US3397374A - Two-piece potentiometer - Google Patents

Two-piece potentiometer Download PDF

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Publication number
US3397374A
US3397374A US651468A US65146867A US3397374A US 3397374 A US3397374 A US 3397374A US 651468 A US651468 A US 651468A US 65146867 A US65146867 A US 65146867A US 3397374 A US3397374 A US 3397374A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
rotor
substrate
gap
tongues
potentiometer
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
US651468A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Mogens W Bang
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.)
Stackpole Carbon Co
Original Assignee
Stackpole Carbon Co
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 Stackpole Carbon Co filed Critical Stackpole Carbon Co
Priority to US651468A priority Critical patent/US3397374A/en
Priority to DE19681765329 priority patent/DE1765329A1/de
Priority to GB21096/68A priority patent/GB1171034A/en
Priority to NL6807715A priority patent/NL6807715A/xx
Priority to FR1569203D priority patent/FR1569203A/fr
Priority to BE716898D priority patent/BE716898A/xx
Priority to DK331268AA priority patent/DK127082B/da
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3397374A publication Critical patent/US3397374A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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

  • a substrate supports an electrical resistance element having a curved body with a circular inner edge and laterally spaced ends, to which electric terminals are connected.
  • the substrate also supports conductive material in the area between a central opening through the substrate and the space between the ends of the resistance element. This material likewise is connected with a terminal.
  • Mounted in the opening is a metal rotor disposed in constant engagement with the adjoining conductive material and carrying an electric contact engaging the resistance element.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of the potentiometer
  • FIG. 2 is a rear view
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged central cross section taken on the line IIIIII of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a front view of a modification
  • FIG. 5 is a detail of a further modification.
  • a flat substrate 1 is formed from a thin plate of insulating material that preferably is rectangular and has three laterally spaced tongues 2 projecting from one edge.
  • This subtrate supports an electrical resistance element 3 that may be formed by applying a coating of resistance material to one side of the substrate.
  • the coating preferably is rectangular and spaced a short distance from the tongues.
  • a circular gap 5 in the coating.
  • the gap extends from one edge of the substrate at a point between the central tongue and one of the outer tongues and around to the same edge at a point between the central tongue and the remaining tongue.
  • the curved portion of the resistance material outside of a gap forms the resistance element that will be engaged by a sliding contact.
  • the outside as well as the inside of the resistance element may be curved, it is preferred that the outside be rectangular as shown because it provides a greater area of resistance material for heat dissipation and thus increases the wattage rating of the element.
  • the gap 5 can be formed in different ways. One way is to form a circular groove 6 (FIG. 3) in the substrate before the resistance material is applied.
  • the two outer tongues are covered with metal coatings 7 that are joined to the ends of the resistance element to form electric terminals for it.
  • the center tongue likewise is coated with metal to form a terminal, but this coating 8 extends inwardly between the ends of gap 5 and a short distance into the area encircled by the gap.
  • the substrate and its resistance coating are provided with an opening 10 therethrough concentric with the circular gap.
  • This opening positions and retains a rotor 11 that carries a contact 12 that is slidable along the resistance element outside of the gap and onto the inner ends of the end terminals.
  • the rotor is formed from a single piece of sheet metal, the central portion of which may be provided with several struck-out tongues 13 which, as shown in FIG. 2, are bent back through opening 10 and then outwardly to overlie the rear surface of the substrate. Or, as shown in FIG. 5, the ends of the tongues may be provided with humps .14 that snap out over the rear edge of opening 10 when the tongues are inserted.
  • the tongues engage the side wall of the opening to prevent lateral movement of the rotor, and the ends of the tongues hold the rotor in the substrate.
  • the rotor is large enough in diameter for a portion of it to be in constant engagement with the metal coating 8 inside the area encircled by the circular gap.
  • each finger forms a spring finger, some of which engage the resistance material encircled by the gap and one or more of which always engages the metal coating 8.
  • the outer end of each finger is provided with a pressed-out nib 16.
  • One of the fingers is longer than the others and extends out across the gap 5 for engagement with the resistance element around the gap.
  • the outer end of this finger 12 has a pressed-out nib 17 for engaging the resistance element.
  • each of these terminals may be provided with a stop of any suitable form.
  • the stop may be a recess, such as a hole 20, into which nib 17 will snap when it reaches the hole.
  • the rotor can be turned by any suitable instrument, such as a screw driver, inserted in the slots formed by its struck-out tongues.
  • This potentiometer is easy and inexpensive to make because it is formed from only two pieces, i.e., the coated substrate and the metal rotor with its integral tongues and contact, which can be assembled quickly. There are no separate contacts nor fastening members. The two pieces are inexpensive to make and a simple bending operation or snap action fastens them together. Furthermore, due to its particular construction, this potentiometer gs very thin and can be used in areas that are quite conned.
  • the gap is formed by a ridge 22 on the substrate 23 from the top of which the resistance coating 24 has been removed by grinding or some other suitable action.
  • a potentiometer comprising a substrate, a coating of resistance material thereon, three integral tongues projecting from one edge of the substrate, said coating having a gap therein extending inwardly from said edge of the substrate between the center tongue and one of the outer tongues and around in a circle to said edge between the center tongue and the remaining tongue to form a resistance element around the outside of the gap, conductive material on the two outer tongues joined with the ends of said resistance element, conductive material on the center tongue and extending between the ends of said gap into the area encircled by the gap, the substrate being provided with an opening through it and said coating concentric with said gap, a metal rotor rotatably mounted in said opening and disposed in constant engagement with the conductive material in said area, and an electric contact carried by said rotor and electrically connected therewith, the contact engaging said resistance element and being movable along it by the rotor.
  • a potentiometer according to claim 1 in which said resistance coating joins said conductive material along a substantially straight line extending across the substrate between said opening and tongues.
  • a potentiometer according to claim 1 in which said rotor has a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers radiating from its center toward said gap, the outer end of at least one of the fingers always engaging said conductive material in said area as the rotor is turned.
  • a potentiometer according to claim 1 in which said rotor is a single piece of sheet metal provided centrally with struck-out tongues bent through said opening and engaging the side wall thereof, the free ends of the tongues being shaped to overlap the edge of said opening remote from said resistance element to connect the rotor to the substrate, and the openings in the center of the rotor created by said tongues forming a slot to receive a tool for turning the rotor.
  • a potentiometer according to claim 1 in which said gap is formed from a ridge projecting from the surface of the substrate, with the top of the ridge free of said resistance coating.
  • a potentiometer according to claim 1 in which said contact has a projection on one side slidable against the resistance element, and said substrate is provided with a recess near each end of said element for receiving said projection to limit movement of the contact.
  • a potentiometer comprising a substrate having a rectangular portion and three laterally spaced tongues projecting from one edge, an electrical resistance element on said rectangular portion having a curved body with a circular inner edge between laterally spaced ends, said element extending outwardly from said inner edge substantially to three contiguous edges of said rectangular portion of the substrate, the substrate being provided with an opening therethrough concentric with said circular edge, conductive material on said tongues and extending inwardly into the area encircled by the resistance element and also into contact with said element ends, the inner edge of said conductive material extending in a straight line across the substrate, a metal rotor rotatably mounted in said opening and disposed in constant engagement with the conductive material in said area, and an electric contact carried by said rotor and electrically connected therewith, the contact engaging said resistance element and movable along it by the rotor.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Adjustable Resistors (AREA)
US651468A 1967-07-06 1967-07-06 Two-piece potentiometer Expired - Lifetime US3397374A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US651468A US3397374A (en) 1967-07-06 1967-07-06 Two-piece potentiometer
DE19681765329 DE1765329A1 (de) 1967-07-06 1968-04-30 Flachpotentiometer
GB21096/68A GB1171034A (en) 1967-07-06 1968-05-03 Two-Piece Potentiometer.
NL6807715A NL6807715A (forum.php) 1967-07-06 1968-05-31
FR1569203D FR1569203A (forum.php) 1967-07-06 1968-06-07
BE716898D BE716898A (forum.php) 1967-07-06 1968-06-20
DK331268AA DK127082B (da) 1967-07-06 1968-07-05 Potentiometer.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US651468A US3397374A (en) 1967-07-06 1967-07-06 Two-piece potentiometer

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3397374A true US3397374A (en) 1968-08-13

Family

ID=24612956

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US651468A Expired - Lifetime US3397374A (en) 1967-07-06 1967-07-06 Two-piece potentiometer

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3397374A (forum.php)
BE (1) BE716898A (forum.php)
DE (1) DE1765329A1 (forum.php)
DK (1) DK127082B (forum.php)
FR (1) FR1569203A (forum.php)
GB (1) GB1171034A (forum.php)
NL (1) NL6807715A (forum.php)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3448428A (en) * 1967-10-23 1969-06-03 Gloria Eichmiller Variable resistor with rectangular resistance element
JPS4977446U (forum.php) * 1972-10-24 1974-07-04
JPS5421727Y1 (forum.php) * 1976-07-09 1979-08-01
US5781099A (en) * 1995-08-24 1998-07-14 Wilhelm Ruf Kg Trimmer resistor

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1584028C2 (de) * 1966-07-29 1975-02-06 Fa. Aug. Winkhaus, 4404 Telgte Beschlag für schwenk-, oder kippbare Flügel von Fenstern, Türen od. dgl
JPH0445210Y2 (forum.php) * 1986-11-11 1992-10-23
JPH0738327B2 (ja) * 1989-12-28 1995-04-26 株式会社村田製作所 可変抵抗器
DE29703892U1 (de) * 1997-03-04 1997-05-07 ECR GmbH Elektronische Bauelemente, 90552 Röthenbach Potentiometer in Dickschichttechnik, Leiterplatte und Schleifer hierfür

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1881446A (en) * 1929-12-05 1932-10-11 Technidyne Corp Resistor
DE1036986B (de) * 1954-10-23 1958-08-21 Steatit Magnesia Ag Regelbarer elektrischer Widerstand
DE1135557B (de) * 1958-06-27 1962-08-30 Siemens Ag Drehpotentiometer, insbesondere fuer gedruckte Schaltungen
FR1318659A (fr) * 1961-12-22 1963-02-22 Steatit Magnesia Ag Résistance électrique réglable montée sur une plaque en matière céramique
US3201737A (en) * 1962-11-13 1965-08-17 Bourns Inc Gear-adjusted variable resistor

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1881446A (en) * 1929-12-05 1932-10-11 Technidyne Corp Resistor
DE1036986B (de) * 1954-10-23 1958-08-21 Steatit Magnesia Ag Regelbarer elektrischer Widerstand
DE1135557B (de) * 1958-06-27 1962-08-30 Siemens Ag Drehpotentiometer, insbesondere fuer gedruckte Schaltungen
FR1318659A (fr) * 1961-12-22 1963-02-22 Steatit Magnesia Ag Résistance électrique réglable montée sur une plaque en matière céramique
US3201737A (en) * 1962-11-13 1965-08-17 Bourns Inc Gear-adjusted variable resistor

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3448428A (en) * 1967-10-23 1969-06-03 Gloria Eichmiller Variable resistor with rectangular resistance element
JPS4977446U (forum.php) * 1972-10-24 1974-07-04
JPS5421727Y1 (forum.php) * 1976-07-09 1979-08-01
US5781099A (en) * 1995-08-24 1998-07-14 Wilhelm Ruf Kg Trimmer resistor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1171034A (en) 1969-11-19
BE716898A (forum.php) 1968-12-02
NL6807715A (forum.php) 1969-01-08
FR1569203A (forum.php) 1969-05-30
DK127082B (da) 1973-09-17
DE1765329A1 (de) 1972-04-06

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