US2863030A - Variable resistors and potentiometers - Google Patents

Variable resistors and potentiometers Download PDF

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Publication number
US2863030A
US2863030A US655456A US65545657A US2863030A US 2863030 A US2863030 A US 2863030A US 655456 A US655456 A US 655456A US 65545657 A US65545657 A US 65545657A US 2863030 A US2863030 A US 2863030A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
bush
base
contact
potentiometers
shaft
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US655456A
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English (en)
Inventor
Page Victor Arthur William
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Plessey Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Plessey Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Plessey Co Ltd filed Critical Plessey Co Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2863030A publication Critical patent/US2863030A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01C—RESISTORS
    • H01C10/00—Adjustable resistors
    • H01C10/16—Adjustable resistors including plural resistive elements
    • H01C10/20—Contact structure or movable resistive elements being ganged
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01C—RESISTORS
    • H01C10/00—Adjustable resistors
    • H01C10/30—Adjustable resistors the contact sliding along resistive element
    • H01C10/32—Adjustable resistors the contact sliding along resistive element the contact moving in an arcuate path

Definitions

  • This invention relates to variable resistors and potentiometers and provides an improved construction in which the electrically operative elements are combined in a self-contained sub-assembly ready for the insertion of an actuating spindle.
  • the resistor or potentiometer comprises a base or stator element, in one face of which a circular or part-circular resistance track and a circular or part-circular contact ring or ring segment are arranged substantially concentrically around a central guide bore extending through the base.
  • a movable contact element adapted to connect selected point of the resistance track with the contact ring or segment, is rotatable by a bush member extending through and journalled in the guide bore of the base, and is secured against axial movement out of said bore by a self-locking clip device or other locking member at the back of the base, and preloaded resilient means acting axially between the face of the resistance track and contact ring or segment and the bush member are provided for maintaining the bush member in the axial position determined by the locking member.
  • These resilient means maintain a predetermined contact pressure between the contact element and the resistance track and contact ring or segment.
  • the bush member has an axial bore for the insertion of an operating shaft or other operating member and means for coupling the hush with said shaft, or the like, for common rotation. These coupling means are preferably so constructed that they freely allow axial movement of the spindle relative to the bush.
  • FIG. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the subassembly containing the electrically operative elements
  • Fig. 2 is an underneath plan view
  • Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing a complete resistor or potentiometer
  • Fig. 4 similarly shows two resistors or potentiometers actuated by a common shaft for ganged control
  • Fig. 5 shows two resistors or potentiometers arranged similarly for individual adjustment by coaxial shafts
  • Fig. 6 shows a simplified complete resistor or potentiometer suitable for use in preset circuits.
  • a base or stator element 1 made of insulating material, for example of a phenol-formaldehyde plastic, carries on one of its faces a part-annular resistance track 2 and, concentric therewith a contact ring 3, both accommodated in suitable groove-like recesses.
  • a movable contact element for co-operation with the track 2 and contact ring 3 is constituted by a resilient contact carrier 4, which is equipped with contact brushes 5 and 6 respectively engaging the tracks 2 and 3.
  • a hub member or bush 7 extending through and guided in a central cylindrical aperture 8 of the base 1 is provided with a flange 9 which faces the tracks 2 and 3 in spaced relation.
  • the contact carrier 4' is located relative to the bush 7, so as to maintain the brushes 5 and 6 in respective engagement with the tracks 2 and 3, by an eccentric portion 19 of the bush and by being formed at diametrically opposite .points with upwardly (with reference to Fig. 1) decesses 11 of the flange 9, thus coupling the contact carrier with the hub for common rotation; the curved back of the contact carrier is supported against the flange 9, so that its resilience in conjunction with the spacing between this flange and the base 1 determines the contact pressure by which the brushes 5 and 6 are applied to the tracks 2 and 3.
  • This spacing is determined by a stop in the form of washer 12 of resilient metal provided with internally projecting tongues 13 which are deflected or, since preferably a washer having pre-bent teeth is employed, further deflected as the washer is forced onto the bush 7.
  • This sliding-on movement is limited by the abutment of the end face 20 of eccentric bush portion 19 against the face of the base 1 or contact ring 3.
  • a plain metal washer 14 is preferably inter posed between the washer 12 and the back of the base 1
  • An axially projecting lug 15 suitable for the operation of an on/off switch and a radially projecting stop lug 16 may be provided at the back of the flange 9 as shown.
  • the base 1 is provided with electric terminal strips 21 and 22 respectively connected to the two ends of the resistance track 2 and a further terminal strip 23 connected to contact track 3.
  • the bore 17 of the bush 7 is preferably a through bore as shown in Fig. 3, provided with internally projecting axially extending coupling ribs, for example in form of serrations 18 extending from the back surface of the flange 9 through about half the length of the bush 7.
  • the sub-assembly just described comprises all those elements which affect the electrical characteristics of a complete variable resistor or potentiometer. It has the advantage over known devices that it can be combined with an actuating shaft in such manner that the application pressure of the contact members 5, 6 is not affected by movement of the shaft relative to the base, and that therefore considerable tolerances in the length of the shaft are permissible.
  • Fig. 3 shows a complete resistor suitable for singlehole fixing in a radio chassis, incorporating this subassembly.
  • the circular rear portion 29 of the base 1 fits into a recessed step 30 of the housing base 27, and a housing cap 31, having two clip arms 32 extending longitudinally and accommodated in suitable notches 33 (Fig. 2) in the circumference of base 1 and housing base 27, complete the assembly.
  • Fig. 4 shows a similar arrangement, in which however two sub-assemblies, each as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are mounted on a common shaft 24a.
  • each unit may be enclosed in a separate housing, the cap 31a of the housing for the inner unit having a hole through which the shaft can pass, and carrying a light housing base 27a for the outer unit.
  • the shaft 24 has a fluted portion 25a which extends from the serrated part of the bush of the inner unit through the Whole length of the bush 7 of the outer unit.
  • the two units are similarly arranged and housed,.but the shaft 24b of the inner unit is bored longitudinally to accommodate rotatably a reduced-diameter'spindle part 124a of a second shaft 112 for the actuation of the outer unit.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates a very simple embodiment, it particularly intended for use as. a pre-set resistor o k I tentiometer.
  • the shaft is constituted by a plug integral with a moulded-plastic setting knob which extends through a hole in the housing cap 310.
  • the knob is made-of reasonably soft plastic, for example polythene, and the bush member of hard plastic, for example a phenolic-resin composition, it is not necessary for the plug 34 to be'fluted in manufacture, since the serrations 18 will bite into the surface of the plug when the same is forced into the bore of the bush.
  • the knob 35 may be provided With a flange or car 36 which is held captive between the housing cap 31c and the flange Z of the bush '7.
  • the housing cap 31c has screw-threaded bosses 37, by which it can be attached to the back of a panel or like wall.
  • a variable resistor device comprising a base member of insulating material having two parallel surfaces, a guide bore extending therethrough to interconnect said surfaces, and a resistor track and a contact track both arranged at one of' said surfaces, substantially concentrically with said bore, a bush of insulating material extending through said here and having an end projecting from the surface containing said tracks, said end being formed with a circumferential shoulder in contact with said surface and with an abutment flange spaced from said surface and extending radially yond said shoulder, a movable contact element rotatably guided on said bush between said shoulder and said abutment flange and having two contact points and a support point, said contact points respectively resting on said contact track and on said resistance track, and said support point resting against said abutment flange and being resiliently movable axially of the bush towards and away from said contact points, and a thrust collar co-operating with the other said surface of the base member and having resilient locking legs extending from said collar
  • a device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a bearing member having locating means co-operating with the circumference of the base member for ensuring alignment of saidbearing member with the bore of the base member.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Adjustable Resistors (AREA)
US655456A 1956-02-16 1957-02-04 Variable resistors and potentiometers Expired - Lifetime US2863030A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB482656A GB842607A (fr) 1956-02-16 1956-02-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2863030A true US2863030A (en) 1958-12-02

Family

ID=33042162

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US655456A Expired - Lifetime US2863030A (en) 1956-02-16 1957-02-04 Variable resistors and potentiometers

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US2863030A (fr)
DE (1) DE1097532B (fr)
FR (1) FR1166233A (fr)
GB (1) GB842607A (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3728511A (en) * 1972-01-31 1973-04-17 Mallory & Co Inc P R Control with rotor and shaft assembly
US4114131A (en) * 1976-03-02 1978-09-12 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Variable resistor
DE3008814A1 (de) * 1979-03-27 1980-10-09 Alps Electric Co Ltd Veraenderbarer miniaturisierter widerstand (potentiometer) fuer abstimmgeraete, kanalwaehler u.dgl.
US10777341B2 (en) 2018-07-25 2020-09-15 Denso International America, Inc. Potentiometer toggle switch

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1356634A (en) * 1919-10-20 1920-10-26 Dictograph Products Corp Rheostat for telephonic instruments
US1624038A (en) * 1925-07-02 1927-04-12 Carter Radio Company Rheostat
US1773609A (en) * 1925-04-06 1930-08-19 Gen Electric Rheostat
US2145953A (en) * 1934-04-21 1939-02-07 Chicago Telephone Supply Co Variable resistance device
US2401037A (en) * 1942-11-12 1946-05-28 Mallory & Co Inc P R Variable resistance device

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB556464A (en) * 1942-03-02 1943-10-06 Morgan Crucible Co Improvements in or relating to variable electric resistances
GB571458A (en) * 1944-02-22 1945-08-24 Morgan Crucible Co Improved variable electrical resistance
US2572651A (en) * 1950-05-11 1951-10-23 Clarostat Mfg Co Inc Control

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1356634A (en) * 1919-10-20 1920-10-26 Dictograph Products Corp Rheostat for telephonic instruments
US1773609A (en) * 1925-04-06 1930-08-19 Gen Electric Rheostat
US1624038A (en) * 1925-07-02 1927-04-12 Carter Radio Company Rheostat
US2145953A (en) * 1934-04-21 1939-02-07 Chicago Telephone Supply Co Variable resistance device
US2401037A (en) * 1942-11-12 1946-05-28 Mallory & Co Inc P R Variable resistance device

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3728511A (en) * 1972-01-31 1973-04-17 Mallory & Co Inc P R Control with rotor and shaft assembly
US4114131A (en) * 1976-03-02 1978-09-12 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Variable resistor
DE3008814A1 (de) * 1979-03-27 1980-10-09 Alps Electric Co Ltd Veraenderbarer miniaturisierter widerstand (potentiometer) fuer abstimmgeraete, kanalwaehler u.dgl.
US10777341B2 (en) 2018-07-25 2020-09-15 Denso International America, Inc. Potentiometer toggle switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1166233A (fr) 1958-11-04
GB842607A (fr) 1960-07-27
DE1097532B (de) 1961-01-19

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