Patent ID: 6168107
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: B65H,G01B

Abstract:
A linear transducer, comprising: a. a self-contained housing; b. a stationary mounting frame affixed to said self-contained housing having open sidewalls and having a pair of cover plates with a respective cover plate on either side; c. magnet means affixed to the interior periphery of at least one of said cover plates adjacent said mounting frame; d. a precision diameter spool positioned within said mounting frame and coupled to a rotating shaft extending therethrough; e. an elongated flexible cable wound on said spool; f. a flat wound torsion spring coupled to said rotating shaft for maintaining said cable under tension and driving said spool to retract said cable when said cable is an extended condition; and g. a magnetic flux means affixed to said spool and adjacent to said plurality of magnet means for generating a reverse torque proportional to the speed of rotation when the magnetic flux means is rotated at a close proximity to said plurality of magnets, thereby reducing the speed of the return cable which is caused to return by said wound torsion spring.