US3596223A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Miniature variable resistance control
Assignee: CTS Corp
•
Filing: 1968-12-23
•
Granted: 1971-07-27
•
Expires: 1988-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A contactor and lead screw driven gear are positioned on a spindle within a housing. Ears on the gear extend along the spindle and interfit with notches in the contact. A seat in the housing fits in a groove formed in the tail end of the lead screw, the screw head compresses a sealing member against a continuous bearing surface on the housing, a spacer limits lead screw movement away from the seat. A bulkhead compartmentalizes the control and inhibits movement of debris and foreign particles into the electrical section of the control. Pullout strength of lead wire terminals anchored in a ceramic base is increased by sandwiching a segment of the terminals between the base and a housing wall.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald L Stuckey
- 👤 Stanley O Bender
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:20
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S338/00; Y10S338/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A variable resistance control comprising a housing, a resistance element and a collector supported in said housing, a driving member supported for rotation in said housing, a driven member disposed in said housing and engageable with said driving member, and a contactor constrained to move in said housing upon movement of said driven member, said contactor engaging said resistance element and said collector, a seat for the driving member formed integrally with the housing, said driving member having a tail end with a groove formed therein interlocking with said seat preventing axial movement of the driving member relative to the housing, and spacer means bearing against said tail end maintaining said groove in said seat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A variable resistance control comprising a housing, a resistance element and a collector supported in said housing, a driving member supported for rotation in said housing, a driven member disposed in said housing and engageable with said driving member, and a contactor constrained to move in said housing upon movement of said driven member, said contactor engaging said resistance element and said collector, a seat for the driving member formed integrally with the housing, said driving member having a tail end with a groove formed therein interlocking with said seat preventing axial movement of the driving member relative to the housing, and spacer means bearing against said tail end maintaining said groove in said seat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
The control of claim 1, wherein a spindle is formed integrally with the housing and disposed in the central portion thereof, the driven member comprises a gear journaled for rotation on the spindle and includes a pair of bosses extending along the spindle, the contactor includes a pair of notches interfitting with said bosses and a resilient arm wipingly engaging the resistive path, and termination means comprising a plurality of terminals connected to the resistive path and projecting outwardly from the housing through openings formed in the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The control of claim 2, wherein the resistance element further comprises a ceramic substrate having a plurality of notches formed therein, and the terminals each comprise lead wires having a first end secured in one of the notches of the substrate, a second end extending outwardly from the housing, and a portion intermediate the first and second ends sandwiched between the substrate and the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The control of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a spindle centrally disposed therewithin, the contactor is provided with a pair of notches adjacent to the spindle, and the driven member includes a pair of bosses extending along the spindle and through the notches of the contactor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The variable resistance control of claim 1, wherein a bulkhead is disposed between the driven member and the contactor thereby to compartmentalize the interior of the control and impede tHe movement of matter from the vicinity of the driving and driven members, to the vicinity of the resistive path, said bulkhead electrically insulating said contactor from said driving member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The control of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, said seat being integral with said lower portion, and wherein said spacer means comprises a member integral with said upper portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The control of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, said seat being integral with said lower portion, said resistance element and said collector being supported on a substrate, and wherein said spacer means comprises a member sandwiched between the tail end of the lead screw and said substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control of claim 1 wherein insulative means is disposed between the contactor and the driven member for preventing arcing between the contactor and the driving member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The variable resistance control of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion having a bore formed in a wall thereof, said driving member being disposed in said bore, and said driven member comprises a gear rotatably supported in said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
A variable resistance control comprising a housing having a spindle formed therewithin, a resistive element and a collector supported in said housing, a lead screw supported for rotation in said housing, a driven member supported for movement in said housing upon rotation of said lead screw, and a contactor member disposed around said spindle and constrained to move in said housing upon movement of said driven member, said contactor engaging said resistance element and said collector, one of said members being provided with a pair of ears and the other of said members being provided with a pair of ear receiving notches whereby cooperation of said ears and said ear receiving notches interlock the contactor member and the driven member, said pair of ears projecting axially along the spindle and bearing thereagainst, whereby said spindle provides structural reinforcement for said ears and prevents deformation of said ears radially inwardly and out of said notches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
154 words
A variable resistance control comprising a housing having a spindle formed therewithin, a resistive element and a collector supported in said housing, a lead screw supported for rotation in said housing, a driven member supported for movement in said housing upon rotation of said lead screw, and a contactor member disposed around said spindle and constrained to move in said housing upon movement of said driven member, said contactor engaging said resistance element and said collector, one of said members being provided with a pair of ears and the other of said members being provided with a pair of ear receiving notches whereby cooperation of said ears and said ear receiving notches interlock the contactor member and the driven member, said pair of ears projecting axially along the spindle and bearing thereagainst, whereby said spindle provides structural reinforcement for said ears and prevents deformation of said ears radially inwardly and out of said notches.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
102 words
The control of claim 10, wherein the housing includes a pair of spaced, substantially parallel walls, a first one of said walls is provided with a bore and a bearing surface surrounding the bore, the housing further includes a driving member retaining means formed integrally therewith adjacent the second one of said walls, and the driving member comprises a lead screw disposed in said bore having a headed portion adjacent the bearing surface and a tail end with a groove formed therein interfitting with the driving member retaining means whereby the lead screw is restrained from axial movement relative to the housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The control of claim 10, wherein an insulative bulkhead compartmentalizes the interior of the housing thereby, to substantially isolate the driving member and driven member from the remainder of the interior of the housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
A variable resistance control comprising a housing, a spindle supported within said housing, a resistive element and a collector supported in said housing, a contactor driver disposed around said spindle, a driving member disposed radially outwardly from said contactor driver and engaging said contactor driver, a contactor disposed around said spindle and constrained to move upon movement of said contactor driver, said contactor engaging the resistance element and the collector and having a surface facing said driving member, and insulative means disposed between the contactor and the contactor driver and constrained to move upon movement of said contactor driver preventing arcing between the contactor and the driving member and preventing movement of foreign particles between the driving member and the contactor, said insulative means shielding said surface from exposure to said driving member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
133 words
A variable resistance control comprising a housing, a spindle supported within said housing, a resistive element and a collector supported in said housing, a contactor driver disposed around said spindle, a driving member disposed radially outwardly from said contactor driver and engaging said contactor driver, a contactor disposed around said spindle and constrained to move upon movement of said contactor driver, said contactor engaging the resistance element and the collector and having a surface facing said driving member, and insulative means disposed between the contactor and the contactor driver and constrained to move upon movement of said contactor driver preventing arcing between the contactor and the driving member and preventing movement of foreign particles between the driving member and the contactor, said insulative means shielding said surface from exposure to said driving member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The control Of claim 13, wherein the housing includes a spindle centrally disposed therewithin, the contactor is provided with a pair of notches adjacent to the spindle, and the contactor driver includes a pair of bosses extending along the spindle and through the notches of the contactor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-26 | 1975-01-25 | 1975-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-26 | 1979-01-25 | 1979-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-26 | 1983-01-25 | 1983-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |