US2170820A - Control mechanism for radio receivers - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 29, W3. F. J HOOVEN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Filed July 1'7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 15mm A.

/5 r 2 INVEYTOR.

( /M06 J a oo/m/vv,

d ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1939. F. J. HOOVEN.

CONTROL MECHANISM FQR RADIO RECEIVERS Filed Ju'ly 17 1936 2 Sheets-g 2 INVENTOR' AT TOR Patented Aug. 29, 1939 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Frederick J. Hooven, Dayton, Ohio Application July 17, 1936, Serial No. 91,190

8 Claims. (01. 250-40) My invention relates broadly to radio receivcontrol mechanism of my invention with the elecing systems and more particularly to a control trical connections and the flexible shaft which mechanism for such systems. extend from the panel of the control mechanism One of the objects of my invention is to probroken away; Fig. 2 is a sectional view with parts 5 vide a compact construction of control mechanism shown in elevation and illustrating the adjusting 5 for radio receiving systems for aircraft which means for the tuning mechanism of the radio may be mounted adjacent the pilots position on receiver, the view being taken on line 4-6 of the aircraft for controlling the radio receiving ap- Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. paratus located remote from the pilots position. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the Another object of my invention is to provide control mechanism showing the coordination of 10 a construction of control mechanism for radio the tuning control mechanism with the displacesystems on aircraft in which a multiplicity of able ring gear which surrounds the tuning meter functions may be controlled by the pilot from the in the control mechanism, the view being taken pilots position in the aircraft to produce predeon line 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of termined operations in the radio receiver located the arrows; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional 15 in the aircraft in a position remote from the view on line 6-6 of Fig. 1 looking in the direcpilot. tion of the arrows.

Still another object of my invention is to pro- My invention is directed to a comp-act assembly vide a control mechanism for radio receiving apand construction of control mechanism for radio paratus on aircraft which may be compactly asreceivers for use on aircraft by which a multi- 20 sembled adjacent the pilots position and conplicity of functions of the radio receiver may be nected both electrically and through a flexible controlled from the pilots position whilethe radio control shaft with radio receiving apparatus in receiver is located in a remote position in the airthe aircraft remote from the pilots position for craft and prot ted n t h influ n e of controlling a multiplicity of functions in the radio variable temperature pressure and humidity con- 25 receiver from the pilot's position ditions in addition to concentrating the controls A further object of my invention is to provide for the radio receiver in a position convenient to acontrol mechanism for a radio receiver includthe p t- The Control mechanism of y invening a tuning meter and a mechanical indicator tion also includes the controls for the marker mounted concentrically with respect to the tuning beacon receiver which is remotely located in the 30 meter and operated simultaneously with the adaircraft and which is emp oy T0 Operating the justment of the tuning circuits of the radio reflash indicator adjacent t e p ot f use in dceiver remotely positioned on the aircraft with vising the pilot with respect to effecting a blind respect to the position of the control mechanism, landing. The control mechanism of my inven- A still further object of my invention is to protion includes a rotary adjusting device connected 35 vide a simplified and compact arrangement or th ough fl bl Shaft W t tuning COHlJI'OI control mechanism for a radio receiving system of the remotely located rad receiver- A tuning on aircraft in which the mechanical displacement me er is assembled adjacent the control mechaof the tuning device in the radio receiver is nism with the calibrated scale thereof visible from 40 mechanically indicated on the control apparatus the front Panel of t Control ec an sm. A 40 simultaneously with the electrical indication of calibrated scale extends concentrically about the the tuned condition of the radio receiver. tuning meter and a pair of indicator members Still another object of my invention is to proare arranged to be adjusted over the concentrivide a construction of control mechanism capable cally arranged calibrated scale simultaneously of conveniently coordinating the functioning or with the movement of the rotary adjusting de- 45 the marker beacon receiver and the main radio V cee Selective positioning of e nd cator receiver on board an aircraft. members with respect to the concentrically ar- Other and further objects of my invention reran ed libr ed s le i accompanied by a side in the construction of a compact arrange- Cor espo Change in position o t e u ment of control mechanism for radio receivers meter electrically connected in the input Circuit 50 including switching devices, volume control, and of the final detector of the radio receiver for intuning control mechanism, as set forth more fully suring a constant check on the operating condiin the specification hereinafter following by refertion of the radio receiver from the pilots posience to the accompanying drawings, in which: tion. The control mechanism also includes in Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing the compact assembly a volume control adjusting 5 device; non-directional receiver sensitivity control device; receiver sensitivity control device; switch for changing from receiver observations to telephone communication; main on and off switch for the receiver; main n and ofi switch for the marker beacon receiver; switch for changing from high and low frequency bands to which the l'adlu receiver is designed to respond; and control device for instrument lights. The control mechanism also includes a convenient mounting for a main fuse in the power supply circuit of the radio receiver and marker beacon receiver,

The control mechanism in housing I is located adjacent a front panel structure H in which there is mounted the circular calibrated scale l2 concentrically positioned about the circular dial plate l3 of the tuning meter. The concentric position of the circular dial plate l3 and the annular calibrated scale l2 is such that an annular gap or path is provided intermediate the annular calibrated scale 12 and the circular dial plate l3 as indicated at [4. A pair of indicator members projects through the annular slot or path l4 and extend radially over both the annular calibrated scale l2 and the circular dial plate H8; The indicator members l5 coact with the calibrations which I have indicated at l3a on circular dial plate l3 and calibrations which I have indicated at l2a on annular calibrated scale l2.

The circular dial plate l3 has a sight aperture l6 therein for observing the movement of the tuning meter pointer H with respect to a coacting scale Ila carried by the circular dial plate l3.

I provide means for rotatably journaling the knob or crank l8 in housing l l for operating the tuning mechanism. The knob or crank l8 drives a shaft l9 imparting movement to bevel gear 2a which meshes with bevel gear 2i carried on rotatably mounted shaft 22. The shaft 22 carries a worm gear 23 adapted to mesh with the ring gear 24 as shown. The ring gear 24 is journaled upon the ring gear bearing 25 which is concentrically disposed about the tuning meter 26. Movement of the knob or crank l8 therefore imparts rotary movement to ring gear 24 and at the same time imparts rotary movement of the flexible shaft 21 which leads to the tuning control on the radio receiver, not shown. The ring gear 24 carries the indicator members l5 so that the indicator members are shifted in an annular path with respect to the circular dial plate l3 and the annular calibrated scale I? simultaneously with the corresponding movement imparted through flexible shaft 21 to the tuning control of the radio compass receiver. The faces of the dial plate and annular scale are protected by means of a sight glass indicated at 23.

The housing I! also provides mounting means for the volume control device 29, the receiver sensitivity control 30, the marker beacon receiver sensitivity control 3|, the main on and off switch indicated at 32 for the system, the transfer switch 33 for changing from radio receiver observations to radio telephone communication, a high and low frequency band switch 34, the on and off switch for the marker beacon receiver indicated at 35, and the instrument lights switch indicated at 36. A removable fuse plug casing 3'1 is mounted in the housing H in which a cartridge type fuse 38 may be removably inserted through the readily detachable plug member 39.

In order to carry all of the electrical circuit conductors from the control head to the radio receiver, the power supply, and the marker beacon receiver, I provide a conduit housing 40 through which all of the leads extend.

The fact that the calibrated scale I2 is concentrically disposed about the circular dial plate I3 provides a very compact method of checking the mechanical displacement of the tuning device in the radio receiver against the electrical readings afforded by the tuning meter 26. The pilot is provided with all of the essential readings within an extremely small area of vision and is able to change quickly and accurately the operating condition of the marker beacon receiver and the main radio receiver. Moreover, the control mechanism is of such small size that it may be readily mounted adjacent the other con trols in the aircraft and also adjacent the on and off course indicators and the flash indicator.

It is obvious that other modifications and changes may be made and, although I have described my invention in one of its preferred embodiments, I desire that it be understood that modifications may be made and that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. Apparatus for remotely controlling the operation of a receiver comprising a housing, a tuning meter mounted in said housing and having a movable indicator, a calibrated scale adjacent said movable indicator, said calibrated scale having a substantially circular periphery with calibration marks thereon, a substantially annular scale spaced by a substantially annular gap from the substantially circular periphery of the aforesaid scale, an angularly adjustable ring member surrounding said tuning meter, indicator members carried by said ring member and passing through said substantially annular gap and coacting with each of the aforesaid scales, and means for imparting angular movement to said ring member for shifting said indicator members for comparing the readings on said scales with respect to the reading of the meter on said tuning meter.

2. Remote control mechanism for radio receiving apparatus having a tuning mechanism therein comprising a housing, a tuning meter located in said housing and electrically connected with the radio receiver, a movable indicator controlled by said tuning meter, a dial member having a cali-' bration adjacent said movable indicator and a calibrated scale on the periphery thereof, a supplemental scale mounted adjacent the aforesaid calibrated scale, a rotary actuator journaled in said housing and connected through a flexible shaft with the tuning mechanism of said radio receiver, an indicator cooperating with both of,

said scales, means for driving said indicator from said rotary actuator simultaneously with the tuning adjustment of the tuning mechanism in said radio receiver for comparing the displacement of the tuning mechanism with the readings on said tuning meter.

3. Remote control mechanism for receivers comprising a housing, a tuning meter mounted in said housing, a calibrated scale for said tuning meter, a supplemental scale extending about the periphery of the aforesaid scale, a sleeve member located behind said scales and surrounding said tuning meter, an angularly displaceable member mounted on said sleeve member, indicator members displaceable with respect to said scales and carried by said angularly displaceable member, and a rotary actuator journaled in said 7 housing and connected with said displaceable member for imparting angular movement thereto for adjusting said indicator members with respect to said calibrated scales.

l. Remote control apparatus for receivers comprising a housing, a tuning actuator journaled in said housing, a sleeve bearing disposed centrally in said housing, a rotary gear journaled on said sleeve bearing and operatively connected with said tuning actuator, a pair of calibrated dial members located adjacent said gear, and indicator members supported by said gear and extending over each of said calibrated dial members, and a tuning meter located within said sleeve bearing, said tuning meter having a movable indicator operative with relation to one of said dial members.

5. Remote control apparatus for receivers comprising a housing, a rotary actuator journaled in said housing, a sleeve bearing supported centrally within said housing, an angularly displaceable gear member mounted on said sleeve bearing and operatively connected with said rotary actuator for angular displacement under control thereof, a pair of concentrically arranged calibrated dials disposed in the same plane adjacent said angularly displaceable gear member, said dials having an annular gap therebetween, an indicator member carried by said angularly displaceable gear and movable in the path provided by the annular gap between said dials with respect to the calibrations on said dials, and a tuning meter concentrically arranged within said sleeve bearing, said tuning meter having a movable indicator movable with respect to a scale carried by one of the aforesaid calibrated dials.

6. A tuning dial and meter assembly comprising an annular member bearing a frequency calibration, a disc member disposed coaxial and concentric with respect to said annular member with an annular gap therebetween, a tuning meter having an indicator and mounted behind said disc member, said disc member being apertured and provided with a scale for observing the relative position of said indicator, an indicator operative in the said annular gap relative to the said frequency calibration on said annular member, a rotatable ring member enclosing said tuning meter and carrying the last mentioned indicator, and actuating means for angularly displacing said ring member and correspondingly moving the last said indicator in accordance with a tuning operation.

7. In a remote control head for radio apparatus, a housing, concentric dial members supported within said housing and having an annular intervening gap between said members, a tuning control in driving relation with said radio apparatus, a rotatable ring gear supported in said housing and driven by said tuning control, indicator means attached to said gear and extending through said annular gap, a tuning meter housed within said ring gear, and indicator means on said meter cooperating with the inner of said concentric dial members.

8. In a remote control head for radio apparatus, a housing, concentric dial members supported within said housing and having an annular intervening gap between said members, a tuning control. in driving relation with said radio apparatus, a sleeve bearing supported Within said housing, a ring gear rotatably mounted on said bearing and driven by said tuning control, a plurality of indicators secured to said gear and ex-- tending through said annular gap, a tuning meter housed within said sleeve bearing and ring gear, and indicator means: on said meter cooperating with the inner of said concentric dial members.

FREDERICK J. HOOVEN.

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