US3732404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Meter device
Assignee: Ripley Co Inc
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Filing: 1971-09-20
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1991-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A meter device for electrically reading incremental positions wherein the continuous rotation of a drive armature is converted to intermittent incremental rotation by a mechanism including a jumping cam, a lever arm having a cam follower responsive to the cam, a drive pawl member, a check pawl member which prevents forward motion of the ratchet wheel subsequent to each advancement by the drive pawl member, a detent for arresting reverse motion of the ratchet wheel subsequent to each advancement thereof, and including a plurality of wheel assemblies geared to the ratchet wheel and calibrated as to relative rates of rotation for incremental digital encoding.
Inventors
- 👤 C Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:27
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F15/00; G01F15/06; G01F15/061; G01F15/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
In a meter device for electrically reading incremental positions, means for converting continuous rotation to intermittent incremental rotation comprising: a first shaft, drive means for driving said shaft, a jumping cam mounted on said shaft, a lever arm carrying a cam follower responsive to said cam, a drive pawl member responsive to reciprocation of said lever arm, a second shaft, a ratchet wheel mounted on said second shaft and responsive to said drive pawl, a plurality of wheel assemblies operatively interconnected and calibrated as to relative rates of rotation for incremental digital encoding, one of said wheel assemblies being driven by said ratchet wheel, a check pawl member adapted to arrest forward motion of said ratchet wheel beyond a predetermined incremental position subsequent to each advancement of said ratchet wheel, and a detent for arresting reverse motion of said ratchet wheel subsequent to each advancement thereof, and wherein said pawl members are integral with said lever arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a meter device for electrically reading incremental positions, means for converting continuous rotation to intermittent incremental rotation comprising: a first shaft, drive means for driving said shaft, a jumping cam mounted on said shaft, a lever arm carrying a cam follower responsive to said cam, a drive pawl member responsive to reciprocation of said lever arm, a second shaft, a ratchet wheel mounted on said second shaft and responsive to said drive pawl, a plurality of wheel assemblies operatively interconnected and calibrated as to relative rates of rotation for incremental digital encoding, one of said wheel assemblies being driven by said ratchet wheel, a check pawl member adapted to arrest forward motion of said ratchet wheel beyond a predetermined incremental position subsequent to each advancement of said ratchet wheel, and a detent for arresting reverse motion of said ratchet wheel subsequent to each advancement thereof, and wherein said pawl members are integral with said lever arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A device as in claim 1 including a circuit board carrying a plurality of sets of electrical contacts spaced thereon, each said set of contacts comprising a plurality of pairs of contacts concentrically arranged, each said pair corresponding to a digit of said incremental digital encoding, and an electrical contact wiper on each of said wheel assemblies adapted for wiping contact with said pairs of contacts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said drive pawl member is resiliently mounted on said lever arm and is adapted for resilient sliding release from said ratchet wheel, and wherein said check pawl member is rigidly mounted on said lever arm and includes a first edge adapted for coplanar engagement with a surface of a tooth of said ratchet wheel after advancement of said ratchet wheel, thereby preventing said further advance of said ratchet wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein said check pawl member includes a second edge adapted to abut a tooth of said ratchet wheel subsequent to each incremental advancement thereof, thereby stabilizing said coplanar engagement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein said pawl members comprise separate projections unitary with said lever arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said drive pawl member comprises a first end of an elongated member, said elongated member being pivotally connected at a point between the ends thereof to said lever arm and adapted to reciprocate between operative and release positions of said pawl members, and said check pawl member comprises an edge of said elongated member adjacent said first end, said edge being adapted for coplanar engagement with a wall of a tooth of said ratchet wheel after advancement of said ratchet wheel, thereby preventing said further advance of said ratchet wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as in claim 6 including spring means for urging said pawl members into operative contact with said ratchet wheel, and wherein said lever arm includes a detent defining the limit of said operative position of said elongated member under the urging of said spring means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said jumping cam has a single cam surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said jumping cam has a double cam surface.
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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) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |