Meter movements

Claim 2

A meter movement comprising: support means and a pointer member mounted on said support means for pivoting about a pivot axis, said pointer member having a pivot portion and an elongated pointer portion and a pair of vane portions, said pivot portion having an elongated slot aligned with said pivot axis, said support means including a support member projecting through said slot, said support member and said pivot portion having opposed surfaces cooperating to restrict said pointer member to swinging movement about said pivot axis, said vane portions projecting outwardly from said pivot portion on one side of said pivot axis and said pointer portion projecting outwardly from said pivot portion on the opposite side of said pivot axis, said vane portions being substantially flat and being substantially parallel to each other, at least one of said vane portions being magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the length of said pointer portion, and means for establishing an electromagnetic field adjacent said pointer member whereby the electromagnetic field adjacent said vane portions applies torque to turn said pointer member relative to said support member about said pivot axis.

Claim 3

The meter movement according to claim 1 wherein said pivot portion is substantially flat and extends between said vanes, said slot being positioned between said vanes.

Claim 4

The meter movement according to claim 1 wherein said establishing means incudes an electrically conductive bar extending between said pair of vanes and spaced from said pivot axis, whereby current flowing in said conductive bar induces a magnetic field which applies torque to said pointer member to swing said pointer member about said pivot axis.

Claim 5

The meter movement according to claim 3 wherein said support means includes a frame, said conductive bar being integral with said frame and said support member is mounted on said frame.

Claim 6

The meter movement according to claim 1 wherein said establishing means includes an electromagnetic coil having a central opening, one of said vane portions extending within said opening.

Claim 7

The meter movement according to claim 5 wherein said support means includes a frame having a coil form thereon, said coil being wound on said form.

Claim 8

A meter movement comprising: a. base means; b. electric current conductor means on said base means for inducing magnetic flux in an adjacent zone when energized; said conductor means being a coil having a gap along the central axis of the coil, c. pointer means mounted on said base means for pivoting about a pivot axis, said pivot axis being substantially perpendicular to the central axis of said coil, said pointer means including a permanently magnetized portion and including pivot bearings integral with said magnetized portion, said magnetized portion of said pointer means being movable into said gap upon pivoting about said pivot axis, said pointer means including a center leg and a pair of outer legs spaced apart from each other along the pivot axis, said legs extending substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to said pivot axis, said magnetized portion being on said center leg and said outer legs each being magnetized in a direction opposite to the magnetization of the center leg, whereby said magnetized portion cooperates with said conductor means to swing said pointer means about said pivot axis in response to current flowing in said conductor means.

Claim 9

A meter movement comprising: a. base means; b. electric current conductor means on said base means for inducing magnetic flux in an adjacent zone when energized; said conductor means being a coil having a gap along the central axis of the coil, c. pointer means mounted on said base means for pivoting about a pivot axis, said pivot axis being substantially perpendicular to the central axis of said coil, said pointer means including a permanently magnetized portion and including pivot bearings integral with said magnetized portion, said magnetized portion of said pointer means being movable into said gap upon pivoting about said pivot axis, said pointer means including a center leg and a pair of outer legs spaced apart from each other along the pivot axis, said legs extending substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to said pivot axis, said magnetized portion being on said center leg and said outer legs each being magnetized in a direction opposite to the magnetization of the center leg, whereby said magnetized portion cooperates with said conductor means to swing said pointer means about said pivot axis in response to current flowing in said conductor means.

Claim 10

The meter movement according to claim 7 wherein said pointer means has a projection offset from said pivot axis, said base means including a cup for receiving a viscous fluid, said projection extending into said cup, whereby motion of said pointer means is dampened by movement of said projection through said viscous fluid.

Claim 11

A meter movement comprising: a. an elongated thin substantially flat movable member, said movable member having a vane portion adjacent one end and a pointer portion adjacent the opposite end, and a pivot portion between said vane and pointer portions; b. a support member, said support member being formed of a thin substantially flat, resiliently flexible material, said pivot portion of said movable member and said supporT member each having opposed slots mutually received in each other for pivoting movement about a pivot axis aligned with said slots, the plane of said vane portion being substantially perpendicular to the plane of said pivot portion and said vane being permanently magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said pivot portion; c. electric coil means fixed adjacent said support member and said pivot axis, said coil means having a central opening and being coaxial with said opening, said vane portion being received in said opening, said pivot axis being positioned relative to said coil means so that swinging of said movable member about said pivot axis progressively changes the angle between the direction of magnetization in the vane portion and the central axis of said coil means.

Claim 12

A meter movement comprising: a. an elongated thin substantially flat movable member, said movable member having a vane portion adjacent one end and a pointer portion adjacent the opposite end, and a pivot portion between said vane and pointer portions; b. a support member, said support member being formed of a thin substantially flat, resiliently flexible material, said pivot portion of said movable member and said supporT member each having opposed slots mutually received in each other for pivoting movement about a pivot axis aligned with said slots, the plane of said vane portion being substantially perpendicular to the plane of said pivot portion and said vane being permanently magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said pivot portion; c. electric coil means fixed adjacent said support member and said pivot axis, said coil means having a central opening and being coaxial with said opening, said vane portion being received in said opening, said pivot axis being positioned relative to said coil means so that swinging of said movable member about said pivot axis progressively changes the angle between the direction of magnetization in the vane portion and the central axis of said coil means.

Claim 13

The meter movement according to claim 9 wherein the plane of said pointer portion is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said pivot portion.

Claim 14

The meter movement according to claim 10 wherein said pointer portion is permanently magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said pivot portion but in a direction opposite to the direction of magnetization of said vane portion.

Claim 15

A meter movement comprising: a. base means b. an electric coil fixed on said base means and having a central gap therein, c. a support member mounted on said base means, said support member including a pair of thin resiliently flexible arms, said arms being spaced apart and having opposing slots, a pointer element formed of thin resiliently flexible sheet material, said pointer element having a body portion with opposed slots therein, said body portion slots being received in said support member slots for pivoting movement of said pointer member about an axis defined by said slots, said pointer element including a pointer extending outwardly from said body portion on one side of said axis and a vane extending outwardly from said body portion on the opposite side of said axis, said vane being magnetized and being movable into the central gap of said coil upon pivoting of said pointer element about said axis, said vane having a greater width than thickness, said width dimension extending perpendicular to said pivot axis, and e. a second coil fixed on said base means and having a central gap therein, each of said coils having a central axis extending through said central gap and intersecting each other adjacent said pivot axis, said vane being movable into the central gap of each of said coils, whereby said pointer element swings in response to current flowing in said coil.

Claim 16

A meter movement comprising: a. base means b. an electric coil fixed on said base means and having a central gap therein, c. a support member mounted on said base means, said support member including a pair of thin resiliently flexible arms, said arms being spaced apart and having opposing slots, a pointer element formed of thin resiliently flexible sheet material, said pointer element having a body portion with opposed slots therein, said body portion slots being received in said support member slots for pivoting movement of said pointer member about an axis defined by said slots, said pointer element including a pointer extending outwardly from said body portion on one side of said axis and a vane extending outwardly from said body portion on the opposite side of said axis, said vane being magnetized and being movable into the central gap of said coil upon pivoting of said pointer element about said axis, said vane having a greater width than thickness, said width dimension extending perpendicular to said pivot axis, and e. a second coil fixed on said base means and having a central gap therein, each of said coils having a central axis extending through said central gap and intersecting each other adjacent said pivot axis, said vane being movable into the central gap of each of said coils, whereby said pointer element swings in response to current flowing in said coil.

