Angular position encoder

• US 6,257,907 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
• Original Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
• Inventors: Feichtinger, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duverne, J. I.
• Application Number:
  US09/532,558
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 439/135, 439/144, 439/148, 439/345, 439/660, 439/133, 439/149, 439/299, 439/300, 439/347, 439/352, 439/372, 439/488, 439/489
• US Class Current: 439/135
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/22 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5804 comprising a separate cable clamping part H01R13/5841 takes precedence

Abstract

An angular position encoder having a connecting cable (7) that is mounted simply and reliably is described. The cable (7) is connected so that it is relieved of strain. The connecting cable is clamped by a holder (10) on the housing (8). The housing (8) includes a cut-out (9) which makes a connector (6) accessible for attachment of the cable (7). The cut-out (9) can be sealed by a cover (12), and the cover (12) securely locks the holder (10) in its position.

Claims

1. An angular position encoder comprising:

a housing having at least one opening;

a detachable cover for closing the opening when in a closed position;

a connector having a stationary part attached to the encoder within the opening and a mating component attached to a connecting cable for electrically connecting the connecting cable to the stationary part; and

a detachable holder adapted for securing a portion of the connecting cable to the housing, the holder relieving a strain in the connecting cable,

wherein the cover, when in the closed position, covers the connector to prevent access to the connector, the cover being locked in the closed position between the housing and the holder, such that the holder is fixed by the cover in position.

2. The angular position encoder as recited in claim 1, wherein the holder is braced against the housing in a plurality of directions and cooperates with the cover, so that said holder is fixed with respect to the housing and the cover in a plurality of degrees of freedom.

3. The angular position encoder as recited in claim 2, wherein the holder is fixed in all directions with respect to the housing by the cover.

4. The angular position encoder as recited in claim 2, wherein the holder is mounted by sliding onto the housing, and said holder is braced against the housing in the direction of sliding as well as in a direction perpendicular to the direction of sliding, and wherein the holder is fixedly supported by the cover opposite to the direction of sliding.

5. The angular position encoder as recited in claim 2, wherein the cover pivots about at least one point of the housing, and comprises a nose portion adapted to lock the cover in place by engaging the holder upon pivoting about the point, such that a force exerted by the holder on the cover retains the nose portion in a locked position.

6. The angular position encoder as recited in claim 1, wherein the portion of the connecting cable is clamped by the holder between the holder and the housing.

7. The angular position encoder as recited in claim 6, herein the clamped portion of the connecting cable is an electrically conductive sleeve electrically connected to a shield of the cable, to the holder and to the housing.

8. The angular position encoder as recited in claim 7, further comprising a receptacle of the holder partially wrapping around a periphery of the conductive sleeve.