US2007577A - Remote control device - Google Patents

Description

Jul 9, 1935. R L s LUM 27577 REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1933 5 Sheeis-Sheet l IN VEN TOR A ITORNEY July 9, 1935. R M 2,007,577

REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR BY PMpL. 54am,

July 9, 1935. P. 1.. s LUM REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEHTOR j 15: LUIYZ K NH 93/00 ATTORNEY 3 9, 19350 P. L. s. LUM E 5 REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 g 1* INVENTGR /49 BY fz'p. Z. 51155072 Patented July 9, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE tion of New Jersey Application August 26,

16 Claims.

This invention relates generally to remote control devices and the invention has reference, more particularly to a novel remote control device adapted for controlling the operation of a plurality of independently operable elements as,

for example, the tuning and volume control elements of a radio receiving set.

Remote control devices heretofore employed for operating radio receiving sets from a distance have generally been unsatisfactory in use for various reasons. Some of these devices merely serve to control the tuning dial of the radio set, thereby making it necessary for the user to go to the radio set itself to start the set and to control the volume thereof. Others of these devices serve to operate both the volume and tuning controls from a distance, but fail to indicate to the user the position of the tuning dial so that it is difficult to tune. Also, many of these devices tend to overrun resulting in hunting, thereby making it very dinicult to properly tune in stations. Most of these devices are quite complicated and are easily deranged, thereby rendering the same costly and undesirable in use.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel remote control device arranged to be readily installed in connection with radio receiving sets and adapted to enable complete operation of the set from the remote point of control, such remote control operation including tuning and volume control of the set as well as starting and stopping, the said device being exceedingly reliable in use and easily operated.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a novel remote control device that enables the radio set to be controlled in all its operations by the use of but a single knob, the said device being designed so that the set can be controlled either by a single knob on the set or by a single knob at any desired remote point, the remote control in no way interfering with the local control of the set.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel remote control device of the above character having tuning indicating means or dial at the remote point of control which tuning indicating means may be readily synchronized and maintained in synchronism with the tuning indicating means or dial of the set itself, whereby the operator at the remote point of control may readily tune in a station when he knows the number thereof on the set tuning dial.

Still another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a novel remote control device that employs diiierential gearing for se- 1933, Serial No. 686,396

lectively operating the tuning and volume control of the set either by hand or by motor driven means, the said device being extremely compact and cheap to manufacture and being substantially fool proof in use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide -a remote control device of the above character that employs reversible motor means for turning either the radio volume control shaft or the radio tuning control shaft, the operation of the volume control shaft in no way interfering with the position of the tuning indicating means either of the radio set or of the remote control unit.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation with parts broken away illustrating the novel remote control device of this invention applied to a. radio receiving set.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view with parts broken away taken substantially along line 2-2 in Fig. 1, but illustrates the remote control unit in plan.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a schematic View illustrating the operation of the device.

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram illustrating the elec trical circuits involved.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form of wiring diagram.

Fig. 9 is a schematic View illustrating the control device of this invention employed for operating three independently operable elements, and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along line l0l0 of Fig. 9.

Similar characters of reference are employed in said views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to '7 of the drawings illustrating an embodiment of the invention, the reference numeral I designates the front panel of a radio set having a volume control unit 2 provided with a starting switch 3 incorporated therein in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The radio set is provided with a tuning dial block 29 and hasa control 1 which shaft is carried. by pedestal 56.

4 (see Fig. 2) fixed on the condenser shaft 5 in the usual manner.

According to the preferred arrangement, a reversible motor 6 is contained within the radio set cabinet, the said motor being preferably of the squirrel-cage, shaded pole induction type, the said motor having a stator winding 1, a rotor 8 mounted on rotor shaft H, and shading coils 9, 9 and H3, H3. Motor 6 is shown mounted on a suitable frame !2. A pinion Hi is fixed upon the rotor shaft 5! and meshes with a gear 15 that is fixed upon a worm shaft !6 which is journaled in bearings provided in the frame I2. Worm shaft It has a worm I! thereon which meshes with a worm gear I8 that is secured upon. the hub of a bevel gear !9 that constitutes one gear of a differential gear set having an opposing similar bevel gear 26 provided with a hollow hub 2! that is journaled in a bearing provided in the frame !2. The difierential gear set has an arm 22' intermediate the two bevel gears l9 and 2!], which arm carries beveled pinions 23 that mesh with; gears Band 26. V

' Hollow hub 2! of bevel gear 20 has a coupling yoke member 2Q fixed thereon. Yoke member 24 is'shown as having two: driving pins 2 5 which project loosely through apertures provided in a coupling'disc 2%, which coupling disc is fixed as by a pin 2? to; a shaft 28 that has its inner end portion 'J'ournaled in the hollow interior of hub 2! and its outer portion journaled in a bearing block 29 carried by the front panel A coil compression spring 39 is interposed between the coupling disc 26 andth'e bearing block 29 and serves to normall'ypress the coupling, disc 26 toward the coupling yoke 24, thereby urging shaft 28 rearwardlywith' respect to the front panel L The forward endof shaft. 28 projects through bearing knob 3! fixed thereon in front of panel 1. v

' The arm 22' of the differential gear set is secured as by a pin 32 upon a shaft 33 that is aligned with the shaft 28. The bevel gear !9',

carrying the worm wheel [8, is rotatably sup- Shaft 33 has its forported upon the shaft 33. ward end portion journaled' in the hollow interior of hub 28 and has its rear portion journalcd in the hollow interior of the hub 36 of a bevel gear 35 constituting a member of a second differential gear set. The second dilferential gear set has a bevel gear 36 arranged inopposition to the bevel gear the said bevel gear 35 being turnably mounted upon the shaft 33. The second differential gear set has an arm 3'! that is secured as by pin 38' to the shaft 33. Arm 3'! carries pinions 38 that mesh with the bevel gears 35-and 36. The hollow hub 35 of bevel gear 35 of'the second differential set is journaled in a bearing provided in the frame it and the rear portion of this hub has a pinion 55 fixed thereon which pinion meshes with a gear 56 that is keyed upon the shaft 5'! of the volume control unit 2.

