A DEVICE AT A MANUALLY OPERATED TO AN ORIGINAL POSITION AUTOMATICALLY RETURNING CONTROL LEVER

Abstract: Device at a manually operated, to an original position automatically returning control lever (1), preferably for a radio control unit, to feel at least one predetermined position of a shaft (2, 3) rotatable by means of said control lever. According to the invention at least one spring means (9, 11, 12, 21) presses, by means of said shaft (2, 3), a movable, position sensing arm (4) and at least one profiled part (7, 8, 18, 19) to abutment against a stop means (15, 22, 23). The profiled part is so formed, that it after rotation automatically returns said arm to said original position, and the profiled part for said predetermined position has at least one marking (13, 14), which can be manually feeled in the control lever by a snap effect.

Description: auτoπiatically returning control lever. The invention is related to a device at a manually operated to an original position automatically returning control lever, preferably for a radio controll unit, to feel at least one predetermined position of at least one rotatable shaft by means of said control lever. Previously known devices of this type is often very complicated as to their construction and above everything bulky, and therefore they are not apt to a control lever for a radio control unit which is to be manufactured as a miniature. Radio control units in the form of miniatures are used especially in the industry to control travelling cranes, cranes and the like. Said radio control unit is then normally supported on a belt fastened round the waist. Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned above, which is simple and reliable as to .its construction and is adapted to be manufactured as a miniature, but which also with advantage can be manufactured in other sizes. Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned above, by which the radio control unit becomes small and compact, and also reliable, robust and easily controlled. The above mentioned object are achieved according to the in¬ vention by a device comprising an arm, one end of which being fastened on said shaft and the other end of which being, at rotation of said shaft by influence of said control lever, arranged to. abut against one of two profiled parts, which are resilient against stop means provided in the unactivated original position of the arm and which are so formed, that they for said . predetermined position has a marking which by a snap effect can be manually feeled in the control lever. Preferred embodiments of the invention have been given the characteristics of the subclaims. The invention is to be described more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which show preferred embodiments. Fig. 1 is a side view of a control lever for e.g. a radio control unit with a device according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a partial section along the line II— II in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a modified embodiment of the device according to the invention to feel predetermined positions. With reference to Fig. 1 a control lever 1, preferably for a radio control unit, is showed. Two shafts 2, 3 are via a support device showed in Fig. 2 rotatable in all directions by means of the control lever 1, the projecting ends of said shafts 2, 3 being provided in the same plane and substantially normal to each other. An arm 4 is fastened at one end of each OMPI shaft 2, 3. On the end, facing said shaft, of the arm a roll 5 is provided, which in an original position showed in Fig. 1 abuts against two profiled parts 7, 8. Eiastically yieldable means consisting of a helical spring. 9 and two torsion springs 11, 12, are so arranged that they press the roll provided end 6 of the arm and the profiled parts against each other. As can be seen in Fig. 1 the profiled parts 7, 8 are furnished with steps 13, 14, which upon turning said arm 2, 3 form markings for predetermined positions which are to be feeled manually by means of said control lever 1. The steps 13, 14 are so formed that said springs 9 and 11, 12 always, when rotating said shaft 2, 3, can return the arm 4 to the original position, as shown in Fig. 1. A stop 15 is provided between the profiled parts 7, 8 so that said profiled parts will abut said stop 15 in the original position. When one of the profiled parts is activated by a roll 5 on the arm 4, the other unactivated profiled part abuts said stop 15, and in doing so providing a strain in the helical spring 9 and in the torsion spring 11 or 12 of the actuated profiled part. Due to there always have been two different springs which are activated double security against a breakage of a spring is obtained and also a secure return of the actuated profile part to the original position (0-position), when said control lever 1 is being unloaded. In Fig. 3 an embodiment of the device according to the invention is showed in which the torsion springs 11 and 12 in Fig. 1 has been omitted. All embodiments of the device according to the invention has the same reference numbers for details which entirely correspond to each other. 16 indicates bearing pins around which said parts 7 and 8 are rotatable. 17 indicates the end of one of said shafts 2, 3. In Fig. 4 a modified embodiment of the invention is showed, in which the profiled parts 18, 19 are journalled on a pin 20. The upper ends of the profile parts are loaded towards each other by means of a helical spring 9. A torsion spring 21 is placed on the pin 2D and the outer ends of the legs of the torsion spring are situated on the outside of the profiled parts to furthermore load the profiled parts towards each other. Hence, also here a double security against spring breakage is achieved. The springs 9 and 21 are arranged to bring the profiled parts 18, 19 to abut against stops 22 and 23, and moreover to return the arm 4, which is arranged on one of the ends 17 of said shafts 2, 3, to the original position (0-position). On the free ends of said shafts 2, 3 different types of position indicating switch means can be placed, as e.g. reversing switches, potentiometers or optoelectrical systems.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device at a manually operated to an original position automatic¬ ally returning control lever (1), preferably for a radio control unit, to feel at least one predetermined position of at least one shaft (2, 3) which is rotatable * . by means of said control lever, characterized in that said device comprises an arm (4), one end of which being fastened on said shaft and the other end of -, which being, at rotation of said shaft by influence of said control lever, arranged to abut against one of two profiled parts (7, 8, 18, 19) which are resilient against stop means (15, 22, 23) provided in the unactivated original position of said arm and which are so formed, that they have a marking (13, 14) for said predetermined position, said marking being able to be feeled manually in said control lever by a snap effect. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said marking (13, 14) on each profiled part (7, 8, 18, 19) is so formed, that when said control lever is unactivated, the arm (4) returns automatically to said original position. 3. Device according to any of .claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said profiled parts (7, 8, 18, 19) consist of elongated members, one ends of which being rotatably journalled and the other ends of which being loaded towards each other by means of a helical spring (9) arranged between said other ends. 4. Device according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that at least one torsion spring (11, 12, 21) is mounted on the profiled parts (7, 8, 18, 19) and is so loaded, that it presses the profiled part (7, 8, 18, 19) in question against said stop means (15, 22, 23). 5. Device according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that a roll (5) is journalled on the arm (4) which roll will abut against the profiled parts (7, 8, 18, 19). 6. Device according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that said profiled parts (7, 8, 18, 19) are symmetrically arranged around said stop means (15, 22, 23). 7. Device according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that said profiled parts (7, 8) are, at one end thereof, journalled on each side of said shaft (2, 3), and in that the other end of said profile parts will abut, in the unactivated state, against a common stop (15). 8. Device according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that said profiled parts (18, 19) are, at one end thereof, journalled in the same point at _J3MPI 3'h ™ ° the end of said arm (4) abutting said parts, and in that each one of said other ends of said profiled parts abuts, in the unactivated state, against a stop (22, 23).

Inventors: AOKERSTROEM AOKE, AOKERSTROEM, AOKE
Applicants: AOKERSTROEMS BJOERBO AB
Application year: 1982
Main classification: G05G1
IPC codes: G05G1, G05G5, G05G9