Control knob locking assembly

• US 5,083,477 A
• Filed: 01/31/1991
• Issued: 01/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gould Instrument Systems, Inc. (Spectris PLC)
• Original Assignee: Gould, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Geil, Ron J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUB, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/648,565
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 74/502, 74/531, 74/553, 74/554
• US Class Current: 74/553
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/22 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2066 Friction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2084 Knob or dial
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20846 Slidable

Abstract

A control knob assembly to be mounted to a panel for use with an adjustable rotary device of the type having a push and/or pull function comprising a control knob having a first portion dimensioned to be grasped by a user, a second portion which is cylindrical in shape and extends from the first portion and a bore extending into the cylindrical portion aligned along the axis of the cylindrical portion, the bore dimensioned to receive a shaft of the rotary control member. A mounting element for mounting assembly to a panel is provided and includes a plurality of annularly arranged, flexible clamping elements, each having a threaded outer surface and a smooth inner surface. The inner surfaces of the clamping elements generally define a smooth cylindrical bore which is dimensioned to receive the cylindrical portion of the control knob and the outer surfaces of the clamping elements define a threaded surface. A locking ring is provided and dimensioned to be circumferentially mounted on the clamping elements. The locking ring includes an internal threaded surface dimensioned to matingly engage the outer threaded surfaces of the clamping elements wherein the locking ring is operable to releasably compress the clamping elements into engagement with the cylindrical portion of the control knob.

Claims

1. A control knob assembly to be mounted to a panel for use with an adjustable rotary control device of the type having a push and/or pull function comprising:

a control knob having a first portion dimensioned to be grasped by a user, a second portion which is cylindrical in shape and extends from said first portion and a bore extending into said cylindrical second portion aligned along the axis of said cylindrical second portion, said bore dimensioned to receive a shaft of said rotary control member;

a mounting element adapted to be mounted to said panel through a non-cylindrical opening in said panel, said mounting element having;

a first end including a plurality of annularly arranged, flexible clamping elements, each having a threaded outer surface and a smooth inner surface, the inner surfaces of said clamping elements generally defining a smooth cylindrical bore which is dimensioned to receive said cylindrical second portion of said control knob and the outer surfaces of said clamping elements defining a thread surface having an increasing taper of approximately 10°

,

a second end of smaller diameter than said first end, having a threaded portion which is dimensioned to receive a conventional fastener,

a non-cylindrical intermediate portion between said first end and said second end, said intermediate portion dimensioned to be matingly received within said non-cylindrical opening in said panel, and

an axial opening communicating with said bore dimensioned to receive said shaft of said rotary control member; and

a locking ring dimensioned to be circumferentially mounted on said clamping elements, said locking ring including an internal threaded surface having a decreasing taper of approximately 10°

dimensioned to matingly engage said outer threaded surfaces of said clamping elements wherein said locking ring is operable to releasably compress said clamping elements into engagement with said cylindrical second portion of said control knob.

2. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said first end of said mounting element is generally tubular and has a plurality of equi-spaced radial slots formed therein.

3. An assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said intermediate portion is generally rectangular.

4. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting element and said locking ring are formed of a plastic material.

5. An assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said locking ring is formed from molybdenum disulfide filled nylon.

6. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking ring has an outer diameter of less than 3/4".

7. An assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said mounting element is formed from Delrin™

thermoplastic.

8. A control knob assembly for mounting to a panel for use with an adjustable rotary control device of the type having a push and/or pull function comprising:

a control knob having a first portion dimensioned to be grasped by a user, a second portion which is cylindrical in shape and extends from said first portion and a bore extending into said cylindrical second portion aligned along the axis of said cylindrical second portion, said bore dimensioned to receive shaft of said rotary control member;

a mounting element having a first end including a threaded portion which is dimensioned to receive a conventional fastener, a non-cylindrical intermediate portion dimensioned to be matingly received within an opening in said panel, a second end including an enlarged cylindrical portion having external tapered threads having thread crests of increasing diameter, a mounting surface defined between said intermediate portion and threaded portion of said second end, and an axially aligned opening dimensioned to receive said control rod therethrough, said opening including a cylindrical portion dimensioned to slidably receive said cylindrical second portion of said control knob; and

locking ring having internal tapered threads having thread roots of decreasing diameter dimensioned to operatively engage said external threads on said mounting element to compress and release said cylindrical second portion.

9. A control knob assembly to be mounted to a panel for use with an adjustable rotary control device of the type having a push and/or pull function comprising:

a control knob having a first portion dimensioned to be grasped by a user, a second portion which is cylindrical in shape and extends from said first portion and a means associated with said second portion for attachment to a shaft of said rotary control member;

a mounting element including means for mounting said element to said panel through an opening in said panel,

a plurality of annularly arranged, flexible clamping elements, each having a threaded outer surface and a smooth inner surface, the inner surface of said clamping elements generally defining a smooth cylindrical bore which is dimensioned to receive said second portion of said control knob and the outer surfaces of said clamping elements defining a taper threaded surface having thread crests of increasing diameter,

an axial opening communicating with said bore dimensioned to receive said shaft of said rotary control member; and

a locking ring dimensioned to be circumferentially mounted on said clamping elements, said locking ring including an internal tapered threaded surface having thread roots of decreasing diameter dimensioned to matingly engage said outer threaded surfaces of said clamping elements wherein said locking ring is operable to releasably compress said clamping elements into engagement with said second portion of said control knob.

10. An assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said mounting element and said locking ring are formed of a plastic material.

11. An assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said locking ring is formed from molybdenum disulfide filled nylon.