Electrical resistors – Mechanically variable – Movable contact electrically adjustable over length of...
Patent
1989-11-27
1992-05-12
Lateef, Marvin M.
Electrical resistors
Mechanically variable
Movable contact electrically adjustable over length of...
338129, 338130, 338174, H01C 1032, H01C 1016, H01C 1026
Patent
active
051131722
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a potentiometer for measuring the angle of rotation of a shaft compared with a fixed member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In a known potentiometer, a resistance path shaped like the arc of a circle is located on a fixed disk concentrically arranged with a collector path shaped like the arc of a circle. Two elastic slide contacts are held on the shaft with a hub. If such a potentiometer is to be equipped for a redundant angle of rotation display, a second collector path must be provided. This second collector path can be provided in the same radial area of the first collector path. As a result, the measuring range would be cut in half. On the other hand, if the second collector path is located radially outside of the resistance path that is already present and the collector path, large radial dimensions results. The situation is similar if a second collector path is desired to be able to carry out a seamless measurement of several shaft rotations. In this case, a second collector path would also have to be located radially outside of the paths that were already present. Furthermore, locating a second collector path and a second resistance path on another fixed disk parallel to the first disk is conceivable. All of these arrangements would result in an enlargement of the potentiometer in the radial or the axial direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a potentiometer for the indicated uses that has dimensions that are as small as possible in spite of the presence of two collector paths both in the axial and the radial direction.
By arranging two circular collector paths concentrically on a disk rotating with the shaft, either a redundant potentiometer with a measuring angle between 180.degree.and 360.degree.or a simple potentiometer for seamless measurement of several shaft rotations is provided that has very small radial dimensions. Since the rotating disk requires only a very small thickness, the axial measurement of the potentiometer is also no larger than that of a conventional potentiometer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. l shows the potentiometer according to a preferred embodiment;
FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the potentiometer along the line II-II in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through the potentiometer long the line III-III in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 shows the potentiometer according to a second embodiment;
FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through the potentiometer, along the line V-V in FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 shows cross-sections through the potentiometer along the line VI-VI in FIG. 4 in different stages of manufacture.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The basic elements of the potentiometer according to the invention include a fixed disk 1 and a disk 3 rotating together with a shaft 2. In the preferred embodiment (FIGS. 1-3) of the potentiometer, which serves the purpose of performing redundant measuring of the angle of rotation of the shaft 2, two resistance paths 4 and 5 shaped like arcs of circles are arranged on the fixed disk 1. Each of the two resistance paths has a terminal contact 6 and 7 or 8 and 9 at each of its ends. Furthermore, two more terminal contacts 10 and 11 that are connected with two slide contacts 12 and 13 are fastened to the fixed disk 1. The slide contacts 12 and 13 serve the purpose of tapping the current from two collector paths 14 and 15 that are mounted on the rotating disk 3 as concentric circular paths. The disk 3 rotating together with the shaft 2 is connected with the shaft 2 by three arms 16 riveted to the rotating disk 3, for example.
Two slide contacts 17 and 18 that are in flexible contact with the two resistance paths 4 and 5 are fastened to the rotating disk 3 in the area of the two collector paths 14 and 15.
The largest angle of rotation 19 of the shaft 2 measurable with this potenti
REFERENCES:
patent: 3676822 (1972-07-01), Slagg et al.
patent: 3748626 (1973-07-01), Maurice
patent: 4511879 (1985-04-01), Fujii
patent: 4521761 (1985-06-01), Welch
patent: 4523175 (1985-06-01), Sakurai
Lateef Marvin M.
Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
Zalkind Albert M.
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