US2480375A - Tuning device - Google Patents

Description

Aug 30, 1949. LE ROY J. LE|SHMAN 0,

TUNING DEVICE Filed Aug. '3, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR Aug- 1949- LE ROY J. LEISHMAN 0,

TUNING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 3,, 1940 F I i 54 11: VTIITIAQummmWnQ IN VEN'IOR if; I

Aug 30, 1949. LE ROY J. LEISHMAN TUNING DEVICE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 P 1949- LE ROY J. LEISHMAN I 2,480,375

TUNING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q [W11 -11 a [1/87 I INVENTOR.

TUNINGDEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 *[W-U 1M1 6 "fill/4] [Uadfl T E INVENTOR,

Patented Aug. 30, 1949 The invention herein .described2pertainsto means'zfon :taming rotatable shafts to predetermiheda angular positions", petrticulaflywhere .tkie control: shafts are associated .withth'e' tuning mechanism :otiadib. apparatus and the :li'k. Among its objects are: to provide means for r01 tatisigesiich iiointrbl .sha'ft's through any required angle triez-use :of split-"gears or other special :meansrtoeliminate lost motions; :to reduce mazes .azplan mew;imam-mamas 6n -1- Figm :is a cross section ofth'e "tuning shaft of Fig 7 .t this, Lkey-way; and; in" -dotted"- lines; :a' spacer be hindthewvasher.v 1. v

, Fig. 1 shows another-formant push bntton ref automatiet'tuners, vinxv'vhich the set screw' of the adjustable element may :be readied-when in the :25

usg of discs'protmdi'ng;through the es'cuteheori;

,Eig. 18, shows a third means-for setting the -de-' vice of Figs; 1" and 2- from the .front 0fthe"-instt1i'- ment.

m e is-1a mtaiadforrnrof the'd'ewitrizof mes: flpdi t-inwhiohthe adjustable partst'aretonthe m en-button, or operating means,- rather than k e-rotatabieeontrol shaft. 3

0 s; {plan View of Fig; 9 ssh-tsetsa ted par added S I" s .4 Q7 t. H in; .21; 1 is a sectional view" of the parts mounted 7 showingthe key-way; the washer-the; fits 7 on button ofthe device of Fig. and is taskenionlline 1| l-'l l oflFig. 9.

Fig. 12 showsioth'er details of the push button constructionfof the device or Fig. 9,5and1isfin bart a sectional View taken :oniline 12 -12 of Fig.

'1 r'ectiiinearlyinsteadofareuately.-

WFigNM :is: afsettibntaken mime UL-1'4 ofJ-Fig. 1'5; :and shows one of the ioperating plungers' in tuned-in position against the reetiline'arly mo'iiabl-el'lacksz o a ,Flg, =1 5-is;a;p'1an era-miner embodying this modification. to .t

.Fig.16iis a dtatltof Eignlfi. 1; a

Fig. 17 is a section taken on l-in'e l1-'l l-of Figs 1:9,, showing how. thespecies of. Figs; '9 t ,12 m

'1? be-modifiedso that the racks v"have rectilinear instead oflrotarymotion. I

Fig-4,518 is an 'otherflvi'ew of the mechanism -of Fig. 1H,: showing the plunger assemldly in the tuned-iniposition. s

t Fig-.:.-19;is$a.p1anviiew of a tuner embodying this mddification. a n.

Eig; 20iis'a'=detai'l of Fig; 19. Fig. :2 villustrates a modification of the device of vEigs. 17:,1'8 an-(1:19 in whioh the racks on the plunger are grepta-ced by 'an" fangula'rly adjustable tappet member; a, v V i 1 In Fig; .=-1 ;;gear: A is'showmrri'ounted on shaft :B. 111,515 (fixed; a predetermined angular position with relation to shaft B by meansiof an arrange ment-uthat wilipbexdeseribed in connection with Figs-21.; fi'earysegm'ent 1C is freeto'turnon sha'fit E,-;and v rneshes with gear IA. Segment D of an in-terna1;gear :also meshes with gear A and is freely :D1Woted on shaft "The operating .ar-n i Fiiilikethegear segments-is also :free to turn on shaft :E, but is normal-1y held in an inoperative position with projection against bum-per M by spring J, attached to proj'e'etion Kran'd r od L; Bumper 'Mmay .be,,:atube. of resilientmaterial,

such asrubber, mounted on a rod N, but marry other fiu itabke --eXpQdients wili suggest themselves to those ski-lledin itheart: :Qper'ating arm F has" an 'areuate vsection G extending through .e'scu't'e'l'r eon Q ;on, the trout 0f, the :set, and: a: button or other convenient top H is mounted on the end" of sect-ion ,G; whiGhthii-s forms the stem of a push-button. has' a lip P-tu'rned at right an les to the, rest of the. arm to engage the-edgesof segm-'ents Q and D. V, ltjwi'l'l :be seen from the 'descniption thus far -gi-ven that-regardless of the angular position of gear A within approximately 180 degrees, the pressing of button H will cause arm F to engage whichever gear segment happens to be the nearest, and the further movement of arm F will turn gear A and the other gear segment until the latter collides with lip P on arm F, at which time the parts will be in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. This is the tunedin position to which arm F always returns these parts, including gear A. Gear A, of course, may occupy any angular position with respect to shaft B, according to its original setting, to be explained later.

