Patent US3579169A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3579169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable resistor for dual operation
Assignee: Allen Bradley Co LLC
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Filing: 1969-02-05
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Granted: 1971-05-18
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Expires: 1989-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A variable resistor providing an integral assembly for dual operation comprising a pair of arcuate resistance track elements in axially spaced, face-to-face relationship and having interposed therebetween a single insulating rotor or brush carrier including oppositely facing cavities, each cavity being recessed relative to a central plane and adapted to individually receive conducting brush members. Biasing springs are provided for maintaining the brush members in electrical contact with the respective resistance elements, as well as individual terminal assemblies for each of the resistance elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence R Dickinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:00
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/30; H01C10/32; H01C10/34; H01C10/16; H01C10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A variable resistance apparatus comprising: a housing; a pair of spaced-apart, stationary insulating substrate element supported by said housing, at least one of which includes a shaft-receiving aperture; an arcuate resistance track and a conducting collector track supported by each of said substrate elements and in respective facing relationship; a rotatable shaft received in the apertured substrate element and extending inwardly of said housing; an integrally formed insulated contact brush carrier supported on the inner end of said rotatable shaft and positioned intermediate said resistance elements, said contact brush carrier containing a pair of reentrant brush-receiving cavities on opposite sides thereof and disposed angularly relative to one another, the open ends of said cavities facing respective resistance tracks and collector tracks supported by the respective substrate elements, the said reentrant cavities of said brush carrier each having a depth exceeding one-half the axial length of said brush carrier; conducting contact brushes disposed on opposite sides of said contact carrier and positioned in the respective cavities of said contact brush carrier and slidably electrically bridging the respective facing resistance and collector tracks; biasing means at opposite sides of said contact carrier disposed in said respective cavities intermediate a respective inner end of said cavities and its respective brush, thereby biasing said brush into electrical bridging engagement with said resistance track and said conducting collector track supported by the respective substrate elements; and terminal connections for said respective resistance tracks and said respective collector tracks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A variable resistance apparatus comprising: a housing; a pair of spaced-apart, stationary insulating substrate element supported by said housing, at least one of which includes a shaft-receiving aperture; an arcuate resistance track and a conducting collector track supported by each of said substrate elements and in respective facing relationship; a rotatable shaft received in the apertured substrate element and extending inwardly of said housing; an integrally formed insulated contact brush carrier supported on the inner end of said rotatable shaft and positioned intermediate said resistance elements, said contact brush carrier containing a pair of reentrant brush-receiving cavities on opposite sides thereof and disposed angularly relative to one another, the open ends of said cavities facing respective resistance tracks and collector tracks supported by the respective substrate elements, the said reentrant cavities of said brush carrier each having a depth exceeding one-half the axial length of said brush carrier; conducting contact brushes disposed on opposite sides of said contact carrier and positioned in the respective cavities of said contact brush carrier and slidably electrically bridging the respective facing resistance and collector tracks; biasing means at opposite sides of said contact carrier disposed in said respective cavities intermediate a respective inner end of said cavities and its respective brush, thereby biasing said brush into electrical bridging engagement with said resistance track and said conducting collector track supported by the respective substrate elements; and terminal connections for said respective resistance tracks and said respective collector tracks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The variable resistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein said respective brushes are of triangular configuration and include three protruding toes each being located at the respective apices of each of said brushes, one of said toes being in sliding electrical contact with said arcuate resistance track and the remaining toes being in sliding electrical contact with said collector track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
The variable resistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the brush-receiving cavities are triangularly shaped and disposed with on apex positioned for rotational alignment with its respective arcuate resistance track anD said one apex being further configured at its terminus to define planar wall surfaces lying in angular intersecting planes, said wall surfaces being normal to said respective resistance track, and said respective brushes being triangularly shaped and seated in a respective cavity with one apex being arcuately configured and in linear engagement with each of the respective said planar wall surfaces of said one apex of said cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The variable resistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end surface of the shaft-supported brush carrier includes a protruding portion spaced from said arcuate resistance track to prevent the said end surface from wiping against said track during rotation of said shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
The variable resistance apparatus of claim 3, wherein the inner back surface of each of the respective brushes is angularly disposed relative to the plane intersecting the end of said brushes in electrically bridging engagement with said tracks, and wherein the biasing means comprises an elongated spring disposed transversely of and pressing against said angularly disposed back surface to provide a resultant force acting to concurrently force the respective brush in a direction into engagement with its respective resistance track and to force said arcuately formed apex of said brush into said linear engagement with said planar wall surfaces of said cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a variable resistance apparatus comprising: a housing; a stationary insulating substrate element supported by said housing and including an interiorly facing surface supporting an arcuate resistance track and a conducting collector track; a rotatable shaft extending inwardly of said housing and supporting at its inner end a contact brush carrier; the combination therewith of; triangularly shaped, brush-receiving cavities in said brush carrier and disposed with one apex thereof positioned for rotational alignment with the said arcuate resistance track, and said one apex being further configured at its terminus to define planar wall surfaces lying in angular intersecting planes, said wall surfaces being substantially normal to the surface of said substrate element supporting said resistance track; a conducting brush seated in said cavity and having an exposed surface in slidably electrically bridging engagement with said tracks, said brush being triangularly shaped with one apex being arcuately configured and in linear engagement with each of the respective planar wall surfaces of said one apex of said cavity; and biasing means disposed in said cavity intermediate the inner end of said cavity and said brush, to thereby bias said brush into electrical bridging engagement with said tracks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a variable resistance apparatus comprising: a housing; a stationary insulating substrate element supported by said housing and including an interiorly facing surface supporting an arcuate resistance track and a conducting collector track; a rotatable shaft extending inwardly of said housing and supporting at its inner end a contact brush carrier; the combination therewith of; triangularly shaped, brush-receiving cavities in said brush carrier and disposed with one apex thereof positioned for rotational alignment with the said arcuate resistance track, and said one apex being further configured at its terminus to define planar wall surfaces lying in angular intersecting planes, said wall surfaces being substantially normal to the surface of said substrate element supporting said resistance track; a conducting brush seated in said cavity and having an exposed surface in slidably electrically bridging engagement with said tracks, said brush being triangularly shaped with one apex being arcuately configured and in linear engagement with each of the respective planar wall surfaces of said one apex of said cavity; and biasing means disposed in said cavity intermediate the inner end of said cavity and said brush, to thereby bias said brush into electrical bridging engagement with said tracks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
In the variable resistance apparatus of claim 6, the inner back surface of said brush being angularly disposed relative to the plane intersecting the end of said brush in electrically bridging engagement with said tracks, and wherein the said biasing means comprises an elongated spring disposed transversely of and pressing against said angularly disposed back surface of said brush to provide a resultant force acting to concurrently force the brush in a direction towards engagement with said tracks and to force said arcuately formed apex of said brush into said linear engagement with said planar wall surface of said cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-17 | 1974-11-16 | 1975-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-17 | 1978-11-16 | 1979-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-17 | 1982-11-16 | 1983-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |