upon. is retained in fixed position and determines a stopping point for the indexed means intermediate its end positions. The power drive operates to pull the indexed means against its bias toward the other end position. After the indexed means has been driven to its the stopping point has been selected, the power drive is de-energized and the normal bias returns the indexed means to'the preselected stopping point.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a two unit preselector applied to a condenser;

Fig. 2 is a section on 2-2 of Fig. 1 of the preselector;

Fig. 3 is a section on 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the condenser and actuating solenoid;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of certain portions of a preselector unit of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive; and

Figs. 5 and 6 show modifications.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the device to be indexed is shown as a condenser I0 having stationary plates II and movable plates constituting a rotor l2. As is customary, the condenser here has range of adjustment, al-

later.

Condenser rotor I2 is biased to one end posi- 1 tion by a coil spring l3 having one end it rigid on the condenser frame and the inner end l5 rigid on rotor shaft it. As shown in Fig. 3, spring i3 tends to maintain the rotor in the out position so any bias movement is clockwise as seen there.

Adapted to move the condenser rotor l2 against 'spring i3 is a solenoid I! having an armature l3 operating on cord 20 wound'around sheave 2| dent, solenoid l8 tends to turn condenser rotor anti-clockwise as seen in\Fig. 3. It is under- I stood that other means for providing a permanent bias and a power-drive against the bias may be .provided.

-The remainder of the mechanism is the controlling part thereof and. may have any number of units, each unit. controlling one index position. These units are identical to each other in construction. Fig. 1 shows two such units. More may be provided.

The preselector proper consists of a base 30 of metal or any other material. Base 30 may have its sides 3| and 32 turned up. End plates 33 may be providedto complete a frame. End plates 33 rotatably support a shaft 35, which may either be a prolongation of rotor shaft l6 or be rigidly coupled thereto. In any event, shafts l6 and 35 operate as a coupled unit. Shaft 35 may be restrained from longitudinal movement in any suitable manner, such as by sleeves 36 and 31 on opposite sides of end plate 33.

Each preselector-iimit has a washer 40, non rotatable with respect to shaft 35. As shown here, washer 40 has an aperture 4| to accommodate shaft 35 and a tongue 42 is provided to engage a longitudinal slot 43 in shaft 35, thus rotatively locking the washer on the shaft. Washer 40 is round except for a projection 45 extending outwardly and forming an engaging means. Sleeves 46 and 41 may cover shaft 35 on opposite sides of washer 40. It is understood of course that only one sleeve is necessary between adjacent units so that sleeve 41 for one unit corresponds to sleeve 46 for the next unit. Thus the shaft and washers 40 travel over a predetermined range angle.

Freely rotatable about shaft 35 (and also about the sleeve) are two members. One member is a washer 50 having an aperture with an arcuate recess 52 bordering on aperture 5| and also having a finger 53 bent over out of the plane of the washer proper. As is evident, washers 40 and 50 are so proportioned relative to each other that upon relative rotation therebetween, finger 53 will travel around the circular edge of washer 40 and functions as a stop for pre-engaging projection 45. The other member 54 is a species of pinion and consists of a cylinder 55 having a series of apertures 56 regularly spaced around a portion thereof and an engaging finger 51 adapt ed to extend into arcuate recess 52. Thus these two members are freely rotatable with respect to shaft 35 (or the covering sleeve).

Meshing with pinion 54 is a rack 60 carried by a metal plate 6| whose apertured ends 62 and 63 are bent down and threaded by a push rod 65. End 62 of plate 6| may slide in a suitable slot in base 30. Push rod 65 has one part 66threaded and cooperates with one end 62 of the rack member to determine the longitudinal position of the rack member on push rod 65. Thus turning rod 65 will cause the rack member to move one way or the other along the rod and determine the preselected position.

Push rod 65 is slidably mounted in upturned sides 3| and 32 and extends beyond these sides. A push button 61 is at the front end of rod 65 and a spring 68 between side 3| and button 61 biases the rod so that the button is normally in a forward or off position. The rear end of the rod has an enlarged cylindrical head 69 with a tapered conical surface I0.

A latch plate I2 is pivoted by fingers I3 in apertures I4 of 'the end plates so that the plate is below the ends of rods. 65 at the rear of the mechanism. A spring I5 tends to pull up the latch plate. The latch plate width is such that in the depressed or on position of a pushrod 65, the head will engage the latch plate and retain the rod in its on position. At the inner edge of the latch plate, a curved cam portion 'II normally is near or rests against tapered surface I0 of head 69 in the off position of a rod.- Thus when a rod, such as 65' is normally off or out and is pushed in, tapered surface I0 acts as a cam to push latch plate I2 down from the position shown in Fig. 2. The downward movement The operation of the device is as follows. Disregarding the solenoid and preselector action first, it is clear that when any push button is pressed to an on position, the latch plate will be moved to a clearing or down position and permit a previously operated push rod to return from an on to an of! position.

While the latch plate is down, the solenoid circuit is closed and, assuming an electric curthe solenoid circuit is opened, as in Fig. 2, coil spring I3 will turn shaft 35 back toward its first position until stopped by finger 45 engaging finger 53 as a stop.

In theevent that the power drive is not desired, the mechanism can still be operated. In such case, the push rod 65 will have to be moved not only against its own spring 68 but also against bias spring I3. However, when the power drive is used the rod 65 can be-pushed in with little effort since it merely turns finger 53 loosely on its sleeve.

It will be noted that washer cannot turn freely a full 360 with respect to washer 40 before the two fingers engage. This is equivalent to less than 180 of range for preselection. In order to give a full 180 range of adjustment, the arcuate slot 52' engaged by finger 51 is provided. This slot subtends a greater angle thanfinger 51 so that in effect the angle of free movement of finger 51 in slot 52 is twice the angle added to the range of adjustment due to fingers 45 and 43.

Thus as an example, if finger 45 subtends an angle of 10 then the eifective range of operation of washers 40 and 50 is 360-10 divided by 2, or 175. Now if finger 51 can. move 20 in slot 52 before striking the ends, then 10 can of the latch plate is sufficient to permit head 69 be added on to the range. Thus the entire preselector can pick out any index point over an angle of rotation of shaft 35 amounting to Obviously by enlarging slot 52 or duplicating washer 50 the angle can be increased to any desired figure. This is more fully disclosed in Patent No. 2,161,183.

It might be noted that, if two or more buttons are operated simultaneously, that setting will be chosen which is nearest to the other end position; i. e., furthest away from the coil spring biased position, The remaining rods and settings will be idle.

Referring now to Fig. 5, the invention is shown applied to a linearly movable indexed member. In this figure, transformers I00 and IN each have iron dust cores I02 and I03 movable between two end positions along a straight line. These units are shown as movable in line, but it is obvious that they may be in tandem relation. Any means may be provided for tracking, if radio receivertuning is involved. As shown here, the cores I02 and I03 are carried by a nonmagnetic rod I05 which, for all practical purposes, may be considered as the indexed member movable over a linear range between two end positions.

Rod I05 is biased to one end' position by cell gear segment position.

spring H0. The power means for overcoming the spring bias consists of an armature III on rod I05 cooperating with solenoid H2. Rod I05 also carries a'bar I I5 which may extend across the various units to function as engaging means. The rod travels between fixed stops I05 and I'I to,determine the range of travel.

Each control unit here shown is of the push rod type, generally similar to the corresponding parts of Figure 1. Each unit includes a push rod 65 carrying in adjustable relation therewith a metal plate 6| supporting a stop H6, all stops II being adapted to cooperate with bar 5.

When the latch plate-12 is depressed, the solenoid circuit is closed. This results in rod I being 'moved against stop I06. Then when the latch plate is up, the solenoid circuit is broken. The normal spring bias on rod I05 pulls bar H5 forward to the position This, of course, may be adjusted by turning push rod 55, as in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. I

In Fig. 6, a. push lever I65 rigidly-joined to a I20 and the latter meshing with a rack ISO is utilized for moving rod 05' back and forth. In this way, a non-linearly movable push lever I 85 may be used for indexing purposes, The rod 65' may, of course, carry either the rack and pinion means of Figs..1 to 4 inclusive or the finger and stop of Fig. 5 as the additional means. Fig. 6 is merely to show that-linearly movable push rods need not necessarily be used.

What is claimed is:

1. A preselector for use with a device operable over a range between two end positions, said preselector comprising an indexed member movable over the range to be covered, means for biasing said member having engaging elements movable therewith over said range, a plurality of preselector units, there being one engaging element for each preselector unit, each preselector unit including a manually operable part movable between a released and an actuated position respectively, erable part to its released position, interlocking means for maintaining a manually operable part in its actuated position after reaching the same and releasing manually operable parts previously set in the actuated position, stop means operated by a manually operable part in its actuated position, said stop means cooperating with an engaging element on said indexed means, said biasing means for said indexed member urging said engaging element against its cooperating stop means, and means operative only when a manually operable member is between a released and an actuated position for moving said indexed member against its biasing means to its other end position.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said indexed member includes a shaft rotatable over a predetermined angle. y

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein an adjustable connection is provided between said stop means and said manually operable part so that the relative position of said stop means controlled spectively,

determined by stop 6.

said shaft to one endposition, engaging elements carried by said shaft and rotatable therewith over said range, and a plurality of preselector units, there being one engaging element for each preselector unit. each preselector unit including a manually operable member movable between a released and an actuated position, remeans for biasing each manually operable member to its released position, interlocking means for maintaining a manuallyoperable member in its actuated position after reaching the same and for releasing manually operable members previously set in actuated positions, a stop actuated by a manually operable member and movableto a predetermined position when said manually operable member has reached its actuated position, said stop cooperating with an engaging element .on said shaft to determine an index position, said indexed shaft biasing means urging said engaging element against said stop, and electromagnetic means controlled by said interlocking means operative only when a manumember to one end position, said indexed ally operable member is between a released and an actuated position for moving said indexed shaft against its bias to its other end position.

5. A preselector for use with a device operable over a range between two end positions, said preselector comprising an indexed shaft rotatable over the range to be covered, means for biasing said shaft to one end position,'-engaging elements fixedly carried by said shaft and movable therewith over said range, and a plurality of preselector units, there being, one engaging element for each preselector unit, each preselector unit including a manually operable member movable between two end positions, these being a released and an actuated position respectively, means for biasing each manually operable member to its means for biasing each manually opreleased position, interlocking means for maintaining a manually operable member in its actuated position after reaching the same and for releasing manually operable members previously set in'actuated positions, a rotatable stop loosely carried by such shaft and having a projection cooperating with an engaging element fixedly mounted on said shaft, said indexed vshaft bias by said manually operable part may be adjusted whereby in the actuated position of said manually operable part said stop has a predetermined ad-- justed position to determine an adjustedindex 4. A preselector for use with a device operable over a range between two end positions, said preselector comprising an indexed shaft rotatable over the range to be covered, means for biasing means urging said engaging element against said stop, means controlled by said manually operable member for moving said rotatable stop to a predetermined position when said manually operable member has reached its actuated position, and means controlled by said interlocking means operative only when a manually operable member is between a released and an actuated position for moving said indexed shaft against its bias to its other end position.

6. A preselector for use with a device operable over a range between two end positions, said preselector comprising an indexed shaft rotatable over the range to be covered,' means for biasing said shaft to one end position, said shaft having a plurality of engaging elements movable therewith over said range, and a plurality of preselector units, there being one engaging element for each preselector unit, each preselector unit including a manually operable member movable between two end positions, these being a released and an actuated position respectively, means for biasing each manually operable'member to its released position, interlocking meansfor maintaining a manually operable. member in its actuated position after reaching the same and for releasing manually operable members previously set in actuated positions, a stop member rotatable about said shaft for each engaging element, said indexed shaft bias means urging said last-mentloned engaging element against its stop member, means coupling each manually operable member to its stop member to move the latter to a predetermined position when said manually operable member has reached its actuated position, and means-operative only when a manually operable member is intermediate its released and actuated positions for moving said indexed shaf against its bias to its other end position.

'7. A preselector comprising a shaft rotatable over a range between two limiting positions, a plurality of fingers coupledto said shaft, a push rod for ,each finger, said rod being longitudinally movable and normally biased to an off-position and manually movable to an on-position, a rack carried by said rod and movable therewith, means for adjusting the relative positions of a rack and its rod, and means engaged by said rack including a stop cooperating with said last-mentioned finger for determining a stopping position for said last-mentioned shaft finger.