Stem G has two indentations or notches, the forward notch having a rounded shoulder T at the rear side of the notch, and the rear notch having a straight shoulder S at the forward side of the notch. These notches actuate the latchbar Q, which has a pivot V, Figs. 1 and 2. The latch bar is held against the stems G of all the operating arms, there being a plurality of sets of such arms and segments like those previously described all pivotally mounted on shaft E.

The gear segments in each set cooperate and mesh with a gear identical to gear A, such additional gears being designated in Fig. 2 by the reference characters A2, A3 and A4.

When stem G is at the end of its operating stroke, at the tuned-in position shown in Fig. 1, the end R. of latch bar Q slips into the rear notch in the stem and engages edge S of the notch, thus preventing spring J from returning the operating arm to its normal or rest position. Shaft B is thus locked in the angular position to which it was turned'when button H was depressed, and if shaft B is operatively connected to the tuning shaft of a radio set, the receiver is consequently locked at a definite setting.

The pressing of another button releases the one that is locked down, as the forward and rear notches in all the stems are spaced in such a manner that the rear shoulders of the forward notches all rest just behind the point R of the forward end of the latch bar. Shoulder T2 in the forward notch of stem G2 is shown in this position. When button H2 is pressed, this shoulder will engage the latch bar, forcing it out of the rear notch in stem G, thus causing stem G and arm F to flip back to the rest position under action of spring J. When button H2 has been pressed as far as possible, the edge S2 in the rear notch of stem G2 will be engaged by the latch bar in the manner just described with reference to stem G.

Fig. 1 shows segment D2 in its extreme forward position and segment C2 at the opposite end of its stroke. When button H2 is depressed, arm F2 will first engage the forward end of segment D2, turning gear A2 (not shown) in a counterclockwise direction, thus bringing segment C2 forward. This motion continues until the forward edge of segment C2 strikes arm F2, preventing further motion.

In order to show these segments in an opposite extreme of their possible motion, Fig. 1 shows a third set in dotted lines, segment Ca and segment Da. These particular segments do not appear in Fig. 2, and are shown in this manner in Fig. 1 merely to simplify the illustration and the explanation.

The means and method for setting the A gears in predetermined angular positions will now be explained. The arrangement is much the same as that shown and described in the Vasselli Patent No. 1,846,289, excepting that I have made novel provisions for completing the setting operation without having to get inside the set. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, shaft B has a keyway X. A plurality of washers Y, Fig. 3, are each provided with an inwardly extending tang 6 to fit the key way. One of these washers is placed on each side of each A gear, as shown in Fig. 2; and the various groups, each consisting of two washers with a gear between them, are spaced on shaft B by means of spacers or collars Z, as shown in the figure. Collar Zb is a longer tube than the Others, and passes through end plate 1, in which it is journaled, and also through a hole 8 in the side panel 9 of the radio cabinet. Shaft B extends past the end of tube Zb, and has a threaded end to accommodate the tapped hole in knob I 0, which is mounted thereon. Another knob H, having a pin 5! to fit the keyway, is mounted on shaft B next to knob I 0. Between knob II and the outerend of collar Zb is mounted a cupshaped spring washer l2.

The gear segments and operating arms mount ed on shaft E must be grouped as shown in Fig. 2, and the groups spaced by spacers Za to hold the gear segments in mesh with the gears on shaft In the form shown in Fig.2, shaft B is the shaft of condenser l3, shown diagrammatically, mounted on end plate M of the automatic tuner assembly. A collar l5, having aset-sorew or pin 16, is mounted on shaft B just inside of end plate l4. It will now be evident that all the parts carried by shaft B may be clamped in position by means of knob ID. If this knob and shaft B have right-handed threads, a slight rotation of this knob to the right will turn shaft B to the limits provided by the condenser, but the further rotation of knob ID will press knob ll against the spring washer l2, finally flattening it out, and tightening all the parts on the shaft against the stop-collar l5.

To set a tuner of this kind, knob I0 is loosened by rotating it to the right, thus permitting the spring-washer l2 to expand. This releases most of the side pressure on the A gears, the only pressure remaining being that of the springwasher. The button that is to be set to tune in a predetermined station, say button H, is now pressed down and held there, either by the operators finger or the latch-bar. The associatedsegments and gear A are now prevented from turning, but shaft B may be turned inside of gear A. The desired station is next tuned in by means of knob I l, which is keyed to the shaft. This causes the shaft and gear A to assume a definite angular relationship that is individual to the station that is tuned in. Another button may now be pressed down and a different station tuned in in like manner. The setting of the gear previously set will not be disturbed, because the keyed washers permit everything on the shaft to turn as a single unit, excepting the gear that is locked in position by the depressed button, and its relative movement with respect to the shaft cannot be frictionally transmitted to other parts on the shaft because of the intervention of the keyed washers which will not move angularly. After all the A gears have been set in this manner, knob I 0 is again tightened on the shaft, looking all the gears in the angular positions to which they were individually adjusted. It will now be obvious that the subsequent pressing of any button will tune in the station that was tuned in while the button was originally depressed during the setting operation.

area-sis sheugsmmther pushebnttonarrangexnent h whiohdihezadiiistnible. element, like the *Agears mimgs.ilsandasisimounted on-rtheshaft. un t/his construction, however, the adjustable .eljernent ,A as date the rotatable :contro1,; sha-ft B by means rocfiia. set-iscrew 3| 6 --,whichnnayibe reached amt-he tnnedein iposition; byzremoving the cap H index .itab 139 ithe: pushebutton and ting a screw driver through the hollow stem .Elhe cntirepush-button assembly consists, iin-sadtlitiomto the, parts already mentioned. of .a :eeossmiece B6 zandza =pair of legs. 21 havingreduced 'ends iiormingshoulders .25 to take-the itiimstgofie xpansion springs 15 that ah lt a ainst ende'nieceim whichiis apertured to form guides .to

- spemut: the longitudinal movementof-thereduced -;cap :15 (\f'ithfi demise of EigAg-has a window lshinrthe rend; through which call letters on the station iindex "115K119 ,may .be, read. This index tab rests-nnthe round end member 4-?! into-which ithehcllow tube Mus ti htly p ess d. T can be screwe i towendgmember ,-l-. 'l or :the two my .suiiably .ishaped .so that the ;cap will slip 03 28 1 2 x :In-iadditlpn itp the apertures provided in end: .piece .22, the .mouement of the assembly is also guided by aperture in the guide member 128, line escntcheonfzl ihasadarge hole :29 to permit the stem gto pass through without anypossibility oi binding. The continuous lines in the figure the assembly and .the positionable element intheduneddmposition. in broken lines, these #551 5 parts {are .shownias the cross piece. .26 is pushing the positionable element toward the tuned ein position. Across-section of certain of these g ants .;is shown in Fig. .5, which is a view aniline 5--.5-of.F ig. 4. iIIhe yarious parts maylbe identified by .thereierence. characters.

v Jig. 6 illustrates a modification of the setting mechanism shown inEig. 2, in which all the :setting operations .may-be performed from the front panel. The gears-spacers, washers and the shaft all perform the same ifunction and are formed, in the same :rna'nner as the parts bearing the cor- -respomii-ng reference characters in ,Fig. 2. The satiation 'is .in collar 36 and the parts lying to the rightuof it. Collarsi34 and; 36 each. have square shoulders .on both sides of one end to .receive ends :of .the spring clamps 29 and 29a, asshown in the drawing. Spring clamp 29a has ajhole to admit the reduced end of the long adjusting .screw 3L, which has 1 a shoulder 32 ra dapt ed vjdpress against clamp 19a. The reduced end dillthen-masses through hole 31 inzsh-aftB, and extnemethreaded :end 13 3 of screw .31 is screwed .into a threaded hole in spring clamp .29, ei ihihas ame'inforcing section .30, alsothreaded.

lherig'ht end of .shaftB carries wheel 38, attached to the shaft'by screw 39. Wheel .38 has a beveled .edge, .as indicated. .A bracket .49, :attaihdd to \end ,plate 1 .by screws 50, carries a through which passes ashaft-llfi having avs'houlder 4| .and carrying .a-wheel- 42 :that

has a. periphery ofgoodfrictional characteristics which, therefore, may be formed .of rubber. Shaft "40 is, surrounded .by an expansion spring '15 abutting against the bushing 43 and exterting its pressureagalinstpin 14.6,thus-urging shaft 40 in a direction away'from the bevel wheel. .IFhe outerend of shaft 40, carriesaknob dlpreferably tapered .as shown, .by (means of which s'hait LB. may be manually-rotated. .Spring 45 is .very and duelitothe taper of knobfl-l, the tension of spring is al o t overcome .-:by the 6 manual .;pressure required to get afigoodhbldbh the knob. When-wheel 42 is mcontact-with the rbeveledyedge 'Of wheel .38, atheshaft .B is readily rotated by knobAl. e

Y Collars, 34 and 36, the clamping :springslt and 2-9 a, 'hole b1. and screw 3! arefsocoordinated-with respect to the .tuningnondenser and the/indicating scale that screwl is in alignment with-hole the escutcheonat one of the extremes ofrmotion of the condensen To set a tuner rsoseqwipp fi shaft -B is turned as far as it will vgoin the reuired direction so that screw 31 will beaccessible through hole 48. Screw .31 is then loosened by meansof a screwdriver. Withtheclamping tension thus removed from the A ears, it will-beehvious that the setting operations may [be per formed. in :the manner described with relation tolEig. .2. Aftenallt-he desiredstations havebeen tuned in with the proper buttons depressed, the manual knob is again turned 'to thelim-it of motion that brings screw 3! :behind holeda a-ndg-the screw is again tightened, thus clamping the A gears in the positions to which they haveheen adjusted. These A gears are part-of an apparatus such as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and Fig. 6, -for the sakeof .clearness,thereiorelmerely shows the variations from the embodiments of the invention previously described.

.Fig. 7 illustrates a modification in which the knobs 1-6 and I of Fig. 2 areirepla'cedbydiscsyl'fl and 41, protruding through openings 48 and #87; respectively in the escutcheon'fil thus permitting the setting operation to, be performed from the {rent of the set. Longitudinal movement inf-shaft B isiprevented b collar 15 and the hub of disc 4-! mountedon opposite sides of plateldandmeld in place by set :screws 16 and :54 respectively. Gears A, A2 and A3 are mounted 'on the shaft between keyed washers Y, as describedin the explanation of Fig. .2. Spacers Z perform the. same function as in the devices of previously described figures. Disc L0 is attached to a hub-fi l-havinga reduceden-d Journaled 'in .end plate Fl. .64 has a threaded center holefor mounting: the hub and disc on the threaded :end of shaft B; If disc .10 is rotated .after shaft B has reached the limit of its movement .in either direction,the disc of course moves longitudinally-withincertain limits on shaft B as it turns on the threads on the shaft. Aperture 48' in the escutcheon must be sufficiently wide to permit this necessary alongitudinal movement-of-disc t0. As hub iii-4 moves longitudinally'under these conditions, it either increases or decreases the pressure on "the :keyed pressure collar '52, varying the tension on spring 2., which serves the same function .as.:spring lf2 in the device of Fig. 2. It will thus be evident that the positionable gears :A, A2 and A3 may be loosened for-angular adjustment *on shaft B .1051 turning disc 1-0 by means of a downward/movement of the thumb -on the portion "of its 1periphery that protrudes through hole 48. These gears cooperate with toothed operating members, omitted .from the rfigure for the sake of clearness, and may be individually held against rotation by holding down the associated button. With a gear immobilized :in this manner during the setting operation, the desired stationiis tuned in-by means of disc M, which turns with the shaft.

' Fig. 8 :shows another :arrangement 'for setting such a tuner .from the front of the cabinet. Shaft B "may :be restrained :from longitudinal movement by means of collars, or by reduced endsnsunhias :end =59. mend plate The other end of the shaft, of course, has similar provisions for preventing end thrust. Collar 63 is threaded to turn on the threaded portion of shaft B, and has a pair of pins 53 and 53a adapted to slide in holes 54 and 54a respectively in gear 55, adapted to turn freely on the reduced portion 58 of shaft B, but held against longitudinal movement bycollars or pins 56 and 51. End plate 1 carries a bracket 49 in which is journaled a shaft 40. A bevel-gear 60 is affixed on shaft 40 by means of screw or pin 6|. A spring 45, abutting against one end of bracket 49, presses on pin 46 in shaft 40, thus urging the shaft in a direction that normally keeps the hub of gear 60 against the bracket. Shaft B has a hole 31 in the reduced portion 58, and when the operator presses on knob I0, attached to shaft 40, the reduced end 62 of shaft 49 moves into hole 31, thus preventing the rotation of shaft B. Before shaft B can be immobilized in this manner, it must first beturned to as far as it will go in one direction so that hole 3'! will be properly aligned to receive end 62 of the operating shaft. When knob 10 is thus pressed toward shaft B, against the action of sprin 45, not only is shaft B prevented from turning, but gear 69 is caused to mesh with gear 55 so that member 63 may be turned on shaft B by rotating knob l0. Knob l0 thus controls the tension on spring washer l2, which acts as does the corresponding washer in previously described figures.

Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a modification of the device of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. On shaft B, just inside of end plates 1 and I4, are mounted gears A and A2, as shown in Fig. 10. In the corresponding positions on shaft E are mounted two sets of gear segments, C and D at one end, and Cb and Db at the other. External gear segment C and internal gear segment D both mesh with gear A, and external gear segment Cb and internal gear segment Db both mesh with gear A2. The external segments C and Cb are connected together by means of rod 12, and rod 13 is connected to both internal gear segments D and Db by means of rivets 15 and 15b respectively. The internal gears and connecting rod 72 turn as a unit, as do also the two external gear segments and connecting rod 73, and as a consequence shaft B may be made to assume different angular positions by varying the relative positions of these reciprocating rods. The various operating arms F, F2, etc., are therefore equipped with adjustable elements that may be fixed in predetermined positions for moving the connecting rods 12 and 13 to the positions required to bring gears A and A2 and shaft B to the desired preselected angular positions. Fig. 1 shows a set of these adjustable elements associated with operating arm F. As pictured in Fig. 11, arm F carries a boss 69 which journals a short shaft 61, to one end of which is connected a gear 66. The opposite end of shaft 6! is provided with a nut or shoulder 68. Internal gear segment U2 and external gear segment U! both mesh with gear 66, carried by arm F, as shown in Fig. 9. Spring J, attached to rod L, holds arm F in a normal inoperative position with the extension K resting against rubber tube M on rod N.

The operation of this form of the invention can probably best be described by first explaining the provisions for setting the keys, as well as the setting operation itself. As shown in Fig. [2, the operating stem G terminates in a, cap H which is removable from the sub-button IT. Upon the removal of this can and the index tab I8,

which the cap ordinarily holds inplace beneath window IS, the head 16 of the long set-screw 10 may be reached by a screw driver. The outer end of this screw has a supporting guide H, carried by stem G, and the lower end is threaded to fit a tapped hole in boss 69. When this screw is loosened, shaft 61 and the attached gear 66 are free to rotate. Segments UI and U2, meshing with gear 66 are therefore also free to move. With this gear assembly thus free to turn, the sub-button H is pressed as far down as it will go, bringing gear 66 and extension K to the positions in which they are shown in dotted lines and indicated by 66a and Ka respectively. The forward ends of segments UI and U2 now remain in contact with rods I2 and 13 respectively. This position for the three elements last named is indicated in dotted lines, the reference characters U2a, 12a and 13a being used respectively for these parts. The corresponding position for segment UI has been omitted for the sake of clarity. While the button is being held down, the usual manual knob is used to tune in the station that is henceforth to be tuned in by this button. The drive from the manual knob may be of the type illustrated in Fig. 10, in which shaft 40 is assumed to be connected to the tuning knob. This shaft carries a pulley 18, to which are attached cords 19 and 80, each extending partially around drum 17 in opposite directions in a manner well known in the art. This arrangement is shown for cord 19, which passes around drum 1! from the rear and is attached at point 8|. It will be evident from the figure and this description that the rotation of shaft 40 will also cause the rotation of shaft B, attached to condenser l3 and carrying gears A and A2. The consequent rotation of these gears moves the meshing gear segments and the attached rods '12 and 13. Any movement of these rods during the setting operation while the op erating button is depressed, causes acorresponding movement of gear segments UI and U2 and the intervening idler gear 66. After the desired station has been tuned in as perfectly as possible, set-screw 10 is tightened, thus preventing shaft 61 and gear 66 from turning, and then the index tab I8 and cap H are replaced. When the operating button is released, spring J returns arm F to its rest position with extension K against bumper M. With segments UI and U2 thus withdrawn from the range of movement of bars 12 and 13, the shaft B, condenser and other associated movable parts may be turned to any desired position; but when button H is again pressed, segments UI and U2, locked in their relative position by the action of the set-screw on shaft 61 and gear 66, will move rods 12 and 13 to the positions that they occupied in the original setting operation.

A plurality of operating arms like arm F are of course mounted on shaft E, and the adjust; ab-le assemblies that they carry are individually set in the manner above described so that the pressing of the different buttons brings in dif ferent stations. These arms are conveniently spaced on shaft E by spacers Za. Fig. 10 shows two of these operating arms F and F2, having stems G and G2, respectively, mounted on shaft E.

The gear segments of Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10, may of course be replaced by longitudinally movable racks. When the device of the first two figures is modified in this way, stem G becomes a straight bar moving in guides similar to those providedin the device oi-Flg. 4; a eross bar like memberslfi /Figz' 4, or lip P; Figs. 1- and 2; engages the ends of racks corresponding to gears @and D: I

Such a modificationis shown in E-igs. 13 to 16, inclusive; in which the shaf-tflB carries a plurality of 'angularly adjustable gears A; A2 and A3, asf-i-n- Fig. 2. Keyed washers Y; 3; are pro- Videdon either side ofthese gears, and thewashers coope'ra-te with a key way in the shaft as ii lustra-tedin Fig. 2'. These gears are clamped in adjusted angular position on the shaft by means of a gear and nut arrangement like that shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 shows a hole 31 in shaftH to receive an extension 62 on shaft 413 forimmobilizing the shaft against rotation when themanua-l knob turns shaft 49 while gear Ellismeshing with gear 55. This hole=31 and shaft extension 52 are of course unnecessary when their function is not required due to the provision of other steps (such as pin ['4 and stopper 3lshown in Fig. 4 of my abandoned application'Serial No. 253,174,- filed' January 2'7, 1939) or when limiting stops are provided onthe variable condenser, as usually the case; The optional hole 31 and shaft extension" 62 are therefore omitted from Fig. 15', it being'assumed that shaft 13 is connected to the conventional type of condenser which providesits ownstops'. Shaft- B- will thus stop turningin either direction 'when the condenser reaches the end of' its permitted angle of rotation: Furtherturning of shaft 40, Fig. 15; will thus cause gear 55 to turn relative to the shaft when'shaft B hasreached; the limit of its movemerit, thus causing nut 6'32' to'move longitudinally along shaft 3- so as to clamp the gears A in ad; justed" positionor to release thegears from all tension except that provided by the spring washer IZ- if the nut: has tu-rned' in an opposite direction. This actionhas been more fully de scribed-in'conneetionwithFig 82 r When the reciprocating" toothed' members move longitudinally as in the modification being described, racks RI and R2 replace the gear segments C and D-ofthe species-of Figs. 1' and- 2; These racks move inways or-gui'des' in crossmembers 82- and 8'3'f the waysthemselves being; mere perforations 94'; as shown in cross-member- 82', Fig. 16;

For operating the translationa-ll-y movable racks; the operating member takes the form of a rectilinearly riiovable pliinger such as Ga; Fig. Plunger Ga move's'in a slotin the' front cross -member 85; and its lower arm B'K'moves' in a similar slot 81 (Fig. 16) irr eressmemb agz; Ctompressiorr spring Jot "yieldingly holds the plunger ("Bitiin: its=rest position against bumper Ma; When push button 'hl" is pushed in, 'the plunger moves against the action" of' spring J21, causingthe lipor lug: Pm to engage the end-of one .or other of the cooperating racksRl or R2 ;v depending upon which one isnearest." If rack RI isengaged, as it is about to be in the position pictured in Fig; 13; the. raohwillmove-to the right and gear Ab will berotate'd clo'ck wise bythe meshing teeth of the rack andgear. Rack R2 'will' simultaneously move tothe left untilfur ther movement is arrestedby the: engagement of" itsouter end" with the lip or lug Pa; Figs; 14 and 15., show plunger G1) in thisfinal tuned in position. 'It will b'e observed thatf'this-action is identical to that described inconnection with" Figs. 1' and"2' with the exception of the faet that the operating member and'raoksr move longia tudinall-yinstead 01111.;arrarc;. Y

When the device of Figs. 9 and 1-0 is modified so that all the parts move in straight lines rather than in arcs,'bars{12%-and '!-3 are placed on the ends of the racks, or may be formedfrom the same pieces: of metal. Gear segments 6 and Cd and bar- 12''- thenbecome a single integral piece, as dosegments D andDb and shoulder bar T3: The adjustable segments; U1 and U2; are also replaced by raeks meshing; with gear 66, 'or the three adjustable toothed members may be re,

placed; by an angularlyadjustable tappt; men'ibersimilar to thatused' in the device of my Patent No. 231-08538; issued February- 15, 1-938, and reissued August 1-6; 1-938, as Patent No. Re. 26;8-271 A modification such as the first one mentioned in the preceding paragraph is shown in Figs. 11'? 110 20 inclusive; Shai t l3 whieh'must be operatively connected to the condenser shaft, is journaled in the two end plates at and log. This shaft carries two gears A3 and A4 rigidly attachect thereto just inside theend; plates Mia and "m, Fig. 19. Racks R3' and R4 mesh with gear A3, anda similar pair of racks- RE and R16; 19, mesh with the opposite gear A4" at the other side of the tunermechanism. The narrowed forward end of rack R3 moves in a slot 89, Fig 20, i-ncross-member 8-9], and the qorrespondingend of-raclr R 4 moves in slot 99. Crossmember" 89 provides two similar; slots- 9'l and 9j2"f or the for-. ward ends of racks R and R6 Racks R3 and R4 are provided respectively with slots 93 and 9 5 toslidably receive; the lugs -and- 96, formed from the stock of the end plate Ma; Similar lugs are formed on; end plate It; for correspond? ing slots in rack membersR5 andRB one of these lugs, 91 beingvisiblein- 19. V

Raoks Ria and R5 are tiedjtogethe rby bar 12a; and a similar-shoulder bar 13g. joins tacks R4 andRS into a singl' e'integral unit.

Fig; 19' shows four operating assemblies, or push-button devices, for positioning the shoulder bars 12aand 1911, although; obviously any number may be'used." The shanhof'plunger 99 is slide ably mounted by means of a slot in the cross member H4; and the inwardly extendingend of thepl unger' moves in one of the slots 1 I53 inthe cross member 89. Fig. 29. Each of these operating assemblies comprises a body portion 99 car'- rying a boss or bushing; 690, Fig. 19, to journal a short shaft 61a on one end" of which is rigidly mounted' a gear 6611;" This short shaft is held place longitudinally by a nut', shoulder of peened-j over portion 68a at its opposite end. Two racks R1 and R8 mesh with gear 6611 at diametrically opposite points, and are kept inmesh by the flat headed pi-ns or rivets- I09; reduced portions of, which passthroug-h the supporting body mem ber' 99.; the ends being peened-over as shown in Fig. 19. Slots Ill-l and lfl lslide along theserivets.

or'pins" when racks RTandRB moverectilinearly for adjustment purposes. The slots l l2in plate 89' are made largeenough to clear the protruding portions of: racks R'Iand 38' when theplunger'is pushed inwardly.

Two lugs I04 and I05 are formedon each supporting: member or plunger 99'; These are threaded'to; receive the long set-screw I03, which is also threaded into the boss or bushing 690, Fig. 19. where the'end of the screw engages the short shaft 61a which carriesgear 66a,

The outer end of the' supporting body 99' of the;

plunger assem'bly'is reduced as shown at 98, Fig.

17, to carry an operating button which is slotted:

to fit over-the said end.

The. various'operating assemblies or plungers" of this modification of my invention may be preset for desired broadcasting stations in much the same manner described in connection with the device of Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive. The operating button is first removed from the particular plunger that is to be adjusted, and the set-screw is then released to permit the short shaft EIa with its associated gear 66a to turn freely, thus permitting the racks R! and R8 to move longitudinally. The desired station is then tuned in by means of the regular manual knob (not shown), causing the shaft B and the attached ears A3 and A4 to assume a definite angular po sition. This in turn causes definite rectilinear positions to be assumed by racks R3, R4, R5 and R6 and the associated cross-bars 12a and 13a. The plunger assembly is then pressed in, and since the racks R! and R8 ar free to move longitudinally, they take the position of the cross bars. Set screw I03 is then again tightened and button ha placed back on the reduced end 98 of the plunger body-member 99. Regardless of subsequent angular positions of the shaft and rectilinear positions of the cross bars and racks, the mere pressing in of the pre-set plunger assembly will cause the shaft B to assume the proper angular position for the broadcasting station for which the racks R1 and R8 have been adjusted.

Fig. 21 illustrates a previously mentioned further modification in which the racks R1 and R8 and gear 66a are replaced by a tappet member or cam I06. In the adjusting or setting process, the end portions I01 and I08 of cam I06 assume angular positions corresponding to the longitudinal positions of the racks R1 and R8 in Fig. 17. This cam is locked in adjusted position by a pivoted member I09 which is rotatably mounted against the body of the plunger III by means of the rivet IIO. Screw I03a clamps this pivoted member against the cam or tappet, but permits 5 the cam to be angularly adjusted when the screw is loosened. The end plates of this embodiment (only one of which is shown) are tied together by the front cross plate I24 and a rod I23. The

racks that mesh with the gears carried-by the shaft B each have two slots, rack R9 being shown with slots I I6 and II! on opposite sides of the cross bar I25. Slot II'I moves astride lug II8 formed on plate I26, and slot IIS slides on a similar lug not shown. The slots H9 and I20 in the companion rack RID move respectively-on lllgis I2I and I22 also formed on the end plate Whenever straight racks are used, guides of some kind must of course be supplied. Inasmuch as such guides must necessarily have some play, I prefer the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and 9 to 12, as the pivoted operating arms and segments are much more accurate inv their operation. The use of racks, however, makes a very fiat, compact device.

In any of the illustrated or described variants, however, the fact that the operating element pushes the toothed members toward the gears with which they mesh, and moves in a parallel path behind the toothed member that is pushed, produces a more accurate and compact device than anything in the prior art that is dependent upon reciprocally movable toothed members. In one form of tuner used in the past, oppositely moving racks, meshing with an intermediate gear, were employed, but the racks were pulled, rather than pushed, and While the racks moved in straight lines, the operating member moved in an arcall of which resulted in a bulky and much less accurate device than the tuners herein described in which all the reciprocating parts move in the same, or parallel, paths with the pressure of the operating means exerted toward the rotatable shaft.

When all the reciprocating parts are pivoted, an arcuate portion like G, Figs. 1 and 9, terminating in an operating button, produces the practical equivalent of a push-button controlled device; and the stem G of each push-button requires an opening in the escutcheon only large enough to clear the stem, which is superior from an appearance standpoint to the long slots that are required by the usual type of operating levers.

' Various other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the in-: ven -ion, and these will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

My claims are:

1. In a mechanism-for angularly positioning a control of a radio device, a combination including: a rotatable shaft; a second shaft; a pinion gear mounted on said first shaft; an external gear se ment pivoted on said second shaft and meshing with said pinion gear; an internal gear segment pivoted on said second shaft and meshing with said pinion gear; and an operating means pivoted on said second shaft; each of said gear-segments having an abutment adapted to be engaged by said means; said operating means adapted to engage one of said abutments and rotate said pinion gear and shaft to an angular position at which rotation is arrested by the collision of said means and the oppositely moving other abutment.

'2. In a mechanism for angularly positioning a control element, a combination including: a rotatable shaft; two pinion gears fixed upon said shaft; a second shaft; a pair of internal gear segments rotatably mounted upon said second shaft and each meshing with a different one of said gears; a connecting abutment member between said internal gear segments; a pair of external gear segments rotatably mounted upon said second shaft and each meshing with a different one of said gears; a connecting abutment member between said external gear segments; and a plurality of operating devices each comprising adjustable means adapted upon movement of said device toward said shaft to engage one of said abutment members and thereby rotate said gears and shaft to an angular position at which rotation is arrested by the collision of the other abutment member with said adjustable means, said angular position predetermined by the adjustment of said means.

3. In a mechanism for angularly positioning a control of a radio device, a combination including: a rotatable shaft; a first gear mounted on said shaft; a first pair of reciprocally movable toothed members disposed on opposite sides of said shaft and meshing with said gear; a movably mounted operating element carrying both a pinion gear and a second pair of reciprocally movable toothed members meshing with said pinion gear; and means for holding said pinion gear and said lastmentioned toothed members in adjusted position upon said element; each of said last-mentioned members adapted to engage a different one of said first mentioned toothed members and to eifect the rotation of said shaft to an angular position predetermined by the adiustment of said pinion gear and the toothed members meshing therewith.

4. In a mechanism for angularly positioning a control element, a combination including: a rotatable shaft; two pinion gears fixed upon said tuning apparatus, said means including: a threaded portion on said shaft; a rotatable mem-, ber threaded on said threaded portion; a first gear on said shaft and rotatable relative thereto; means for restraining said first gear against longitudinal movement on said shaft; 'means for transmitting rotary motion from said first gear to said rotatable member; and means for manually rotating said first gear, said latter means comprising a second shaft and a second gear :mounted thereon, said second shaft mounted so that said second gear may mesh with said first gear.

12. Means for exerting a longitudinal thrust against the angularly adjustable elements on a :control shaft of a device for actuating a radio tuning apparatus, said means including: a threaded portion on said shaft; a rotatable member threaded on said threaded portion; a first gear on said shaft and rotatable relative thereto; means for restraining said first gear against longitudinal movement on said shaft; means for transmitting rotary motion from said first gear to said rotatable member; means for manually rotating said first gear, said latter means comprising a second shaft and a second gear mounted thereon, said second shaft mounted so that said :second gear may mesh with said first gear; and means for immobilizin said first shaft.

13. Means for exerting a longitudinal thrust for clamping purposes against the angularly adjustable elements on a control shaft of a device for actuating a radio tuning apparatus, said means including: a threaded portion on said shaft; a first rotatable member threaded on said threaded portion; a second member on said shaft and rotatable relative thereto; means for restraining said second rotatable member against longitudinal movement on said shaft; means for transmitting rotary motion from said second a member .to said first member; and manually operable means for rotating said second rotatable member.

14. Means for exerting a longitudinal thrust for clamping purposes against the angularly adjustable elements on a control shaft of a device for actuating a radio tuning apparatus, said means including: a threaded portion on said shaft; a first rotatable member threaded on said threaded portion; a second member on said shaft and capable of rotation relative thereto; means for transmitting rotary motion from'said second member to said first member; means for restraining said second member against longitudinal movement on said shaft; means for immobilizing said shaft in certain angular positions thereof; and manually operable means for rotating said second member relative to said shaft when the shaft is immobilized.

15. Means for exerting a longitudinal thrust for clamping purposes against the angularly adjustable elements on a control shaft of a device for actuating a radio tuning apparatus having a front panel, said means including: a threaded portion on said shaft; a first rotatable member threaded on said threaded portion; a second memher on said shaft and rotatable relative thereto; means for transmitting rotary motion from said second member to said first member; means operable from the outer side of said panel for rotatin said second member; and means surroundq ing said shaft and interposed between said first rotatable member and said angularly adjustable elements for transmitting pressure from said first rotatable member to said elements.

LE ROY J. LEISHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 515,228 Huizer Feb. 20, 1894 565,962 Cooney, Jr Aug. 18, 1896 585,996 Woodbridge July 6, 1897 1,805,154 Webster May 12, 1931 1,828,197 Morin Oct. 20, 1931 1,906,106 Schaefer Apr. 25, 1933 1,948,373 Flaherty Feb. 20, 1934 2,087,182 Crosman July 13, 1937 2,130,153 Plensler Sept. 13, 1938 2,153,865 Gersch Apr. 11, 1939 2,200,211 Benton May 7, 1940 2,222,789 Tyzzer Nov. 26, 1940 2,251,476 Winchell Aug. 5, 1941 2,365,088 Lane et a1. Dec. 12, 1944 2,371,267 Schwarz Mar. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,441 Luxemburg Jan. 25, 1938

Images