US3588340A - Paddle key - Google Patents

Abstract

A TELEGRAPH KEY OF THE PADDLE TYPE IS PROVIDED WHICH IS PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE WITH AN ELECTRONIC KEYER WHEREIN THE PADDLE IS PROVIDED WITH A CROSSMEMBER AGAINST WHICH A SPRING MOUNTED PLATE PRESSES. THE SPRING MOUNTED PLATE CENTERS THE KEYING PADDLE AND ADJUSTMENTS ARE PROVIDED FOR TENSION AND INDIVIDUALLY FOR THE ARC THROUGH WHICH THE PADDLE MOVES FOR MAKING DOTS AND DASHES.

Description

l l. States tn [H1395 3 [72] Inventor Merritt A. Clover [56] References Cited 2234 Fernwood Court, Hayward, Calif. UNITED STATES PATENTS [211 App]. No. 832,0d5 {22] Filed lflumlhww 3,166,638 1/1965 Hills 178/108 [45} Patented June 28, 1971 Primary Examiner-William C. Cooper Assistant Examiner-William A. Helvestine Attorney-Eckhoff and l-loppe AESTRACT: A telegraph key of the paddle type is provided [54] PADDLE KEY whichis particularly adapted for use with an electronic keyer wherein the paddle IS provided with a crossmember against 5 Claims, i Drawing Figs.

which a spring mounted plate presses. The spring mounted [52] [1.8. Ci 178/108 plate centers the keying paddle and adjustments are provided l ll-ll0ll1 21/86 for tension and individually for the are through which the pad- [SO] Field of Search 178/108 dle moves for making dots and dashes.

PATENTEU JUH28 I9?! ATTONEV5 mnuLEitEv SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Electronic keyers have become popular in recent years since they greatly facilitate telegraphic communication by providing the proper length, spacing and repetition rate of the elements constituting a code character. Many such keyers incorporate memory elements so that one element of a code character can be keyed into the device while the previous element is still being sent, yet the device will provide the proper space and element length. In order to actuate such keyers, a form of telegraph key must be used which has individual contacts for the dots and dashes. The keyers heretofore proposed have been largely unsatisfactory since it is difficult to set them up to provide for the exact characteristics or feel desired by the user. Further, such devices have suffered from the defect that even if they are once properly adjusted, they rapidly get out of adjustment.

The paddle key of the present invention, is of rugged con struction and allows the operator to readily adjust the desired degree of tension and the key will maintain this adjustment for long periods of time. Further, the moving parts of the key are of very light construction facilitating rapid sending. Additionally, the distance through which the paddle moves to form the dots and dash characters can be easily adjusted to suit the preference of the user and they will maintain this adjustment for long periods of time. The operator can easily make II'ldividual adjustments of the dot and dash contacts and provide for different spacing between the dot and dash contacts if this is desired.

The key is provided with antifriction bearings so that it is extremely light to the touch. Locking means are provided for the paddle arm bearings, the spring plate bearings and all of the various adjustments so that once adjusted, the key will stay in a condition of adjustment almost indefinitely. The key is provided with a heavy base so that it is not necessary to fasten it down while the paddle arm itself is preferably made of light metal, such as aluminum, so that it has the minimum ofinertia.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of a keyer embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view ofthe keyer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation ofthe keyer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 ofFIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The keyer of the present invention includes a base generally designated 5 having an upright 7 near one end thereof terminating in an overhanging arm 9. Mounted between arm 9 and the base 5 on ball bearings 11 and I3 is the paddle generally designated 15. Paddle 15 has an elongated central section as at 17, a finger engaging end 19 which may be provided with a suitable knob or grip 21 and a pivot end 23, the bottom and top of which are slightly dished to receive the bearings II and 13. In order to provide for the exact degree of freedom desired, the roller bearing 13 is mounted on the base 5 by means of an adjusting screw 23 having a cupped end and the adjusting screw in turn is locked when a desired adjust ment is obtained by means ofa second screw 25 which presses against a soft, metal slug 27 so that the screw 23 is securely locked in place, yet the soft metal 27 prevents the threads from being damaged.

At the pivot end 13 of the paddle there is provided a crossmember generally designated 28 having ends 29 and 31. The crossmember 28 is formed integral with the body ofthe paddle and the crossmember can be connected to the body by means of fillets 33 so that the paddle and the crossmember have rigidity without excess weight. At the ends ofthe crossmember miniature ball bearings 35 and 37 are preferably mounted.

In order to center the paddle, a backing plate 39 is provided which is pivoted near its bottom on bearings 41 and 43 which are adjusted by means of screws 45 and 47. These screws in turn are locked when a desired adjustment is achieved in the same manner as was previously described in conjunction with screw 23, namely by means ofclamping screws 49 terminating in soft metal slugs 51. Backing plate 39 is hardened to avoid undue wear at point of bearing contact.

Tension is applied to the backing plate 39 by means of a spring mounted plunger 53 having a tension spring 55. The degree of tension is determined by screw 57 which passes through arm 7 and which is provided with a locking screw 59. Since the backing plate 39 presses against the bearings 35 and 37 mounted on the crossarm 28, it is obvious the tension on the spring 55 will result in centering the paddle. At the same time, the paddle can be moved to the right or the left freely and as the paddle is moved, one of the bearings will be brought out of contact with the backing plate but that as soon as one releases the paddle, it will immediately return to the center position by means of the spring action.

In order to provide the key circuit, insulated dot and dash contacts, respectively 61 and 63 are provided on opposite sides of the paddle arm at a convenient point intermediate to pivot point and the terminal end of the paddle. Since these are mirror images of each other, only one is described in detail. For this purpose an insulated post 65 is provided having a suitable electrical contact 67 at the bottom of the base. The insulated post 65 is threaded to receive a screw 69 which has a head 71 and an electrical contact, preferably a silver 73. The threads on the post are pinched in as at 75 so that the screw will be gripped and will stay in adjustment once the desired adjustment is achieved. In the embodiment illustrated, the paddle arm was made of aluminum which was drilled and with a brass slug 77 inserted therein to which silver contacts as at 79 are soldered on both sides. Obviously other methods offasten ing the contacts to the arm could be employed.

Different operators desire different degrees of tension on the key and also different angles of throw. The tension on the key is easily adjustable by turning the screw 59 and once the desired tension is achieved, the screw is locked in place by means of nut 59 and the tension will be held at the desired point indefinitely. To adjust the throw, the contact screws are adjusted to the clearance desired by the operator. The amount of throw need not be the same on the dot and dash sides if the operator so desires. Once adjusted, the arc of throw will remain constant since the pinched in portion 75 will prevent the contact screws from turning.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a telegraph key which is rugged in structure, which has a rigid yet light paddle arm and which can be adjusted to an operators individual preference and maintain the adjustment indefinitely.

Although the telegraph key would lllormally be used with an electronic keyer it could, of course, be used to normally form the dot and dashes if the operator desires.

I claim:

I. A telegraph key of the paddle type wherein the paddle is actuated back and forth in a horizontal plane to engage dot and dash contacts on opposite sides of the paddle comprising in combination:

a. a base;

b. a paddle pivotally mounted on said base for horizontal motion;

. said paddle having a pivot end and a finger engaging end and being of generally elongated configuration;

d. a fixed crossmember attached to the pivot end ofthe paddle at a right angle to the long dimension of the paddle and extending for equal distances on each side ofthe paddle;

. a spring mounted member pressing against at least the extremities of said crossmember, whereby;

. said paddle is normally maintained in a centered position by said spring mounted member but can be moved from side to side against the action of said spring mounted member.

2. The key of claim 1 wherein the spring mounted member comprises a flat plate having horizontal pivots displaced from the crossmember with an adjustable spring urging said plate into contact with the crossmember.

member.

4. The key ofclaim 1 wherein the paddle is pivoted on balls.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein a dot contact and a dash 3. The key of claim 2 wherein the ends of the crossmember 5 coma are provided on opposne sldes of the paddle and are provided with antifriction bearings, said bearings providing contact between said flat plate and the ends of said crosswherein the contacts are individually adjustable.

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