8. A preselector comprising a shaft rotatable over a range betweentwo limiting positions, a plurality of fingers coupled to said shaft, a push rod and a stop controlled thereby for each finger, said rod being longitudinally movable between two end positions and being normally biased to an off-position and manually movable to an on-position, a rack carried by each rod and adjustable with respect thereto, means cooperating with said rod to set said stop for the corresponding finger in a predetermined position, said 7 means being set in said predetermined position when the corresponding rod is in its on-position, and means for moving said shaft to a predetermined index position determined by the engagement of said finger and said stop.

9. A preselector comprising a shaft rotatable over a range between .two limiting positions, a plurality of fingers coupled to said shaft, a pushrod for each finger normally biased to an offposition and manually movable to an on-position,

a rack carried by each rod and adjustable with respect thereto, means operated by said rack upon rod movement to an on-position including a projection movable within the field of.movement of the corresponding finger to provide a stop in a predetermined position for said corresponding shaft finger, means imposing a constant bias on said shaft tending to move said finger against said stop and means operative only during movement of a rod for overcoming said bias and moving said shaft so that said finger is moved away from said stop.

10. A preselector comprising a shaft rotatable over a range between two limiting positions, a plurality of fingers coupled to said shaft, a rod for each finger, said rod being normally biased to an off-position and being manually movable to an on-position, a rack adjustably carried by each rod, means including a stop actuated by said racli upon rod movement, interlocking means for maintaining a rod lockedin an on-position and for releasing previously locked rods, means imposing a constant bias on said shaft toward one limiting position, and means controlled by said interlocking means and operative only during a rod movement for overcoming said bias and biasing said shaft toward its other limiting position.

11. A preselector comprising a shaft rotatable over a range between two limiting positions, means for biasing said shaft toward one limiting position, a plurality of fingers coupled to said movable to an on-position,

, shaft, a push-rod for each finger normally biased to a predetermined position, power means for overcoming said shaft bias and moving said shaft toward its other limiting position, and means for controlling said power means and rendering said power means operative only during manual operation of a rod.

12. A preselector for use with a device operable over a range between two limiting .positions, said preselector comprising an index shaft rotatable over a certain range, means for biasing said shaft to one limiting position, a plurality of fingers coupled to said shaft, a plurality of control units, there beingone control unit for each finger for determining an index position, each control unit comprising a push rod normally biased to an off-position and being manually movable to an on-position, adjustable stop means actuated by a push rod and set to a predetermined index position upon operation of said push rod, an electric switch actuated by each push rod during manual operation thereof, and means controlled by said electric switch for overcoming one unit for each finger, each unit consisting of.

a push rod longitudinally movable and being normally biased to an off-position and being manually movable to an on-position, a rack coupled to said push-rod, a pinion freely ro table about said shaft and normally engaging said rack, a

stop actuated by said pinion and moved to a predetermined position upon rod ctuation and means for retaining a stop, after 0d actuation,

in predetermined position to mai tain an index position.

14. A preselector comprising a,shaft rotatable over a range between two limiting positions, means for biasing said shaft to one limiting position, a plurality of fingers ca ied by said shaft and rotatable therewith, a control unit for each 'finger, each control unit co rising a push-rod normally biased to an off-p sition and manually rack movable with said push rod, a pinion on said shaft actuated by said rack, a stop actuated by said pinion, and interlocking means for maintaining a rod in an on-position after actuation and for releasing previously locked rods.

15. A preselector comprising a shaft rotatable over a range between two limiting positions, means for biasing said shaft toward one limiting position, a plurality of fingers carried by said shaft and rotatable therewith, a control unit for each finger, said control unit including a push rod normally biased to an off-position and manually movable to an on-position, a rack actuated by said push rod, a pinion engaged by said rack, a stop actuated by said pinion and moved to a predetermined position when said rod is in its onposition, interlocking means for maintaining the rod in its on-position and for releasing previously set rods, and electromagnetic means controlled by said interlocking means for overcoming said shaft bias means and for moving said shaft toward the other limiting position upon manual actuation of a rod.

16. A preselector comprising an index member movable over a substantially straight line between two limiting positions, means for biasing said member to one limiting position, a bar movable therewith, a plurality of push rods cooperating with said bar, each of said rods being biased to an off-position and manually movable to an JOHN H. WILLIAMS.

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