Machine-control system

Claim 1

A control system for actuating a plurality of controlled elements upon attainment of selected values by at least one controlling parameter, comprising: voltage-generating means with a variable output responsive to said controlling parameter; a source of fixed voltage; a plurality of potentiometers connected across said source, each of said potentiometers having a slider delivering a respective reference voltage; a plurality of voltage comparators, one for each potentiometer, each having a first input connected to said voltage-generating means for receiving said variable output nad having a second input connected to the slider of the associated potentiometer for receiving the corresponding reference voltage; operating circuits for said controlled elements each connected to a respective voltage comparator for energization thereby upon equality of said variable output and the reference voltage at the inputs thereof; common mounting means for holding said potentiometers as a bank in a fixed array with their sliders displaceable along parallel paths, said mounting means being provided with contacts for removably connecting said potentiometer to said circuits, respective springs biasing each of said sliders in one direction, and projections on said wipers extending codirectionally from said potentiometer sliders beyond a surface of the potentiometers ; and a common template for said potentiometers receivable by said mounting means and engageable with said sliders for jointly displacing them to selected positions , said mounting means being provided with guide means for said template along said surface and with abutment means for arresting said template in engagement with said guide means, said sliders having projections receivable in said slots.