EP0252212A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Joystick controller for three axis control of a powered element
Assignee: Warner and Swasey Co
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Filing: 1987-03-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A joystick controller (38) for three axis control of a powered element such as a probe shaft (24) of a coordinate measuring machine (10) is disclosed in which a joystick handle assembly (40) is mounted for pivoting movement along either of orthogonal horizontal X or Y axes, with a plunger (64) mounted within a hollow joystick shaft (58) for up and down movement along a vertical Z axis orthogonal to the X and Y axes. Control signal generators, such as potentiometer assemblies (84, 106, 134), are drivingly engaged with the hollow joystick shaft (58) and plunger (64), each generating control signals corresponding to each motion of the joystick handle assembly (40). These signals are used to produce corresponding controlled movement of the probe shaft (24) of the coordinate measuring machine (10) along respective X, Y and Z axes. In the first embodiment, the hollow joystick shaft (58) carries, at its lower end, a Z axis potentiometer assembly (106) which is operated by an actuator arm (112) engaged by the plunger (64). A gear rack (146) acting on rotary actuator gear (148) directly operates Z axis potentiometer assembly (106) in an alternate embodiment.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert William Brandstetter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:00
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G05G9/04785; G05G9/04788; G05G9/04796; G05G2009/04703; G05G2009/04707; G05G2009/0474; G05G2009/04748; G05G2009/04777; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20012; Y10T74/20201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A joystick controller (30) for three axis control of a powered element (24) including a joystick handle assembly (40) mounted for tilting movement in either direction along two orthogonal X and Y axis from a null position with respective X and Y signal generator means (84, 134) producing control signals corresponding to tilting movement along either axis, characterized by said joystick handle assembly (40) including a handle member (60, 144) mounted for up and down movement along a Z axis from a null position and Z axis signal generator means (106) producing a control signal corresponding to said up and down movement of said handle member (60, 144).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A joystick controller (30) for three axis control of a powered element (24) including a joystick handle assembly (40) mounted for tilting movement in either direction along two orthogonal X and Y axis from a null position with respective X and Y signal generator means (84, 134) producing control signals corresponding to tilting movement along either axis, characterized by said joystick handle assembly (40) including a handle member (60, 144) mounted for up and down movement along a Z axis from a null position and Z axis signal generator means (106) producing a control signal corresponding to said up and down movement of said handle member (60, 144).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
The joystick controller (38) according to Claim 1 further including a hollow joystick shaft (58) and means (76, 128) drivingly connecting said hollow:joystick shaft (58) with each of said X and Y axis signal generator means (84, 134) and wherein said joystick handle assembly (40) is mounted over said hollow joystick shaft (58) and further including a plunger (64) affixed to said handle member (60, 144) to move up and down therewith, and passing within said hollow joystick shaft (58), and means (112, 146) drivingly engaging said Z axis signal generator means (106) with said plunger (64).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The joystick controller (38) according to Claim 2 including a bracket (94, 150) secured to said hollow joystick shaft (58), wherein said Z axis signal generator means (106) is mounted to said bracket (94, 150) to tilt with said hollow joystick shaft (58).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The joystick controller (38) according to Claim 2 or 3 further including an actuator arm (112) engaged with said Z axis signal generator means (106) to produce said output signals upon pivoting of said actuator arm (112), and means (122, 124) drivingly engaging said plunger (64) with said actuator arm (112) to produce pivoting movement thereof upon up and down movement of said plunger (64).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The joystick controller (38) according to Claim 4 wherein said means drivingly engaging said plunger (64) with said actuator arm (112) includes an angled end (122) formed on said plunger (64) and an endwise slot (124) formed in said actuator arm (112), said angled end (122) extending into said endwise slot (124).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The joystick controller (38) according to Claim 5 wherein said bracket (94) includes a vertical slot (126) formed therein, and wherein said angled end (122) extends into said vertical slot (126) after passing through said endwise slot (124).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The joystick controller (38) according to any one of Claims 2 through 6 wherein said joystick handle member (60) is slidably mounted over said hollow joystick shaft (58) and attached to said plunger (64).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The joystick controller (38) according to any one of Claims 2 through 6 wherein said joystick handle assembly (40) includes a separate joystick handle member (60a) located below said moveable member (144) and attached to said hollow joystick shaft (58).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The joystick controller (38) according to Claim 8 wherein said plunger (64) extends within said separate joystick handle member (60a) and further including centering means (154, 156, 162, 164) located within said separate joystick handle member (60a) and acting on said plunger (64) to bias said plunger (64) to a null position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The joystick controller (38) according to Claim 9 wherein said centering means includes vertically opposing centering springs (154) acting on said plunger (64).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
lI. The joystick controller (38) according to Claim 10 wherein said centering means further includes an intermediate feature (156) fixed to said separate joystick handle member (60a) a feature (164) on said plunger (64), each of said features acted on by said opposing centering springs (154) to bias said plunger (64) to a position whereat said features are vertically aligned, said position constituting said null position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The joystick controller (38) according to any one of Claims 2 through 11 including a gear rack (146) carried by said plunger (64) and a rotary actuator gear (148) engaged by said gear rack (146), rotation of said rotary actuator gear (148) produced by said up and down motion of said plunger (64).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The joystick controller (38) according to any one of Claims 8 through 12 wherein said moveable handle member comprises an operator ring (144) attached to said plunger (64) located above said separate joystick handle member (60a) .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1560824A
Cited
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