US3918023A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable resistance control and method of assemblying the same
Assignee: CTS Corp
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Filing: 1973-11-05
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1993-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A housing encloses a lead screw, a collector, a slider containing a contactor and driven by the lead screw, and a resistive path wipingly engaged by the contactor. A spring tab on the contactor securely attaches the contactor to the slider for handling and transporting the contactor and the slider as a complete unit for assembly into the housing of the control, the lead screw pressing upon the spring tab to release the contactor from rigid engagement with the slider upon the assembly of the lead screw, slider, and contactor into the housing, the tab maintaining continuous electrical contact with the lead screw. The release of the contactor from rigid engagement with the slider allows the contactor to float with the slider and smoothly engage the resistance element. The slider has a horizontal surface supporting the lead screw, the horizontal surface containing a motion conversion means disposed transverse to the lead screw and interfitting the threads of the screw, to convert the rotational motion of the lead screw into the translational movement of the slider. The lead screw is supported at one end by a journal bearing in the housing and at the other end engages a thrust bearing and a spring support, the end of the lead screw snapping into engagement with the spring support upon assembly of the control, the spring support facilitating the assembly of the lead screw into the housing and ensuring positive electrical contact between the lead screw and a collector terminal.
Inventors
- 👤 John Zdanys
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:58
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/30; H01C10/38; H01C10/40; H01C10/42; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
In a variable resistance control, the combination of a housing, a resistance element disposed in the housing, a an electrically conductive lead screw rotatably supported by the housing, an electrically conductive collector element supported in the housing and electrically connected to the lead screw, a contactor for making wiping contact with the resistance element, a slider for moving the contactor intermediate the ends of the resistance element, an electrically nonconductive motion conversion means connected to the slider and engaging the lead screw for converting the rotational motion of said lead screw to the translational motion of the slider, said contactor being disposed in relation to the motion conversion means urging the conversion means into engagement with the lead screw and comprising a tab portion in electrical engagement with the lead screw.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
In a variable resistance control, the combination of a housing, a resistance element disposed in the housing, a an electrically conductive lead screw rotatably supported by the housing, an electrically conductive collector element supported in the housing and electrically connected to the lead screw, a contactor for making wiping contact with the resistance element, a slider for moving the contactor intermediate the ends of the resistance element, an electrically nonconductive motion conversion means connected to the slider and engaging the lead screw for converting the rotational motion of said lead screw to the translational motion of the slider, said contactor being disposed in relation to the motion conversion means urging the conversion means into engagement with the lead screw and comprising a tab portion in electrical engagement with the lead screw.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The variable resistance control of claim 1, wherein said slider is provided with a horizontal surface and said conversion means comprises an electrically nonconductive horizontal member carried by said horizontal surface and interfitting the threads of said lead screw and wherein said horizontal surface is provided with an indentation, said tab portion of said contactor extending through said indentation and making electrical contact with said lead screw.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The variable resistance control of claim 2, wherein said contactor coMprises a plurality of narrowly spaced fingers, said fingers maintaining electrical contact over a substantial portion of the width of the resistance element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The variable resistance control of claim 1, wherein said contactor comprises contact means making wiping contact with the resistance element and a slider engagement portion mechanically engaging the slider, said contact means being disposed between said tab portion and said slider engagement portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The variable resistance control of claim 4, wherein said slider engagement portion engages the slider underneath the motion conversion means to urge the conversion means upwardly into engagement with the lead screw.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The variable resistance control of claim 5, wherein said slider is provided with an indentation and said tab portion electrically engages the lead screw, said tab portion extending through said indentation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
184 words
A variable resistance control comprising a housing of electrically nonconductable material, a resistance element disposed in the housing, terminal leads connected to the ends of the resistance element, an electrically conductive lead screw rotatably mounted in the housing in spaced relationship to the resistance element and having a helical thread, a rotatable means connected to the lead screw, a flexible electrically conductive collector disposed in the housing and connected to the lead screw, a contactor making wiping contact with the resistance element, a slider for moving the contactor intermediate the ends of the resistance element, an electrically nonconductive motion conversion means connected to the slider and extending transversely to said lead screw, said contactor being disposed in relation to the motion conversion means urging the conversion means into engagement with the lead screw and comprising a tab portion in electrical engagement with a plurality of the peripheral edges of the helical thread of the lead screw, a slider engagement portion, and a contact portion wipingly engaging the resistance element, said slider engagement portion urging the motion conversion means into engagement with the lead screw.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
184 words
A variable resistance control comprising a housing of electrically nonconductable material, a resistance element disposed in the housing, terminal leads connected to the ends of the resistance element, an electrically conductive lead screw rotatably mounted in the housing in spaced relationship to the resistance element and having a helical thread, a rotatable means connected to the lead screw, a flexible electrically conductive collector disposed in the housing and connected to the lead screw, a contactor making wiping contact with the resistance element, a slider for moving the contactor intermediate the ends of the resistance element, an electrically nonconductive motion conversion means connected to the slider and extending transversely to said lead screw, said contactor being disposed in relation to the motion conversion means urging the conversion means into engagement with the lead screw and comprising a tab portion in electrical engagement with a plurality of the peripheral edges of the helical thread of the lead screw, a slider engagement portion, and a contact portion wipingly engaging the resistance element, said slider engagement portion urging the motion conversion means into engagement with the lead screw.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The control of claim 7, wherein said slider comprises a horizontal surface engaging the lead screw, said horizontal surface containing an indentation, said tab extending through said indentation, said motion conversion means being integral with said surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
232 words
A variable resistance control comprising first and second elongated side walls and an elongated bottom wall forming a housing, an elongated resistance element disposed along the bottom wall of the housing, a plurality of terminals extending through the resistance element and the bottom wall of the housing and securing the resistance element to the bottom wall of the housing, a flexible electrically conductive collector element disposed in the housing, a collector terminal extending through the bottom wall of the housing and securing the collector element to the housing, an electrically conductive lead screw rotatably mounted in the housing in spaced relationship to the resistance element, one end of the lead screw being supported by a portion of the housing and the other end of the lead screw being supported by the collector element, a horizontal member and a plurality of vertical members secured to the horizontal member forming a slider engaging the lead screw, a contactor secured to the slider for making wiping contact with the resistance element intermediate the ends thereof, said contactor being disposed in relation to the slider to urge the slider into engagement with the lead screw, and an electrically nonconductive motion conversion means connected to the slider, said motion conversion means comprising an elongated member integral with said horizontal member and extending transversely to said lead screw, the elongated member interfitting the threads of the lead screw.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
232 words
A variable resistance control comprising first and second elongated side walls and an elongated bottom wall forming a housing, an elongated resistance element disposed along the bottom wall of the housing, a plurality of terminals extending through the resistance element and the bottom wall of the housing and securing the resistance element to the bottom wall of the housing, a flexible electrically conductive collector element disposed in the housing, a collector terminal extending through the bottom wall of the housing and securing the collector element to the housing, an electrically conductive lead screw rotatably mounted in the housing in spaced relationship to the resistance element, one end of the lead screw being supported by a portion of the housing and the other end of the lead screw being supported by the collector element, a horizontal member and a plurality of vertical members secured to the horizontal member forming a slider engaging the lead screw, a contactor secured to the slider for making wiping contact with the resistance element intermediate the ends thereof, said contactor being disposed in relation to the slider to urge the slider into engagement with the lead screw, and an electrically nonconductive motion conversion means connected to the slider, said motion conversion means comprising an elongated member integral with said horizontal member and extending transversely to said lead screw, the elongated member interfitting the threads of the lead screw.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of manufacturing a variable resistance control containing a contactor having a flexiblE tab portion for electrically engaging an electrically conductive lead screw comprising the steps of: a. securing a resistance element within a housing, b. securing an electrically conductive collector within the housing, c. locking the flexible tab portion to a slider to form a contactor assembly, d. disposing the contactor assembly within the housing, e. inserting one end of the lead screw into an aperture in the housing, and f. snapping the other end of the lead screw into engagement with the collector to thereby secure the lead screw within the housing.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of manufacturing a variable resistance control containing a contactor having a flexiblE tab portion for electrically engaging an electrically conductive lead screw comprising the steps of: a. securing a resistance element within a housing, b. securing an electrically conductive collector within the housing, c. locking the flexible tab portion to a slider to form a contactor assembly, d. disposing the contactor assembly within the housing, e. inserting one end of the lead screw into an aperture in the housing, and f. snapping the other end of the lead screw into engagement with the collector to thereby secure the lead screw within the housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of interlocking the contactor to the slider includes the step of snapping a flexible tab portion of the contactor onto a portion of the slider.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the step of snapping the other end of the lead screw into engagement with the collector comprises the step of pressing the lead screw upon the tab portion of the contactor to thereby unlock said tab portion from said slider, said tab portion being in electrical contact with said lead screw.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of inserting one end of the lead screw into an aperture in the housing includes the step of tilting the lead screw and inserting one end of the lead screw from within the housing outwardly through the aperture of the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of snapping the other end of the lead screw onto the flexible collector includes the step of lowering the lead screw within the housing for engagement with the top of the flexible collector and then snapping the end of the lead screw into engagement with a bearing contained in the flexible collector.
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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) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |