US3701070A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wormgear actuated potentiometer
Assignee: Bourns Inc
•
Filing: 1971-10-18
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Granted: 1972-10-24
•
Expires: 1991-10-18
Abstract
Abstract An exceptionally efficient inexpensive miniature wormscrew potentiometer in which three dual-purpose conductors are embedded intermediate their ends in one of two housing members, and positioned to brush respectively upon arcuate or circular conductors and an arcuate resistance element that are carried upon a rotor interlocked with a drive plate which is driven by a wormwheel whose teeth are engaged with a wormscrew that is seated, with the rotor, in a second housing member.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth B Baldwin
- 👤 Ronald D Sullivan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S338/00; Y10S338/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A wormgear actuated potentiometer comprising: housing means providing a closed chamber and having a bore extending from the exterior of the chamber to the interior of the housing means; a plurality of electrical conductors extending into said chamber and forming at the inner free ends thereof respective contacts, and respective terminals outside said housing means and each electrically connected to a respective one of said contacts; a wormscrew rotatable in said housiNg means in said bore and having a thread exposed in said chamber; rotary means supported for rotation in said housing means in said chamber and including a rotor; an arcuate resistance element and first and second arcuate film conductors on said rotor, said conductors being electrically connected with respective ends of said resistance element, and each of said film conductors and said resistance element engaged by a respective one of said contacts; a wormwheel engaging said wormscrew; and a resilient driving plate keyed to said rotor and frictionally engaging said wormwheel to transmit driving torque from the wormwheel to the rotor, whereby resistance exhibited between the contact engaging said element and either of the other contact is varied in response to rotation of said wormscrew.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A wormgear actuated potentiometer comprising: housing means providing a closed chamber and having a bore extending from the exterior of the chamber to the interior of the housing means; a plurality of electrical conductors extending into said chamber and forming at the inner free ends thereof respective contacts, and respective terminals outside said housing means and each electrically connected to a respective one of said contacts; a wormscrew rotatable in said housiNg means in said bore and having a thread exposed in said chamber; rotary means supported for rotation in said housing means in said chamber and including a rotor; an arcuate resistance element and first and second arcuate film conductors on said rotor, said conductors being electrically connected with respective ends of said resistance element, and each of said film conductors and said resistance element engaged by a respective one of said contacts; a wormwheel engaging said wormscrew; and a resilient driving plate keyed to said rotor and frictionally engaging said wormwheel to transmit driving torque from the wormwheel to the rotor, whereby resistance exhibited between the contact engaging said element and either of the other contact is varied in response to rotation of said wormscrew.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A potentiometer as defined in claim 1, in which said plurality of conductors includes three conductive members each having an intermediate portion embedded in said housing means and mutually insulated thereby.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
A potentiometer as defined in claim 1, in which said housing means comprises a base and a cover and in which each of said electrical conductors is an integral terminal-and-contact member having a portion intermediate its ends embedded in said cover with its outer end protruding from said cover to form a terminal and its inner end extending into said chamber and terminating in one of said contacts, said contacts being so arranged as to be brought into contact with a respective one of said arcuate film conductors and element incident to placement of said cover on said base, whereby to facilitate construction of said potentiometer and minimize the cost thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A potentiometer as defined in claim 1, in which said cover presents in said chamber an arcuate bearing surface and in which said rotor and arcuate film conductors present a surface complementary to said bearing surface and engaged therewith, whereby said contacts engage said element and film conductors with uniform determined force.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
A potentiometer as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing means is of a material which is somewhat elastic and deformable and said wormscrew includes a cylindrical section and a tapered section both disposed in said bore, the largest diameter of said tapered section being larger than the diameter of said bore and forming an abrupt shoulder, whereby material of said housing means around said shoulder is elastically expanded and deformed to form a complementary formation abutting and pressing against said shoulder to concurrently restrain said wormscrew against actual movement out of said bore and seal said bore against ingress of foreign material into said chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |