US3680083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three position electromagnetic indicator
Assignee: Minelco Inc
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Filing: 1971-01-25
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1991-01-25
Abstract
Abstract A three-position indicating device including an indicator member having localized magnetic poles and rotatably mounted for positioning in any one of three positions by an electromagnetic structure. The electromagnetic structure essentially comprises (1) a movable pole piece which is adapted to lock the indicator member in an intermediate ''''center'''' position or to unlock the indicator member so that it may be moved to either of two limit positions each determined by engagement of said indicator member with said pole piece, and (2) one or two coils for establishing magnetic fields to effect movement of the pole piece to unlock said indicator member and also to effect movement of the indicator member to one or the other of its two limit positions by interaction of said electromagnetic fields with the localized magnetic poles of said indicator member.
Inventors
- 👤 George E Pihl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:03
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B5/00; G08B5/22; G08B5/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A three-position indicator comprising a shaft, an indicator member rotatably mounted on said shaft, said indicator member having a surface with first, second and third indicia, a permanent magnet attached to said indicator member, an elongate pole piece made of magnetic material disposed perpendicular to said shaft, said pole piece being slidable lengthwise between a first position in which one end thereof is relatively near to said shaft and a second position in which said one end is relatively far from said shaft, spring means biasing said pole piece toward said first position, electromagnetic means surrounding said pole piece for magnetizing said pOle piece with either of two magnetic fields of opposite polarity so as to cause rotation of said indicator member in one direction or in the opposite direction by magnetic repulsion and attraction of said magnet, said electromagnetic means also being disposed so that when energized it will magnetically force said pole piece to said second position, said one end of said pole piece being shaped so as to engage and lock said indicator member against rotation when in said first position and to intercept and thereby provide first and second limit positions for said indicator member when in said second position, and means defining an aperture for viewing said indicia, said first indicia being visible through said aperture when said indicator member is locked by said pole piece and said second and third indicia being visible through said aperture when said indicator member is in its first and second limit positions respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A three-position indicator comprising a shaft, an indicator member rotatably mounted on said shaft, said indicator member having a surface with first, second and third indicia, a permanent magnet attached to said indicator member, an elongate pole piece made of magnetic material disposed perpendicular to said shaft, said pole piece being slidable lengthwise between a first position in which one end thereof is relatively near to said shaft and a second position in which said one end is relatively far from said shaft, spring means biasing said pole piece toward said first position, electromagnetic means surrounding said pole piece for magnetizing said pOle piece with either of two magnetic fields of opposite polarity so as to cause rotation of said indicator member in one direction or in the opposite direction by magnetic repulsion and attraction of said magnet, said electromagnetic means also being disposed so that when energized it will magnetically force said pole piece to said second position, said one end of said pole piece being shaped so as to engage and lock said indicator member against rotation when in said first position and to intercept and thereby provide first and second limit positions for said indicator member when in said second position, and means defining an aperture for viewing said indicia, said first indicia being visible through said aperture when said indicator member is locked by said pole piece and said second and third indicia being visible through said aperture when said indicator member is in its first and second limit positions respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
186 words
An electromagnetic indicator comprising an indicator member having localized magnetic poles and three discrete indicia areas, means defining an aperture for viewing individual ones of said indicia areas, means supporting said indicator member for rotation on an axis disposed so that said indicator member may be rotated to any one of first, second, and third display positions in each of which a different indicia area is disposed for viewing through said aperture, and electromagnetic means for selectively positioning said indicator member in any one of said first, second, and third display positions, said electromagnetic means including (a) electrically energizable means for selectively establishing either of two oppositely polarized magnetic fields, and (b) moveable mechanical and magnetic means operative when said electrically energizable means is deenergized to lock said indicator member in said first display position and operative when said electromagnetic means is energized to unlock said indicator member for rotational movement and to concentrate each of said fields whereby said indicator member is magnetically impelled to one or the other of said second and third display positions according to which of said magnetic fields is established.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
186 words
An electromagnetic indicator comprising an indicator member having localized magnetic poles and three discrete indicia areas, means defining an aperture for viewing individual ones of said indicia areas, means supporting said indicator member for rotation on an axis disposed so that said indicator member may be rotated to any one of first, second, and third display positions in each of which a different indicia area is disposed for viewing through said aperture, and electromagnetic means for selectively positioning said indicator member in any one of said first, second, and third display positions, said electromagnetic means including (a) electrically energizable means for selectively establishing either of two oppositely polarized magnetic fields, and (b) moveable mechanical and magnetic means operative when said electrically energizable means is deenergized to lock said indicator member in said first display position and operative when said electromagnetic means is energized to unlock said indicator member for rotational movement and to concentrate each of said fields whereby said indicator member is magnetically impelled to one or the other of said second and third display positions according to which of said magnetic fields is established.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
A three-position indicator comprising an indicator member mounted for rotation on a first selected axis, said indicator member having permanent magnet poles, an elongate pole piece mounted for sliding movement between first and second positions along a second axis extending substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said pole piece when moved to said first position locking said indicator member in a first display position and when moved to said second position freeing said indicator member for rotation to two other display positions each determined by engagement of said indicator member with said pole piece, spring means urging said pole piece to said first position, and electromagnetic means for magnetically moving said pole piece to said second position and for magnetically polarizing said pole piece according to either of two opposite magnetic polarity states so as to magnetically impel said indicator member to rotate to one or the other of said two other display positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
154 words
A three-position indicator comprising an indicator member mounted for rotation on a first selected axis, said indicator member having permanent magnet poles, an elongate pole piece mounted for sliding movement between first and second positions along a second axis extending substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said pole piece when moved to said first position locking said indicator member in a first display position and when moved to said second position freeing said indicator member for rotation to two other display positions each determined by engagement of said indicator member with said pole piece, spring means urging said pole piece to said first position, and electromagnetic means for magnetically moving said pole piece to said second position and for magnetically polarizing said pole piece according to either of two opposite magnetic polarity states so as to magnetically impel said indicator member to rotate to one or the other of said two other display positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
163 words
A three-position electromagnetic indicator comprising an indicator member having localized North and South magnetic poles, means mounting said indicator member for rotation on a selected axis, and electromagnetic operating means including electrically energizeable means for selectively generating either of two oppositely polarized magnetic fields and magnetically operable means normally locking said indicator member in a first display position on said selected axis, said electrically energizeable means and said magnetically operable means being disposed so that each of said magnetic fields is oriented in a direction to cause said magnetically operable means to unlock said indicator member and to apply a magnetic force of repulsion to one of said poles and simultaneously a magnetic force of attraction to the other of Said poles, said poles being spaced radially of said axis so that said forces of repulsion and attraction coact to magnetically impel said indicator member to rotate to a second or third display position according to which of said magnetic fields is generated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
163 words
A three-position electromagnetic indicator comprising an indicator member having localized North and South magnetic poles, means mounting said indicator member for rotation on a selected axis, and electromagnetic operating means including electrically energizeable means for selectively generating either of two oppositely polarized magnetic fields and magnetically operable means normally locking said indicator member in a first display position on said selected axis, said electrically energizeable means and said magnetically operable means being disposed so that each of said magnetic fields is oriented in a direction to cause said magnetically operable means to unlock said indicator member and to apply a magnetic force of repulsion to one of said poles and simultaneously a magnetic force of attraction to the other of Said poles, said poles being spaced radially of said axis so that said forces of repulsion and attraction coact to magnetically impel said indicator member to rotate to a second or third display position according to which of said magnetic fields is generated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An indicator according to claim 4 wherein said magnetically operable means locks said indicator member by mechanical engagement therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
An indicator according to claim 4 wherein said electrically energizeable means comprises at least one electric coil and said magnetic operable means is a magnetic pole piece disposed so as to be movable away from said indicator member by either of said magnetic fields, and further including means for holding said pole piece in locking engagement with said indicator member when said electrically energizeable means is deenergized.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
An indicator according to claim 4 wherein said magnetically operable means comprises a magnetic core and spring means biasing said core in a first direction, and said electrically energizeable means includes a solenoid disposed so that when energized its resulting magnetic field will produce a magnetic force on said core sufficient to overcome said spring means and move said core in a second opposite direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
210 words
A three-position indicator comprising: an indicator member; means rotatably supporting said indicator member so that by rotation said indicator member can assume any one of two extreme positions and a third position intermediate said two extreme positions; said indicator member being adapted to provide three visual signals, one in each of said extreme and intermediate positions; a reciprocal armature; spring means normally biasing said armature in a first direction so that said armature normally engages said indicator member and holds said indicator member in said intermediate position; and electromagnetic means for (a) magnetically moving said armature in a second opposite direction so as to free said indicator member for rotation to either of said two extreme positions and (b) selectively inducing either of two substantially steady state magnetic fields of opposite polarity in said armature; said indicator member having a pair of localized magnetic poles of opposite polarity disposed so that one of said poles is magnetically repulsed by and the other of said poles is magnetically attracted to said armature when said armature is magnetized by one of said fields, whereby to cause rotation of said indicator member to one or the other of said extreme positions according to the polarity of the magnetic field induced in said armature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
210 words
A three-position indicator comprising: an indicator member; means rotatably supporting said indicator member so that by rotation said indicator member can assume any one of two extreme positions and a third position intermediate said two extreme positions; said indicator member being adapted to provide three visual signals, one in each of said extreme and intermediate positions; a reciprocal armature; spring means normally biasing said armature in a first direction so that said armature normally engages said indicator member and holds said indicator member in said intermediate position; and electromagnetic means for (a) magnetically moving said armature in a second opposite direction so as to free said indicator member for rotation to either of said two extreme positions and (b) selectively inducing either of two substantially steady state magnetic fields of opposite polarity in said armature; said indicator member having a pair of localized magnetic poles of opposite polarity disposed so that one of said poles is magnetically repulsed by and the other of said poles is magnetically attracted to said armature when said armature is magnetized by one of said fields, whereby to cause rotation of said indicator member to one or the other of said extreme positions according to the polarity of the magnetic field induced in said armature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An indicator according to claim 8 further including means limiting the extent of movement of said armature in said second opposite direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
An indicator according to claim 8 wherein said indicator member is mounted for rotation on an axis extending at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said armature and said extreme positions are determined by engagement of different portions of said indicator member with said armature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
An indicator according to claim 8 wherein said armature is reciprocal along a straight line axis and said indicator member is mounted for rotation on an axis extending at a right angle to said straight line axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
An indicator according to claim 11 wherein the said axis of rotation of said indicator member is perpendicular to said straight line axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
An indicator according to claim 12 wherein said localized magnetic poles are spaced radially of the axis of rotation of said indicator member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
An indicator member according to claim 8 wherein said indicator member includes a permanent magnet characterized by said localized magnetic poles, with the magnetic field axis of said magnet extending transversely of the axis of rotation of said indicator member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
An indicator member according to claim 8 wherein said indicator member is a drum having a flat surface; and further wherein said armature is disposed so as to engage one portion of saId surface when said indicator member is in said intermediate position and different portions of said surface when said indicator member is rotated to either of said extreme positions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
An indicator member according to claim 15 wherein one end of said armature member engages said flat surface, said one end comprising a first flat end surface portion for engaging said indicator member in said intermediate position and second and third inclined side surface portions for engaging said indicator member in said extreme positions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
An indicator member according to claim 8 wherein said electromagnetic means comprises at least one coil surrounding said armature; and means for electrically energizing said at least one coil so as to selectively generate either of said substantially steady state magnetic fields of opposite polarity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
An indicator member according to claim 2 wherein said moveable mechanical and magnetic means comprises a reciprocally moveable armature adapted to mechanically lock said indicator member when said electromagnetic means is deenergized and to unlock said indicator member when said electromagnetic means is energized.
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) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |