Abstract: An electrical resistance apparatus adapted for the measurement of the position of the throttle blade of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The apparatus includes a generally annular housing which has an inside surface that supports a flexible resistive element. The resistive element comprises a flexible web on which two parallel resistive tracks have been overlaid. A generally cylindrical rotor mounts within the housing and electrically couples the two tracks by means of a U-shaped conductive wiper that bridges the separation between the resistive tracks. The rotor is mechanically connected to the throttle blade of the internal combustion engine and rotates therewith. By applying the leads of a power supply to one resistive track and reading a voltage signal from the other resistive track, a potentiometric signal related to the position of the throttle blade is developed.

Abstract: A variable resistor whose operating shaft may be click set or stopped to a preselected angular position when a projection of a click spring, which is mounted together with a wiper arm on a wiper arm mounting member, drops into a click slot of a click disk fitted into a cover or a casing generally in the form of a cup. The click disk is rotatably fitted into the cover or the casing in such a way that a torque required for rotating the click disk relative to the cover or the casing is higher than a first torque required for releasing the projection of the click spring out of the click slot of the click disk when the operating shaft is in a first position, but is lower than a torque required for releasing the projection of the click spring out of the click slot of the click disk when the operating shaft is axially shifted from said first position to a second position.

Abstract: A thick-film potentiometer having a support substrate, particularly a ceramic substrate, onto which there is applied at least one resistance track of resistance composition which is electronically contacted via conductor lines on the support substrate at its ends and under circumstances at contact points therebetween and having a wiper track which extends along the resistance track and over which a wiper is swingable. The wiper track is formed of a plurality of the conductor lines which are narrow compared with the length of the wiper track and are arranged, spaced apart from each other, substantially at right angles to the wiper track, and the resistance track is arranged on the support substrate exclusively outside of the wiper track beyond and adjacent to the conductor lines.

Abstract: A rotary variable resistor comprises a wiper mounted in a recess in a substantially cylindrical, hollow wiper holder formed integrally with a control shaft, and an elastic flange integrally formed with the lower peripheral end portion of the wiper holder. This variable resistor is characterized in that the wiper holder is rotatably supported between an insulating substrate and a cover such that wiper legs projected from the lower end surface of the flange can be slid resiliently on the insulating substrate.

Abstract: In a variable resistor of the type wherein there is formed on an insulating substrate a resistive member having wide portions and narrow portions in the sliding direction of a slide member and ends thereof wired respectively to a ground terminal and an input terminal. A plurality of contact elements formed on said slide member are brought into sliding contact with said resistive member and a high resistance film allowing the passage of electrostatic charges therethrough is formed at portions of said insulating substrate lying within the sliding passage of said contact elements so that a part of said contact elements comes into contact therewith when it comes off from said resistive member.

Abstract: A component to be attached to a substrate or plate or other element including a hollow bushing having an extension for mounting directly to such other element. The extension is provided with a radially compressible shoulder portion engageable upon insertion into an aperture and a rod-like member to be seated firmly in the hollow bushing to prevent the relaxation and flexure of said bushing. In a preferred embodiment the rod-like member may be integrally molded with the component to be attached.

Abstract: A variable resistor suitable for use in the tone control of a stereo tape player or the like has two resistance bodies formed on an insulating substrate plate so as to oppose one another. Under one of the resistance bodies is formed a lead conductor, through an interposed insulating layer. The lead conductor is connected to one end of the associated resistance body and leads to the other end portion of this resistance body, so that the terminals of both resistance bodies can be located at the same side of the insulating substrate plate, thereby to diminish the size of the variable resistor.

Abstract: A variable resistor adapted for use in tone control has an insulating substrate plate on which are formed two conductors. On the conductors are formed respective insulating films and, on the insulating films, a common resistance body. The ends of the conductors are positioned at an intermediate portion of the resistance body, so as to be short-circuited by a slide as the latter is brought to the intermediate portion of the resistance body.

Abstract: An apparatus for the control of variable speed electrical positioning drives, especially for sewing machine positioning drives, is disclosed in two exemplary embodiments. The apparatus provides a preset nominal value of speed and a range of adjustment for additional signals in digital form, thus making possible a continuous or incremental change in the nominal value as well as additional digital signals. The apparatus includes lamellar contact elements of a potentiometer arranged on a base element in the path of a slider for the nominal value of speed and at least one low resistance lamellar contact element arranged in the slider path for producing an additional digital signal.

Abstract: An indicating control structure for use in an appliance, such as a microwave oven, having a rotatably adjustable mechanism, such as the power level control thereof. The control includes a slider and a guide for guiding the slider reversibly along a preselected path. Integrally formed with the slider is a drive transmission for rotating the mechanism to a desired adjusted disposition as a result of a corresponding movement of the slider along the path. An indicator structure is associated integrally with the slider for indicating the disposition of the slider and, correspondingly, the adjusted disposition of the mechanism. The slider may define a flat plate with the guide slidably engaging the side edges of the plate to guide the slider in a substantially rectilinear path. The indicator structure may define an indicator and window which are selectively moved relative to a fixed adjacent indicium with the disposition of the window being displayed by a suitably associated illuminating device.

Abstract: A variable resistor for use in electrical and electronic equipment which includes a base plate, a lower stator terminal housed in a circular recess formed in one surface of the base plate, a rotor member having an electrically conductive film layer at its one surface and an electrically resistant film layer at its other surface and rotatably mounted on the lower stator terminal with the conductive film layer contacting the lower stator terminal, and an upper stator terminal fixed to the base plate so as to slidingly contact the resistant film layer under pressure.

Abstract: A potentiometer assembly particularly suited for supplying tuning voltages for all of the bands of signals capable of receipt by a television receiver or the like, includes three segments of resistive material arranged in a circle on a support member. Each of the segments corresponds to a different band of frequencies to which the television receiver may be tuned. Band selection is effected by comparable conductive segments on the support member.In one embodiment, a single wiper is used to sweep all of the resistive segments to supply the desired tuning voltage output. A cam arrangement is used to adjust the detented position of the wiper relative to the support member to effect fine tuning at each position. Other embodiments utilize individually adjustable wipers for each station or detent position of the tuner, with each wiper being preset to effect the fine tuning at the detented position of the potentiometer assembly.

Abstract: A compact electrical control, such as a potentiometer, a rheostat, or a switch includes a housing and a shaft rotatably mounted within the housing. The housing has a cavity for receiving a resilient annular seal surrounding the shaft, and the shaft is provided with a radial pressure plate that bears against the seal. A rotary assembly composed of resistance or switch elements is mounted on the shaft between the pressure plate and a journaled end of the shaft, and the resistance or switch elements are contacted by stationary contacts held in the housing. The seal is axially compressed between the pressure plate on the shaft and a cavity end wall, and is radially compressed between a circumferential side wall and the shaft, so that the seal both prevents liquid from entering the housing along the shaft and controls axial end play of the shaft.

Abstract: A resistor having a high resistance and a resistor having a low resistance are arranged in parallel to each other in side by side relation. A pair of input terminals are fixed to both ends of the resistor of low resistance. A movable contact is provided in slidable contact with the resistor of high resistance moving along the edge of the resistor of low resistance which is in contact with an edge of the resistor of high resistance.

Abstract: A potentiometer assembly particularly suited for supplying tuning voltages for all of the bands of signals capable of receipt by a television receiver or the like, includes three segments of resistive material arranged in a circle on a support member. Each of the segments corresponds to a different band of frequencies to which the television receiver may be tuned. Band selection is effected by comparable conductive segments on the support member.In one embodiment, a single wiper is used to sweep all of the resistive segments to supply the desired tuning voltage output. A cam arrangement is used to adjust the detented position of the wiper relative to the support member to effect fine tuning at each position. Other embodiments utilize individually adjustable wipers for each station or detent position of the tuner, with each wiper being preset to effect the fine tuning at the detented position of the potentiometer assembly.

Abstract: A variable output function double bias potentiometer having first and second low resistance zones to provide two bias voltages and a high resistance zone with which output means are in contact to provide an output function which can be freely varied between the two bias voltages.

Abstract: A thrust bushing is trapped between a rotor and a bushing in which a shaft carrying the rotor is rotated to provide better torque control as the shaft is rotated.

Abstract: An electrical control is provided with an insulated shaft extension. The insulated shaft extension is attached to a metal shaft rotatably supported in a bushing attached to the housing of the control. A hollow shaft portion of the insulated shaft extension is in concentric relationship with the metal shaft. Tabs are sheared from the hollow shaft portion to abut against a shoulder defined by a reduced diameter portion on the metal shaft. The metal shaft has a flat which mates with a flat formed in the hollow shaft portion to prevent relative rotation of the shafts. Deformable ribs extend along the flat in the hollow shaft portion to ensure engagement with the flat on the metal shaft.

Abstract: A variable resistance device of the type wherein a worm screw is utilized to move a contact bearing member through a path of travel relative to conductive and resistive tracks. The variable resistor includes a ratchet member having a single elongated spring section attached to a body portion. The body portion has two rigid legs extending therefrom. The spring portion of the ratchet member is disposed within a groove formed in a surface of the contact bearing member. The rigid legs of the ratchet member are the sole elements in contact with the worm screw when the contact member reaches the end of its travel relative to the resistive and conductive tracks.

Abstract: A sleeve is trapped in a counter bore of a bushing, the sleeve being adapted to provide a bearing surface for a rotating shaft.

Abstract: A variable resistor is disclosed which may readily attain or reproduce a preset value. A wiper arm or plate is carried by an outer shaft for rotation with a wiper in sliding contact with a resistor so that the resistance value may be continuously varied in a conventional manner. In order to detect the angular position of the outer shaft where a preset value is obtained, a click mechanism is incorporated. A click spring of the click mechanism is fixed to a switching plate carried by an inner shaft fitted into the outer shaft for rotation therewith or independently thereof in case of presetting, and a ball loosely carried at the free end of the click spring is adapted to engage with a recess formed at a predetermined position of a stationary click plate so that the inner shaft may be stopped at a predetermined angular position.

Abstract: Bearing surfaces are provided for a shaft and a rotor carried by the shaft as both are rotated against the base of a cup shaped member which forms part of the housing for a variable resistance control.

Abstract: A locking device is provided for a potentiometer dial and knob which are disposed on the front panel of a printed circuit board. There is a radial flange on the shaft of the potentiometer dial and knob. The base or non-turning portion of the potentiometer is fixedly disposed on the panel and is fixedly disposed on the printed circuit board. A pressure plate member having an opening therein is disposed around the rotatable shaft. The flange may thus abut the pressure plate to prevent substantial axial motion of the shaft which might cause the potentiometer base to be loosened from the printed circuit board. A movable locking member having an opening is disposed around the outer portion of the shaft so that the flange is disposed between the pressure plate and the locking member. There are second aligned openings in each of the locking member and the pressure plate through which a screw protrudes. The threaded base of the screw is rotatably disposed in a correspondingly threaded hole in the panel.

Abstract: A variable resistance control containing a one-piece stamped mounting bracket having an integral collector ring for positioning a rotatable gear and having a pair of integral yokes for aligning a lead screw in driving relationship with the rotatable gear. A contactor constrained to rotate with the gear wipingly engages a resistance element. Each of the yokes comprises a pair of arms arcuately clinched around the lead screw to secure the lead screw to the mounting bracket. Integral with the gear are two outwardly extending resilient fingers for engagement with a respective one of the yokes to arrest rotation of the gear. Continued rotation of the lead screw after rotation of the gear has been arrested flexes the resilient finger toward the lead screw for driving the gear out of engagement with the lead screw. An aperture is provided in the lead screw for insertion of a shaft or tool for remote actuation of the control or for actuation of another control.

Abstract: A device for controlling the amount of resistance in an electric circuit. A variable resistor is fixedly attached to a carriage slidably mounted on a pair of spaced apart guide rods within a hollow frame. A pinion gear is fixedly attached to a shaft of the variable resistor for allowing the resistance of the variable resistor to be varied by rotation thereof. A rack gear is fixedly attached to the frame in engagement with the pinion gear whereby manual lineal movement of the carriage back and forth upon the guide rods will cause rotary movement of the shaft of the variable resistor thereby varying the resistance of the variable resistor.

Abstract: A housing having a central bore therein receives a rotor rotatably mounted therein and secured thereto having an enlarged round base portion. A thrust plate is mounted for limited axial reciprocation within a recessed opening in the housing concentric with the rotor and adjacent the rotor base. The rotor base and thrust plate are formed with cooperating detents and notches to provide indexing means for rotationally positioning the rotor. The internal recess of the housing and the exterior of the thrust plate are configured with matching shapes to prevent rotational movement therebetween, rotation of the rotor moving the detents from one pair of diametrically opposed notches to the next adjacent pair of said notches, while the thrust plate reciprocates against the action of a biasing means. The lower end of the rotor carries a contactor mounted for fixed rotation therewith and having a pair of downward extending arms.

Abstract: An improved thick film resistor for use with variable resistor applications includes a gold overlay applied to the contact surface of the thick film resistor after first etching the contact surface with acid. The combination of the gold overlay and acid etching of the contact surface reduces contact resistance and the contact resistance variation and provides improved wear resistance of the contact surface in a variable resistor element.