US2758297A - Multiple code signaling device - Google Patents

Description

u 7, i956 E. B. coNEs ETAL MULTIPLE Cona: SIGNALING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 7, 195,2

wslm Nerm ERU Vob mdr.. D rm JL WM. E Y B Aug. 7, 1956 E. B. CONES ETAL 2,758,297

MULTIPLE CODE SIGNALING DEVICE Filed May 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 N V EN T0125 f'dqal' Colzes 14211701171 gli@ MULTIPLE CDE SIGNALING DEVICE Edgar B. Cones and Earl Milton Arbuthnot, (klahoma City, (lkla.

Application May 7, 1952, Serial No. 286,646 9 Claims. (Cl. 340-348) one of a plurality of predetermined .coded impulse sequences under the control of an operator.

Prior devices of a similar nature are large in physical size so that it is impossible or extremely inconvenient to locate such `a device in a small space adjacent an operators position in an aircraft or other Vehicle. Also, these large .coding devices, because of the remote location thereof from the operator, are subject to many inherent disadvantages 'among which is the necessity of utilizing long wire runs and a large number of relays in order `to provide for remote control of the coding device. Such electrical equipment is often the source of considerable radio interference and accordingly necessitates the use of elaborate noise suppression or filtering equipment. ln addition, the remote control of available devices of this character pre- Sents the .possibility of errors inasmuch as it is impossible for .the operator to determine that the proper sequences of impulses are being transmitted or produced by the device. These prior devices are also subject to the inberent disadvantage that it is necessary to change the complete sequence ot code impulses each time a new sequence is desired, regardless of the fact that certain permutations of impulses may be common to all of the desired sequences. Further, in available prior devices, it is diiiicult if not impossible iixedly to secure code bars or other similarmembers having indicia ofthe desired intelligence to be transmitted in an immovable position.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide an improved coding device `of unitary `construction which is small in physical size so that it may `e-asily be mounted in an instrument panel closely adjacent an operators position.

Another object .of the invention is to provide a coding device Vin which any one `of a plurality of predetermined code impulse sequences may be easily and quickly selected by an operator.

It is l`a further object of the invention to provide a coding device in which code bars or other similar members carrying indicia are positively secured against motion during'the period of impulse transmission.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a coding device in which the sequence of code impulses to be transmitted -Vis capable of being changed in Vits entirety or only in part.

.A still further object is the provision of a codingdevice having a minimum of electrical parts so as to reduce both the amount of `equipment required and the amount of radio interference produced by the device.

One embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the foregoing objects includes a plurality of radially extending code bars or fingers provided with undulations representative of a plurality of dierent code impulse sequences which it is desired to transmit. The code bars 'are secured to an actuating shaft whichis rotatable to select and move `any of the plurality of -lingers or 'bars 'into operative engagement with a spring loaded Patented Aug. 7, 19.56

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contact actuating plunger assembly which is secured to a disc carrying a plurality of contact means. The disc is rotated by va motor or vother similar means so that the contact actuating plunger is progressively moved along the undulations of the selected code bar, thereby sequentially to actuate the contact means to produce 'a series of impulses in accordance with the undulations over which the actuatingplunger is moved. The shaft to which the disc is secured is Aalso provided with a plurality of axially spaced c-am members angularly displaced from each other to actuate a plurality of xed position contacts in a desired sequence representative of a group of pulses 4which may .be common to the group of impulses produced by each of the movable lingers. The shaft to which the fingers are secured is `also pro-vided with spring actuated locking means for securing the lingers in a predetermined selected position, land which is capable of being disengaged or .unlocked by the operator when it is desired to move a diierent code bar into engagement with the contact actuating means.

Other .objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from a considerationof the following speciiication in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a coding device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line v2 2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is across sectional View taken along line 3-3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 4 4 in Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is la schematic circuit `diagram showing apparatus for utilizing the tcoding device shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate the same elements throughout the several views, yand more particularly to Figs. l, 3, and 5 of the drawings., a coding device indicated generally as 10 is provided with a code selecting device, indicated generally as 12, and an impulse producing means indicated generally as 14. The code selecting means 12 includes a plurality of Iarcuate .radially extending code bars or lingers 16 having .a plurality of vcam portions or undulations 18 formed in the .uppermost edge thereof. These iingers 16 'are rigidly secured to an loperating shaft 2t) rotatably mounted in a frame member 22 which may be a Wall Asurface instrumental panel. By rotating the shaft 20, anyone of the plurality of .code fingers 16 maybe moved into operative engagement `with .one ofa pair of contact actuating assemblies 24 iu .the impulse transmitting means 14. The assemblies 24 and a ,plurality `of .contact means 26 are secured to a disc 28 which is rotated so that the actuating assemblies 24 are moved up and down in accordance with the progressively encountered cam surfaces 18 formed in the code bar 16 with which they Iare .in engagement. These reciprocating movements of the assemblies 24 sequentially actuate the contact means 26 t0 produce 1a series of impulses which are utilized in external impulse responsive apparatus.

ln .order to secure the code bars i6 to the operating shaft 20 therefor, the :upper ends of the bars 16 are interposed between a pair of vertically spaced plates 30 and 32, the lower pla-te `32. being formed with a plurality of peripherally spaced slots ,34 lwithin which the .upper .ends are received. The two .p'latestl and 32 aremoved toward each other by a pair .of nuts 36 and 38 which threadedly engage the shaft 20 so .as rigidly to clamp the plurality of lingers or bars 16 in position therebetween. A .plu-1 rality .of washers 40 are yinterposed between the nuts 36, 38 .and the plates 30, .32. The ,iingers .1.6 are maintained in their radially .spaced .relationship becauseof the provision of the plurality of peripherally spaced slots 34 provided in the upstanding edge of the plate 32.` A lower spacer-member 42 having an Vupstanding lip in which a plurality of peripherally spaced slots 44 are formed is secured to an intermediate portion of the lower edge of the bars 16 to aid in maintainingthe desired-spacing between the'code fingers 16. Anyone of the bars or fingers 16 may be easily replaced -by'merely rotatingone` of the nuts 36 or`38 out of clamping engagement Withthe plates 30 and 32 and removing theiinger V16 to be replaced.

' In order to rsecure aparticular selectedVK one of the plurality of bars 16 in a selected transmitting position, locking means indicated generally by 46jis provided." This locking means includes an annular sleeve k48 secured'to the 'shaft 20 by a machine screw 50, landprovidedat its `upper 'extremity with a plurality of `radially extending teeth 52 equal in number to the numberA of fingers16'. Ina" locking position, theiteeth' 52 (Fig. lhare received within a plurality of slots v54 formed' in a depending' lip of-a-'plate 56 which is securedto a` b'racketr58 supported onthe frame 22. The teeth 52 are maintained in locking engagementwithin the slots S4 by 'means of alconipression spring 60 which is interposed between an upper surface of the bracket 58 and the lower surfaceof a collar 62 which is secured tothe shaft 270 by means of `a pin-64 extending through saidvshaft.` The coil spring 60 urges fthe shaft 20 in an upward direction and, accordingly, maintains the teeth y52 in locking engagement within the plurality of slots54.` v

. To provide forfmoving a different cam linger or arm 16 into engagement with the contact actuating assembly 24, anl operator manually 'moves the shaft`20 in a downward direction as shown in Figs. l and 3 by a manual manipulation of a knob 66 secured to one end. of the shaft 20. This downwardrnovement olf the shaft 20 compresses the spring 60 and moves the plurality of fingers 16 into the position shown in dash lines in Fig. 3. lnthis position, the fingers 16 are moved out of engagement the shaft and roller is limited by the engagement of a collar securing pin 84 with the outermost bracket'78.

The pair of contact means 26 which are utilized to produce the impulses of current include a pair of electrical ly insulated contact arms 86 which are secured to the disc 28 so as to extend parallel to each other. A pair of contact points 88 are provided at one end of these arms to permit electrical interconnection therebetween and the other ends are insulated from each other. The innermost arms 86 are resiliently interconnected by a tension spring 90 so that these innermost arms are constantly urged into contact with a conducting slip ring 92 which is supplied with electrical energy through a conductor94 anda brush 96 (Fig. 1). The outermost arms A86 are both electrically connected to ground so that upon actuation of the shaft 76 to move upwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, a circuit from a grounded battery 98 (Fig. 5) through a code utilization circuit lill) is completed through conductor 94, brush 96, slip ring 92,' innermost arms 86, contacts 88,` and thence to ground through the outermost arms 86.4v Asthe roller 72 is Imovedover the undulations or 'cam surfaces 18 with the assembly 24 and the teeth S2 aremoved out of Y locking engagement with the slots A54. Thereupon, the operator manually rotates the knob 66 to movel adiierent one oflthe code bars 16 linto position beneath the assembly 24 and removes the downward pressure exerted upon the knob 66. The shaft 20 `is 'moved vertically upward as shown in Figs. l and 3 under the action of the coil spring 60 to place the selected linger 16 in engagement with the plunger 24 and also tol move the teeth52 into locking engagement with the plurality of slots 54. The knob 66 is provided `withan, integral pointer 68 which cooperates with a dial plate `v70 secured; to the frame 22 to facilitate proper selection of the' desired code ba'r 16. vObviously the inter-engagement of the teeth 52 with the slots 54 positively prevents,any'displacernent of tthe-fingers 16 from the selected position; s

f pulse producingmeans V`14 whichjis'actu'ated in accordance ,with `the intelligence lofe' information coded on the plurality of camfingersor'bars `16 includes the disc formed in the fingers 16, the-shaft 76 is intermittently urged upwardly to move the contact 88 positionedon the outermost arm 86 into engagement with the conta'ct88 positioned on the innermost armk 86, thereby to produce a series of impulses which may be utilized in any desired manner in the circuit 'means 100. Obviously, only lone ofthe actuating assemblies l24 will be utilized at anyone particular time, and it is within the scope of this inven tion 'to provide 'any number of assemblies 24 and contact means 26 spaced peripherally about the disrcf28.Y

In order to rotate the disc 28 and produce corresponding relative movement between the selected codedcam finger 16 and assembly 24,the disc y28 is rigidly secured to a shaft-102 which is rotatablypmountedontheframe 22. Y' Fflie'shaft 102 is preferably positioned coincident with the axis of the generation of engaged arcuate' nger 16 so that' the'curved edges of this linger and thejdis'c 70 are concentric with each other. The shaft 102.,` is rotated in a predetermined direction at a desired speed by'mea'ns of a` motor 104 (Fig. 5) which is'secur'edto a shaft 106 (Fig. l) through a pairof gears 108,1and'1/10. Obviously, the slip ring 92 which isalso secure'dfto the shft`102, ris electrically insulated therefrom b y any de-I sired meanssuch as a dielectric sleeve 112 which is inter-' posed between the outer surface of the shaft 102 and the inner surface of the slip` ring 92.A The motorf104- may compriseV any one of the numerous motors wellknown in Y the art, 'and may be either a constant speed type'j'qra type whichV is capable of being adjusted to operate fat al plurality of dilerent speeds under the control' of an op# erator.

.. Inorder to provide a rplurality or a setiuence of vent i impulses "whichis common to all Vof the plurality of? Z'liupion which4 aresecured thepair actuating'plunger l.

assemblies 24 ina positiondiainetricallyropposite each other.y These plunger Vassemblies are reciprocated in a vertical direction to actuate'the kcontact means 26 by means of a roller 72 (Fig. 1) which is held in engagement withthe upperundulatingsurface of the finger 16disposed immediately therebelow. The roller 72 is rotatably mounted between a pair of bifurcated arms 74 formed in a shaft 76. 'Ihe shaft 76 is freely mounted in a pair of brackets v78 secured to the disc 28 and is normally urged outwardly by a compression spring 80 which is interposed between the innermost bracket 7S and a collar 82 keyed to the shaft 76 adjacent the lower bracket 78. Since the coil spring 80 resiliently urges the Ashaft 76 outwardly from the center of the disc 28, the roller 72 is held in engagement with the upper surface of the linger 16 positioned therebelow. This downward movement of impulse sequences provided by the plurality of camfnf gers 16,` a plurality of contact means A114 `(Figs. ljand 4)` arefsecured to the frame 22 at spaced` positions thereon. A llowermost switch blade 116.0f. each ofthe :contacty means'114 is disposedv in alignment with one of a plurality of cams 118 which are secured to the shaft 102. The cams k118 rare displaced angularly about the axis of the shaft 102 fromfeach other so that each cam closes a circuit fromground through the contactmeans -114 associated therewith, conductors 120 (Fig. 5 ),l`v circuit means 100, and thence to .grounded battery 98. -Y The cams 118 are secured to the shaft 102 by means of set screws 122 so that any number of these cams and corresponding contact means 114 may be provided in order thatany desirednumber of vcode impulses Vcommon to each of the adjustableV series of code impulses provided by the fingers 16 may be produced. VIt should be understood that: thecurrent` impulsesV provided by fthe contact means 114 may bev either entirely dispensed with or utilized to control apparatus remote from the circuit meansl 100 in timed sequence with the production of impulses by the contact means 26.

In operation, an operator `manually depresses the knob 66 to move the shaft 20 in a downward direction against the action of the compression spring 60 so that the teeth 52 are moved out of engagement with the slots 54, and so that the cam arm 16 positioned below the disc 2S is moved out of engagement with the lowermost roller 72. The operator then manually rotates the knob 66 and the shaft 29 to a desired position as indicated by the cooperating pointer 68 and dial plate 70. At this time, pressure is removed from the knob 66 and the shaft 20 moves vertically upward as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to move the desired code bar 16 into engagement with the roller 72 positioned thereabove. Simultaneously therewith, the teeth 52 engage with the slots 54 to hold the plurality of ngers 16 in the selected position. Thereupon, the operator energizes the motor 104 (Fig. 5) to rotate the shaft 102 and, consequently, the disc 28. As shown in Fig. 3, the disc 28 is rotated in a clockwise direction so that the roller 72 passes over a series of cam surfaces 18 formed in the uppermost edge of the operatively engaged finger 16 to produce intermittent reciprocation of the shaft 76. The intermittent reciprocations of the shaft 76 intermittently close the circuit between the grounded outermost and lowermost switch arm 86 and the lowermost inner switch arms 86 to complete an energizing circuit for the coding circuit 100 which comprises grounded lower switch arm 86, inner switch arm 86, slip ring 92, brush 96, conductor 94, coding circuit 100, and grounded battery 98. Simultaneously with the rotation of the disc 28 the plurality of cams 118 close a plurality of circuits from ground through switching means 114 and the conductors 120 for energizing the coding circuit 100.

Obviously, once the motor 104 has been energized, a new permutation of code impulses may be selectively produced under the control of the operator by merely depressing the knob 66 and turning the shaft 20 to move another of the plurality of fingers 16 into engagement with the rollers 72 of the actuating assemblies 24. Also, if the common impulse sequences produced by the plurality of cams 118 is not desired, these cams may be removed from the shaft 102.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiment is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention, and that numerous other modifications may be devised by those skilled in the art which will embody these principles and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An impulse producing device comprising fixedly mounted coded cam means, movable impulse producing means in operative engagement with said fixed cam means, fixedly mounted impulse producing means, movable cam means adapted to engage and operate said fixed impulse producing means, and means for simultaneously moving said movable means relative to said fixed means to operate both of said impulse producing means.

2. An impulse producing device comprising a frame, a rst impulse producing means secured to the frame, a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, second impulse producing means carried by the shaft, a plurality of cam means movably mounted on the frame, means for securing one of said plurality of cam means to the frame in operative engagement with the second impulse producing means for actuation thereby, cam means secured to the shaft for operating said first impulse producing means, and means for rotating the shaft to operate the first and second impulse producing means.

3. An impulse producing device comprising a frame, coded cam means mounted on the frame, a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, a pair of contact means mounted on the shaft diametrically opposite each other, a pair of actuating means movably mounted on the shaft diametrically opposite each other, each of said actuating means adapted to operate one of said contact means and being engageable with the coded cam means, and means for 6 rotating the shaft to move the actuating means relative to the cam means whereby each contact means alternately produces a series of impulses under the control of the cam means.

4. In combination with an element having undulations thereon representative of intelligence, a supporting member, a plurality of contact means mounted on the supporting member, `a plurality of actuating means movably mounted on the supporting means, each of said actuating means adapted to operate one of said Contact means under the control of said element, and means for moving the supporting member to sequentially move each of the plurality of actuating means into engagement with and relative to the element for sequentially operating the plurality of contact means to produce a series of identical impulse sequences representative of the intelligence and under the control of the element.

5. An impulse generating device comprising a first impulse producing means for generating a xed sequence of impulses, second impulse generating means for generating a variable sequence of impulses, a plurality of coded cams selectively movable into engagement with the second impulse producing means to control the operation thereof, means for movably supporting the second impulse producing means in engagement with the selected coded cam, means carried on said supporting means for operating the first impulse producing means, and means for moving the supporting means relative to the first impulse producing means and the selected coded cam to produce a series of impulses including a fixed sequence of impulses and a plurality of selectively variable impulses.

6. An impulse generator comprising impulse generating means, a supporting shaft, a plurality of coded members carried on the shaft and movable into engagement with the impulse generating means, means mounting said shaft for rotary and axial movement to penmit selected coded cams to be moved into engagement with the impulse generating means, means for normally retaining said shaft in a selected rotated position with the selected coded member in engagement with the impulse producing means, axial displacement of said shaft moving the selected cam member out of engagement with said impulse generating means and rendering said retaining means ineffective so that said shaft can be rotated to select another of said cam members for engagement with said impulse generating means, and means for moving the impulse generating means relative to the selected coded member to generate impulses.

7. An impulse generating device comprising a frame, a shaft movably mounted on said frame, a plurality of arcuate elongated cam members, means for securing one end of each of said cam members to peripherally spaced positions on said shaft with the cam members extending radially outward from said shaft, impulse generating means mounted on said frame for rotation about a fixed axis, said axis being spaced from said cam members and located approximately midway between the free and supported ends thereof, and means for moving a selected one of said cam members into operative engagement with said impulse generating means.

8. An impulse generating means comprising a frame, a rst shaft mounted for radial and axial movement relative to said frame, a plurality of cantilever cam members secured at one endto said shaft and extending radially outward therefrom, a second shaft rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said first shaft and spaced therefrom, impulse generating means carried by said second shaft, and means for moving said first shaft axially and radially to move a selected one of said cam members into operative engagement with said impulse generating means, said second shaft being located at a point spaced from and approximately midway between the free and supported ends of said selected cam member.

9. An impulse generating device comprising a frame, a shaft movably mounted on the frame, locating means 7 carried on said shaft` and dening peripherally spaced positions,V a plurality of elongated arcuate cam members, one end of each of said members being positioned at said spaced peripheral positions by said locating means, means for securing said ends in said locating means to provide a plurality of peripherally spaced cantilevercarn members extending radially outward from the shaft, and impulse generating means in engagement with and movable relative to a selected one of said cantilever cammembers.

References Cited in the lile'of this patent I UNITED STATESV PATENTS Forsberg et al. May 28, .1907 Blessing Sept. 6, 1927 Mills June 12, 1928 Ennes Dec. 23, 1930 Graham Apr. 7, 1942 Masson Apr. 22, 1952

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