US3235208A

US3235208A - Panel mounting means for trimmer potentiometers and the like

Info

Publication number: US3235208A
Application number: US294320A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond C Root
Original assignee: Dale Electronics Inc
Current assignee: Dale Electronics Inc
Priority date: 1963-07-11
Filing date: 1963-07-11
Publication date: 1966-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-15

Description

Feb. 15, 1966 OOT 3,235,208

R. C. R PANEL MOUNTING MEANS FOR TRIMMER POTENTIOMETERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 11, 1965 INVENTOR. ,eAwo/vflaeoor United States Patent 3,235,208 PANEL MOUNTING MEANS FGR TRIMMER POTENTIOMETERE AND THE LIKE Raymond C. Root, Columbus, Nehru, assignor to Dale Electronics, Inc., Columbus, Nebr. Filed July 11, 1963, Ser. No. 294,320 Claims. (Cl. 24827) The linear-type otentiometers are characteristically equipped with an elongated leadscrew which has a head portion that extends through one end of the potentiometer housing. The resistance in the circuit in which the potentiometer is connected is adjusted in typical fashion by rotating the leadscrew head to effect the actuation of the movable parts within the potentiometer housing. It is often desirable to mount such a potentiometer adjacent an access opening in a panel board wherein the potentiometer is located on one side of the board and operation of the leadscrew head is effected through the access opening from the other side of the board. Various devices have been designed to effect the connection of such a potentiometer to a panel board. The problems encountered in so mounting a potentiometer involve variations in the thickness of the panel boards and the positive control over movement of the leadscrew element.

Therefore, a principal object of this invention is to provide a panel mounting means for trimmer potentiometers and the like which is easily adaptable to all conventional linear-type potentiometers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a panel mounting means for trimmer potentiometers and the like which is easily adapted to panels of different thicknesses.

A still object of this invention is to provide a panel mounting means for trimmer otentiometers and the like which is comprised of a minimum number of elements to minimize the cost of production and to minimize the possibility of malfunction.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a panel mounting means for trimmer potentiometers and the like which can be installed and operated with a minimum number of conventional tools.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of the device of this invention showing alternate forms of spring elements;

FIGURE 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the assembled components of this invention;

FIGURE '3 is a view of the assembled components of this invention as mounted on a panel board and as viewed from the right of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an alternate spring element that is used in the device of this invention.

The numeral 10 generally designates a trimmer potentiometer housing having a top 12, a bottom 14, sides 16,

a forward end portion 18 and a rearward end portion 20. Mounting holes 21 extend through the housing for a purpose to be described hereafter. The resistance afforded by the potentiometer is controlled through a conventional leadscrew 22 which is rotatably mounted within the housing and which has a head portion 23 extending outwardly from the housing through the forward end portion 18. A conventional slot 24 appears in the outer face of the leadscrew head 23.

A U-shaped mounting bracket 26 of plastic or other desirable material includes

parallel sides

28 and 30 which have aligned mounting holes therein which are adapted to register with the mounting holes 21 in potentiometer housing 10 for a purpose to be described hereafter. The end portion 32 of the mounting bracket 26 connects one end of the two

parallel sides

28 and 30.

The internal shape of the U-shaped mounting bracket 26 is such that it can receive the exterior shape of the potentiometer housing 10. When the potentiometer housing is inserted within the side and end portions of the mounting bracket 26, rivets 33 can be inserted through the registering

holes

21 and 31 in the housing and bracket, respectively, to effect the rigid connection between the housing and the bracket.

The threaded bore 34 appears on the longitudinal axis of mounting bracket 26 and extends through the end portion 32 thereof. A hollow externally threaded stud shaft 36 with a hexagonally-shaped nut or head portion 38 on its outer end is adapted to be threadably received within the threaded bore 34 of bracket 26. A washer 39 is adapted to encircle the stud shaft 36 and is normally positioned adjacent the inner face of the head portion thereof. A center bore 40 extends through the stud shaft 36 and a shoulder 42 is tapered outwardly and towards the center of the bore 40 as shown in FIGURE 2. A cylindrical adapter 44 is rotatably mounted within the bore 46 of stud shaft 36 and has a tapered shoulder 46 which is complementary in shape to the tapered shoulder 42 at the end of the stud shaft. As shown in FIGURE 2, the tapered shoulder 46 of adapter 44 is normally in engagement with the tapered shoulder 42 of stud shaft 36. Slots 48 and 50 appear in opposite ends of the adapter 44. A coil spring 52 has its end portions terminating in parallel arms 54 and 56. An alternate form of spring 58 is comprised of a plurality of corrugations 59. The opposite ends of corrugated spring 58 terminate in parallel lip portions 60 and 62. The arm 54 of coil spring 52 is adapted for reception in the slot 50 of adapter 44 and the arm 56 of the coil spring is adapted for reception in the slot 24 of the leadscrew head 23. Similarly, the lip portion 60 of corrugated spring 58 is adapted for reception in the slot 50 of adapter 44, and the lip portion 62 is adapted for reception within the slot 24 of the leadscrew head 23. A conventional panel board 64 is shown in phantom in each of the three figures of the drawing.

The normal operation of the device of this invention is as follows: The potentiometer housing is mounted within the mounting bracket 26 in the manner described. The Washer 39 is placed in an embracing position on stud shaft 36 and the adapter element 44 is deposited within the center bore 40 of the stud shaft to achieve the position described above and shown in FIGURE 2. One of the other of

springs

52 or 58 are placed in engagement with the slot 50 of the adapter 44 in the manner described. The threaded end of the stud shaft 36 is then inserted through the access opening 66 in the panel board 64 and is threadedly received within the threaded bore 34 in the mounting bracket 26. The elongated condition of the

springs

52 or 58 normally permits the arms 56 or the lip 62 to extend beyond the threaded end of the stud shaft 36. This structure facilitates the placing of the arm 56 (or the lip portion 62) in the slot 24 of the leadscrew head 23. The continued rotation of the stud shaft 36 into the bore 34 of the mounting bracket can be effected by placing a tool on the head 38 of the stud shaft. The continued tightening of the stud shaft in this manner will cause the spring 52 (or the spring 58) to become compressed as shown in FIGURE 2. Because the cylindrical adapter element 44 is permitted to rotate within the bore 40 of the stud shaft, the position of the stud shaft does not effect any rotation of the adapter element 44 or the leadscrew 22. The stud shaft 36 is tighted until the washer 39 and head 38 of the stud shaft act with the mounting bracket to rigidly embrace the panel board 64.

The operation of the leadscrew 22 is thereupon effected by inserting a tool into the slot 43 of adapter element 44 and rotating the adapter element to the degree desired. It is therefore seen that this device is adaptable to panel boards of varying thicknesses, and yet provides effective control of the leadscrew element.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my panel mounting means for trimmer potentiometers and the like without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure of use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a panel mounting means for trimmer potentiometers and the like,

a housing having an exterior end portion,

a leadscrew rotatably mounted in said housing,

a head portion on said leadscrew communicating with the exterior end portion of said housing,

a mounting bracket secured to said housing and having an end portion adjacent the end portion of said housing,

a bore in the end portion of said mounting bracket and in communication with the head portion of said leadscrew,

a stud shaft longitudinally movably secured in said bore and extending outwardly and away from said housing,

a panel board engaging surface on the outer end of said stud shaft,

a bore in said stud shaft,

an adapter element rotatably mounted in the bore of said stud shaft,

and a spring means operatively connecting said adapter element with the head portion of said leadscrew.

2. In a panel mounting means for trimmer potentiometers and the like,

a housing having an exterior end portion,

a leadscrew rotatably mounted in said housing,

a stud shaft longtiudinally movably secured in said bore and extending outwardly and away from said housing,

a panel board engaging surface on the outer end of said stud shaft,

and spring means operatively connecting said stud shaft to the head portion of said leadscrew.

3. In a panel mounting means for trimmer potentiometers and the like,

a housing having an exterior end portion,

a leadscrew rotatably mounted in said housing,

a mounting bracket secured to said housing and having an end portion adjacent the end portion of said housing, 1

a stud shaft threadably secured in said bore and eX- tending outwardly and away from said housing,

a panel board engaging surface on the outer end of said stud shaft,

a bore in said stud shaft,

an adapter element rotatably mounted in the bore of said stud shaft,

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said panel board engaging surface is a nut element.

5. The structure of claim 3 wherein said panel board engaging surface is a nut element of integral construction with said stud shaft.

6. The structure of claim 3 wherein said spring means is a corrugated spring having end arm portions in engagement with slots in said adapter element and the head portion of said leadscrew.

7. The structure of claim 3 wherein said spring means is a coil spring having end arm portions in engagement with slots in said adapter element and the head portion of said leadscrew.

8. The structure of claim 3 wherein said spring means is a corrugated spring having parallel end arm portions in engagement with slots in said adapter element and the head portion of said leadscrew.

9. The structure of claim 3 wherein a shoulder element in the bore of said stud shaft limits the outward movement of said adapter element.

10. In combination,

a housing having an exterior end portion,

a leadscrew rotatably mounted in said housing,

a stud shaft threadably secured in said bore and extending outwardly and away from said housing,

a panel board having an access opening,

said stud shaft extending through the access opening in said panel board,

a nut integral with said stud shaft and adapted to engage said panel board and to tighten said panel board against the end of said mounting bracket when said stud shaft is threadably tightened into the bore of said mounting bracket,

a bore in said stud shaft,

an adapter element rotatably mounted in the bore of said stud shaft,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,324,947 12/1919 Wilson 251-294 2,643,528 6/1953 Hammarbach 6415 2,680,383 6/1954 Lahti 74528 3,012,744 12/ 1961 Damon et a]. 248-27 3,150,635 9/1964 Root 116-124 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A PANEL MOUNTING MEANS FOR TRIMMER POTENTIOMETERS AND THE LIKE, A HOUSING HAVING AN EXTERIOR END PORTION, A LEADSCREW ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, A HEAD PORTION ON SAID LEADSCREW COMMUNICATING WITH THE EXTERIOR END PORTION OF SAID HOUSING, A MOUNTING BRACKET SECURED TO SAID HOUSING AND HAVING AN END PORTION ADJACENT THE END PORTION OF SAID HOUSING, A BORE IN THE END PORTION OF SAID MOUNTING BRACKET AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE HEAD PORTION OF SAID LEADSCREW, A STUD SHAFT LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLY SECURED IN SAID BORE AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AND AWAY FROM SAID HOUSING, A PANEL BOARD ENGAGING SURFACE ON THE OUTER END OF SAID STUD SHAFT, A BORE IN SAID STUD SHAFT, AN ADAPTED ELEMENT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE BORE OF SAID STUD SHAFT, AND A SPRING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID ADAPTER ELEMENT WITH THE HEAD PORTION OF SAID LEADSCREW.