Patent US3677096A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3677096A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Miniature indexing mechanism
Assignee: GTE Sylvania Inc
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Filing: 1971-06-01
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1991-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A miniature indexing mechanism employs a shaft of a first diameter having a drum of a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first. Two holes are located diametrically opposite each other in the walls of the drum. A hat shaped housing member includes a plurality of smaller holes circumferentially located along the inner wall thereof and has an internal diameter slightly larger than the drum section of the shaft such that the drum section is free to rotate within the wall of the housing member. Ball bearings are inserted in each of the two drum holes and are biased outwardly toward the inner walls of the housing member by a circular leaf spring. As the shaft is rotated, the bearings seat in the holes along the inner walls of the housing thus providing an indexing mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond G Hatman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H21/00; H01H21/02; H01H21/18; H01H21/36; H01H21/50; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
An indexing mechanism comprising: a shaft having a first diameter and including a drum section coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said drum section having an open end and an opening in the wall thereof, the diameter of said drum section being larger than said first diameter; a housing member having a hollow cylindrically shaped interior with first and second openings in the respective ends thereof, the diameter of said first opening being slightly larger than the first diameter of said shaft, and the diameter of said second opening being slightly larger than the diameter of said drum section of said shaft, said hollow cylindrically shaped interioR including a plurality of indentations located circumferentially around the wall thereof, the size of each of said plurality of indentations being slightly less than the size of the openings in the walls of said drum section, said shaft being positioned in said housing member such that the drum section rotates within the hollow cylindrically shaped interior of said housing member; a bearing member positioned in the opening in the wall of the drum section of said shaft; and biasing means positioned within the drum section and exerting a force on said bearing member in a direction towards said housing member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
An indexing mechanism comprising: a shaft having a first diameter and including a drum section coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said drum section having an open end and an opening in the wall thereof, the diameter of said drum section being larger than said first diameter; a housing member having a hollow cylindrically shaped interior with first and second openings in the respective ends thereof, the diameter of said first opening being slightly larger than the first diameter of said shaft, and the diameter of said second opening being slightly larger than the diameter of said drum section of said shaft, said hollow cylindrically shaped interioR including a plurality of indentations located circumferentially around the wall thereof, the size of each of said plurality of indentations being slightly less than the size of the openings in the walls of said drum section, said shaft being positioned in said housing member such that the drum section rotates within the hollow cylindrically shaped interior of said housing member; a bearing member positioned in the opening in the wall of the drum section of said shaft; and biasing means positioned within the drum section and exerting a force on said bearing member in a direction towards said housing member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
213 words
An indexing mechanism comprising: a shaft having a first diameter and including a drum section coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said drum section having an open end and a pair of openings in the wall thereof, the diameter of said drum section being larger than said first diameter; a housing member having a hollow cylindrically shaped interior with first and second openings in the respective ends thereof, the diameter of said first opening being slightly larger than the first diameter of said shaft and the diameter of said second opening being slightly larger than the diameter of said drum section of said shaft, said hollow cylindrically shaped interior including a plurality of indentations located circumferentially around the wall thereof, the size of each of said plurality of indentations being slightly less than the size of the openings in the wall of said drum section, said shaft being positioned in said housing member such that the drum section rotates within the hollow cylindrically shaped interior of said housing member; bearing members each positioned in one of the openings in the wall of the drum section of said shaft; and biasing means positioned within the drum section and exerting a force on said bearing members in a direction towards said housing member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
213 words
An indexing mechanism comprising: a shaft having a first diameter and including a drum section coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said drum section having an open end and a pair of openings in the wall thereof, the diameter of said drum section being larger than said first diameter; a housing member having a hollow cylindrically shaped interior with first and second openings in the respective ends thereof, the diameter of said first opening being slightly larger than the first diameter of said shaft and the diameter of said second opening being slightly larger than the diameter of said drum section of said shaft, said hollow cylindrically shaped interior including a plurality of indentations located circumferentially around the wall thereof, the size of each of said plurality of indentations being slightly less than the size of the openings in the wall of said drum section, said shaft being positioned in said housing member such that the drum section rotates within the hollow cylindrically shaped interior of said housing member; bearing members each positioned in one of the openings in the wall of the drum section of said shaft; and biasing means positioned within the drum section and exerting a force on said bearing members in a direction towards said housing member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An indexing mechanism according to claim 2 including means for limiting the longitudinal travel of said shaft with respect to said housing member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
An indexing mechanism according to claim 3 wherein: said shaft has a circumferential channel adjacent to each end of said housing member; and said means for limiting includes: a clip spring positioned in each of said circumferential channels and having a surface larger than the first diameter of said shaft, and a washer having a circular void, the diameter of which is slightly larger than said first diameter of said shaft, said washer having an overall diameter greater than the diameter of the second diameter of said housing member and being sandwiched between said housing member and one of said clip springs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
An indexing mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said biasing means includes a collar-like leaf spring, the expanded diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the wall of the drum section of said shaft thus causing a radially outward force on said bearing members when compressed in the drum section of said shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
An indexing mechanism according to claim 2 wherein: said bearing members are ball bearings; the diameter of the pair of openings in the walls of said drum section is slightly larger than the diameter of said bearings; and the indentations of said housing member are circular openings having a diameter less than the diameter of said ball bearings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An indexing mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the diameter of said ball bearings is larger than the thickness of the wall of said drum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An indexing mechanism according to claim 7 wherein the walls of said drum have the openings located diametrically opposite each other.
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) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |