US3694788A

US3694788A - Electrical component control device

Info

Publication number: US3694788A
Application number: US159631A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Perrisini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-07-06
Filing date: 1971-07-06
Publication date: 1972-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-26

Abstract

An electrical device having a parameter made variable by a control assembly which includes a shaft having a helix-like thread along its longitudinal length and a wiper block having a bore therethrough for receiving the shaft. The block also includes a second smaller bore orthoganal to the first bore and contains therein a small ball held under tension and disposed to ride along the threaded portion of shaft in response to the rotation thereof. The block contains wiper means for engaging the variable parameter to provide continuity between said parameter and external circuitry.

Description

United States Patent US] 3,694,788 Perrisini 5] Sept. 26, 1972 [541 ELECTRICAL COMPONENT CONTROL 2,921,284 l/l960 Fosdick et al ..338/l80 X DEVICE 72 Inventor: Richard Perrisini, s34 Bergen Blvd., 'T Myers Palasades Park N J 07650 Assistant Examiner-D. A. Tone Att0rneyWilliam V. Pesce [22] Filed: July 6, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 159,631 [57] ABSTRACT An electrical device having a parameter made variable by a control assembly which includes a shaft having a [52] U.S.Cl ..338/180 heliHike thread along its longitudinal length and a I [51] Int. Cl. ..H0lc 1/12 wiper block having a bore therethrough for receiving [58] Field of Search "338/180 181; 336/149 the Shaft The block also includes a Second smaller bore orthoganal to the first bore and contains therein [56] References Cited a small ball held under tension and disposed to ride UNI E STATES PATENTS along the tthreagle clihpogtlionkof shaft in response to tfhe rotatlont ereo. e 00 contains wiper means or 2945199 7/1960 Mucher et "338/180 engaging the variable parameter to provide continuity l'rkendan between said parameter and external circuitry.

rouse 2,761,045 8/1956 Matthew ..338/1 80 X 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures will WWW 'HHHIH it [1. l

PATENTEDssrzs m2 ATTORNEY sistance, voltage, etc., in general employ the use of standard threaded shafts in conjunction with threaded contact blocks or wipers. For example, potentiometers of the multiturn variety employ this type of adjustable device. In such arrangement where the contact block or wiper must transverse more than one inch, the number of threads and/or turns required on the shaft becomes cumbersome and time for making adjustments tiring.

To offset such limitations it is intended to provide component controls which make adjustment resolution essentially infinite; greatly reduce the friction between the contact block and shaft so as to make starting torque negligible; increase the life of the component because of the reduced friction; reduce backlash between shaft and block because of the improved fit between block and shaft; avoid damage to control at extreme ends of block travel because of clutch simulation between block and shaft; and the controlled rotation of shaft and block is non-binding and insensitive to temperature variations.

The foregoing are some of the objects to be ascertained by the invention disclosed herein and other advantages and objects will become readily apparent from a reading of the following specification and a study of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows in perspective an electrical component or device comparable to a delay line including the control mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows in part an electrical component and control device in greater detail.

FIG. 3 shows a section through the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged section of threaded shaft.

Now describing the invention in greater detail, there is shown in FIG. 1 an enclosure 1 having a continuously elongated wound coil 2 and a control device assembly 3 mounted within said enclosure in proximity to said elongated wound coil 2.

The control device assembly 3 includes a non-standard threaded shaft 4 mounted at extreme ends 5 and 6 to the enclosure and supporting an internally threaded block-type contact movable member 7 disposed to traverse said shaft in response to the rotation thereof. The said block itself further includes a pair of internally connected wipers or contacts 8 and 9, each disposed to wipe or otherwise conductively engage coil 2 and conductive coating 10 coated along the upper inner surface 1 1 of said enclosure.

The threaded shaft 4, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, is composed of a shaft 12 about which is wound in helixlike fashion continuously along said shaft a ribbon-like strip 13 which forms a thread having a relatively large pitch across which said block may traverse. The ribbon and shaft are bonded together in any convenient fashion. This arrangement is shown as a particular assembly, other types may be made, however the object being to have a large single threaded shaft with a large pitch and one conveniently traversed by the block about to be described in eat r detail.

bserving FIGS. 2 an 3, it is seen that the block 7 itself represents an enclosure 15 having a bore 16 therethrough for accommodating and receiving the shaft 6. Another bore 17 orthogenial to and smaller in size to bore 16 penetrates said block and receives therein a ball-bearing l8 and held under tension by spring 19 so as to maintain said block in operable contact with said shaft as the block traverses the shaft in response to the rotation thereof.

Rotation of the shaft, at the extremities thereof causes the block or wiper assembly 7 to move along the race 20 which is comparable to the valley of the threaded part of shaft. The ball 18 rides along the race 20 and is held fixedly therein, being made to traverse the race along the threaded shaft in response to the rotation of the shaft. At the end of the traverse of the wiper, to the extreme ends of the shaft, the wiper or block remains there because additional rotation of shaft merely causes the ball to rotate relative to the race and smaller bore 16, with no relative movement of said wiper to the shaft. Hence, no damage will ensue to the wiper or component.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a certain preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the principle of the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

Having defined the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An electrical device having a controllable parameter comprising:

a. an enclosure,

b. an electrical component having a measurable parameter variable in magnitude,

c. control means for varying the value of said measurable parameter of said electrical component,

d. said control means further comprising;

1. rotatable threaded shaft means mounted within said enclosure,

2. wiper means which includes a block-like enclosure having a first bore receiving said rotatable shaft and second smaller bore orthogonal to and in communication with said first bore, a ballbearing contained within second said bore and held in tensional contact with said shaft along the threaded portion thereof, and disposed to ride along said threaded portion in response to the rotation of said shaft to effect longitudinal movements of the wiper.

2. An electrical device according to claim 1 and wherein said first bore is a non-threaded bore receiving in relative sliding engagement said rotatable shaft.

Claims

1. An electrical device having a controllable parameter comprising: a. an enclosure, b. an electrical component having a measurable parameter variable in magnitude, c. control means for varying the value of said measurable parameter of said electrical component, d. said control means further comprising; 1. rotatable threaded shaft means mounted within said enclosure, 2. wiper means which includes a block-like enclosure having a first bore receiving said rotatable shaft and second smaller bore orthogonal to and in communication with said first bore, a ballbearing contained within second said bore and held in tensional contact with said shaft along the threaded portion thereof, and disposed to ride along said threaded portion in response to the rotation of said shaft to effect longitudinal movements of the wiper.