Commutating rotary transformer

Claim 2

A commutating rotary transformer for successively coupling signals to or from a plurality of rotating transducer heads in a tape recorder, said transformer comprising: a primary section constrained for rotation about an axis with the transducer heads, said primary section having a plurality of radially extending magnetic core segments and an arcuately disposed primary winding on each of the core segments, each primary winding being connected to a different one of the transducer heads, and a stationary secondary section comprising a radially extending magnetic core segment and an arcuately disposed winding on the core segment, the secondary section being disposed coaxially of the primary section and spaced axially therefrom with the secondary core segment in close proximity to the primary core segments and positioned to be aligned successively with different ones of the primary segments as the primary section rotates, whereby different ones of the rotating transducer heads are successively coupled to the stationary secondary winding.

Claim 3

A commutating rotary transformer for couPling electrical signals with a plurality of circuits carried by a rotative member, said transformer comprising: a first section disposed coaxially of the rotative member and constrained for rotation therewith, said first section having a plurality of radially extending magnetic core segments and a plurality of spaced apart arcuately disposed windings wound on the core segments, said windings being connected to the circuits carried by the rotative member, and a second section comprising a radially extending magnetic core segment and an arcuately disposed winding wound on the core segment, said second section being disposed coaxially of the first section and spaced axially therefrom with the core segment of the second section in close proximity to the core segments of the first section, the core segment of the second section being aligned successively with different ones of the core segments of the first section as said first section rotates whereby the winding on the second section is coupled successively to the windings on the first section.

Claim 4

A commutating rotary transformer for couPling electrical signals with a plurality of circuits carried by a rotative member, said transformer comprising: a first section disposed coaxially of the rotative member and constrained for rotation therewith, said first section having a plurality of radially extending magnetic core segments and a plurality of spaced apart arcuately disposed windings wound on the core segments, said windings being connected to the circuits carried by the rotative member, and a second section comprising a radially extending magnetic core segment and an arcuately disposed winding wound on the core segment, said second section being disposed coaxially of the first section and spaced axially therefrom with the core segment of the second section in close proximity to the core segments of the first section, the core segment of the second section being aligned successively with different ones of the core segments of the first section as said first section rotates whereby the winding on the second section is coupled successively to the windings on the first section.

Claim 5

The commutating rotary transformer of claim 2 wherein the windings of the first section are disposed along a circular path of predetermined radius centered about the axis of rotation and the winding of the second section is disposed on an arcuate path of the predetermined radius.

Claim 6

A commutating rotary transformer for successively coupling signals to or from a plurality of rotating transducer heads in a tape recorder, said transformer comprising: a primary section constrained for rotation about an axis with the transducer heads, said primary section having a plurality of radially extending magnetic core segments and an arcuately disposed primary winding on each of the core segments, each primary winding being connected to a different one of the transducer heads, and a stationary secondary section comprising a radially extending magnetic core segment and an arcuately disposed winding on the core segment, the primary windings being arranged in two groups disposed respectively along circular paths of first and second predetermined radii centered about the axis of rotation and the secondary section having two radially extending magnetic core segments and an arcuately disposed winding on each of said segments, the secondary windings being spaced from the axis of rotation by distances corresponding respectively to the first and second radii, the secondary section being disposed coaxially of the primary section and spaced axially therefrom with the secondary core segment in close proximity to the primary core segments and positioned to be aligned successively with different ones of the primary segments as the primary section rotates, whereby different ones of the rotating transducer heads are successively coupled to the stationary secondary winding.

Claim 7

A commutating rotary transformer for successively coupling signals to or from a plurality of rotating transducer heads in a tape recorder, said transformer comprising: a primary section constrained for rotation about an axis with the transducer heads, said primary section having a plurality of radially extending magnetic core segments and an arcuately disposed primary winding on each of the core segments, each primary winding being connected to a different one of the transducer heads, and a stationary secondary section comprising a radially extending magnetic core segment and an arcuately disposed winding on the core segment, the primary windings being arranged in two groups disposed respectively along circular paths of first and second predetermined radii centered about the axis of rotation and the secondary section having two radially extending magnetic core segments and an arcuately disposed winding on each of said segments, the secondary windings being spaced from the axis of rotation by distances corresponding respectively to the first and second radii, the secondary section being disposed coaxially of the primary section and spaced axially therefrom with the secondary core segment in close proximity to the primary core segments and positioned to be aligned successively with different ones of the primary segments as the primary section rotates, whereby different ones of the rotating transducer heads are successively coupled to the stationary secondary winding.

Claim 8

The commutating rotary transformer of claim 4 wherein adjacent ones of the transducer heads are connected to primary windings in different ones of the two groups.

Claim 9

The commutating rotary transformer of claim 4 together with switching means for selectively applying the signals from the secondary windings to a signal processing circuit.

Claim 10

A commutating rotary transformer for coupling electrical signals with a plurality of circuits carried by a rotative member, said transformer comprising: a first section disposed coaxially of the rotative member and constrained for rotation therewith, said first section having a plurality of radially extending magnetic core segments and a plurality of spaced apart arcuately disposed windings wound on the core segments, said windings being connected to the circuits carried by the rotative member, and a second section comprising a radially extending magnetic core segment and an arcuately disposed winding wound on the core segment, the windings of the first section being arranged in two groups disposed respectively along circular paths of first and second predetermined radii centered about the axis of rotation and the second section having two rAdially extending magnetic core segments and two windings disposed respectively on arcuate paths of said first and second radii, the second section being disposed coaxially of the first section and spaced axially therefrom with the core segment of the second section in close proximity to the core segments of the first section, the core segment of the second section being aligned successively with different ones of the core segments of the first section as said first section rotates, whereby the winding on the second section is coupled successively to the windings on the first section.

Claim 11

A commutating rotary transformer for coupling electrical signals with a plurality of circuits carried by a rotative member, said transformer comprising: a first section disposed coaxially of the rotative member and constrained for rotation therewith, said first section having a plurality of radially extending magnetic core segments and a plurality of spaced apart arcuately disposed windings wound on the core segments, said windings being connected to the circuits carried by the rotative member, and a second section comprising a radially extending magnetic core segment and an arcuately disposed winding wound on the core segment, the windings of the first section being arranged in two groups disposed respectively along circular paths of first and second predetermined radii centered about the axis of rotation and the second section having two rAdially extending magnetic core segments and two windings disposed respectively on arcuate paths of said first and second radii, the second section being disposed coaxially of the first section and spaced axially therefrom with the core segment of the second section in close proximity to the core segments of the first section, the core segment of the second section being aligned successively with different ones of the core segments of the first section as said first section rotates, whereby the winding on the second section is coupled successively to the windings on the first section.

Claim 12

The commutating rotary transformer of claim 7 together with electronic switching means for selectively connecting the windings of the second section to a signal processing circuit.