Bevel gear 3% has a ratchet wheel 39 secured thereto, which ratchet wheel has a pulley 4B provided thereon, the said pulley being adapted to drive a transmission cable or belt 4!. Cable 4! passes over sheaves 42 (see Fig. 2) and around the tuning dial 4 for turning this dial. Bevel gear 35 has a ratchet wheel 43 secured thereto which ratchet wheel is similar to the ratchet wheel 39. Ratchetwheels 39 and 43 are adapted to be selectively engaged by a double acting pawl 44 that is pivoted upon a transverse supporting shaft 55 Pawl 44 is provided with an arm 4! that serves as an armature for an electro-magnet 4B, the said electro-magnet having a coil 49.

A coiled tension spring 50 has one end thereof attached to the arm ii and the other end thereof attached to the frame !2 and serves to normally urge the pawl 44 in a clockwise direction about the shaft as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby tending to cause this pawl to engage the ratchet wheel 43 in stopped relation. The spring 56 opposes the electro-magnet 58, but when this electro-magnet is energized, the same by acting upon arm l! serves to turn the pawl 44 in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 45 against the tension of spring 50, thereby causing this pawl to engage ratchet wheel 39 in stopped relation.

A link 5! has its rear end pivotally connected as by a screw 52 to the arm 4'! and the forward portion of this link extends slidingly through an apertured supporting bracket 53. The forward end of the link 5! is bent upwardly at 54 so as to enga'ge'the' front surface of the coupling disc 26. By pulling outwardly upon the knob 3 l the coupling disc 25' is moved forwardly compressing spring 33 somewhat and moving the link 5! forwardly, thereby turning pawl id in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 and causing this pawl to engage ratchet wheel 39 in stopped relation;

'Thus; if it is desired to operate the radio set by localcontrol as when the operator is standing at the set itself, use is made of the local control knob 3!. To start the set, the operator merely pulls'this knob 3! forwardly somewhat, causing pawl M to engage ratchet wheel 39, whereupon the turning of knob 3! will cause coupling 26-24 to revolve bevel gear 28 of the first named differential gear set. Since bevel gear 9 is held stationary by worm wheel i8 and worm H, the turning of gear '29 will cause arm 22 to turn in the same direction as gear 28 but at half the speed of' this gear 26. The turning of arm 22 causes shaft 33 to turn and since bevel gear 3&5 of the second differential gear set is held stationary, the arm 3! will 'rotate causing bevel gear 35 to rotate in the same direction as the arm 3"! but. at twice its speed, i. e. at the speed of knob 3 i. Bevel gear 35 rotates pinion 55 which in turn drivesgear 55 on the volume control shaft 5 This drive for one direction of rotation of the knob 3'! is illustrated by arrows in Fig. 6. The first few degrees of rotation of the knob 3! in the proper. direction, results in the closure of starting switch 3 and continued rotation of the knob '3! thereafter in the same direction will serve to operate the volume control unit 2, thereby increasing the output volume of the set. If the knob 3 He now turned in the reverse direction while stillihol'ding the same in its outer or forwardposition, (see. Fig. 6) the volume will be reduced until finally the switch 3 will open, there.- by stopping the operation of the set. Upon releasing. knob 55 l the tension of spring 3%] will serve to. move the same to its retracted position shown 7 in Fig. 1, thereby permitting spring 5b to turn pawl. 34. so as to release ratchet wheel 39 and lock ratchet wheel 33.

' To. tune. the set at the set itself or by local control, the operator merely turns the knob 35, thereby turning the arm 3? of the second differential gear set in the same direction as that of knob 3! but at half the speed of this knob. Since bevel gear 35 is locked against rotation, the arm 37, acting through pinions 38 serves to turn bevel gear 36 in the samedirection as knob S! and at the same speed as this knob. The turning of gear 36 causes pulley 40 to turn thereby driving cable II and turning the tuning dial 4 as desired.

To provide for the remote control of the radio set, a remote control unit or controller designated as a whole by the reference numeral 69 is employed. This remote control unit or controller consists of a casing 60 (see especially Figs. 3 to 5) illustrated as having an insulating base GI and a top 62. A remote control knob 63 is positioned above the top 62 of the casing, and this knob is secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 64. Shaft 54 has its upper portion rotatably and slidingly mounted in a bearing provided in the top 62 and its lower portion similarly mounted in a bearing provided in a supporting bracket that is attached by tubular spacing members 66 and screws to the top 92 of the casing.

A pinion 69 is fixed upon shaft 64 immediately below the top 62 of the casing. Pinion 69 is adapted to mesh with a gear '10 that is secured as by a pin TI to a vertical tubular shaft I2 that is turnably mounted upon a vertical shaft and is also journaled in a bearing provided in the top 62. The lower portion of shaft 80 is journaled in a bearing provided in the base SI of the casing 60. The upper portion of shaft I2 projects above the top 62 and has a timing dial 13 secured thereto. Tuning dial l3 has graduations I4 thereon that preferably are similar to and conform with the graduations I5 on the tuning dial 4 on the radio set.

Vertical shaft 54 has another pinion TB fixed thereon which pinion meshes with a wider idler pinion TI that in turn meshes with a gear 78 that is fixed upon shaft 89. The lower reduced end of idler pinion TI is turnably mounted in bracket 65 whereas the upper reduced end of this pinion is turnably mounted in a bracket 59 that is also supported from the top 52 by means of spacing members 65 and suitable screws (see Fig. 5)

The lower end of shaft 54 rests upon the upper spring contact blade SI of a switch having a lower stationary contact blade 82. The said contact blades being carried by an insulating member 83 that is attached to the side wall of casing 60. Spring contact blade BI is electrically connected by a lead 84 (see especially Fig. l) to a current supply lead 85, whereas contact blade 82 is connected by a lead 86 to one side of the coil 49 of electro-magnet 48. The other side of the electro-magnet G8 is connected by a lead 9? to the other current supply lead 88.

A cylindrical brush holder 89, illustrated as of insulating material, is attached to the shaft l! as by a screw 99. Brush holder 39 carries two oppositely extending electrically conducting brushes 9I and 92 which brushes engage diametrically opposite points of an annular resistor 93. The resistor 93 may be made of suitable conducting and insulating materials held together by a binder such as a phenolic condensation product. The resistor 93 is illustrated as set into an annular recess provided therefor in the base 6!. Brush 9| is electrically connected as by a screw 94 to a slip ring 95, whereas brush is electrically connected by a similar screw to a slip ring 96. Slip rings 95 and 95 are engaged respectively by spring pressed contact plungers 9'! and 98, the said contact plungers being electrically connected by conducting blades 39 and I9! to leads I 92 and IE3, respectively, that in turn are supplied with alternating current.

Three binding posts I04, I05 and I06 are arranged around the annular resistor 93, the said binding posts being spaced 120 with respect to one another. These binding posts are electrically connected by clips I01 to points on the resistor 93 that are spaced 120 apart. Binding posts I04, I05 and I06 are connected by leads I08, I09 and I I0 to spring pressed contact plungers III, H2 and H3 (see Fig. 2), that are similar to contact plungers 9'! and 98 and are mounted on an insulating base II4 of a casing II5 that is supported as by bracket II6 upon the frame I2 within the radio set. Contact plungers II I, H2 and H3 engage slip rings H1, H8 and H9, respectively, that are carried by a brush holder I24. Brush holder I24 is illustrated as fixed upon the hub of a gear I25 that is rotatably supported upon the motor shaft II. Gear I25 meshes with a driving pinion I29 that is fixed upon worm shaft I6. Slip rings H1, H8 and H9 are electrically connected to brushes i20, I2I and I22, respectively, which brushes are carried by the brush holder I24 and engage an annular resistor I2! that is identical with resistor 93 in the controller 59. The brushes I20, I2I and I22 engage the resistor I21 at points spaced 120 with respect to one another as especially shown in the wiring diagram of Fig. 7.

The resistor I2! is tapped at four points spaced with respect to one another as by binding posts I28 and taps I29. Two opposite taps are connected by leads I30 and I30 to the ends of a coil I3I of a relay I32. The two remaining opposite taps are connected by leads I33 and I33 to the ends of a coil I34 of relay I 32. Relay I32 has a pivoted armature I35 that is adapted to bridge either of two pairs of contacts I36 or I31. Contacts I36 are connected in series with shading coils 9 and 9' of motor 6 by leads I38, I39 and I40. Contacts I31 are connected in series with shading coils I0 and I0 by leads I, I42 and I43.

In use, assume that it is desired to start and operate the radio set from a desired remote point of control, i. e. from the controller or remote control unit 59. To accomplish this, the remove control knob 63 is first pressed downwardly somewhat against the upward tension of spring contact blade BI. Shaft 64 is thus moved downwardly, thereby also moving pinions 69 and 16 downwardly. Pinion 69 is thus caused to move out of mesh with gear 70 but pinion 16 remains in mesh with idler pinion TI owing to the relatively large width of this latter pinion. The downward movement of shaft 64 causes contact blade 8I to engage contact blade 82, thereby completing a circuit by way of leads 84 and 83 (see Fig. l) for the coil 13 of electro-magnet 48. This electromagnet thereupon attracts arm 47 of pawl 44 causing this pawl to lock ratchet wheel 39 against rotation.

If the remote control knob 63 is now turned while still held in its depressed position, the pinion I6 acting through idler TI will drive gear 73, thereby turning shaft 80 carrying the brush holder 89. Shaft 89 turns within tubular shaft 72 so that the tuning dial I3 is not turned at this time. The turning of the brush holder 89 causes brushes 9I and 92 to shift their positions upon the annular resistor 93.

Since A. C. line voltage is supplied by leads I02 and I 03, through conducting blades I00 and NH, contact plungers 9'! and 98, and slip rings and 95 to brushes 9| and 92, it is evident that the distribution of potential will be uniform throughout the two halves of the resistor 93 at each side of the diametrically disposed brushes 91 and 92. Thus, by referring to the wiring diagram of Fig. 7, with the brushes 9| and 92 in the positions shown, it will be noted that the potential difference between binding posts Hi6 and IE4 will equal the potential difference between posts Hi6 and H15, such potential difference being equal to two-thirds of the line voltage.

