US2512243A

US2512243A - Push-button control device

Info

Publication number: US2512243A
Application number: US555360A
Authority: US
Inventors: Demeulenaere Robert; Demeulenaere Marcel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-09-22
Filing date: 1944-09-22
Publication date: 1950-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 1967-06-20

Description

1111162051950 k. DEMEULENAERE ETAL 2,512,243

PUSHBUTTON 011111201, DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1944 I INVENTOKS R. Ibeme u lenare J!1, .Dem e u, Z en aez-e Patented June 20, 195 l PUSH-BUTTON CONTROL DEVICE Robert Demeulenaere and Marcel Demeulenaere;

' New York, N. Y. t

Application September 22, 1944, Serial No. 555,360'

15 Claims. (Cl. 74-1033) "This invention relates to a push button control and has for its object to provide a device of this character, particularly designed for application to the tuning shaft of a radio receiving setwhic h permits adjustment of theindividual push buttons with such high degree of exactness pended claims.

In the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention: Figure l is a planview of the device,'and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a support-- ing frame 5 of "suitable size and shape to' be accommodated within the cabinet or casing of a radio receiving set is provided with front and rear walls 6 and 1, respectively, and anintermediate wall 8. Shafts 9 arranged in a horizontal row are mounted for combined axial sliding and rotatable movement in the walls'fi and 8, and the front ends thereof are so shaped and located as to constitute push buttons conveniently acceptable for button controlled tuning operations.

Each push button shaft 9 is formed at its rear end with a longitudinal bore l0 of substantial length which is screw threaded to engage an adjusting screw ll fitted therein. The screws l l terminate in the space between the walls I and 8 and are provided with head members I2 preferably of U-shape and with guides I3 whereby 'the screws are prevented from turning.

Each push button shaft 9 and its related screw I l and head member I 2 constitute an actuator and as many of these are provided as may be required to effect the number of variable adjustments needed to tune the radio set to the desired number of broadcasting stations.

Springs l4 connecting the head members l2 with the frame 5 normally retain the actuators 9-! l'l2 in forwardly projected inoperative po sition and each actuator is locked in the 'depressed operated position by a pawl l5 pivoted at l5a and engageable in a detent l6 formed in the button shaft 9. The pawl I5 is of such length as 'as to assure setting of the tuning device with the I of approximately to be common to all of the push button shafts 9 and each of the latter is additionally provided with a cam groove I! in which the pawl is engaged when the shafts are in forwardly projected inoperative position. The detents l6 and cam grooves I! are of annular form thereby insuring operative engagement with the pawl l5 regardless of the angular positions of the shafts 9.

The shaft l8 of the tuning device of the radio (not shown) is keyed to a pinion l9 meshing with a gear segment 20 fixed to a shaft 2! rotatably mounted in the sidemembers 22 of the frame 5. The shaft 2| is provided with crank arms 23 supporting a crank pin 24'wh'ich extends transversely across the frame S'b'ehind the several head members l2 so that when anyone of the actuators 9-| Il2 is pressed rearwardly against the tension of the related spring M the head member l2 engaging the pin 24 oscillates the shaft 2| and. the motion thereof is transmitted to the tuning shaft l8 through the gear segment 20 and pinion l9.

The spring 25 connected with the tuning shaft normally tends toturn the latter in a clockwise direction, and this force acting through the pinion l9 and segment 20 normally maintains the crank pin in engagement with the head memhers I 2 thereby taking'up whatever slack may exist in the motion between the parts as the result of imperfections in the'manufacture thereof.

As usual in such devices, the radio set is conditioned for the reception of the selected radio transmitted station by predetermined angular adjustment of the tuning shaftl8 and to afford an illustrative e'xampleit is assumed that, to accommodate the range of adjustment of the tuning shaft 18, it is turned through an angle Accordingly, the maximum movement imparted to the crank pin 24 by the actuators 9-! I+l2 is through an angle such that one-half of a revolution is imparted to the tuning shaft l8through the segment 20 and pinion l9. e

To enable the actuators when pressed to set the tuning shaft in the proper positions to accurately tune in the predetermined broadcast stations, each actuator is associated with an adjusting device consisting of an adjusting shaft 26 and

gears

28 and 29 for transmitting rotary motion to the related button shaft 9 whereby through the action of the screw threads the position of the screw II is varied with respect to the shaft 9.

Each adjusting shaft 26 is rotatably and axially movable in the

walls

6 and 8 and is normally held in forward inoperative position by a spring 3 the forward movement being limited by a gear 21 rigidly secured to the adjusting shaft and engageable with the rear face of the wall 6. In its forward position the adjusting shaft is locked in adjusted angular position by a pin 3| on the wall 6 engaging between the teeth of the gear 21.

The gear 29 is rigidly fixed to the button shaft 9 and the teeth of the gear 28 extendlongitudinally of the adjusting shaft a distance sufiicient to permit full stroke of the shaft 9 while maintaining the

gears

28 and 29 in mesh. In this manner the pin 3| serves not only to lock the adjusting shaft 26 in adjusted position, but following adjustment of the actuator 9-1 |l2 the pin 3! also acts to lock it in set position.

From the foregoing it .is apparent that the crank pin 24 may be moved a distance corresponding with the desired adjustment'of the tun-' ing shaft l'8 to tune in the selected broadcast sta- :tion by manipulation'cof the jproper actuator f 9-4 l--| 2- which thaszbeenpreviously adjusted for that purpose. Toiimprov'e thezzprecisionof adjustment of the-'device the'thread f the screw! I and bore '80 are preferably of small pitch, and in addition the ratio otthe: gear wheels; 23 and '29 :is so selected that thevpush-button shaft -ll is rotated at a reduced speednwithfirespect to the adjusting shaftlfi. .By virtue tof these mechanical 'expedients the screws :ll maytbe adjusted with the utmost precision with respect to the pushcbutton .shafts 9, andinyconsequencea highdegree of accuracy in tuning vtheidev-ice connected with the shaft IB is afforded. :Furthermcre; theprovision of-the pin 31 and its association with the teeth ofagear wheel 2110f relativelylarge diameter enables the 'push button device tobe :locked in the precisely adjusted position. 1 Assuming thatsonevof-theactuators -9-l I'-'-l 2 -has-been operated to. adjust the tuning shaft t8 :toa desired broadcast: station, the :push button shaft 9 is locked by engagement of the pawl [5 with the 'detent l5, the-gearwheel 29 sliding along the teeth of the-gear wheel 28 during actual movement of the shaft 9. Incase it may be de- 1- sired to readjust the receiving set-for the reception ofv a station broadcasting at a difi'erent wave length, the related pushbutton-shaft 9 'is operated and in'so doing the pawl I5 is locked by the camming actionof the groove 11, thereby disengaging the pawl from the detentv 16 of them:- erative push button :shaft :9, which "latter, together with the screw H and head member l2 are instantly returned to inoperative position under theinfluence of the'springl 4. *Inward movement of the newly selected push button shaft 9 is continued until the pawlJ'Eengages inr'the 'detent l6 thereof in which position the crank arml l is 'set to adjust the tuning-shaft l:8 to the selected station. The crank rpinZd is causedto follow the forward movements :of't-he head members i2 under the tension ,ofqtheispring 25 and thelatter serves additionally to take up whatever lost mo- .tion may exist 'betweenthe parts and thereby avoid such errors in adjustment as might result from such lost motion.

What we claim is:

1. A'device for turning. a shaft through-a predetermined angle comprising two actuator members movable as a unit to impart movement to said shaft and relativelyradjustable to vary'the amplitude of'said movement, and means rotatable about an axis displaced from the actuatormembers and operably connected with one of said members for displacing said member with respect to the other member to vary the relative adjustment of said members,

2. A device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle comprising two actuator members 5 movable as a, unit to impart movement to said shaft and relatively adjustable to vary the amplitude of said movement, means for displacing one of said actuator members with respect to the other to vary the relative adjustment of said 10 members, and means to lock said displacing means in adjusted position.

3. A device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle comprising two actuator members movable as a unit to impart movement to "said shaft and relatively adjustable to vary the determined angle comprising two actuator mem- .-wbers;mo'vable as'a unit to impart movementto said shaft and relatively; adjustable i301 vary; the

amplitude of said movement, a rotatablennember, and a speedreducing transmissiongear-connect- 39 ing said rotatable-"member "with "one SOfJeSBIi'd a'c- :tuator -members for 'displaci-ng said actuating memberwith respectto, the otheractuating member to vary the relative adjustment'of said ractuator members.

'5. Adevice'for turninga shaft through a; predetermined anglecomprising tworactuatorxm'embers movable as a unit toimpart movement: to said shaft and relatively adjustabletowarythe amplitude of said -movement,-a rotatable; memes her, a speed reducingtra'nsmission gearconnecting said rotatable-member :with' one of: said ac- -tuator members for :displacing said i actuating member with respect to :the other actuating member to vary the relative adjustmentrofvsaid actuator -members;-a'nd'means to lock said' members in adjusted relative position.

6. A device for turning a shaft'through a:pre

determined angle comprising twoactuatorrmembers movableasa .unit to impart-movement tosaid shaft and relativelyadjustableto vary the amplitude of said movement, .a'rotatablemember, and-a speed reducing transmission gear connecting said rotatable member with one of said-actuator members'for displacingsaid actuating memlfi ber with respect to the otheri actuating member to vary the relative adjustment :of said actuator ;members, and a cra-nkarm-movable withinfixejd limits and engagedzand :operable bysaidtactuator members.

7. A device for turning a shaft through awpredetermined angle comprising two actuator-members havingscrew threadedicon-nections'with each other, said members ibeingimovableas'aunit to "impart movement tocsaid shaft and being: relatively adjustable by means of said threaded connectionto vary theamplitude of said: movement, means for variably turning the screwthreadsfof one of said members with relation 'toithe'screw threads of the other member to vary the relative adjustment of said =members, and a normally eflective locking device-for retaining said actuator members inrelativelyadjusted position and reliable incident to operation of said turning means.

8.. A. device: for z-tu'rningza shaft .throughxa predetermined angle comprising two actuator members having screw threaded connections with each other, said members being movable as a unit to impart movement to said shaft and being relatively adjustable by means of said threaded connection to vary the amplitude of said movement, releasable means normally effective to lock said actuator members in adjusted relative position and operable upon release to variably turn the screw threads of one of said members with relation to the screw threads of the other member to vary the relative adjustment of said members, and means normally locking the releasable means in actuator member-locking position.

9. A device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle comprising two actuator members having screw threaded connections with each other, said members being movable as a unit to impart movement to said shaft and being relatively adjustable by means of said threaded connection to vary the amplitude of said movement, a rotatable member, and a speed reducing transmission gear connecting said rotatable member with one of said actuator members for variably turning the screw threads of one of said actuator members with relation to the screw threads of the other actuator member to vary the relative adjustment of said actuator members.

10. A device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle comprising two actuator members having screw threaded connections with each other, said members being movable as a unit to impart movement to said shaft and being relatively adjustable by means of said threaded connection to vary the amplitude of said movement, a rotatable member, a speed reducing transmission gear connecting said rotatable member with one of said actuator members for variably turning the screw threads of one of said actuator members with relation to the screw threads of the other actuator member to vary the relative adjustment of said actuator members, and means co-acting with said rotatable member for locking said actuator members in adjusted position.

11. A device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle comprising two actuator members having screw threaded connections with each other, said members being movable as a unit to impart movement to said shaft and being relatively adjustable by means of said threaded connection to vary the amplitude of said movement, a rotatable adjusting shaft, means for locking said shaft in adjusted angular position, intermeshing gear wheels connecting said shaft with one of said actuator members for variably turning the screw threads of said actuator member with relation to the screw threads of the other actuator member to vary the relative adjustment of said actuator members, said gear wheels remaining in mesh throughout the range of unitary movement of said actuator members whereby said locking means is eifective to lock the first mentioned actuator member in adjusted angular position.

12. In a device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle, an axially movable actuator adjustable in length and including relatively displaceable parts, a member movable by and in degree proportionally to the length of said actuator, and a member rotatable about an axis located externally of said actuator operable to variably displace said parts for varying the length of the latter.

13. In a device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle, an axially movable actuator adjustable in length and including relatively displaceable parts, a member movable by and in degree proportionally to the length of said actuator, a member rotatable about an axis located ex-- ternally of said actuator operable to variably dis-- place said parts for varying the length of the:

actuator, and means to lock said rotatable mem-' her and said actuator in adjusted position.

14. In a device for turning a shaft through a.

predetermined angle, actuatable members having. screw threaded connection with eachother and. movable as a unit to impart movement to said. shaft, one of said members being rotatable relatively to the other member to vary the adjustment of the screw threaded connection, means for imparting rotary movement to said rotatable member, and an annular detent on said rotatable member, and a pawl engageable in said detent.

15. In a device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle, actuatable members having screw threaded connection with each other and movable as a unit to impart movement to said shaft, one of said members being rotatable relatively to the other member to vary the adjustment of the screw threaded connection, means for imparting rotary movement to said rotatable member, an annular detent on said rotatable member, a pawl engageable in said detent, and an annular pawl operating cam on said rotatable member.

ROBERT DEMIEULENAERE. MARCEL DEMEULENAERE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS