Patent US3636425A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3636425A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shaft-positioning mechanism
Assignee: Zenith Electronics LLC
•
Filing: 1970-12-02
•
Granted: 1972-01-18
•
Expires: 1990-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A drive mechanism for displacing a control shaft to a preset position employs a bidirectional electric motor which is energizable through a pair of independent switches that connect the motor windings to an energizing source. A motor actuator includes a pair of spaced-apart conductive members supported for rotation with the shaft and individually connected to an assigned one of the switches. The actuator also includes a contactor having a span greater than the spacing between the conductive members and locatable to a point related to a desired preset shaft position. The contact is displaceable from a standby to an index or operating position where it engages one of the conductive members to activate a motor-energizing switch and thereby initiate displacement of the shaft toward the preset position. The activated switch is subsequently deactivated when both the conductive members simultaneously engage the contact upon their arrival at the point related to the preset position.
Inventors
- 👤 George R Dickinson
- 👤 Scott N Moritz
- 👤 Werner H Puls
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:55
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03J; H03J5/00; H03J5/02; H03J5/14; G; G05; G05D; G05D3/00; G05D3/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A mechanism for displacing a control shaft to a predetermined position, said mechanism comprising: a bidirectional electric motor coupled to said shaft and having first and second windings energizable for driving said motor in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, respectively; a source of energization for sAid windings; a pair of switches for independently connecting assigned ones of said windings directly to said energizing source; and means including an actuator for selectively activating said switches, said actuator comprising a pair of spaced-apart conductive members supported for conjoint displacement with said shaft and individually connected to assigned ones of said switches and a contactor having a span greater than the spacing between said conductive members and locatable to a point related to said desired predetermined shaft position and supported in a confronting relation to said members and engageable with one of said conductive members when displaced from a standby position to an index position to activate one of said motor-energizing switches and thereby initiate displacement of said shaft and said conductive members toward said predetermined position, said activated switch thereafter being deactivated when both said conductive members simultaneously engage said contact upon arrival at said point related to said predetermined position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A mechanism for displacing a control shaft to a predetermined position, said mechanism comprising: a bidirectional electric motor coupled to said shaft and having first and second windings energizable for driving said motor in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, respectively; a source of energization for sAid windings; a pair of switches for independently connecting assigned ones of said windings directly to said energizing source; and means including an actuator for selectively activating said switches, said actuator comprising a pair of spaced-apart conductive members supported for conjoint displacement with said shaft and individually connected to assigned ones of said switches and a contactor having a span greater than the spacing between said conductive members and locatable to a point related to said desired predetermined shaft position and supported in a confronting relation to said members and engageable with one of said conductive members when displaced from a standby position to an index position to activate one of said motor-energizing switches and thereby initiate displacement of said shaft and said conductive members toward said predetermined position, said activated switch thereafter being deactivated when both said conductive members simultaneously engage said contact upon arrival at said point related to said predetermined position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which said pair of switches comprises normally nonconductive bidirectional, semiconductor devices each having a control electrode, and said means for selectively activating said switches comprise a source of control signal applied to said control electrodes by said spaced-apart conductive members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which said conductive members have substantially identical conductive working surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which said conductive members are mounted upon and at least partially encircle said control shaft; and in which said contactor comprises a partially spherical portion for spanning said spacing between said conductors and threaded upon a rotatable spindle for displacement along the axis of said spindle to a location related to said predetermined shaft position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A mechanism as set forth in claim 4 in which said contactor further includes a planar portion disposed in abutting relation to a rotation-arresting member so that rotation of said spindle displaces said contactor along the axis of said spindle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A mechanism as set forth in claim 5 further including means for rotating said spindle to incrementally displace said contactor to said point related to said desired predetermined shaft position.
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) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |