Vernier control knob

Claim 2

A control knob assembly for turning a rotary shaft about a first axis relative to an adjacent wall, said assembly comprising a planet carrier structure adapted to be connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, at least one planet element carried by said carrier structure for rotation relative thereto about a second axis which revolves about said first axis, a rotary actuating element adapted to be turned manually about said first axis and engaging said planet to turn it about said second axis upon rotation of said actuating element about said first axis, said planet having a portion positioned to contact said wall frictionally in a relation to roll therealong and produce rotation of said carrier structure about said axis upon manual rotation of said actuating element but at a reduced speed, and a universal connection mounting said planet to said carrier structure for universal pivotal movement relative thereto in addition to said relative rotation and thereby enabling universal tilting of said second axis in different planes for automatic adjustment of the planet orientation relative to said wall.

Claim 3

A control knob as recited in claim 1, in which said universal connection includes engaging bearing surfaces associated with said carrier structure and said planet respectively and at least one of which is curved essentially spherically and engages the other surface in a relation mounting the planet for said universal pivotal movement relative to the carrier structure.

Claim 4

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said planet element is shaped generally as a disc having an axial thickness smaller than its radial dimension and which is resiliently deformable to a slightly bowed condition by contact with said wall to assure effective contact therewith.

Claim 5

A control knob assembly for turning a rotary shaft about a first axis relative to an adjacent wall, said assembly comprising a planet carrier structure adapted to be connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, at least one planet element mounted to said carrier structure to rotate relative thereto about a second axis which revolves about said first axis, and a rotary actuating element adapted to be turned manually about said first axis and engaging said planet to turn it about said second axis upon rotation of said actuating element about said first axis, said planet having a portion position to contact said wall frictionally in a relation to roll therealong and produce rotation of said carrier structure about said axis upon manual rotation of said actuating element but at a reduced speed, said actuating element having a tubular portion with an outwardly projecting flange, said carrier structure defining a bearing recess into which said flange projects in confined but rotatable relation to mount said actuating structure for rotation about said first axis.

Claim 6

A control knob assembly for turning a rotary shaft about a first axis relative to an adjacent wall, said assembly comprising a planet carrier structure adapted to be connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, at least one planet element mounted to said carrier structure to rotate relative thereto about a second axis which revolves about said first axis, and a rotary actuating element adapted to be turned manually about said first axis and engaging said planet to turn it about said second axis upon rotation of said actuating element about said first axis, said planet having a portion position to contact said wall frictionally in a relation to roll therealong and produce rotation of said carrier structure about said axis upon manual rotation of said actuating element but at a reduced speed, said actuating element having a tubular portion with an outwardly projecting flange, said carrier structure defining a bearing recess into which said flange projects in confined but rotatable relation to mount said actuating structure for rotation about said first axis.

Claim 7

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 4, in which said carrier structure includes two parts connected together and defining said recess therebetween.

Claim 8

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 4, in which said flange and said recess flare angularly outwardly relative to said first axis.

Claim 9

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 4, in which said carrier structure includes two parts connected together and defining said recess therebetween, there being fastener means securing said two parts of the carrier structure together and also mounting said planet rotatably to the carrier structure.

Claim 10

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 4, in which said flange flares essentially conically outwardly relative to said first axis, said carrier structure including two adjacent parts with opposed surfaces which flare essentially conically and define said recess for receiving said flange.

Claim 11

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 4, in which said flange flares essentially conically outwardly relative to said first axis, said carrier structure including two adjacent parts which also flare essentially conically and having inner edges defining said recess for receiving said flange, there being a plurality of fasteners interconnecting said two parts at circularly spaced locations and rotatably mounting a series of said planets at circularly spaced locations and at inclinations corresponding generally to the flare of said two parts.

Claim 12

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 9, in which said fasteners have spherically curved portions engaging flaring surfaces on said planets to mount the latter for universal pivotal movement, there being an element carrying indicia for indicating the setting of said carrier structure and carried by said fasteners, and a manually accessible part connected to said actuating element to turn it and having a transparent portion through which said indicia-carrying element is visible, said planets being shaped generally as discs having an axial thickness smaller than their radial dimension and which are resiliently deformable to a slightly bowed condition by contact with said wall to assure effective contact therewith.

Claim 13

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 4, in which said carrier structure includes two parts connected together and defining said recess therebetween, there being fastener means securing said two parts together, and a setting indicating member carrying indicia and mounted to the carrier structure by said fastener means which connect said parts together.

Claim 14

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 4, in which said carrier structure includes two parts connected together and defining said recess therebetween, one of said parts having a portion receivable about said shaft and forming resiliently expansible spring fingers for frictionally gripping the shaft.

Claim 15

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 4, in which said carrier structure includes two parts connected together and defining said recess therebetween, one of said parts being a tight friction fit within the other part and having a portion within said other part receivable about the shaft and defining a plurality of resiliently expansible collect fingers for frictionally gripping the shaft.

Claim 16

A control knob assembly for turning a rotary shaft about a first axis relative to an adjacent wall, said assembly comprising a planet carrier structure adapted to be connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, a plurality of circularly spaced planets mounted to said carrier structure for rotation relative thereto about individual revolving axes and positioned to frictionally engage said wall, a part connected to said carrier structure for rotation therewith and having indicia for indicating the setting thereof, and an actuating structure mounted to turn about said first axis and frictionally engaging said planets and having a transparent wall through which said indicia are visible.

Claim 17

A control knob assembly for turning a rotary shaft about a first axis relative to an adjacent wall, said assembly comprising a planet carrier structure adapted to be connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, a plurality of circularly spaced planets mounted to said carrier structure for rotation relative thereto about individual revolving axes and positioned to frictionally engage said wall, a part connected to said carrier structure for rotation therewith and having indicia for indicating the setting thereof, and an actuating structure mounted to turn about said first axis and frictionally engaging said planets and having a transparent wall through which said indicia are visible.

Claim 18

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 14, in which said part is a drum disposed about said planets, there being circularly spaced bearing elements on said carrier structure mounting said planets rotatably and having portions engageable with mounting projections carried at the inner side of said drum in a relation connecting said part to the carrier structure.

Claim 19

A control knob assembly for turning a rotary shaft about a first axis relative to an adjacent wall, said assembly comprising a planet carrier structure adapted to be connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, a plurality of circularly spaced planets mounted to said carrier structure for rotation relative thereto about individual revolving axes and positioned to engage frictionally said wall, a part connected to said carrier structure for rotAtion therewith and having indicia for indicating the setting thereof, and an actuating structure mounted to turn about said first axis and frictionally engaging said planets, said carrier structure including two generally parallel flaring parts and a plurality of circularly spaced connector elements connecting said parts together, and said indicia-carrying part having mating circularly spaced connector elements connectible to said first mentioned connector elements in a relation securing the indicia-carrying part to the carrier structure.

Claim 20

A control knob assembly for turning a rotary shaft about a first axis relative to an adjacent wall, said assembly comprising a planet carrier structure adapted to be connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, a plurality of circularly spaced planets mounted to said carrier structure for rotation relative thereto about individual revolving axes and positioned to engage frictionally said wall, a part connected to said carrier structure for rotAtion therewith and having indicia for indicating the setting thereof, and an actuating structure mounted to turn about said first axis and frictionally engaging said planets, said carrier structure including two generally parallel flaring parts and a plurality of circularly spaced connector elements connecting said parts together, and said indicia-carrying part having mating circularly spaced connector elements connectible to said first mentioned connector elements in a relation securing the indicia-carrying part to the carrier structure.

Claim 21

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 16, in which said connector elements also mount said planets rotatably to said carrier structure.

Claim 22

A control knob assembly for turning a rotary shaft about a first axis relative to an adjacent wall, said assembly comprising a planet carrier structure adapted to be connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, at least one planet element mounted to said carrier structure to rotate relative thereto about a second axis which revolves about said first axis, and a rotary actuating element adapted to be turned manually about said first axis and engaging said planet to turn it about said second axis upon rotation of said actuating element about said first axis, said planet having a portion positioned to contact said wall frictionally in a relation to roll therealong and produce rotation of said carrier structure about said axis upon manual rotation of said actuating element but at a reduced speed, said planet carrier structure including a first part to be disposed about said shaft and adapted to be secured thereto, a second part having a tubular mounting portion disposed about said first and having an outer planet carrying portion projecting outwardly from said mounting portion, and a third part extending outwardly adjacent said planet carrying portion of said first part and connected thereto and coacting therewith in mounting said planet, said second and third parts having portions defining therebetween a recess within which a portion of said actuating element is rotatably received.

Claim 23

A control knob assembly for turning a rotary shaft about a first axis relative to an adjacent wall, said assembly comprising a planet carrier structure adapted to be connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, at least one planet element mounted to said carrier structure to rotate relative thereto about a second axis which revolves about said first axis, and a rotary actuating element adapted to be turned manually about said first axis and engaging said planet to turn it about said second axis upon rotation of said actuating element about said first axis, said planet having a portion positioned to contact said wall frictionally in a relation to roll therealong and produce rotation of said carrier structure about said axis upon manual rotation of said actuating element but at a reduced speed, said planet carrier structure including a first part to be disposed about said shaft and adapted to be secured thereto, a second part having a tubular mounting portion disposed about said first and having an outer planet carrying portion projecting outwardly from said mounting portion, and a third part extending outwardly adjacent said planet carrying portion of said first part and connected thereto and coacting therewith in mounting said planet, said second and third parts having portions defining therebetween a recess within which a portion of said actuating element is rotatably received.

Claim 24

A control knob assembly for turning a rotary shaft about a first axis relative to an adjacent structure, said assembly comprising a planet carrier adapted to be connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, at least one planet element mounted to said carrier to rotate relative thereto about a second axis which revolves about said first axis, a rotary actuating element adapted to be turned manually about said first axis and engaged by said planet element in rolling relation to turn the planet element about said second axis upon rotation of said actuating element about said first axis, and a direct drive unit positioned for rolling contact of said planet element therewith in a relation for rolling movement of the planet element along a surface of said direct drive unit to produce rotation of said carrier about said first axis upon manual rotation of said actuating element but at a reduced speed, said direct drive unit being retainable by said adjacent structure against rotation upon manual turning of said rotary actuating element to effect said reduced speed drive, but being manually rotatable relative to said adjacent structure to produce an increased speed direct drive turning movement of the shaft, said direct drive unit having a portion received axially between and engaged at opposite sides by said planet element and said adjacent structure, and having a forwardly directed peripheral rim accessible for manual actuation to turn the direct drive unit.

Claim 25

A control knob assembly for turning a rotary shaft about a first axis relative to an adjacent structure, said assembly comprising a planet carrier adapted to be connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, at least one planet element mounted to said carrier to rotate relative thereto about a second axis which revolves about said first axis, a rotary actuating element adapted to be turned manually about said first axis and engaged by said planet element in rolling relation to turn the planet element about said second axis upon rotation of said actuating element about said first axis, and a direct drive unit positioned for rolling contact of said planet element therewith in a relation for rolling movement of the planet element along a surface of said direct drive unit to produce rotation of said carrier about said first axis upon manual rotation of said actuating element but at a reduced speed, said direct drive unit being retainable by said adjacent structure against rotation upon manual turning of said rotary actuating element to effect said reduced speed drive, but being manually rotatable relative to said adjacent structure to produce an increased speed direct drive turning movement of the shaft, said direct drive unit having a portion received axially between and engaged at opposite sides by said planet element and said adjacent structure, and having a forwardly directed peripheral rim accessible for manual actuation to turn the direct drive unit.

Claim 26

A control knob assembly as recited in claim 19, including a knob connected to said rotary actuating element and having a forward wall extending across the front of said carrier and said planet element and having a peripheral portion extending rearwardly about the location of said planet element and projecting into said rim of the direct drive unit.

Claim 27

A control assembly as recited in claim 20, including an Indicator element contained within said knob and having indicia visible therethrough and connected to said carrier for rotation therewith.

Claim 28

The combination comprising a rotary shaft, an adjacent structure relative to which said shaft is rotatable about an axis, a planet carrier connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, at least one planet element mounted to said carrier to rotate relative thereto about a second axis which revolves about said first axis, a rotary actuating element adapted to be turned manually about said first axis and engaged by said planet element in rolling relation to turn the planet element about said second axis upon rotation of said actuating element about said first axis, a direct drive unit positioned for rolling contact of said planet element therewith in a relation for rolling movement of the planet element along a surface of said direct drive unit to produce rotation of said carrier about said first axis upon manual rotation of said actuating element but at a reduced speed, said direct drive unit being retainable by said adjacent structure against rotation upon manual turning of said rotary actuating element to effect said reduced speed drive, but being manually rotatable relative to said adjacent structure to produce an increased speed direct drive turning movement of the shaft, said direct drive unit having a portion received axially between and engaged at opposite sides by said planet element and said adjacent structure, and having a forwardly directed peripheral rim accessible for manual actuation to turn the direct drive unit, a knob connected to said rotary actuating element and having a forward wall extending across the front of said carrier and said planet element and having a peripheral portion extending rearwardly about the location of said planet element and projecting into said rim of the direct drive unit, and an indicator element contained within said knob and having indicia visible therethrough and connected to said carrier for rotation therewith, said adjacent structure including a wall having a light passing index opening positioned for reading coaction with the indicia on said indicator element, and a light source positioned behind said wall and emitting light through said index opening and through a portion of said direct drive unit toward said indicator element.

Claim 29

The combination comprising a rotary shaft, an adjacent structure relative to which said shaft is rotatable about an axis, a planet carrier connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, at least one planet element mounted to said carrier to rotate relative thereto about a second axis which revolves about said first axis, a rotary actuating element adapted to be turned manually about said first axis and engaged by said planet element in rolling relation to turn the planet element about said second axis upon rotation of said actuating element about said first axis, a direct drive unit positioned for rolling contact of said planet element therewith in a relation for rolling movement of the planet element along a surface of said direct drive unit to produce rotation of said carrier about said first axis upon manual rotation of said actuating element but at a reduced speed, said direct drive unit being retainable by said adjacent structure against rotation upon manual turning of said rotary actuating element to effect said reduced speed drive, but being manually rotatable relative to said adjacent structure to produce an increased speed direct drive turning movement of the shaft, said direct drive unit having a portion received axially between and engaged at opposite sides by said planet element and said adjacent structure, and having a forwardly directed peripheral rim accessible for manual actuation to turn the direct drive unit, a knob connected to said rotary actuating element and having a forward wall extending across the front of said carrier and said planet element and having a peripheral portion extending rearwardly about the location of said planet element and projecting into said rim of the direct drive unit, and an indicator element contained within said knob and having indicia visible therethrough and connected to said carrier for rotation therewith, said adjacent structure including a wall having a light passing index opening positioned for reading coaction with the indicia on said indicator element, and a light source positioned behind said wall and emitting light through said index opening and through a portion of said direct drive unit toward said indicator element.

Claim 30

The combination comprising a rotary shaft, an adjacent structure relative to which said shaft is rotatable about an axis, a planet carrier connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, at least one planet element mounted to said carrier to rotate relative thereto about a second axis which revolves about said first axis, a rotary actuating element adapted to be turned manually about said first axis and engaged by said planet element in rolling relation to turn the planet element about said second axis upon rotation of said actuating element about said first axis, a direct drive unit positioned for rolling contact of said planet element therewith in a relation for rolling movement of the planet element along a surface of said direct drive unit to produce rotation of said carrier about said first axis upon manual rotation of said actuating element but at a reduced speed, said direct drive unit being retainable by said adjacent structure against rotation upon manual turning of said rotary actuating element to effect said reduced speed drive, but being manually rotatable relative to said adjacent structure to produce an increased speed direct drive turning movement of the shaft, said adjacent structure including a wall containing a light passing index opening, an indicator element connected to said carrier for rotation therewith and having indicia thereon coacting with said index opening, and a light source behind said wall emitting light through said index opening and through a portion of said direct drive unit for viewing with said indicia on the indicator element.

Claim 31

The combination comprising a rotary shaft, an adjacent structure relative to which said shaft is rotatable about an axis, a planet carrier connected to said shaft in a relation to turn it about said axis, at least one planet element mounted to said carrier to rotate relative thereto about a second axis which revolves about said first axis, a rotary actuating element adapted to be turned manually about said first axis and engaged by said planet element in rolling relation to turn the planet element about said second axis upon rotation of said actuating element about said first axis, a direct drive unit positioned for rolling contact of said planet element therewith in a relation for rolling movement of the planet element along a surface of said direct drive unit to produce rotation of said carrier about said first axis upon manual rotation of said actuating element but at a reduced speed, said direct drive unit being retainable by said adjacent structure against rotation upon manual turning of said rotary actuating element to effect said reduced speed drive, but being manually rotatable relative to said adjacent structure to produce an increased speed direct drive turning movement of the shaft, said adjacent structure including a wall containing a light passing index opening, an indicator element connected to said carrier for rotation therewith and having indicia thereon coacting with said index opening, and a light source behind said wall emitting light through said index opening and through a portion of said direct drive unit for viewing with said indicia on the indicator element.