Linear positioning indicator

• US 5,812,048 A
• Filed: 03/28/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rochester Gauges Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rochester Gauges Incorporated
• Inventors: Ross, Herbert G. Jr., Taylor, Carl A., Williamson, Cecil M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EASTHOM, KARL D
• Application Number:
  US08/623,023
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 338/176, 338/177, 338/194, 338/118, 338/123, 338/125, 338/126, 338/131-134, 338/203, 338/254, 338/211, 338/212, 338/312, 338/320, 338/128, 338/160, 29/610.1, 29/620, 29/621, 29/844, 29/845
• US Class Current: 338/128
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/165 by relative movement of a point of contact or actuation and a resistive track
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/306 Polymer thick film, i.e. PTF
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/38 the contact moving along a straight path

Abstract

Use is made of thermoplastic materials in layered configurations as a thermally stable, rigid but not brittle strip of lengths of six inches to ten feet or more. The layered strip contains layers of conductive fibers in a resin matrix, which, through use of appropriate contact mechanisms and wiring, provide an assembly with an infinite potentiometer scale. The strips are especially useful in linear positioning indicators such as pneumatic and hydraulic cylinder and liquid level gauges.

Claims

1. A multi-segment potentiometer board, comprising a top layer of conductive polymeric resin, a bottom layer of conductive polymeric resin and a center layer of non-conductive polymeric resin, and sliding contacts, the board being formed into potentiometer segments defined by notches separating the conductive layers and slots passing through said top, center, and bottom layers, said slots receiving said sliding contacts for the top and bottom conductive resin layers.

2. A multi-segment potentiometer board, comprising a top layer of conductive polymeric resin, a bottom layer of conductive polymeric resin and a center layer of nonconductive polymeric resin, and sliding contacts, the board being formed into potentiometer segments defined by parallel notches separating the conductive layers and slots passing through said top, bottom and center layers and formed along a portion of the length of the notches and receiving said sliding contacts for the top and bottom conductive resin layers wherein the conductive layers comprise polyethylene terephthalate resin, mesophase pitch carbon fibers exhibiting essentially a lamellae microstructure randomly disposed throughout at least the outer surface of the conductive layers and fiberglass fibers, the board being compression molded from selected layers of batting containing said pitch based fibers, fiberglass fibers and resin, or fiberglass and resin.