US3087037A - Manually operated key for electronic keyer - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1963 w. B. HUDDLESTON 3,037,037

MANUALLY OPERATED KEY FOR ELECTRONIC KEYER Filed Sept. 23, 1960 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

MKW

ATTORNEY April 1963 w. B. HUDD LESTON 3,087,037

MANUALLY OPERATED KEY FOR ELECTRONIC KEYER Filed Sept. 25, 1960 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W////0m 15. f/udd/eJ/0/7 INVENTOR.

ZZMJW "nite States This invention relates to a device for opening and closing electrical circuits, and more particularly to a manually operated switch or telegraph key for use with an electronic keying device for the transmission of radio telegraph signals.

In the operation of radio telegraph apparatus, as commonly practiced, electronic circuits are employed including electronic keying apparatus which functions to open and close the circuits to form dots and dashes. For this purpose, it is customary to use an electronic keyer having circuits which are adapted to be separately energized and one of which when closed functions to cause the intermittent operation of the radio apparatus to produce short signals or dots while the other circuit when closed functions to cause the intermittent operation of the apparatus to produce somewhat longer signals or dashes. Electronic keying apparatus of this kind is well known and is used in conjunction with a manually operable switch or key by which the circuits of the apparatus are separately opened and closed. By the use of such apparatus it becomes unnecessary for the operator to open and close the circuits for each dot or dash which is to be transmitted, but a series of dots or dashes may be transmitted by merely holding the key in one position or the other for a suitable period. A switch or telegraph key which is to be used in this type of equipment must be of a very delicately balanced or sensitive type, in order to assure that the circuits are easily closed and opened in response to manual operation of the key and also to provide for quick opening of the circuits when the key is released. It is for the purpose of providing a key of improved construction and sensitivity that the present invention has been developed.

The invention has for an important object the provision of a key for the operation of electrical circuits embodying spaced apart contacts and a movable element positioned for manual movement into and out of contact with either of said contacts and including means for returning the movable element to a position out of contact with either of the contacts when the movable element is released.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key of the kind mentioned in which the means for returning the movable element to its neutral or out-of-contact position is designed to interpose a minimum of resistance to the movement of the element into engagement with either of the contacts, but which at the same time is efiective to move the element to out-of-contact position with a minimum of delay when the element is released.

A further object of the invention is to provide a torsion mount for the movable element of a telegraph key by which the element is moved to and held in out-of-contact position when the element is released but which is of improved sensitivity to manual movement of the element to circuit closing position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of the key of the type referred to having spaced apart contacts and a movable element supported between the contacts and including means for causing the element to move in a substantially straight path during movement of the element into and out of engagement with the contacts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a contact key of the character described having spaced apart contacts, a movable element mounted for movement into and out of contact with either of the contacts and which is arranged to assume an intermediate position between atent the contacts when released, and means for damping the movement of the element.

7 A still further object of the invention is to provide a manual operable circuit making and breaking instrument of the kind mentioned which is of simple design and rugged construction, whose sensitivity or operating characteristics are easily adjusted and whose parts are easily replaced for purposes of repair.

The above and other important objects and advantages of the invention may best be understood from the following detailed description, constituting a specification of the same, when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a central, horizontal, cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view, partly in cross-section, illustrating a modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 4, looking at the left end of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 5 looking at the right end of the embodiment of the inven tion as illustrated in FIGURE 4 and rotated ninety degrees about the longitudinal axis of the device as shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 4 illustrating a further modified form of the invention; and

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 7, looking at the left end of FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 includes a suitable support or base, generally indicated at '10, which may be formed of any convenient material, preferably of a size and weight to hold the device stationary during the operation of the key, and having an upright, front wall portion 12 upon which the operating parts of the key are mounted.

The wall portion 12 has an opening 14 therethrough and a contact and key lever supporting frame 16, of generally U shape, is mounted on the rear face of the wall '12 extending rearwardly therefrom at the level of the opening. The frame 16 is formed of suitable electrically insulating material, such as plastic, or the like, and may be attached to the wall 12 in any convenient manner,, as by means of screws 18 extending through the wall 12 on opposite sides of the opening 14 and into the ends of the arms of the frame.

The arms of the frame 16 are provided with internally threaded openings 20, within which contact elements 22 are threadably inserted, which contact elements extend inwardly of the arms, with the inner ends of the elements in spaced apart relation. Each of the openings 20 is also provided with a screw 24, provided outwardly of the outer end of the contact element 22 therein, and by which an electrical conductor 26 may be clamped to the contact element to connect the same into an electrical circuit. By this arrangement, it will be apparent that the contact elements 22 may be adjusted in the openings 20 to space the inner ends of the contact elements at any desired distance apart. The contact elements 22 may, of course, be formed of any suitable electrical conducting material, and may be provided at their inner ends with contact faces formed of silver or other suitable highly conductive material.

The frame 16 is also provided with a bottom slot 38, formed in the bottom of the U and which opens outwardly between the arms of the U, and the frame is also provided with internally threaded opposite side openings 30 opening into the slot 28, for the reception of clamping screws 32. A screw 34 is threadably inserted in one of the side openings 30, outwardly of the clamping screw 32 therein, by which a conductor 38 is clampingly engaged between the screws 32 and 34, to connect the same into an electrical circuit.

The opening 141 is formed with an external counterbore portion 40, within the bottom of which a thin, flexible disc 42 is positioned, the disc being retained in the counterbore by means of a retainer ring 44, positioned in the counterbore and removably held therein as by means of screws 46, or the like. The disc 42 is preferably formed of thin, sheet metal, and has a central opening therethrough through which a key lever 48 is extended between the arms of the frame 16, the key lever being suitably secured to the disc as by means of soldering and having attached to its outer end a suitable plate 50' for manual operation of the lever. A flat, flexible metallic spring blade 52 is connected to the inner end of the lever 48, as by means of an end slot in the lever into which one end of the spring is extended, the spring extending inwardly beyond the inner end of the lever 48 between the arms of the frame and into the slot 28, where the other end portion of the spring is clamped securely between the screws 32. The spring blade 52 may be provided with suitable contact pads 54, located for movement into and out of contact with the inner ends of the contact elements 22 by operation of the lever, to make and break electrical connection between conductors 26 and the conductor 38 through the spring.

The conductors 26 and 38 are suitably connected into electronic keying circuits of conventional construction, so that upon movement of the lever in one direction, one circuit will be closed to actuate the electronic keying device to transmit dashes, and upon movement of the lever in the other direction, another circuit will be closed to cause the electronic keying device to transmit dots.

It will be apparent that the flexible disc 14 will be effective to hold the key lever in a centralized position when the lever is released, so that the spring blade 52 will be centrally positioned between and out of contact with the contact elements 22 to open both of the circuits of the electronic keying device. Thus, in the operation of the key, the lever may be moved in one direction to close one of the circuits to transmit dashes or to move the lever into another direction to close the other circuit to transmit dots, the respective circuits being closed for as long a period as may be desired to transmit the desired signals. By the use of this apparatus, it will also be apparent that signal dots or dashes may be transmitted or by holding the circuits closed for predetermined periods of time, a series of dots or dashes may be transmitted. The invention also possesses the advantage that the contact elements 22 may be adjusted to require more or less movement of the key lever to establish contact, so that the sensitivity of the key may be increased or decreased, as desired.

A somewhat modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, wherein the supporting base 16 has been left out for purposes of simplification. In this form of the invention, the key lever supporting frame 16 takes the form of a cylinder of suitable material, such as plastic, which is attached to the supporting base, not shown, in a manner similar to that described in connection with the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 3. The cylinder 16 being provided with opposite contact elements 22', threadably extended through suitable openings in the cylinder with the inner ends of the elements positioned in spaced apart relation within the bore of the cylinder. The cylinder 16 has an outwardly opening counterbore portion 40' at one end, and a thin, flexible disc 42 is positioned in the bottom of the counterbore and retained therein, as by means of the retainer ring 44', held in the counterbore by suitable means, such as the screws 46. The disc 42 has a central opening, through which a screw 56 is extended into the inner end of a key lever 48', which extends into the bore of the cylinder between the contact elements 22', and which carry the contact pads 54', positioned for contact with the inner ends of the contact elements 22. The key lever 48' is also provided with an opening therethrough through which a damping element in the form of a flexible Wire 53 extends, which is disposed diametrically of the bore of the cylinder and anchored at its opposite ends in the cylinder wall.

The key lever 48' may be provided with a suitable operating know or plate, not shown, such as the plate 50 previously described, by which the lever is actuated.

' The contact elements 22. are suitably connected with conductors, not shown, such as the conductors 2'6, and the lever 48' is likewise suitably connected with a conductor, not shown, such as the conductor 38, whereby the key may be connected into the electrical circuits of the electronic keying device, in the manner previously described.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 is operated in thesame manner as previously described, the key lever 48' being moved in one direction to close one of the circuits of the electronic keying device and in the other direction to close the other circuit thereof, and the lever being returned to its centralized out-ofcontact position when released by the action of the flexible disc 42. In the operation of the lever 48', the damping Wire 58 will be effective to hold the lever against vibration 1which might other-wise interfere with the sensitivity of the A further modification of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, wherein a supporting frame lid" is of cylindrical shape, similar to the supporting frame 16 and the key lever 48 is supported at one end on the frame by means of a thin, flexible metallic strip 60,

extending diametrically across the frame at one end thereof and into an end slot 62 formed in the end of the lever. The lever 48' extends from end to end of the cylinder and behind one end thereof, and may be provided at its outer end with an operating know or plate, not shown, similar to the plate 5%. In other respects, this form of the invention is constructed in the same manner as the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 and is similarly operated. It will be apparent that the torsion element 60 performs a similar function to the flexible disc %2' in that it acts to return the lever 46 to a central out-of-contact position when the lever is released.

It will thus be seen that the invention, constructed as described above, provides a manually operable key for electrical circuits, which is of simple design and rugged construction, and in which the sensitivity of the key may be finely adjusted to accommodate individual requirements, and also in which the key lever is restrained against vibrational movement during its operation.

The invention is disclosed herein in connection with certain specific embodiments of the same, but it will be understood that these are intended by way of illustration only and that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a manually operable key for opening and closing electrical circuits, a support, spaced apart electrical contacts on the support, a manually movable member, a flexible element connecting the member to the support, electrical contact means on the member including an elongated flexible blade positioned for flexing movement into engagement with one of said contacts upon movement of the member in one direction of flexing movement of said element and with the other of said contacts upon movement of the member in another direction of flexing movement of said element, and vibration damping means on the support positioned for engagement with the member at a location spaced longitudinally from said element to resist vibrational movement of the member.

2. In a manually operable key for opening and closing electrical circuits, a support having an opening therethrough, spaced apart electrical contacts on the support, a manually movable member positioned in the opening and extending between said contacts, a flexible element forming a connection bet-ween said member and support to yieldingly hold the member in a central lized position between said contacts, contact means on the member positioned for movement into and out of engagement with said contacts upon movement of the member toward and away from the contacts and vibration damping means on the support positioned for engagement with said member at a location remote from said element to resist vibrational movement of said member.

3. In a manually operable key for opening and closing electrical circuits, a support having an opening therethrough, spaced apart electrical contacts on the support on opposite sides of :the axis of the opening, a flexible, disk-like e-lement connected about its external periphery to the support in the opening, and having a central aperture :therethrough, an elongated manually operable member extending through said aperture and opening and connected to said element to support the member for angular movement relative to the support by flexing of the element, electrical contact means including an e1ongated, flexible blade connected at one end to the member for flexing movement into engagement with one of said contacts upon angular movement of the member in one direction and with the other of said contacts upon angular movement of the member in the other direction and means for anchoring the other end of said blade to the support to resist angular vibrational movement of said member in either direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,204,675 Lyon Nov. 14, 1916 1,893,179 Parsons Jan. 3, 1933 2,128,427 Means Aug. 30, 1938 2,383,973 Jones Sept. 4, 1945 2,814,678 McFarland Nov. 26, 1957

Claims (1)

1. IN A MANUALLY OPERABLE KEY FOR OPENING AND CLOSING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS, A SUPPORT, SPACED APART ELECTRICAL CONTACTS ON THE SUPPORT, A MANUALLY MOVABLE MEMBER, A FLEXIBLE ELEMENT CONNECTING THE MEMBER TO THE SUPPORT, ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS ON THE MEMBER INCLUDING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE BLADE POSITIONED FOR FLEXING MOVEMENT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF SAID CONTACTS UPON MOVEMENT OF THE MEMBER IN ONE DIRECTION OF FLEXING MOVEMENT OF SAID ELEMENT AND WITH THE OTHER OF SAID CONTACTS UPON

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