Leads H38, H39 and lid serve to establish the same potentials at the points of contact of brushes E26, IN and I22 upon resistor 92? that exist at the binding posts Hi l, m5 and Hit of resistor 93. Since leads I30, E39 and H33, 33' leading to the relay coils l3! and E34 are tapped upon resistor I27 at four points spaced 90 apart from each other, it is evident that coils l3! and E34 will carry equal currents only if the distribution of potential around the resistor i2? is symmetrical or balanced with respect to a diametric line, as line A-A extending at 45- with respect to the four taps. The potential or voltage distribution on the resistor E21 is governed by the position of the brushes 9! and S2 of the remote control unit and hence as these brushes are shifted by the turning of the depressed remote control knob 63, the balanced line of voltage distribution A-A moves in synchronisrn with the movement of brushes 9!, 92 causing one of the relay-coils l3i or I35 to be subjected to a higher voltage than the other, depending upon the direction in which knob 63 is turned. The relay coil receiving the higher voltage, for example coil I3i, will then tilt relay armature I35 as shown in Fig. 7, thereby bridging contacts l3l and short 'circuiting shading coils it and iii, The short circuiting of coils i and It will start the motor 6 running in one direction. If coils 9 and Q had been short circuited the motor 6 would run in the reverse direction as is well known to those skilled in the art.

Returning now tothe starting of the radio set) from the controller 59, the knob 53 has been depressed energizing electro-magnet 48 resulting in the locking of ratchet wheel 39. The knob 63 is then turned in the proper direction, causing turning movement of brushes 9i and 92 resulting in the operation of relay H32 and the starting of motor 6. Motor 6 then runs in the proper direction causing pinion i i to drive gear l which causes worm R1 to drive worm wheel i8, and hence the bevel gear E9 of the first differential gear set is rotated. The frictional resistance of spring 39 on coupling disc 26 serves to hold bevel gear 20 stationary, so that bevel gear i9, acting through pinions 23, serves to revolve arm 22 and shaft 33. Shaft 33 revolves arm 3? of the second differential gear set and since bevel gear 36 of this set is fixed, the bevel gear 35 is rotated thereby acting through gears 55 and 56 to turn shaft 5'5 of volume contact unit 2. The first few degrees turning of shaft 51 serves to operate switch 3 to closed position, thereby starting the radio set. Any continued movement of shaft 5'? thereafter results in varying the output volume of the set.

I The turning of the worm shaft it causes pinion E25 thereon to drive gear 525 which in turn revolves brush-holder i245 carrying brushes E26, 925 and I22. Thus, these brushes IZt, l2! and I22 are caused to follow up the motion of brushes 9! and 92 of the remote control unit, thereby restoring the electrical balance of the resistor I21. Thus, in effect when the depressed remote control knob 63 is turned, causing brushes 9! and 92 to turn through a definite angle the motor 6 runs until brushes I28, l2! and H2 turn through a similar angle, whereupon the voltages impressed on relay coils IN and I34 again become equal resulting in the opening operation of relay H32 and the stopping of the motor. Thus, the volume of the set may be increased or decreased at will by turning the depressed remote control knob 83 in one direction or the other.

If now it is desired to tune the set, the slight downward pressure upon knob E3 is released permitting spring contact blade 8! to raise shaft 64 to its position shown in Fig. i, in which position the circuit for electro-magnet -3-8 is broken and pawl ie is turned by spring 5% so as to lock ratchet wheel 43. The turning of knob (33 now serves to tune the radio set. This will be apparent when it is noted that as knob 63 is turned, shaft 5 5 acting through gears (76, El and '58 serves to turn shaft 80 and brushes 9! and 92. As before, this shifts the balanced line of potential on resistor 52? resulting in the strengthening of the flux passing through one of the relay coils set and 53 i causing motor 6 to start rotating in the direction conforming to the direction of turning of knob Motor 6 acts through gears it, E5, ll and H3 to revolve arm 22 of the first differential gear set (gear 29 is held stationary by frictional resistance of spring 3i?) in the desired direction, thereby rotating arm iii of the second differential gear set. Since bevel gear 35 is locked, bevel gear 56 is turned, thereby turning pulley it and causing cable ti to turn the tuning dial t as desired. As before, the brushes I25, 525 and H22 follow up the motion of the brushes 9!! and 92 and turn through the same angle as the latter brushes.

The turning of knob 63 also caused pinion 69 to turn gear 19, thereby turning shaft 72 and tuning dial it of the remote control unit. Preferably, the speed ratio of tuning dial T3 to that of brushes 9t and 92 is the same as the speed ratio of the set tuning dial 5 to that of the brushes E20, E25 and 922, thereby causing the movements of the dials l3 and 5 to be synchronized andenabling similar and easy tuning from either the local or remote control knobs 3i and E3.

Themanner of electrically. interconnecting the resistors 93 and E2?! shown in l ig. 7 is but one of many Ways of accomplishing this result and it is not intended to limit this invention to the particular manner shown in the figure. For example, in Fig. 8 there is illustrated another way of interconnecting the resistors. in Fig. 8 the resistors are numbered 93' and i277 and each has but one tap. A lead i 55 extends between the resistor taps I55 and B56 and has the coil Mt ofa relay t ll included therein. The line A. C. voltage from leads M8 and i i-9 is introduced into both resistor units by means of slip rings and diametrically opposite brushes the, E55, E52 and 953. When the angular position of thediarnetrically arranged brushes 956, wt with respect to tap tee is the same as the angular position of the diametrically arranged brushes E52, E53 with respect to tap E56, then the potential difference between taps B55 and E56 is zero and the armature 557 of relay i i? aligns itself with the poles of core 11518 as shown in dot'and dash linesin Fi 8. In this neutral position of the armature l5? the motor shading coils connected to leads 538', Mil and. Edi, i 33 are all open circuited so that the motor does not run. If now the remote control knob is turned, causing brushes use and 553 to turn clockwise, for example, from the dotted line to the full line position in Fig. 8, then a potential difference is created between taps E55 and let and the current passing through coil MG as a result would cause the armature 157 of field coil l 58 to tend to move set tuning dial 6.

out of the field in a certain direction depending .upon the phase of the voltage introduced into coil I46, resulting in the bridging of the pair of contacts I36, thereby starting the motor in such a direction as to move brushes I 52 and I53 into a position corresponding to brushes I58 and I5 I, i. e. a position where the neutral no-voltage balance I is restored.

When using this arrangement, wherein line A. C. is introduced into both resistors 93' and I2I the current supply for the whole radio set may be supplied from the remote control unit through the leads I48, I49, in which event a plug connection could be attached to the remote control unit and the on-and-oif position of the radio set could be controlled by insertion or removal of the plug into or from a Wall socket convenient to the operator.

It will be noted that the local control knob 3[ is operated entirely independently of the remote control knob 63 and vice versa. Either of these knobs may be used at any time or even simultaneously with the other without interfering with one another. The use of but a single knob for controlling all operations of the set greatly simplifies the control thereof and renders the operation of the set a relatively easy matter.

Owing to the use of the tuning dial I3 at the remote control unit, which tuning dial is synchronized with the tuning dial 4 at the radio set, it Every easy for the operator at the remote point of control to predict the future position of the tuning element of the set. Thus, if a station tunes at 66, all the operator need do is to turn the remote control knob 63 so as to bring the 60th graduation on dial I3 opposite the indicating mark 160 on the top 62 of the casing. He then .knows that the set tuning dial l will be moved to the same position, thereby bringing in the station.

Owing to the compactness and simplicity of the device of the present invention, the same takes up but little space and can be readily installed .inconnection with radio sets, the remote control unit 59 being exceedingly compact and occupying va minimum of space at the operators position.

Inasmuch as thereare no rapidly moving parts in the device and as these parts may be sturdily constructed, the device has been found to be very reliable in use and is substantially fool proof. It will be noted that ready control of the volume of the set may be had by use of the remote control knob 63 without in any way upsetting the synchronized relation of tuning dial I3 with the It will be noted that the first differential gear set I9, 20, 22 serves to permit either hand or power operation of the radio set, whereas the second difierential gear set 35, 36, 31 serves to permit either the tuning or the volume to be controlled as well as the starting and stopping of the set.

It will be noted that remote control dial I3 together with the brushes 9| and 92 may be turned through as much as 360 or even more, if desired, and the tuning dial 4 of the set will be caused to follow suit. Although the novel control system of this invention has been shown and described in connection with the operation of the volume control element and tuning element of a radio set, it is to be understood that the same is equally applicable to other uses where two elements are to be selectively operated.

Although the novel control device of this invention has been described as adapted to operate two independently operable elements or means,

panel I.

i 9 and 10, the device is shown as adapted for operating three independently operable elements, namely, the volume control, tuning control and tone control of a radio set, although it is to be understood that other plural means unrelated to radio receiving could be so operated.

In these figures, the local control knob Si is shown fixed upon the hub I62 of the coupling disc 26', the said hub I62 being journaled in the front Disc 26' is adapted to drive yoke member 24 having the pins 25. Yoke member 24', as described in connection with the preceding figures, is fixed upon hub 2I' of the first dinerential gear set consisting of bevel gears I8 and 28 and pinions 23 carried by arm 22 fixed on shaft 33. Worm II, driven from the reversible motor in the same manner as previously described, drives the worm wheel I8 that is fixed on gear IS.

The forward end of shaft 33' is journaled in the hub I62 and a compression spring 38 surrounds shaft 33 for urging coupling members 24 and 26' apart. A latch bar I63 is pressed by a spring I6I against the periphery of coupling disc 26'. Latch bar !63 has three notches I64, I65 and I66 thereon for engaging the periphery of coupling disc 26' to hold this disc against undesired longitudinal movement. Pressure upon knob 3I will serve to move coupling disc 26' from its engagement with notch I66 as shown in Fig. 9 and into engagement with notches I65 and IE6, successively, either of these notches serving to hold disc Von bevel gear 35 and is normally held stationary by a double acting pawl I68 (see especially Fig. 10) pivoted at I69 on frame I2. A tension spring II8 urges pawl I68 against ratchet wheel 43. An electro-magnet III, when energized, is adapted to move pawl I 68 out of engagement with ratchet wheel 43 and into engagement with ratchet wheel II2 that is fixed on a bevel gear II3 of a third differential gear set. Also, a cam I14, carried on the rear end of a rod I75, when moved rearwardly, actuates an arm II6 on pawl I68 and causes this pawl to disengage ratchet wheel 43' and engage ratchet wheel H2. The forward end of rod II5 terminates adjacent coupling disc 26 to be actuated by the latter.

Bevel gear 36 instead of having a ratchet wheel thereon as in Figs. 1 to 8, has a gear III' fixed thereon that meshes with a gear I18 fixed on a shaft II9. Shaft II9 has the arm I80 of the third difierential gear set fixed thereon. Arm I80 carries pinions I8I that mesh with bevel gears I13 and I82. Gear I82 has a ratchet wheel I83 fixed thereon and also provides a. pulley for a transmission belt 4I' that is connected to the tuning dial (not shown) in the same manner as belt 4I previously described. Gear H3 is connected through ears I84 and I85 to the control shaft I86 of the tone control unit I8! of the radio set.

