Abstract: An electrical switch and a circuit breaker are presented herein. The electrical switch includes a graded resistance block comprising a first end having a first electrical resistivity and a second end having an electrical resistivity greater than the first electrical resistivity. The electrical switch further includes a fixed contact electrically coupled to the first end of the graded resistance block, and a sliding contact configured to slide over the graded resistance block. In addition to the components of the electrical switch, the circuit breaker also includes a forcing mechanism to slide the sliding contact over the graded resistance block from the first end to the second end.

Abstract: A boom position detecting device that detects a boom angle on a work vehicle for a boom that rotates about a pivot. The device includes a boom angle follower and positional sensor. The boom angle follower includes a spring and a follower arm arranged such that the spring biases the follower arm against a surface of the boom and keeps the follower arm in contact with the boom throughout a rotational movement of the boom about the pivot. The positional sensor is physically connected to the boom angle follower and detects at least one boom angle.

Abstract: A rotatable variable resistor with a clicking mechanism includes a rotary unit provided with a rotor and a wiper, and a fixed unit provided with a cover, a resistor substrate, and external terminals. The wiper has an arm segment, a clicking projection and a non-clicking projection. The undersurface of the cover is provided with a clicking depression. The distance from the center of rotation of the rotary unit to the top of the clicking projection is different from the distance from the center of rotation to the top of the non-clicking projection. The non-clicking projection may have a flat top portion with a width extending in one direction that is greater than that of the clicking depression such that a sliding track of the top of the clicking projection is located within a sliding track of the non-clicking projection in the radius direction. The clicking depression may alternatively be an aperture.

Abstract: A variable resistor is constructed to reliably seal the space between a rotor and a substrate without insert-molding the substrate into a case, and to be produced at a very low cost. This variable resistor includes a hollow square-prism shaped case which is open at the top and the bottom, a substrate which is fitted into the lower opening of the case, and on the top surface of which a collector electrode and an arcuate resistor are provided, a rotor rotatably fitted into the upper opening of the case, a slider mounted on the bottom surface of the rotor and making sliding contact with the collector electrode and the resistor, an annular packing member disposed between the rotor and the substrate for sealing the space therebetween, terminals mounted on the substrate and electrically connected to the resistor and the collector electrode, and a metallic cover.

Abstract: The invention relates to a manual control apparatus, such as a control pedal for a drive-by-wire control systems, and similar applications. According to an aspect of the invention, the manual control apparatus comprises a hysteresis mechanism that provides more precise and controllable hysteresis than previous mechanism. According to a further aspect of the invention, the manual control apparatus comprises an angular position sensor, and the angular position sensor may comprise abutments that reduce variation in the sensor. According to a still further aspect of the invention, the manual control apparatus comprises a stop pin that regulates the position of a rotatable member relative to the position sensor with less variation. The stop pin may also be used as a single fastener the holds the manual control apparatus together.

Abstract: A variable resistance device is provided. Instead of a conventional planar-type structure or a three-dimensional structure using an elastic strip, a variable resistance device with a three-dimensional structure using easy-assembling parts, such as a mount and a spring, is adapted. The easy-assembling parts would not be deformed permanently so that the reliability of the variable resistance device is enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotatively driven type electric component wherein a slider is moved linearly by rotation of a screw. The rotatively driven type electric component with housings, a drive shaft held by the housings and provided with a screw portion, an insulating substrate held by the housings and having electrically conductive patterns, a slider which comes into sliding contact with the electrically conductive patterns, a movable block which holds the slider, and a plate spring disposed between the movable block and the drive shaft and locked to the movable block, the plate spring having a protuberance, the protuberance of the plate spring being brought into elastic contact with the screw portion of the drive shaft so that the movable block is moved with rotation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A rotating electrical component, in which, on mating surface sides of the flange of the support member and the flange of the operating shaft, on both sides of the center of rotation on the line which passes through the center of rotation of the operating shaft, there are provided projections and recesses which differ in diameter measured from the center of rotation of the operating shaft and can be engaged and disengaged in positions where they will not overlap each other in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A rotary operation type variable resistor including a resistor base and a holder, on which a sliding-element supporting member is rotatably retained, are placed in a case provided with only one opening for component insertion. An operating lever is fixedly connected to a shaft portion of the sliding-element supporting member using a speed nut. A resistor pattern is formed by printing on the resistor base in a positional relationship determined by positioning reference portions formed on the resistor base. Positioning reference portions are also formed on the holder, and positioning portions are formed in the case. A resilient-contact member for bringing the positioning reference portions of each of the resistor base and the holder into contact with the positioning portions of the case is also provided on the case.

Abstract: A trigger operated speed control wherein the insulating housing is a two-shot molding having metal conductors plated on one of the molding materials on various external and interior surfaces. Stationary contact elements are secured to respective plated conductors within a housing cavity, as are terminals of the FET on an external surface of the housing. A printed circuit board is secured to the housing over an open side thereof to close the housing cavity, retaining all movable parts of the control within the cavity, the board having plated through holes which receive and are soldered to plated pin projections of the housing to secure the board to the housing and complete selected conducting paths between plated conductors and printed circuit traces. A plated molded pin projection also receives a pin receptacle terminal of a separate reversing switch unit when positioned in a pocket formed in the housing.

Abstract: A variable resistor with a switching function includes arcuate resistive layers and arcuate electrodes arranged alternately on a base plate. A protective layer is formed on the base plate adjacent to a first electrode and between the arcuate resistive layers. A gap separates the protective layer from the first electrode in order to electrically isolate the protective layer. A movable portion has brushes fixed thereto which slidably contact the resistive layers, the electrodes, and the protective layer. The protective layer serves as a lubricating layer to reduce the wear on the brush.

Abstract: A variable resistor includes a sliding member having an arm in contact with a substantially circular arc-shaped resistor provided on a substrate and a driver plate portion from which the arm extends. The sliding member is rotatable by a driver, the center of the resistor being a supporting point of the sliding member. The driver plate portion of the sliding member is substantially conical and has driver grooves. The arm is connected to the driver plate portion at both sides of a driver groove adjacent an end of the driver groove. Adjustment of a resistance value is performed by rotating the sliding member with a driver tip inserted in the driver grooves.

Abstract: In a potentiometer applied to the EGR system in automobiles, a relative motion between a printed circuit card and a holder, through which the card is slidably inserted, is blocked to prevent unwanted wear of a resistor on the printed circuit card when the potentiometer is subjected to vibrations from the EGR valve that may occur when the valve is on the verge of being opening, i.e., when the measured value is in the minimum range. The relative motion is prevented either by inserting an elastic member between the holder and the printed circuit card; by forming the spring seat of the holder--which is always urged by a spring toward the shaft and also restricted by a stopper--inclined with respect to the holder's sliding direction so that the holder is applied with an uneven spring load and is inclined to firmly hold the card with its ends; or by installing a spring between the upper end of the shaft and the facing end of the holder to absorb the vibration.

Abstract: A wiper assembly for a potentiometer, particularly a rotary potentiometer having a rotor for carrying the wiper assembly along a resistive element, includes a metal plate attached to the rotor. A strip of metal formed integrally with the plate is bent back over itself out of the plane of the plate to form a cantilevered spring arm having a free end. Attached to the free end is an array of resilient, conductive wires arranged in a parallel, side-by-side relationship, each of the wires forming a resilient, cantilevered wiper finger. The spring arm and the array of wire wiper fingers attached to it form a hybrid wiper arm assembly. Preferably, the plate includes a first such hybrid wiper arm assembly arranged to function as a wiper for the resistive element in the potentiometer, and a second such wiper arm assembly arranged to function as a wiper for a conductive collector element in the potentiometer.

Abstract: A protective cap for a rotatably-adjustable electrical component mounted to a PW board in an enclosed electronic control unit. The housing of the electronic control unit has a tuning access hole axially aligned with a tapered lead-in port in the center of the protective cap. An adjustment tool is inserted into the tuning access hole and guided into a tuning slot in the adjustable electrical component by the tapered lead-in port in the cap. The cap also protects the rotatable component from damage by a poorly-aimed adjustment tool. The several caps covering the rotatable components on a board as well as the access openings of the housing may be color-coded to assist in component identification.

Abstract: A molded resin casing of a rotary- or sliding-type electronic part internally accommodating a board on which are formed electric conductor patterns slidingly contacted by contacts of a slider of the electronic part, wherein a flexible board having the electric conductor patterns formed on a film comprising a synthetic resin material is used as the board, and the flexible board is inserted inside the synthetic resin casing in such as manner that the electric conductor patterns are exposed to the interior of the casing.

Abstract: An infinitely variable rotary resistor assembly has a substantially conventional rotary resistance element 1 mounted for rotation in a housing 2, on rotation of a projecting shaft 4. The resistance element 1 is biased to a predetermined position by spring means 14,15 mounted within the housing 2 on a shaft 6.In an alternative form of the invention, a substantially conventional rotary variable resistor 20 is biased to a predetermined position by a biasing device mounted over the housing of the rotary variable resistor 20 to snap engage therewith, and coupling with an accessible part 37 of a rotary resistance element in the resistor.

Abstract: The direct connection potentiometer includes a block of electrically insulative material having two opposite faces and an edge about the perimeter of the faces. An electroresistive track is provided in an arc on the front face of the block, radially spaced from a ring-shaped conductive area provided on that face. Conductive strips extend from each end of the track, and from the ring-shaped conductive area to the perimeter of the front face, where each, spaced from the others, wraps around the edge of the block to its rear face. A rotatable cursor, i.e. a slide is mounted to the block centrally of the ring-shaped conductive area and connects the ring-shaped conductive area with a selected arcuately short portion of the electroresistive track.

Abstract: A slider for resistor or slip conductors. The slider includes a generally U-shaped slider support having a center portion and two legs, leaf springs attached to each one of the legs and extending into the interior of the U-shaped slider support, and contact means guided by the leaf springs and kept in engagement with the resistor or slip conductor. In accordance with the invention, one of the leaf springs supports the contact means, and the other leaf spring resiliently engages the first leaf spring on the side remote from the resistor or slip conductor.

Abstract: A stationary case has a resistive track. An elastic wiper is carried by a rotor mounted to rotate in the case and able, during operation, to rub against the resistive track, and a spring is placed between the stationary case and the rotor to pull the rotor to a rest position. The case provides at least one housing able to receive the wiper without initial stress or deformation in an initial position of introduction of the rotor in the case and to allow the wiper to come in contact with the track during mounting of the rotor in the case by rotation of said rotor between its introduction position and its rest position. Application is to measuring the angular position of the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An electrical contact arm is spring biased against electrical paths by a coil spring which is carried on a hub of a rotating member which also carries the electrical arm. An electrically conductive path is also carried by the rotating member to provide switching functions.

Abstract: An electric jump rope having a longitudinally extending member, the longitudinally spaced ends of which are attached to the end portions of a length of a flexible element. Mounted on the member for rotating the flexible element relative to the member is a motor assembly including a variable speed control arrangement which permits rotation of the flexible member to be varied by a person gripping the longitudinally extending member in order to skip rope with the invention.

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 variable resistor including a resistance element, a housing supporting the element, and rotary means including a shaft located within the housing. Means are provided to restrain rotational movement of the rotary means except upon application of a relatively large magnitude predetermined force. The restraining means includes a resilient member and a second member operable to develop a frictional force to prevent undesired rotation of the rotary means.