US3676822A — Modular potentiometer

Claim 1

Independent Claim 106 words

A potentiometer module the combination comprising: a case having a front and back surface; a rotor connected to said case to rotate about an axis, said rotor having a movable contact; a collector connected to said case and disposed axially to one side of said movable contact and in electrical contact therewith; and a resistance track connected to said case and disposed axially to the other side of said movable contact and in electrical contact therewith; wherein said rotor includes a sleeve having ends which communicate with the front and back surfaces of said case and said collector and resistance track are disposed around said sleeve.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 106 words

A potentiometer module the combination comprising: a case having a front and back surface; a rotor connected to said case to rotate about an axis, said rotor having a movable contact; a collector connected to said case and disposed axially to one side of said movable contact and in electrical contact therewith; and a resistance track connected to said case and disposed axially to the other side of said movable contact and in electrical contact therewith; wherein said rotor includes a sleeve having ends which communicate with the front and back surfaces of said case and said collector and resistance track are disposed around said sleeve.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

A potentiometer module as recited in claim 1, wherein said sleeve has identical coupling means at its ends.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 51 words

The potentiometer module as recited in claim 1, wherein said movable contact comprises: a wiper which is spring biased against said resistance track by a force acting axially in one direction; and a contact ring which is spring biased against said collector by a force acting axially in the opposite direction.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

The potentiometer module as recited in claim 1, wherein said resistance track is formed on an annular-shaped base disposed around said rotor sleeve and connected to said case.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 141 words

A control the combination comprising: a bushing adapted to attach to a control panel; a shaft extending through said bushing; a coupler connected to the back end of said shaft; a first potentiometer module having front and back surfaces, said first module including a rotor which communicates with the front surface of said first module to connect with said coupler and which extends through said first module to communicate with its back surface; a second potentiometer module having front and back surfaces, said second module including a rotor which communicates with the front surface of said second module to connect with the rotor of said first module and which extends through said second module to communicate with its back surface; and a plurality of stack bolts each passing completely through said first and second modules to fasten them to the bushing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 141 words

A control the combination comprising: a bushing adapted to attach to a control panel; a shaft extending through said bushing; a coupler connected to the back end of said shaft; a first potentiometer module having front and back surfaces, said first module including a rotor which communicates with the front surface of said first module to connect with said coupler and which extends through said first module to communicate with its back surface; a second potentiometer module having front and back surfaces, said second module including a rotor which communicates with the front surface of said second module to connect with the rotor of said first module and which extends through said second module to communicate with its back surface; and a plurality of stack bolts each passing completely through said first and second modules to fasten them to the bushing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 86 words

A control as recited in claim 5, wherein said first and second potentiometer modules are structurally identical, each rotor having a sleeve which communicates with the front and back surfaces of the module and a movable contact, each module also having a collector disposed around said rotor sleeve and axially to one side of said movable contact to make electrical contact therewith and a resistance track disposed around said rotor sleeve and axially to the other side of said movable contact to make electrical contact therewith.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 179 words

A control the combination comprising: a bushing adapted to attach to a control panel and having a shaft opening extending through it from front to back; a face plate disposed around the opening at the back end of the bushing and perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft opening; a first potentiometer module fastened to the face plate, said first module having a rotor in alignment with the shaft opening axis, which rotor extends completely through the first module and has a central concentric opening completely through it; an outer shaft rotatably retained within said shaft opening and connected to the rotor of said first module, said shaft having a central concentric opening; a second potentiometer module structurally identical to the first potentiometer module and connected to the first potentiometer module, said second module having a rotor aligned with the rotor of said first potentiometer module; and an inner shaft rotatably retained within and passing through the openings in the outer shaft and the rotor of the first module to connect with the rotor of the second module.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 179 words

A control the combination comprising: a bushing adapted to attach to a control panel and having a shaft opening extending through it from front to back; a face plate disposed around the opening at the back end of the bushing and perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft opening; a first potentiometer module fastened to the face plate, said first module having a rotor in alignment with the shaft opening axis, which rotor extends completely through the first module and has a central concentric opening completely through it; an outer shaft rotatably retained within said shaft opening and connected to the rotor of said first module, said shaft having a central concentric opening; a second potentiometer module structurally identical to the first potentiometer module and connected to the first potentiometer module, said second module having a rotor aligned with the rotor of said first potentiometer module; and an inner shaft rotatably retained within and passing through the openings in the outer shaft and the rotor of the first module to connect with the rotor of the second module.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 47 words

The control as recited in claim 7 wHerein a plurality of stack bolts extend through aligned openings in the first and second potentiometer modules to connect said modules to the face plate, wherein said aligned openings are substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotors.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 57 words

The control as recited in claim 8 wherein the module rotors each include a movable contact connected to a sleeve and each module includes a collector disposed around said sleeve and axially to one side of said movable contact and a resistance track disposed around said sleeve and axially to the other side of said movable contact.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 187 words

A control the combination comprising: a bushing adapted to attach to a control panel or the like and having a shaft opening extending through it from front to back; a face plate disposed around the opening at the back end of the bushing and perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft opening; a gear reduction module fastened to the face plate, said gear reduction module including a gear train with an output which rotates at a reduced rate of rotation with respect to a rotatable input; an outer shaft rotatably retained within said shaft opening and connected to rotate said gear train input, said outer shaft having a central concentric opening; a first potentiometer module fastened to said gear reduction module, said first module having a rotor in alignment with the shaft opening axis and coupled to said gear train output, which rotor extends completely through the first potentiometer module and has a central concentric opening completely through it; and an inner shaft rotatably retained within and passing through the outer shaft and reduction gear module to connect with the rotor of the first potentiometer module.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 187 words

A control the combination comprising: a bushing adapted to attach to a control panel or the like and having a shaft opening extending through it from front to back; a face plate disposed around the opening at the back end of the bushing and perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft opening; a gear reduction module fastened to the face plate, said gear reduction module including a gear train with an output which rotates at a reduced rate of rotation with respect to a rotatable input; an outer shaft rotatably retained within said shaft opening and connected to rotate said gear train input, said outer shaft having a central concentric opening; a first potentiometer module fastened to said gear reduction module, said first module having a rotor in alignment with the shaft opening axis and coupled to said gear train output, which rotor extends completely through the first potentiometer module and has a central concentric opening completely through it; and an inner shaft rotatably retained within and passing through the outer shaft and reduction gear module to connect with the rotor of the first potentiometer module.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 50 words

The control as recited in claim 10, wherein a plurality of stack bolts extend through aligned openings in the gear reduction module and first potentiometer module to connect said modules to the face plate, and wherein said aligned openings are substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotor.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 68 words

The control as recited in claim 10, wherein the potentiometer module rotor includes a movable contact connected to a sleeve and the potentiometer module includes a collector disposed around said sleeve and axially to one side of said movable contact and in electrical contact therewith, and a resistance track disposed around said sleeve and axially to the other side of said movable contact and in electrical contact therewith.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 46 words

The control as recited in claim 10, wherein said gear train includes a first sun gear connected to said outer shaft, a first planet gear set connected to revolve around said first sun gear when the outer shaft is rotated to rotate said gear train output.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 46 words

The control as recited in claim 13, wherein a second sun gear is connected for rotation by said first planet gears, and a second set of planet gears connect to revolve around said second sun gear when it is rotated to rotate said gear train output.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

The control as recited in claim 14, wherein there is a central opening through said first and second sun gears through which said inner shaft passes.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 128 words

In a variable resistance module the combination comprising: a housing having front and back walls with a compartment therebetween and also having central openings in the walls communicating with the compartment; an electrical resistance track on the inside of one of said walls facing into the compartment; an electrical collector on the inside of the other of said walls and also facing into the compartment, whereby said resistance track and collector are spaced from one another in facing relation; a rotor within said compartment journaled in said central openings for turning motion; and contact means in said compartment mounted by said rotor for rotation therewith that has a first sliding contact in engagement with said resistance track and a second sliding contact in engagement with said electrical collector.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 128 words

In a variable resistance module the combination comprising: a housing having front and back walls with a compartment therebetween and also having central openings in the walls communicating with the compartment; an electrical resistance track on the inside of one of said walls facing into the compartment; an electrical collector on the inside of the other of said walls and also facing into the compartment, whereby said resistance track and collector are spaced from one another in facing relation; a rotor within said compartment journaled in said central openings for turning motion; and contact means in said compartment mounted by said rotor for rotation therewith that has a first sliding contact in engagement with said resistance track and a second sliding contact in engagement with said electrical collector.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 41 words

A vaRiable resistance module as in claim 16 in which said resistance track and electrical collector are circular and located concentric with the axis of rotation of said rotor; and wherein said sliding contacts are spring biased in opposite axial directions.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

A variable resistance module as in claim 17 wherein said sliding contacts are circumferentially aligned to minimize transverse torque on the rotor.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 42 words

A variable resistance module as in claim 16 having in combination therewith a bushing at the front of the module; a rotatable control shaft in said bushing; and a detachable coupling connection between the rear end of said shaft and said rotor.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 40 words

The structure of claim 19 in combination with a second module like the first module, said second module being attached to the rear of the first module, and there being a detachable coupling connection between the rotors of the modules.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 64 words

The structure of claim 19 in combination with a second module like the first module, said second module being attached to the rear of the first module, the rotors and control shaft are hollow, a second inner shaft extends through said hollow rotors and control shaft, and there being a coupling connection between the rotor of said second module and said second inner shaft.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 84 words

A control formed by connecting together a plurality of physically identical potentiometer modules, each module including: a case having a front and a back wall spaced to define a compartment between the walls; a collector connected to said case and located within said compartment; a resistance track connected to said case and located within said compartment; and a rotor rotatably attached to said case and communicating through openings in the front and back walls thereof to couple with the rotors of adjacent potentiometer modules.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 84 words

A control formed by connecting together a plurality of physically identical potentiometer modules, each module including: a case having a front and a back wall spaced to define a compartment between the walls; a collector connected to said case and located within said compartment; a resistance track connected to said case and located within said compartment; and a rotor rotatably attached to said case and communicating through openings in the front and back walls thereof to couple with the rotors of adjacent potentiometer modules.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 41 words

The control as recited in claim 22, wherein an opening is formed through each rotor, and the rotors of adjacent modules are coupled by means of a link which has an opening that aligns with the openings in the coupled rotors.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 43 words

The control as recited in claim 22 in which a face plate is attached to the front wall of one potentiometer module and a shaft journaled in a bushing formed on said face plate couples with the rotor of said one potentiometer module.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-07-11	1976-01-10	1976-07-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-07-11	1980-01-10	1980-07-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-07-11	1984-01-10	1984-07-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Modular potentiometer

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