Abstract: A variable resistor includes at least two sliders fixed to the bottom of the concavity of a case, a rotor having an engaging portion for engagement with a tool, on the upper side thereof and rotatably received in the concavity of the case, a resistor substrate having a resistor and an electrode on the underside thereof, capable of being sliding-contacted with the slider, and attached to the underside of the rotor, a cover attached to the opening of the concavity of the case and held in such a manner that the rotor is restrained from rising and is rotatable, and an o ring performing the seal between the inner peripheral surface of the concavity of the case and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor. The rotor has a step portion formed in the outer peripheral surface on the underside thereof with the lower-side portion of the step portion having a short diameter.

Abstract: A variable resistor comprises a case, slide contactors, a rotor, a metal cover and lead terminals. Arms which are respectively provided at central portions of the slide contactors protrude from a bottom surface of a recess portion of the case and are each shaped like a comb. The arms are respectively contacted, at contact portions A, B and C, by electrodes and resistor of the rotor. Lead terminals are each circular in cross section and are respectively connected, at end surfaces of their lead wires, to the slide contactors. This makes it possible to obtain a variable resistor which is easy to manufacture, low in cost and excellent in reliability.

Abstract: A rotary potentiometer device (1) has a rotary potentiometer (4) disposed within a housing (2) and a handle (7) above the housing (2) for rotating a resistive disk (6) of the rotary potentiometer (4). A latching device latches the handle (7) with the upper side of the housing (2) in predetermined rotation positions. At least one spring-loaded latching nose (16) protrudes above the upper side of the housing (2) and cooperates with latching troughs (18) in the lower side of the handle (7). No additional individual components are necessary for making the latching device. The spring-loaded configuration urges the latching nose towards a latched position defined by the latching troughs when it is deflected out of its latched position.

Abstract: A control head for remote actuators on a vehicle heater/air conditioner system comprises variable resistors operated by control knobs to provide variable motor control voltages to the actuators which comprise servo-actuators or a pulse width modulated blower motor. The control head has a molded plastic housing with embedded conductive runners terminating in wipers. A control disk rotatable with each knob has an arcuate resistive film and a pair of arcuate conductors connected to ends of the film. The wipers engage the arcuate elements to apply a supply voltage to the conductors and pick off a control voltage from the resistive film. Alternatively the arcuate elements are on the housing and the wiper is on the control disk.

Abstract: There is provided a variable resistor having a small number of parts and having an excellent heat releasing property. A rotor is rotatably contained in a concave portion of a case. The rotor has a resistive element provided on the bottom thereof and electrodes connected to both ends of the resistive element. Arms of sliders are provided on the bottom of the concave portion of the case in a sliding relationship with the respective electrodes and resistive element. A metal cover is disposed on the upper surface of the case in contact with the rotor.

Abstract: The potentiometer has a housing in which a carrier plate which supports a resistance strip is disposed. A rotary pin is supported on the housing and has a sliding contact connected to the rotary pin for engaging the resistance strip. The carrier plate is rotatably connected to the housing and is embodied for the engagement of a turning tool. It assumes its position with regard to the housing because of a frictional connection. The resistance strip can be oriented with regard to the housing or the sliding contact by rotating the carrier plate relative to the housing and the rotary pin.

Abstract: A snap-engaging apparatus for use in a rotatable electrical component, particularly a rotatable switch or a rotatable resistor, makes it easier to find operational positions. The snap-engaging apparatus includes a rotor (3) which is formed as a hollow body to have an axial opening and a radial, or circumferential, wall (7). A leaf spring (8) is tensioned to have a U-shape with its ends (9, 11) being self supported against diametrically positioned parts of the circumferential wall (7). A snap-engaging contour wall surface (19) coaxially surrounds the rotor, with a snap-engaging nose (15), formed on an extension (14) of one end of the leaf spring, being springingly urged thereagainst in a radial direction. The circumferential wall (7) has an opening (17) through which the snap-engaging nose (15) extends.

Abstract: A variable resistor that employs a bumped or dimpled flexprint circuit that rotates relative to an adjacent ceramic substrate having concentric circular resistors formed with printed resistive ink. The ceramic substrate is fused or screened with the resistive ink in a circular arrangement that forms the plurality of concentric printed resistors. The flexprint circuit having bump or dimple contacts is constructed, and the contacts of the flexprint circuit are positioned facing the ceramic substrate so that contact is made between the individual resistors and contacts. As the ceramic substrate rotates relative to the contacts, the values of the resistors change to produce variable resistor values.

Abstract: A rotary dimmer switch assembly for use with a vehicle push-pull switch controls at least one light dimming function. The rotary switch assembly comprises a stationary cam contact assembly, and a rotating carder assembly which carries a circuit element having an exposed circuit trace surface. The cam contact assembly is fixed to a circuit board and has a plurality of contact arms having one end biased against the circuit element circuit trace surfaces and the other end electrically connected to the circuit board. The cam contact assembly guides the rotation of the carrier assembly about the longitudinal axis of the push-pull switch. The circuit element rotates with the carrier assembly, which is rotated by rotation of a push-pull switching component, and the circuit trace surfaces sweep across the contact arms thereby controlling the light dimming function. A method of assembling the rotary potentiometer assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: The interior of a rheostatic device, such as a throttle-valve position potiometer having a rotor with sliding spring contact and a housing exposing at least one end of the rotor for operation, is sealed off against environmental effects by at least two hollow cylindrical rotor walls which are located concentrically within each other and extend towards a lid attached to a bottom part of the housing and at least two hollow cylindrical walls of said lid which are concentrically disposed within each other and extend between the rotor walls.

Abstract: A trimmer control is mounted in a potentiometer knob to provide a compact controller for use in a device such as a hearing aid. The knob of the potentiometer is rotatably attached to a base housing which has a centrally located bore. A bracket extends through the bore of the housing and into a chamber located in the potentiometer knob. The bracket is fixedly attached at one end to the housing. The trimmer control is fixedly attached to the bracket and electrical leads of the trimmer control extend through a bore within the mounting bracket for connection with another circuit. The trimmer control is accessible through an opening in the potentiometer knob.

Abstract: A variable temperature portable cautery includes a housing configured to retain a voltage source, such as a plurality of batteries, and an electrically heated cautery tip carried by the front end of the housing in operative relation with each other. A manually operable switch is provided on the housing to allow selective energization of the cautery tip from the voltage source. A rotatably adjustable variable resistor is mounted on the rear end of the housing and is connected in circuit between the voltage source and heated tip to allow the temperature of the tip to be selectively varied. The movable contact of the switch and the wiper contact of the variable resistor are provided by the respective ends of a common conductor member extending longitudinally in the housing.