US4962290A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shaft position indicating and display means with adjustable mounting adapter
Assignee: NEW RAC CORP
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Filing: 1989-11-13
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Granted: 1990-10-09
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Expires: 2009-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism for providing electrical or pneumatic signals indicative of the rotation position of a rotatable shaft includes a switch housing mounted on a base with a cam shaft passing upward through the base and supporting one or more cam elements for cooperating with electrical switches contained within the housing. The base is especially designed to support a flared drum on the outer surface of which are graphic characters viewable through a window on a fixed indicator cover and visible from above and the sides for visibly displaying the orientation of the rotary shaft. The mounting mechanism including a system of brackets and spacers permits the device to be used with a variety of devices incorporating a rotatable shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald J. Nelson
- 👤 Wally Stommes
- 👤 John Rose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/16; H01H19/00; H01H19/02; H01H19/10; H01H19/14; H01H19/18; H01H19/54; H01H19/60; H01H19/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
Rotary shaft position indicating and display means for use with a device having a rotatable shaft and a planar mounting surface, comprising: (a) a housing having a base with a cover secured to said base and defining a hollow sealed chamber; (b) an actuator shaft journaled for rotation in said base and extending through said base into said sealed chamber; (c) at least one electromechanical actuating element mounted on said actuator shaft; (d) means coupled to said base within said chamber for actuation by said at least one electromechanical actuating element; (e) a first frusto-conical member secured to the under side of said base, said first member being downwardly and outwardly flared and being formed from at least in part of a transparent plastic material to define at least one window area; (f) a second frusto-conical member concentrically disposed relative to said first frusto-conical member and including graphics information viewable through said at least one window area; (g) first spacer means of a predetermined height dimension and having first and second side surfaces, the first side surface abutting and affixed to said actuator shaft and to said second frusto-conical member for rotating said second frusto-conical member with said actuator shaft; and (h) yoke means secured to the second side surface of said first spacer means for coupling said first spacer means to said rotatable shaft of said device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
Rotary shaft position indicating and display means for use with a device having a rotatable shaft and a planar mounting surface, comprising: (a) a housing having a base with a cover secured to said base and defining a hollow sealed chamber; (b) an actuator shaft journaled for rotation in said base and extending through said base into said sealed chamber; (c) at least one electromechanical actuating element mounted on said actuator shaft; (d) means coupled to said base within said chamber for actuation by said at least one electromechanical actuating element; (e) a first frusto-conical member secured to the under side of said base, said first member being downwardly and outwardly flared and being formed from at least in part of a transparent plastic material to define at least one window area; (f) a second frusto-conical member concentrically disposed relative to said first frusto-conical member and including graphics information viewable through said at least one window area; (g) first spacer means of a predetermined height dimension and having first and second side surfaces, the first side surface abutting and affixed to said actuator shaft and to said second frusto-conical member for rotating said second frusto-conical member with said actuator shaft; and (h) yoke means secured to the second side surface of said first spacer means for coupling said first spacer means to said rotatable shaft of said device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The rotary shaft position indicating and display means as in claim 1 wherein said second frusto-conical member includes a plurality of recesses circumferentially spaced at regular angular intervals and concentrically disposed relative to said actuator shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The rotary shaft position indicating and display means as in claim 2 wherein said first spacer means includes a plurality of pins projecting from said first surface thereof for insertion into said plurality of recesses in said second frusto-conical member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The rotary shaft position indicating and display means as in claim 1 wherein said first frusto-conical member includes an upwardly projecting annular ring integrally formed therewith and said base includes an annular groove for receiving said annular ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The rotary shaft position indicating and display means as in claim 4 and further including means for releasibly locking said annular ring in said annular groove.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
The rotary shaft position indicating and display means as in claim 1 wherein said base further includes: (a) a mounting flange integrally formed therewith, said mounting flange including a pair of spaced-apart through-holes extending therethrough parallel to said actuator shaft and radially offset therefrom; (b) a mounting bracket adapted for attachment to said planar mounting surface of said device; and (c) further spacer means having a height dimension equal to said predetermined height dimension of said first spacer means and a pair of spaced-apart through-holes, said further spacer means being insertable between said mounting flange on said base and said mounting bracket with the through-holes of said further spacer means being aligned with said through-holes on said mounting flange.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The rotary shaft position indicating and display means as in claim 6 and further including fastening means insertable through said mounting bracket, said through-holes in said further spacer means and said through-holes of said mounting flange when aligned.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The rotary shaft position indicating and display means as in claim 6 wherein a plurality of said first spacer means and a plurality of said further spacer means are stackable relative to one another.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1993-10-08 | 1994-04-09 | 1994-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-08 | 1998-04-09 | 1998-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-08 | 2002-04-09 | 2002-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |