US3748627A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination variable resistance and electrical switch control
Assignee: CTS Corp
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Filing: 1971-01-06
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Granted: 1973-07-24
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Expires: 1991-01-06
Abstract
Abstract An electrical control has a variable resistance control combined with a normally open switch. Any manual adjustment made to the variable resistance control causes the switch contacts to be closed before actual adjustment of the variable resistance control begins and, after the force causing manual adjustment of the control is removed, the switch contacts are opened without disturbing the resistance setting of the control.
Inventors
- 👤 J Zdanys
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:02
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/30; H01C10/32; H01C10/36; H01H; H01H3/00; H01H3/02; H01H3/0213
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
In an electrical control, the combination of a housing, an electrically nonconductive base member closing one end Of the housing, means defining a resistance path and a collector carried by the base, an electrically nonconductive supporting member closing the other end of the housing, a driver disposed in the housing between the base member and the supporting member, wiper means engaging the resistance path and the collector and constrained to rotate with the driver for altering the resistance setting of the control, a shaft rotatably journaled in the housing projecting through one of the members, a contactor carried by the driver and provided with a contact, the contactor and contact being constrained to rotate with the driver, means for electrically connecting the contactor to one side of an electrical circuit, an actuator connected to the shaft and provided with a contact portion movable in an interference path with the contact, and a spring centering means providing a resilient connection between the driver and the shaft whereby upon applying torque to the shaft initial rotation of the shaft causes flexing of the spring centering means and movement of the contact portion of the actuator relative to the contact and further displacement of the shaft in the same direction causes rotation of the driver and upon removing the torque applied to the shaft the energy stored in the spring centering means cuases displacement of the shaft in the opposite direction and movement of the actuator relative to the contact without disturbing the resistance setting of the control.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
In an electrical control, the combination of a housing, an electrically nonconductive base member closing one end Of the housing, means defining a resistance path and a collector carried by the base, an electrically nonconductive supporting member closing the other end of the housing, a driver disposed in the housing between the base member and the supporting member, wiper means engaging the resistance path and the collector and constrained to rotate with the driver for altering the resistance setting of the control, a shaft rotatably journaled in the housing projecting through one of the members, a contactor carried by the driver and provided with a contact, the contactor and contact being constrained to rotate with the driver, means for electrically connecting the contactor to one side of an electrical circuit, an actuator connected to the shaft and provided with a contact portion movable in an interference path with the contact, and a spring centering means providing a resilient connection between the driver and the shaft whereby upon applying torque to the shaft initial rotation of the shaft causes flexing of the spring centering means and movement of the contact portion of the actuator relative to the contact and further displacement of the shaft in the same direction causes rotation of the driver and upon removing the torque applied to the shaft the energy stored in the spring centering means cuases displacement of the shaft in the opposite direction and movement of the actuator relative to the contact without disturbing the resistance setting of the control.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The control of claim 1, wherein the spring centering means comprises a spring wire having its center portion constrained to rotate with the shaft and its end portions connected to the driver for resiliently connecting the driver to the shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The control of claim 1, wherein the means for electrically connecting the contactor comprises a collector having a terminal carried by the supporting member, and the contactor slidably engages the collector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The control of claim 2, wherein the means for electrically connecting the contactor comprises a collector having a terminal carried by the supporting member, and the contactor slidably engages the collector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control of claim 1, wherein the shaft is of electrically conductive material and electrically connects the actuator to the other side of the electrical circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control of claim 2, wherein the shaft is of electrically conductive material and electrically connects the actuator to the other side of the electrical circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
201 words
In an electrical control, the combination of a resistance means and driver means, wiper means engaging the resistance means and constrained to rotate with the driver for altering the resistance setting of the control and a switch comprising a contactor constrained to move with the driver means, a nonresilient actuator movable in an interference path with the contactor and engageable therewith, and resilient means providing a resilient interconnection between the actuator and the driver means and establishing a neutral position of the actuator relative to the contactor and providing a lost motion connection between the actuator and the driver means, said actuator being displaceable from the neutral position with an initial movement in a first direction relative to the contactor against the bias of the resilient means, such initial movement causing a stressing of the resilient means, displacement of the actuator in said first direction after such initial movement effecting a corresponding movement of the driver means without additional stress of the resilient means, the stressed resilient means providing a means for moving the actuator relative to the driver means in a direction opposite to said first direction and for returning the actuator to the neutral position relative to the contactor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
201 words
In an electrical control, the combination of a resistance means and driver means, wiper means engaging the resistance means and constrained to rotate with the driver for altering the resistance setting of the control and a switch comprising a contactor constrained to move with the driver means, a nonresilient actuator movable in an interference path with the contactor and engageable therewith, and resilient means providing a resilient interconnection between the actuator and the driver means and establishing a neutral position of the actuator relative to the contactor and providing a lost motion connection between the actuator and the driver means, said actuator being displaceable from the neutral position with an initial movement in a first direction relative to the contactor against the bias of the resilient means, such initial movement causing a stressing of the resilient means, displacement of the actuator in said first direction after such initial movement effecting a corresponding movement of the driver means without additional stress of the resilient means, the stressed resilient means providing a means for moving the actuator relative to the driver means in a direction opposite to said first direction and for returning the actuator to the neutral position relative to the contactor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
215 words
In an electrical control, the combination of a resistance means and driver means, wiper means engaging the resistance means and constrained to rotate with the driver for altering the resistance setting of the control and a switch compriSing a first contact and a second contact engageable with the first contact, an actuator movable in an interference path with the second contact for making engagement of the first contact with the second contact, and resilient means for providing a resilient connection between the actuator and the driver means and establishing a neutral position of the actuator relative to the second contact and maintaining a lost motion connection between the actuator and the driver means, said actuator being displaceable from the neutral position by a force producing an initial movement in a first direction relative to the driver means against the bias of the resilient means, such initial movement causing a deflection of the actuator in said first direction after such initial movement effecting a corresponding movement of the driver means, the resilient means providing a means for moving the actuator relative to the driver means in a direction opposite to said first direction and for returning the actuator to the neutral position relative to the driver means after said force has been removed from said actuator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
215 words
In an electrical control, the combination of a resistance means and driver means, wiper means engaging the resistance means and constrained to rotate with the driver for altering the resistance setting of the control and a switch compriSing a first contact and a second contact engageable with the first contact, an actuator movable in an interference path with the second contact for making engagement of the first contact with the second contact, and resilient means for providing a resilient connection between the actuator and the driver means and establishing a neutral position of the actuator relative to the second contact and maintaining a lost motion connection between the actuator and the driver means, said actuator being displaceable from the neutral position by a force producing an initial movement in a first direction relative to the driver means against the bias of the resilient means, such initial movement causing a deflection of the actuator in said first direction after such initial movement effecting a corresponding movement of the driver means, the resilient means providing a means for moving the actuator relative to the driver means in a direction opposite to said first direction and for returning the actuator to the neutral position relative to the driver means after said force has been removed from said actuator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The control of claim 8, wherein the second contact is constrained to move with the driver means for altering the resistance setting of the control.
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) | 1976-07-23 | 1977-01-22 | 1977-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-23 | 1981-01-22 | 1981-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-01-22 | 1985-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |