Abstract: An assembly (24) for monitoring the travel of a device includes a potentiometer (26) having a slide bar (32). The potentiometer generates a resistance value according to a position of the slide bar which is coupled to the door through a rotatable member (40) carried by a bracket (34). A slide rack (36) is carried by the bracket and is coupled to both the slide bar and the rotatable member. The slide rack operatively engages the rotatable member between predetermined first and second positions and operatively disengages from the rotatable member when at the first and second positions.

Abstract: A variable resistor comprises a slider body, a contact arm which is provided to project from the slider body, a contact part which is formed by bending the contact arm, an arcuate spring arm having a projection for engaging with an engaging portion of a rotor gear, and a stopper which is formed by bending a stopper member provided to project from the slider body. The arcuate spring arm has an inboard structure connected with the slider body at both ends thereof. The projection engages with the engaging portion of the rotor gear, so that the slider body is rotated following rotation of the rotor gear. When the rotor gear is further rotated in such a state that the stopper comes into contact with a case side stopper which is formed on a case thereby inhibiting the slider body from rotation, the engagement between the engaging portion and the projection is released. Thus, the slider body is prevented from overrotation.

Abstract: An electromotive adjustable resistor, comprising an electric motor which includes a motor shaft and a gear train which has two worm gear engagements and a cylindrical gear engagement. The cylindrical gear engagement provides a distance (space) between the resistance adjusting shaft and the motor shaft along the axis of both shafts. Accordingly, the axes of the two shafts can coincide or nearly coincide without interfering with each other. This narrows the width of the electromotive adjustable resistor, and minimizes the space on the circuit board occupied by the adjustable resistor.

Abstract: A position sensor assembly for sensing the rotary position of a rockshaft of a hitch mechanism includes a rotary potentiometer coupled to the rockshaft. The rockshaft is enclosed in a rockshaft housing and a sensor housing is attached to the rockshaft housing. The potentiometer is attached to an outside surface of the sensor housing and has a sensor shaft which extends through a portion of the sensor housing. The position sensor has a first set of gear teeth on the rockshaft meshing with a second set of gear teeth on the sensor shaft. The sensor housing at least partially encloses the second set of gear teeth. The first and second sets of gear teeth are preferably configured as gear segments. The sensor shaft is supported for rotation by the sensor housing. The potentiometer is preferably a spring-pre-loaded potentiometer. A second spring is mounted on the second set of gear teeth and is engagable with a wall of the sensor housing to define an assembly position.

Abstract: A potentiometer comprises a housing having a resistance element disposed therewithin, a spur gear rotatably housed within the housing and drivingly engaged with a worm gear that is rotatably supported by the housing for rotating the spur gear when such worm gear is externally turned. A resilient wiper assembly carried by the spur gear for rotation therewith sweeps the resistance element and applies a resilient force to the spur gear to urge the latter in a direction away from the resistance element. The spur gear has a toothless area defined at a portion of the toothed periphery thereof which corresponds in position to one end of the resistance element. The toothless area has a tapered face engageable with the worm gear to displace the spur gear in the opposite direction against the resiliency of the wiper assembly when the wiper means is brought to the end of the resistance element wherefore the spur gear can be disengaged from the worm gear.

Abstract: A ratcheting mechanism for a multiturn variable resistance device, of the worm screw-actuated type, has mutually engageable stopping members on the rotor and in the housing, limiting rotor travel beyond first and second limits. The stopping member in the housing has an inclined surface on one side which pivotally lifts the rotor against the force of the electrical contact spring (carried on one side of the rotor in contact with a resistive element), when the rotor reaches the first limit of travel. The pivoting action compresses the contact spring while allowing the spur gears on the rotor momentarily to disengage from the worm gear. This disengagement releases the spring, which then urges the rotor back into a gear-engaging position. The rotor is provided with at least one axially-shortened spur gear tooth positioned so as to be engageable with the worm gear when the rotor is at the second limit of travel.

Abstract: A trimmer potentiometer or like variable resistor, which is of the kind having a worm 21 driving an elastomeric worm wheel 10 carrying a wiper contact to slide on an arcuate resistance element, has the gear teeth formed on circumferentially-spaced rim sections 23, 24, 25 projecting cantileverwise from an axially thick unbroken rim 10b of a radial flange on the main body 10c of the wheel, some sections 23 having only a few gear teeth and being separated by sections 24, 25 having larger numbers of gear teeth. The extent of rotation of the wheel 10 is limited to less than 360.degree. and the sections 23 with few teeth are arranged to be in mesh with the worm at the limits of wheel rotation so as to give a de-clutching effect by inward deflection of these sections on over rotation of the worm.

Abstract: A miniature or subminiature, rectangular potentiometer which automatically disengages and engages at the extreme end settings may be fabricated by using a worm screw which engages and disengages a sector gear. The sector gear is arranged and configured to selectively engage a spring at the extremes of travel of the sector gear. When the worm screw drives the sector gear to the limit of its travel, the spring is compressed against the gear thereby compressing the spring. The compression of the spring is sufficient to permit the gear teeth on the opposing end of the sector gear to advance and disengage from the worm screw. Rotation of the worm screw in the opposing direction automatically re-engages the sector gear by virture of the urging of the spring.

Abstract: A worm gear drive and ratchet system in which a flexible, two-piece, toothed drive wheel is driven by a threaded drive shaft. The two-piece, toothed drive wheel comprises identical halves that are keyed and bonded into a fixed relationship. Upon reaching a stop, gear teeth embossed on the flexible drive wheel ratchet over the threads on the threaded drive shaft.

Abstract: A lead screw type control for a miniature worm gear actuated potentiometer having a rotor with a main drive spur gear and a ratcheting drive rack gear. The invention contemplates rack gear teeth formed with a gentle ramp opposed to a more acute ramp such as to resemble a sawtooth configuration in profile. The main drive spur gear is formed on less than the total of the rotor circumference. The ratcheting rack gear is mounted on a portion of the rotor circumference that does not include the spur gear. The main drive spur gear teeth are functional in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the ratcheting rack gears are effective. Ratcheting is accomplished when the driving lead screw has driven the main-drive spur gear to one of its limits in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. At this point, if the same direction of rotation is continued, the ratcheting rack gear is urged into engagement with the driving lead screw by the force of a contact spring.

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.