Patent US1116632A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3772686A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3772686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electromagnetic indicator having rotating sphere
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-08-17
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Granted: 1973-11-13
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Expires: 1991-08-17
Abstract
Abstract This invention is an electromagnetic indicator of the type wherein a permanent magnet is caused to rotate a sphere to display positional identifying indicia on the sphere in response to the field of an adjacent magnetizable core mounted in an electromagnetic coil. The center of mass of the core is distributed to displace the axis of the permanent magnet at a positive angle relative to the center line of the core when the coil is energized, the permanent magnet latching the sphere to the core at said offset angle upon deenergization the coil and demagnetization of the core at each respective display position of the sphere. The angle of offset of the permanent magnet imparts torque to assist in rotating said shpere upon a reversal of the energization of the coil and magnetic poles of the core. A reset magnet may also be provided to return the sphere to its initial position upon demagnetization of the core.
Inventors
- 👤 F Chardon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:24
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B5/00; G08B5/22; G08B5/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
An electromagnetic indicator comprising: a. A casing; b. A transparent cover at one end of said casing; c. A nonmagnetic shield within said casing, said transparent end and said nonmagnetic shield defining a chamber within said casing; d. A sphere within said chamber free to rotate therein, said sphere bearing position identifying indicia thereon visible through said transparent end; e. A permanent magnet having a North pole and a South pole at opposite ends thereof mounted within said sphere; f. A reversibly magnetizable core within said casing separated from said sphere by said nonmagnetic shield; g. Means formed on the end of said core adjacent said nonmagnetic shield for distributing the center of mass of said core about the longitudinal axis of said core, the distribution of mass of said core causing said permanent magnet to assume a position within said chamber wherein the axis thereof is offset at a positive angle relative to the axis of said core when said core is demagnetized, said permanent magnet being magnetically latched to said core in said condition at said angle of offset; h. An electromagnetic coil surrounding said core within said casing; and i. Means for energizing said coil to momentarily magnetize said core and selectively and reversibly establish North and South magnetic poles respectively at the opposite ends of said core, said angle of offset of the axis of said permanent magnet relative to the axis of said core imparting a positive torque to said permanent magnet upon a reversal of the magnetic field of said core tO cause rotation of said sphere within said chamber, the degree of rotation of said sphere being determined by the distribution of mass of said core.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
An electromagnetic indicator comprising: a. A casing; b. A transparent cover at one end of said casing; c. A nonmagnetic shield within said casing, said transparent end and said nonmagnetic shield defining a chamber within said casing; d. A sphere within said chamber free to rotate therein, said sphere bearing position identifying indicia thereon visible through said transparent end; e. A permanent magnet having a North pole and a South pole at opposite ends thereof mounted within said sphere; f. A reversibly magnetizable core within said casing separated from said sphere by said nonmagnetic shield; g. Means formed on the end of said core adjacent said nonmagnetic shield for distributing the center of mass of said core about the longitudinal axis of said core, the distribution of mass of said core causing said permanent magnet to assume a position within said chamber wherein the axis thereof is offset at a positive angle relative to the axis of said core when said core is demagnetized, said permanent magnet being magnetically latched to said core in said condition at said angle of offset; h. An electromagnetic coil surrounding said core within said casing; and i. Means for energizing said coil to momentarily magnetize said core and selectively and reversibly establish North and South magnetic poles respectively at the opposite ends of said core, said angle of offset of the axis of said permanent magnet relative to the axis of said core imparting a positive torque to said permanent magnet upon a reversal of the magnetic field of said core tO cause rotation of said sphere within said chamber, the degree of rotation of said sphere being determined by the distribution of mass of said core.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
An electromagnetic indicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for distributing the center of mass of said core comprises a shoulder formed on said end of said core adjacent said nonmagnetic shield, said shoulder determining the distribution of mass of said core and the angle of offset of the axis of said permanent magnet relative to the axis of said core.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
An electromagnetic indicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for distributing the center of mass of said core comprises a bore in the end of said core adjacent said nonmagnetic shield, said bore forming sidewalls distributing the center of mass of said core, around 360* of the core axis, the diameter of the bore and resulting thickness of said sidewall determining the angle of offset of the axis of said permanent magnet relative to the axis of said core.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electromagnetic indicator as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for distributing the center of mass of the end of said core includes a uniform circular flange formed thereon extending 360* around the core axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electromagnetic indicator as defined in claim 1 including a second permanent magnet for returning said sphere to its original position following a rotation thereof upon demagnetization of said core.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electromagnetic indicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said coil includes at least two windings, one for each direction of magnetization of said core.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electromagnetic indicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said casing includes external means for mounting said electromagnetic indicator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electromagnetic indicator as defined in claim 3 wherein the depth of said bore and the lenght of said sidewall is at least equal to the diameter of said core.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electromagnetic indicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said means formed on said core for distributing the mass there of causes rotation of said sphere through approximately 180* upon a reversal of the magnetic field of said core.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electromagnetic indicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said means formed on said core for distributing the mass thereof causes rotation of said sphere through 180* less approximately twice the angle of offset of the axis of said permanent magnet relative to the axis of said core upon a reversal of the magnetic field of said core.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
In an electromagnetic indicator wherein a permanent magnet having a North and a South pole at either end rotates a sphere to visually display positional identifying indicia on said sphere in response to the reversal of the magnetic field of an adjacent magnetic core, the axis of said permanent magnet and said core normally coinciding, when said core is demagnetized, the improvement comprising: means formed on said core adjacent said permanent magnet for distributing the center of mass of said corewhereby the axis of said permanent magnet is offset at a positive angle of between 5* to 20* degrees relative to the axis of said core when said core is demagnetized, said angle of offset imparting a torque to rotate said sphere when the magnetic field of said core is reversed from its prior polarity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
135 words
In an electromagnetic indicator wherein a permanent magnet having a North and a South pole at either end rotates a sphere to visually display positional identifying indicia on said sphere in response to the reversal of the magnetic field of an adjacent magnetic core, the axis of said permanent magnet and said core normally coinciding, when said core is demagnetized, the improvement comprising: means formed on said core adjacent said permanent magnet for distributing the center of mass of said corewhereby the axis of said permanent magnet is offset at a positive angle of between 5* to 20* degrees relative to the axis of said core when said core is demagnetized, said angle of offset imparting a torque to rotate said sphere when the magnetic field of said core is reversed from its prior polarity.
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) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |