INSTRUMENT KNOB HAVING INTEGRAL DETENT MECHANISM AND PANEL MOUNT SOCKET MEANS

• US 3,662,618 A
• Filed: 05/27/1970
• Issued: 05/16/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heinz Ernst Johannes Kroll, Horst Dieter Ziegler
• Original Assignee: Heinz Ernst Johannes Kroll, Horst Dieter Ziegler
• Inventors: Kroll, Heinz Ernst Johannes, Ziegler, Horst Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Dea, William F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shoemaker, F. D.
• Application Number:
  US05/040,885
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 74/527,553
• US Class Current: 74/527
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/12 Means for securing the members on rotatable spindles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/03 Means for limiting the angle of rotation of the operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/11 with indexing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 21/50 with indexing or latching means, e.g. indexing by ball and spring; with means to ensure stopping at intermediate operative positions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/08 Turn knobs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20636 Detents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2084 Knob or dial

Abstract

A rotary instrument knob with integral detent and stop means. An integral bushing or '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'termination socket'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' is provided whereby the knob may be assembled onto a panel in a rotationally predetermined orientation. The detent mechanism includes an indentation contour on a flange end of the termination socket within the knob body. The knob body is constructed in sections whereby the assembly of stop rings, detent balls and spring retaining means may be accomplished and then enclosed within the knob body by snap-fit assembly of the knob body shell over those elements.

Claims

1. A rotary shaft control instrument knob having self-contained detenting mechanism within the body of said knob, comprising:

a termination socket in the form of a bushing having a flanged end and a bore therethrough coaxial with the axis of rotation of said knob to accept the said shaft to be controlled, with rotational freedom, said socket being adapted to be inserted and retained partly through an opening in a panel with said flanged end projecting into the interior of said knob body;

means for retaining said knob body against substantial axial movement while permitting rotation thereof with respect to said termination socket;

shaft lock means within and rotationally keyed to said knob body for securing rotational continuity between said knob and said shaft;

detent means comprising a series of indentations constituting an engaging contour distributed circumferentially about the face of said flange, and at least one rolling member of circular cross section in at least one plane operative against said indentations;

resilient means operating against the inside of said knob body for maintaining a compressive force between said rolling member and said flange;

guide means keyed to said knob body for imparting circumferential motion to said rolling member as said knob and said shaft are rotated together, whereby said rolling member tends to seat in successive ones of said indentations to produce detenting at positions corresponding to predetermined angular positions of said knob and shaft.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a keying arrangement between the external body of said socket and the perimeter of said opening for retaining said termination socket within said opening in said panel and for locking said socket in place rotationally.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said retention of said socket in said opening is effected by a locking ring inserted in a circumferential slot in the external perimeter of said socket, said ring bearing against said panel on the side thereof opposite the installation of said knob, and in which said socket includes a shoulder bearing against said panel on the opposite side thereof, whereby said socket is axially locked in position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 including an at least partially radially outwardly projecting finger connected to the outer perimeter of said socket within said knob body and at least one stop ring keyed to said knob body and having at least one radially inwardly projection oriented to engage said outwardly projecting finger at a predetermined angular position of said knob and shaft.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 having two of said stop rings stacked axially and each having multiple peripheral keying means whereby they may be separately keyed to said knob body to provide first and second angular limits of operation of said knob and shaft.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said knob body is composed of at least two axially assembled hollow parts, a first of said parts containing said stop ring, whereby said knob may be assembled by emplacing said first part in proximate position over said panel opening and inserting said socket through said first part and said panel.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including a second hollow knob body part axially snap-fitted into said first part, said second part including an internal surface in a plane normal to the axis of said knob to face said termination socket flange to carry said resilient means bearing against said circular cross section member.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said shaft lock means are included in said second part, whereby said knob may be further assembled by emplacing said rolling member of circular cross section against said engaging contour and emplacing and locking said second part to said shaft thereby bringing said resilient means to bear against said circular cross section member.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 having at least two circular cross section members substantially diametrically opposite in position along said engaging contour and said members are balls.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said resilient means comprises a pressure ring inserted against said balls opposite said engaging contour and a helical spring bearing against said pressure ring and caged in an annular groove inside said knob body second part.