Digital operator - and display device for mehrgaengige, axially operated precision potentiometers and adjustable instruments

摘要

A knob-like actuator and indicator device for mechanical connection to a multi-turn instrument such as a potentiometer and effective upon manual rotation of a part thereof to operate the instrument and concurrently through gearing and counting or revolution-indicating mechanism including double-indexing counting or number wheel means, effective to provide at the face end of the device a numerical decimal indication of complete revolutions and fractional revolutions of the instrument shaft from an end or zero position. Use of a double-indexing first counting wheel means reduces by 50 percent the gear ratio between the manually-rotated part of the knob, to thereby reduce by 50 percent gear wear and by a greater amount the tooth-impact at the counter wheel teeth. The first (fastest) number wheel is numbered through two complete zero-through-nine counts and rotates only one-half revolution in registering one-tenth revolution of the instrument shaft. Reduction of the gear ratio permits gross reduction of diameter of an effective actuator-indicator, and permits use of low cost, plastic parts.