Claim 17

A meter movement comprising: a. a coil form, b. an electric coil wound on said form and having a central gap therein, c. a support member mounted on said coil form, said support member including a pair of thin resiliently flexible arms, said arms being spaced apart and having opposing slots, d. a pointer element formed of thin resiliently flexible sheet material, said pointer element having a body portion with opposed slots therein, said body portion slots being received in said support member slots for pivoting movement of said pointer member about an axis defined by said slots, said pointer element including a pointer extending outwardly from said body portion on one side of said axis and a vane extending outwardly from said body portion on the opposite side of said axis, said vane having a greater width than thickness and said width dimension extending perpendicular to said pivot axis, said vane being magnetized and being movable into the central gap of said coil upon pivoting of said pointer element about said axis, said pointer being magnetized in a direction opposite to the direction of magnetization of said vane, thereby balancing the effect due to external magnetic flux.

Claim 18

A meter movement comprising: a. a coil form, b. an electric coil wound on said form and having a central gap therein, c. a support member mounted on said coil form, said support member including a pair of thin resiliently flexible arms, said arms being spaced apart and having opposing slots, d. a pointer element formed of thin resiliently flexible sheet material, said pointer element having a body portion with opposed slots therein, said body portion slots being received in said support member slots for pivoting movement of said pointer member about an axis defined by said slots, said pointer element including a pointer extending outwardly from said body portion on one side of said axis and a vane extending outwardly from said body portion on the opposite side of said axis, said vane having a greater width than thickness and said width dimension extending perpendicular to said pivot axis, said vane being magnetized and being movable into the central gap of said coil upon pivoting of said pointer element about said axis, said pointer being magnetized in a direction opposite to the direction of magnetization of said vane, thereby balancing the effect due to external magnetic flux.

Claim 19

A meter movement comprising: a. a coil form, b. an electric coil wound on said form and having a central gap therein, c. a support member mounted on said coil foRm, said support member including a pair of thin resiliently flexible arms, said arms being spaced apart and having opposing slots, d. a pointer element formed of thin resiliently flexible sheet material, said pointer element having a body portion with opposed slots therein, said body portion slots being received in said support member slots for pivoting movement of said pointer member about an axis defined by said slots, said pointer element including a pointer extending outwardly from said body portion on one side of said axis and a vane extending outwardly from said body portion on the opposite side of said axis, said vane being magnetized and being movable into the central gap of said coil upon pivoting of said pointer element about said axis, said vane having a greater width than thickness, said width dimension extending parallel to said pivot axis, said pointer element including a pair of outer legs extending substantially parallel to said vane, said outer legs being magnetized in a direction opposite to the magnetization of said vane, said outer legs being integral with said body portion being movable across the exterior of said coil, whereby said pointer element swings in response to current flowing in said ccil.

Claim 20

A meter movement comprising: a. a coil form, b. an electric coil wound on said form and having a central gap therein, c. a support member mounted on said coil foRm, said support member including a pair of thin resiliently flexible arms, said arms being spaced apart and having opposing slots, d. a pointer element formed of thin resiliently flexible sheet material, said pointer element having a body portion with opposed slots therein, said body portion slots being received in said support member slots for pivoting movement of said pointer member about an axis defined by said slots, said pointer element including a pointer extending outwardly from said body portion on one side of said axis and a vane extending outwardly from said body portion on the opposite side of said axis, said vane being magnetized and being movable into the central gap of said coil upon pivoting of said pointer element about said axis, said vane having a greater width than thickness, said width dimension extending parallel to said pivot axis, said pointer element including a pair of outer legs extending substantially parallel to said vane, said outer legs being magnetized in a direction opposite to the magnetization of said vane, said outer legs being integral with said body portion being movable across the exterior of said coil, whereby said pointer element swings in response to current flowing in said ccil.

Claim 21

The meter movement according to claim 14, wherein said vane, said outer legs, said body portion and said pointer are all substantially planar.

Claim 22

The meter movement according to claim 15, including a projection on said body portion, said projection being offset from said pivot axis, a receptacle for viscous fluid on said support member, said projection being received in said receptacle whereby viscous fluid in said receptacle cooperates with said projection to damp swinging movement of said pointer element about said axis.

Claim 23

The meter movement according to claim 9, including a second coil on said base means spaced from said first mentioned coil, said vane being movable into the central opening of said second coil upon swinging about said pivot axis.