A double acting pawl I88, pivoted at I89, is normally caused to lock ratchet wheel II2 against The hub 34' of gear rotation by the action of a tension spring I90. A link I9I has its rear end connected to pawl I88 and its forward end connected to a lever I 92 pivoted at I 93, the said lever having its upper end touching the disc 26 when this disc is in the position shown in Fig. 9. Pushing knob 3| rearwardly so that disc 2%" enters notch I 95 will cause lever I92 to turn, thereby moving link I9! forwardly and causing pawl I88 to engage and lock ratchet wheel I89. This same result may be obtained for energizing an electromagnet I94 which will then attract an armature I95 provided on pawl I89.

It will be noted that the local control knob 3| is adapted to have three longitudinal positions determined by the notches I64, I95 and IE6 instead of the two longitudinal positions provided for the knob Si in Fig. 1. If knob BI is turned while in its position shown in Fig. 9, i. e. with disc 29' engaging notch I99, gear 29' will turn, thereby turning arm 22' which in turn will turn shaft 33'. Shaft 33' will turn arm 37 of the second differential gear set, and since ratchet 43' is locked, gears 39 and I'll turn thereby causing shaft I'I9 to turn arm I89 of the third differential gear set. Since ratchet H2 is locked by pawl I98, gear I92 is revolved, thereby driving belt II and hence operating the radio tuning dial. I

If knob BI is pushed into its intermediate position, i. e. so that disc 26' engages notch I65, the lever I92 and link I III will be actuated to cause pawl I88 to lock ratchet wheel I83. If the knob 3I' is now turned, the several differential gear sets will operate to cause gear I13 of the third differential gear set to revolve, thereby operating the tone control IB'I.

If knob M is pushed into its innermost position, 1. e. so that disc 26' engages notch I64, the rod I will be pushed rearwardly by disc 26, thereby causing cam I19 to raise arm I79 and cause pawl I63 to disengage ratchet 43' and engage ratchet W2. A coupling 268 in link I9I permits this link to elongate slightly at this time. If knob 3| is now turned, the first two differential gear sets will operate to effect the turning of the volume control shaft 5?. At this time both gears I73 and I 82 of the third differentialgear set are locked. V

The remote control knob 93 also has three longitudinal positions, determined by three notches I95, I96 and I9? in vertical shaft 69', which notches cooperate with a spring pressed plunger 291. The gearing and associated structure in remote control unit 59 are similar to that in unit .59 and are similarly numbered. Three contact blades I98, I99 and 269 are employed in control unit 59'. Blade I99 is connected by lead 295 to one side of an A. C. source. Blade I98 is connected by lead 292 to electro-magnet I94 and from thence by lead 299 to the other side of the A. C. source. Blade 299 is connected by lead 203 to electro-magnet III and from thence by lead 295 to the other side of the 'A. C. source.

If knob 93' is turned while in its highest position shown in Fig. 9, pinion 69 will turn gear "I0, thereby causing the starting of the reversible motor (not shown) just as when knob 63 of controller 59 was turned when in its upper position. The operation of the motor will cause worm IT to act through the three differential gear sets to effect operation of the radio tuning dial and the remote tuning dial I3 will also turn.

If knob 63' is pressed downwardly to its intermediate position with plunger 297 engaging notch "some as, ,then contact blade I98 will be caused to engage contact blade I99 resulting in the energizing of electro-magnet I99 so that ratchet I83 is locked by pawl I88. The turning of knob 3I' will now cause operation of the tone controlunit IB'I as will be apparent.

If knob 63 is pressed downwardly to its'lowest position with plunger 29? engaging notch I 97, then contact blades I98, I99 and 299 are all engaged resulting in the energization' of electromagnets I99 and HI so that ratchets I39 and I12 are locked and ratchet 93' is free. The turning of knob BI will now cause operation of the volume control 2' and switch 3'. 5

Thus, by using three differential gear sets and three longitudinal positions of the local and remote control knob SI and 63', three independent elements or means may be controlled. By adding additional differential gear sets and correspondingly increasing the number of longitudinal positions of the local and remote control knobs, four, five or more elements or means may be controlled independently of each other.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different' embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined by the following claims, it is intended that all matmr contained in the above description or point for presetting said difierential gearing, whereby said gearing is stopped from driving one of said controlled members, a relay for controlling the operation of said motor means, a local resistor element electrically connected to said relay for controlling the operation or" the latter, a remote resistor element electrically connected to said local resistor element, manually operable brush means movable over said remote resistor element for supplying electrical energy thereto and for causing the operation of said relay to effeet the starting of said motor means in the proper direction, additional brush means movable over said local resistor element and driven from said motor means for repeating the motion of said manually operable brush means, whereupon said relay is again operated to stop said motor means, whereby the movement of the selected controlled member is proportional to that of said manually operated brushes.

2. In a control device of the character described arranged to selectively operate either one or the other of two controlled members, reversible motor means, differential gearing driven by said motor means, said differential gearing being connected in driving relation to the two controlled members, means controlled from a desired remote point for presetting said differential gearing, whereby said gearing is stopped from driving one of said controlled members, a relay for controlling the operation of said motor means, a local resistor element electrically connected to said relay for controlling the operation of the latter, a remote resistor element electrically connected to said 10- cal resistor element, manually operable brush means movable over said remote resistor element for supplying electrical energy thereto and for causing the operation of said relay to effect the starting of said motor means in the proper direction, additional brush means movable over said local resistor element and driven from said motor means for repeating the motion of said manually operable brush means, whereupon said relay is again operated to stop said motor means, whereby the movement of the selected controlled member is proportional to that of said manually operated brushes, and manually operable means positioned adjacent said two controlled members for enabling local operation of said controlled members, said manually operable means being mechanically connected to said differential gearing and to said presetting means.

3. A control device of the character described adapted to selectively operate either one or the other of two controlled members, said device comprising, reversible motor means, a relay for controlling the operation of said motor means, a resistor element electrically connected to said relay for controll ng the operation of the latter, a second resistor element located at a remote point of control and electrically connected to said first resistor element, manually operable brush means movable over said second resistor element for supplying electrical energy thereto, additional brush means movable over said first resistor element driven from said motor means for repeating the motion of said manually operable brush means, differential gearing driven from said motor means and connected in driving relation to said two controlled members, and means operable from said remote point of control for presetting said differential gearing, whereby the desired controlled member is operated upon the starting of said motor means.

4. A control device of the character described adapted to selectively operate either one or the other or" two controlled members, said device comprising, reversible motor means, a relay for controlling the operation of said motor means, a resistor element electrically connected to said relay for controlling the operation of the latter, a second resistor element located at a remote point or" control and electrically connected to said first resistor element, manually operable brush means movable over said second resistor element for supplying electrical energy thereto, additional brush I means movable over said first resistor element and driven from said motor means for repeating the motion or said manually operable brush means, differential gearing having a piston carrying arm driven from said motor means and opposed gears selectively driven from said arm, and mechanism operable from said remote point of control for holding either one or the other of said opposed gears at will, whereby said motor means is caused to operate the selected controlled member.

5. A control device of the character described adapted to selectively operate either one or the other of two controlled members, said device comprising, reversible motor means, a relay for controlling the operation of said motor means, a resistor element electrically connected to said relay for controlling the operation of the latter, a sec ond resistor element located at a remote point of control and electrically connected to said first resistor element, manually operable brush means movable over said second resistor element for supplying electrical energy thereto, additional brush means movable over said first resistor element and driven from said motor means for repeating the motion of said manually operable brush means, differential gearing having a pinion carrying arm driven from said motor means and opposed gears selectively driven from said arm, mechanism operable from said remote point of control for holding either one or the other of said opposed gears at will, whereby said motor means is caused to operate the selected controlled member, a local control knob, and additional differential gearing connected to said first named differential gearing and to said local control knob for enabling local selective operation of said controlled members.

6. In a control device of the character described for selectively operating either one or the other of two controlled members, in combination, a differential gear set having an arm carrying a pinion and a pair of opposed gears meshing with said pinion, reversible motor means connected in driving relation to one of said gears, a local control knob connected in driving relation to the other of said gears, a second differential gear set having an arm carrying a pinion and a pair of opposed gears meshing with said pinion, the arm of said second differential gear set being connected to the arm of said first differential gear set to be driven by the latter, one of the opposed gears of said second difierential gear set being connected in driving relation to one or" the controlled members, and the other of the opposed gears of said differential gear set being connected in driving relation to the other of the controlled members, and means operable at will for holding either one or the other of the opposed gears of said second differential gear set, whereby the other of said gears is caused to drive the controlled member that it is desired to operate.

'7. In a control device of the character described for selectively operating either one or the other or" two controlled members, in combination, a differential gear set having an arm carrying a pinion and a pair of opposed gears meshing with said pinion, reversible motor means connected in driving relation to one of said gears, a local control knob connected in driving relation to the other of said gears, a second differential gear set having an arm carrying a pinion and a pair of opposed gears meshing with said pinion, the arm of said second differential gear set being connected to the arm of said first diiferential gear set to be driven by the latter, one of the opposed gears of said second differential gear set being connected in driving relation to one of the controlled members, and the other of the opposed gears of said differential gear set being connected in driving relation to the other of the controlled members, means operable at will for holding either one or the other of the opposed gears of said second differential gear set, whereby the other of said gears is caused to drive the controlled member that it is desired to operate, and means for controlling the operation of said reversible motor means from a remote point, said control means comprising, a relay and a pair of resistors, one of said resistors being located adjacent said motor means and the second at the remote point, manually operable potential supplying brushes movable over said second resistor, additional brushes movable over said first resistor, said additional brushes being driven from said motor means for following up the motion of said manually operated brushes, said relay and said pair of resistors being electrically interconnected, whereby a shifting of potentials on said second resistor due to the shifting of said manually operable brushes thereover, will cause'a corresponding shifting of potentials on said first resistor, causing the operation of said relay and the starting of said motor means in the proper direction to shift said additional brushes into synchronism with said manually operable brushes.

8. In a control device of the character described adapted to selectively operate either a tuning control element or a volume control element of a radio set from either local or remote "points, in combination, a motor, gearing including differential mechanism connecting said mo- "tor to the tuning control element and the volume control element, said gearing including means for presetting said differential mechanism, whereby operation of said gearing will drive either the tuning control element or the volume control element as desired, a controller located at a desiredremote' point, said controller having a resistor, electric current supply brushes movable over said resistor and a remote control knob for manually operating said brushes, a second resistor located adjacent said motor, brushes driven by said motor and movable over said second resistor, a relay for controlling the operation of said motor, leads interconnecting said resistors and said relay whereby the turning of said remote control knob causes said relay tooperate said motor until said motor driven brushes have moved through the same angular distance as said manually operated brushes, said motor simultaneously operating said gearing to drive the desired control element of the radio set, whereby the movement of said control element is proportional to that of said remote control knob, and a local control knob at the set mechanically connected to operate through said differential mechanism to effect selective operation of said set control elements.

9. In a control device of the character described adapted to selectively operate either .a tuning control element or a volume control element of a radio set from either local or remote points, in combination, a motor, gearing including diiferential mechanism connecting said motor to the tuning control element and the volume control element, said gearing including means for presetting said differential mechanism, whereby operation of said gearing will drive either the tuning control element or the volume control element as desired, a controller located at a desired remote point, said controller having a resistor, electric current supply brushes movable over said resistor and a remote control knob for manually operating said brushes, switch means operable by said remote control knobfor controlling the action of said presetting means, a second resistor located adjacent said motor, brushes driven by said motor and movable over said second resistor, a relay for controlling the operation of said motor, leads interconnecting said resistors and said relay whereby the turning of said remote control knob causes said relay to operate said motor until said motor driven brushes have moved through the 'same'angular distance as said manually operated brushes, said motor simultaneously operating said gearing to drive the desired control element of the radio set, whereby the movement of said control element is proportional to that of said remote control knob, a local control knobat the set mechanically connected to operate through said differential mechanism to effect selective operation of said set control elements, and mechanism connecting "said local control 'knobto said presetting means for enabling local operation of the latter.

10. In a control device. of the character described, a remote control unit comprising, a casing, an annular resistor mounted within said casing, a shaft extending axially of said resistor, a brush holder fixed on said shaft and having a brush contacting with said resistor, a remote control knob positioned exteriorly of said casing and having a shaft extending into the latter, gearing within said casing connecting said control knob shaft within said casing to said brush holder shaft, whereby the turning of said knob will effect the turning of said brush, switch contacts within said casing, said control 'knob shaft being movable by pressure on 'said control knob to effect the en agement of said switch contacts, a tuning indicator turnably mounted on said brush holder shaft, and additional gearing for connecting said tuning indicator to said control knob shaft to be driven from the latter, said gearing being disconnected upon movement of said control knob shaft to effect the engagement of said switch contacts.

11. In a control device of the character described adapted to selectively operate two independently turnable operating elements, a turnable hand actuated control knob, differential gear mechanism interconnecting'said control knob with said operating elements, said differential gear mechanism comprising a pair of bevel gears connected respectively in driving relation to said respective operating elements, a pinion meshing with said pair of bevel gears, a rotatable arm carrying said pinion, shafting supporting said arm and connected in driven relation from said control knob, and means connected to said control knob and operated by axial movement thereof for selectively holding 'eitherof said bevel gears against rotation, where- I mounted for axial and turning movement, operating means interconnecting said control knobs with said operating elements, said operating means comprising mechanism including differ-- ential gearing connecting said local control knob to said operating elements and electrical repeating mechanism interconnecting said remote control knob to said differential gearing, said operating means including means connected with said local and remote control knobs so that said con- .trol knobs may be moved axially within limits and turned the limits of such axial movement,

the turning of said control knobs when at one end of their respective axial movements serving to cause operation of one of said operating elem nts, while the turning of said control knobs while at "the other end of their respective axial movements serving to cause operation of the other of said operating elements.

13.. In a Icontrol device of the character described adapted to selectively operate two independently adjustable operating elements from either local or remote points of control, hand actuated control knobs positioned at the local and remote points of control, said knobs being mounted for axial and turning movement operating means interconnecting said control knobs with said operating elements, said operating means comprising mechanism including difierentlal gearing connecting said local control knob to said operating elements and electrical repeating mechanism interconnecting said remote control knob to said differential gearing, said operating means including means connected with said local and remote control knobs so that said control knobs may be moved axially within limits and turned at difiering points of such axial movement, the turning of said control knobs when at one point of their respective axial movements serving to cause operation of one of said operating elements, while the turning of said control knobs while at another point of their respective axial movements serving to cause operation of another of said operating elements, said control knobs having individual indicating means associated therewith for visually indicating the extent of operation of one of said operating elements.

14. A control device of the character described arranged for operating the tuning and volume control elements of a radio set as well as the starting switch thereof, said control device comprising single local and remote manually operated control knobs for controlling all operations of the set, mechanism connecting said local control knob to the tuning and volume control elements of the set and to the starting switch thereof, said mechanism including means connected with said local control knob whereby said local control knob may be moved axially as well as rotated, said local control knob when rotated while at one end of its axial movement serving to cause operation of the starting switch and the volume control element and when rotated while at the other end of its axial movement serving to cause operation of the tuning control element, additional mechanism cooperating with said first named mechanism, said additional mechanism including a motor and relay means for controlling said motor, said relay means being arranged to be operated from said remote control knob, means connected to said remote control knob whereby said remote control knob may be manipulated in a manner similar to said local control knob to control all operations of the set, and tuning indicating means associated with said remote control knob for visually indicating the operation of the set tuning element.

15. In a control device of the character described adapted to selectively operate independently adjustable operating members, a hand actuated control knob mounted for axial and turning movement, mechanism including difierential gearing interconnecting said control knob with said operating members, said mechanism including means connected with said control knob whereby said control knob may be moved axially to any selected one of a plurality of operative positions as well as turned, the turning of said control knob, when positioned at any selected one of its respective axial positions, serving to cause independent operation of a respective one of said operating members.

16. In a control device of the character described adapted to selectively operate a plurality of independently adjustable operating members from either local or remote points of control, hand actuated control knobs positioned at the local and remote points of control, said knobs being mounted for axial and turning movement, operating means interconnecting said control knobs with said operating members, said operating means comprising mechanism including differential gearing connecting said local control knob to said operating elements and electrical repeating mechanism interconnecting said remote control knob to said differential gearing, said operating means including means connected with said local and remote control knobs so that said control knobs may be moved axially to a plurality of positions as well as turned, the turning of either of said control knobs, when positioned at any one of its respective axial positions, serving to cause operation of a respective one of said operating members.

PHILIP L. S. LUM.

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