US3641413A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoelectric motor control
Assignee: Yale Industrial Products Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-16
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Granted: 1972-02-08
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Expires: 1990-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A control for an electric motor for producing a first control signal for controlling the speed of the motor and a second control signal for controlling the direction of rotation of the motor includes a pair of photocells connected in series across a power supply, a light source for illuminating the photocells, a movable mask for controlling the intensity of illumination on each of the photocells, a pair of switches and a pair of actuator members one of which is associated with each of the switches. An output terminal is connected between the series-connected photocells for producing the first control signal, the magnitude of which controls the speed of the motor, and is dependent upon the resistance of the photocells and hence the intensity of illumination acting thereon. The switches produce the second control signal. Initial movement of one of the actuating members effects activation of its associated switch to thereby produce the second control signal and further movement of the actuating member effects movement of the mask to thereby control the intensity of illumination acting on the photocells so as to control the magnitude of the first control signal. Thus, movement of one of the actuating members controls the direction of rotation of the motor associated with the control and the magnitude of movement of the actuating member controls the speed of the motor.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick F Ohntrup
- 👤 John P Truemper
- 👤 Billy C Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/72; H01H13/74; H01H13/02; H01H13/12; H01H13/14; H02; H02P; H02P7/00; H02P7/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A control for an electric motor for producing a first signal for controlling the speed of the motor and a second signal for controlling the direction of rotation of the motor comprising a housing, first and second photoelectric means mounted in said housing and connectable in series across a power supply, a light source for illuminating said first and second photoelectric means, said first and second photoelectric means having a resistance which varies in response to changes in the light intensity acting thereon, movable mask means for controlling and varying the passage of light from said light source to said first and second photoelectric means to thereby vary the resistance of said first and second photoelectric means, output means connected across one of said photoelectric means for providing a first control signal, the magnitude of which is dependent upon the resistance of said first and second photoelectric means, switch means for producing a second control signal for controlling the direction of rotation of the electrical motor, actuation means operatively associated with said switch means for effecting actuation thereof and initiation of said second control signal and with said mask means for positioning said mask means relative to said photoelectric means to thereby control the magnitude of said first control signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A control for an electric motor for producing a first signal for controlling the speed of the motor and a second signal for controlling the direction of rotation of the motor comprising a housing, first and second photoelectric means mounted in said housing and connectable in series across a power supply, a light source for illuminating said first and second photoelectric means, said first and second photoelectric means having a resistance which varies in response to changes in the light intensity acting thereon, movable mask means for controlling and varying the passage of light from said light source to said first and second photoelectric means to thereby vary the resistance of said first and second photoelectric means, output means connected across one of said photoelectric means for providing a first control signal, the magnitude of which is dependent upon the resistance of said first and second photoelectric means, switch means for producing a second control signal for controlling the direction of rotation of the electrical motor, actuation means operatively associated with said switch means for effecting actuation thereof and initiation of said second control signal and with said mask means for positioning said mask means relative to said photoelectric means to thereby control the magnitude of said first control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
A control for an electric motor as defined in claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises first and second switches, and said actuation means comprises first and second movable actuating members, said first actuating member being movable to effect actuation of said first switch and initiation of said second control signal to effect rotation of the electric motor in a first direction and said second actuating member being movable to effect actuation of said second switch and initiation of said second control signal to effect rotation of the electric motor in a second direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
A control for an electric motor as defined in claim 2 wherein initial movement of each of said actuating members effects actuation of said switch associated therewith and further movement of each of said actuating members effects movement of said mask means to control said first control signal, said further movement of each of said actuating members being through a predetermined path, said output means providing said first control signal with a magnitude which controls the speed of the motor and wherein the magnitude of the first control signal is proportional to the displacement of each of said actuating members through said predetermined path from an initial position to thereby provide an infinite variable speed control for the motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
121 words
A control for an electric motor as defined in claim 2 wherein said housing includes a chamber, said first and second photoelectric means being disposed in said chamber, said mask means comprises a mask member having an arcuate portion and a flanged portion extending from one end of said arcuate portion, said arcuate portion having an opening therein for enabling light to pass from said light source to said first and second photoelectric means, and wherein said first and second actuating members upon movement thereof engage with said flanged portion of said mask member and effect rotation of said arcuate portion and said opening to thereby vary the position of the opening and the light intensity acting on said photoelectric means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
A control for an electric motor as defined in claim 4 wherein said first and second actuating members comprise first and second longitudinally movable shafts, respectively, said shafts having one end portion thereof which engages said flanged portion of said mask member, so that longitudinal movement of one of said shafts effects movement of said flanged portion and movement of said opening in said mask member to a position which is dependent upon the magnitude of longitudinal movement of said shaft, said one end portion of each of said shafts having cam means disposed thereon for engaging with and effecting actuation of said switch associated therewith upon initial movement of said shaft.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for use with a power source having a substantially constant output and for producing a plurality of control signals comprising a housing, radiation sensitive means mounted in said housing, radiation source mounted in said housing for radiating on said radiation sensitive means, said radiation sensitive means being connectable across the power source and effecting an output which varies with changes in the radiation intensity acting thereon from said radiation source, means for controlling the intensity of radiation acting on said radiation sensitive means, actuator means for controlling said means for controlling the intensity of radiation acting on said radiation sensitive means, an output terminal connected to said radiation sensitive means for producing a first control signal the magnitude of which is dependent upon said output of said radiation sensitive means and means responsive to said actuator means for producing a second control signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for use with a power source having a substantially constant output and for producing a plurality of control signals comprising a housing, radiation sensitive means mounted in said housing, radiation source mounted in said housing for radiating on said radiation sensitive means, said radiation sensitive means being connectable across the power source and effecting an output which varies with changes in the radiation intensity acting thereon from said radiation source, means for controlling the intensity of radiation acting on said radiation sensitive means, actuator means for controlling said means for controlling the intensity of radiation acting on said radiation sensitive means, an output terminal connected to said radiation sensitive means for producing a first control signal the magnitude of which is dependent upon said output of said radiation sensitive means and means responsive to said actuator means for producing a second control signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said radiation sensitive means comprises first and second photoelectric cells connectable in series across said power source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said actuator means includes first and second actuator members movable from an initial position through a predetermined path, said movable actuator members controlling said means for controlling the intensity of radiation acting on said first and second photocells and the magnitude of said first control signal and wherein the magnitude of said first control signal is proportional to the displacement of one of said actuator members from said initial position along said predetermined path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means responsive to said actuator means includes first and second switch means, said first switch means being associated with said first actuator member and operable upon displacement of said first actuator member from said initial position to produce a second control signal and said second switch means being associated with said second actuator member and operable upon displacement of said second actuator member from said second position to produce a second control signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for controlling the intensity of radiation acting on said radiation sensitive means is a movable mask member having an opening therein for directing radiation from said radiation source to said first and second photocells, the amount of radiation being directed to each of said photocells being dependent upon the position of said movable mask member, said first and second actuator members controlling the position of said mask member.
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) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |