Gage construction and link means therefor

Claim 2

A gage construction comprising support means, a shaft rotatably mounted to said support means and carrying an indicating pointer, an actuating element carried by said support means and having a movable part, gear train means carried by said support means and being operatively interconnected to said shaft to rotate the same, and link means operatively associated with said movable part of said actuating element and with said gear train means so that said pointer will reflect normal movements of said movable part of said actuating element, said link means having a slot therein provided with a longitudinal axis, said link means having a slide member engaged by said movable part of said actuating element so as to be moved by movement of said movable part and being disposed in said slot while being slidable and pivotable therein, said link means having spring means operably associated with said slide member to minimize rapid movements of said movable part of said actuating element that would be adversely imposed on said gear train means by causing pivotal and sliding movement of said slide member in said slot to take up said rapid movement of said movable part of said actuating element, said slide member having means for pivoting said slide member in said slot about axis means separate and spaced from the path of movement of said movable part of said actuating element and separate and spaced from said longitudinal axis of said slot during said rapid movement thereof.

Claim 3

A gage construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said link means has abutment means, said slide member having abutment means that comprises said means for pivoting said slide member, said spring means normally maintaining said abutment means of said slide member in engagement with said abutment means of said link means so that normal direct movement of said movable part of said actuating element is transmitted by said slide member to said link means.

Claim 4

A gage construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein rapid movement of said movable part of said actuating element causes said slide member to pivot on said abutment means and thereby pivot and slide in said slot without immediately transmitting such slide member movement to said link means.

Claim 5

A gage construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises a torsion spring that tends to pivot said slide member in one direction.

Claim 6

A gage construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein said torsion spring has one end bearing against said slide member and another end bearing against said link means.

Claim 7

A gage construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein said other end of said torsion spring is slidable relative to said link means.

Claim 8

A gage construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slide member is rotatably carried by said movable part of said actuating element.

Claim 9

A gage construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said link means has an end secured to said gear train means, said slot having a center line radially disposed from said secured end of said link means.

Claim 10

A link means for transmitting motion of a movable part to a movable device that is adapted to be secured to said link means, said link means having a slot therein provided with a longitudinal axis, said link means having a slide member adapted to be engaged by said movable part so as to be moved by movement of said movable part and being disposed in said slot while being slidable and pivotable therein, said link means having spring means operatively associated with said slide member to normally maintain said slide member in one position in said slot so that normal movement of said movable part will be directly transmitted by said link means to said movable device, said spring means being adapted to minimize rapid movements of said movable part by causing pivotal and sliding movement of said slide member in said slot to take up said rapid movement so that the same will not immediately be transmitted to said movable device, said slide member having means for pivoting said slide member in said slot about axis means separate and spaced from the path of movement of said movable part oF said actuating element and separate and spaced from said longitudinal axis of said slot during said rapid movement thereof.

Claim 11

A link means for transmitting motion of a movable part to a movable device that is adapted to be secured to said link means, said link means having a slot therein provided with a longitudinal axis, said link means having a slide member adapted to be engaged by said movable part so as to be moved by movement of said movable part and being disposed in said slot while being slidable and pivotable therein, said link means having spring means operatively associated with said slide member to normally maintain said slide member in one position in said slot so that normal movement of said movable part will be directly transmitted by said link means to said movable device, said spring means being adapted to minimize rapid movements of said movable part by causing pivotal and sliding movement of said slide member in said slot to take up said rapid movement so that the same will not immediately be transmitted to said movable device, said slide member having means for pivoting said slide member in said slot about axis means separate and spaced from the path of movement of said movable part oF said actuating element and separate and spaced from said longitudinal axis of said slot during said rapid movement thereof.

Claim 12

A link means as set forth in claim 9 wherein said link means has abutment means, said slide member having abutment means that comprises said means for pivoting said slide member, said spring means normally maintaining said abutment means of said slide member in engagement with said abutment means of said link means so that said normal direct movement of said movable part will be transmitted by said slide member to said link means and, thus, to said movable device.

Claim 13

A link means as set forth in claim 10 wherein rapid movement of said movable part of said actuating element will cause said slide member to pivot on said abutment means and thereby pivot and slide in said slot without immediately transmitting such slide member movement to said link means.

Claim 14

A link means as set forth in claim 9 wherein said spring means comprises a torsion spring that tends to pivot said slide member in one direction.

Claim 15

A link means as set forth in claim 12 wherein said torsion spring has one end bearing against said slide member and another end bearing against said link means.

Claim 16

A link means as set forth in claim 13 wherein said other end of said torsion spring is slidable relative to said link means.

Claim 17

A link means as set forth in claim 9 wherein said slide member is adapted to be rotatably carried by said movable part of said actuating element.

Claim 18

A link means as set forth in claim 9 wherein said slot has a center line radially disposed from the part of said link means that is adapted to be secured to said movable device.

Claim 19

A gage construction comprising support means, a shaft rotatably mounted to said support means and carrying an indicating pointer, an actuating element carried by said support means and having a movable part, gear train means carried by said support means and being operatively interconnected to said shaft to rotate the same, and link means operatively associated with said movable part of said actuating element and with said gear train means so that said pointer will reflect normal movements of said movable part of said actuating element, said link means having a slot therein, said link means having a slide member engaged by said movable part of said actuating element so as to be moved by movement of said movable part and being disposed in said slot while being slidable and pivotable therein, said link means having spring means operatively associated with said slide member to minimize rapid movements of said movable part of said actuating element that would be adversely imposed on said gear train means by causing pivotal and sliding movement of said slide member in said slot to take up said rapid movement of said movable part of said actuating element, said link means having two separate and spaced-apart abutments facing in opposite directions, said slide member having two separate and spaced-apart abutments facing in opposite directions, said spring means normally maintaining said abutments of said slide member respectively in engagement with said abutments of said link means so that normal direct movement of said movable part of said actuating element is transmitted by said slide member to said link means, said spring means causing one of said abutments of said slide member to pivot on its respective abutment of said link means while the other abutment of said slide member moves away from its respective abutment of said link means and thereby pivot and slide in said slot without immediately transmitting such slide member movement to said link means during said rapid movement of said movable part of said actuating element in one direction.

Claim 20

A gage construction comprising support means, a shaft rotatably mounted to said support means and carrying an indicating pointer, an actuating element carried by said support means and having a movable part, gear train means carried by said support means and being operatively interconnected to said shaft to rotate the same, and link means operatively associated with said movable part of said actuating element and with said gear train means so that said pointer will reflect normal movements of said movable part of said actuating element, said link means having a slot therein, said link means having a slide member engaged by said movable part of said actuating element so as to be moved by movement of said movable part and being disposed in said slot while being slidable and pivotable therein, said link means having spring means operatively associated with said slide member to minimize rapid movements of said movable part of said actuating element that would be adversely imposed on said gear train means by causing pivotal and sliding movement of said slide member in said slot to take up said rapid movement of said movable part of said actuating element, said link means having two separate and spaced-apart abutments facing in opposite directions, said slide member having two separate and spaced-apart abutments facing in opposite directions, said spring means normally maintaining said abutments of said slide member respectively in engagement with said abutments of said link means so that normal direct movement of said movable part of said actuating element is transmitted by said slide member to said link means, said spring means causing one of said abutments of said slide member to pivot on its respective abutment of said link means while the other abutment of said slide member moves away from its respective abutment of said link means and thereby pivot and slide in said slot without immediately transmitting such slide member movement to said link means during said rapid movement of said movable part of said actuating element in one direction.

Claim 21

A gage construction as set forth in claim 17 wherein said other abutment of said slide member pivots on its respective abutment of said link means while said one abutment thereof moves away from its respective abutment of said link means when said movable part of said aCtuating element rapidly moves in the opposite direction.

Claim 22

A link means for transmitting motion of a movable part to a movable device that is adapted to be secured to said link means, said link means having a slot therein, said link means having a slide member adapted to be engaged by said movable part so as to be moved by movement of said movable part and being disposed in said slot while being slidable and pivotable therein, said link means having spring means operatively associated with said slide member to normally maintain said slide member in one position in said slot so that normal movement of said movable part will be directly transmitted by said link means to said movable device, said spring means being adapted to minimize rapid movements of said movable part by causing pivotal and sliding movement of said slide member in said slot to take up said rapid movement so that the same will not immediately be transmitted to said movable device, said link means having two separate and spaced apart abutments facing in opposite directions, said slide member having two separate and spaced apart abutments facing in opposite directions, said spring means normally maintaining said abutments of said slide member respectively in engagement with said abutments of said link means so that normal movement of said movable part of said actuating element would be transmitted by said slide member to said link means, said spring means being adapted to cause one of said abutments of said slide member to pivot on its respective abutment of said link means while the other abutment of said slide member moves away from its respective abutment of said link means and thereby pivot and slide in said slot without immediately transmitting said slide member movement to said link means during rapid movement of said movable part of said actuating element.

Claim 23

A link means for transmitting motion of a movable part to a movable device that is adapted to be secured to said link means, said link means having a slot therein, said link means having a slide member adapted to be engaged by said movable part so as to be moved by movement of said movable part and being disposed in said slot while being slidable and pivotable therein, said link means having spring means operatively associated with said slide member to normally maintain said slide member in one position in said slot so that normal movement of said movable part will be directly transmitted by said link means to said movable device, said spring means being adapted to minimize rapid movements of said movable part by causing pivotal and sliding movement of said slide member in said slot to take up said rapid movement so that the same will not immediately be transmitted to said movable device, said link means having two separate and spaced apart abutments facing in opposite directions, said slide member having two separate and spaced apart abutments facing in opposite directions, said spring means normally maintaining said abutments of said slide member respectively in engagement with said abutments of said link means so that normal movement of said movable part of said actuating element would be transmitted by said slide member to said link means, said spring means being adapted to cause one of said abutments of said slide member to pivot on its respective abutment of said link means while the other abutment of said slide member moves away from its respective abutment of said link means and thereby pivot and slide in said slot without immediately transmitting said slide member movement to said link means during rapid movement of said movable part of said actuating element.

Claim 24

A link means as set forth in claim 19 wherein said other abutment of said slide member is adapted to pivot on its respective abutment of said link means while said one abutment thereof moves away from its respective abutment of said link means when said movable part of said actuating element moves in the opposite direction.