US3643049A - Roller-band device - Google Patents

Roller-band device Download PDF

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US3643049A
US3643049A US9162A US3643049DA US3643049A US 3643049 A US3643049 A US 3643049A US 9162 A US9162 A US 9162A US 3643049D A US3643049D A US 3643049DA US 3643049 A US3643049 A US 3643049A
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Prior art keywords
roller
band
tongue
legs
yoke
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US9162A
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English (en)
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Andrew Lu Conic
Patrick Martin Maloney
Gary Raymond Bluem
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KROY IND Inc
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KROY IND Inc
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Assigned to STANCHART BUSINESS CREDIT, INC. reassignment STANCHART BUSINESS CREDIT, INC. SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KROY, INC.
Assigned to KROY, INC. reassignment KROY, INC. RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FIRST BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Assigned to KROY, INC. reassignment KROY, INC. MORTGAGE (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: LASALLE BUSINESS CREDIT, INC. F/K/A STANCHART BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01P—MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT
    • G01P15/00—Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
    • G01P15/02—Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration by making use of inertia forces using solid seismic masses
    • G01P15/08—Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration by making use of inertia forces using solid seismic masses with conversion into electric or magnetic values
    • G01P15/135—Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration by making use of inertia forces using solid seismic masses with conversion into electric or magnetic values by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H35/00—Switches operated by change of a physical condition
    • H01H35/14—Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch
    • H01H35/148—Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch making use of a rolamite sensor
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/18—Mechanical movements
    • Y10T74/18568—Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
    • Y10T74/18832—Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary including flexible drive connector [e.g., belt, chain, strand, etc.]

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A roller-band device-which utilizes a roller with a flesible band encircling it.
  • the band has two sections which are electl'ically insulated from each other and the roller is nonconduc tive but hasone or more conductors extending axially along its surface and disposed so that, in certain positions of the roller and band, the two sections of the band are bridged and an electrical circuit is completed therebetween and, in other positions of the roller, the electrical circuit is broken between the two sections of the band.
  • One section of the band may include a plurality of legs, each electrically insulated from each other, and with each of the legs being bridged by the conductormeans in difl'erent positions of the roller and band.
  • the conductor means is arranged so that a circuit is completed to allot the legs simultaneously upon roller and band moving to a predetermined position.
  • a keyboard arrangement is disclosed wherein 'a plurality of switches of this type are utilized together, each with a different combination of leg connected into the output circuit to provide acoded signal to a device such as used in computer periphery equipment.
  • a roller-band device of the type described above having a unique actuating means
  • keyboard switch which includes a force-amplifying connection between the manual actuator andthe roller and band and which provides a breakaway action as the manual actuator is operated.
  • Rolamite devices utilize a flexible band formedinto a fgenerally S- shaped configuration with two rollers, one disposed on either side of the band'and in one of the loopsof theS-shape-These devices provide a relatively low-friction mechanismwhich, it
  • iroller-banddevices might-be utiling roller and band and these have .not'been completely sucf'jisnlnrsumiixnroriNvENrioN- single lfqller
  • the device can befa ctuated in: response to" a number of different types of external forces; 'It simple in I constructionand is' capable of 'swit'ch ing a' variety-of current loads. It may be utilized to perform a single switchingfunction or it is particularly adaptable for use inswitching between a common conductor and a plurality of separate signal-provid-' ing conductors.
  • the roller has an electrically nonconductive surface and a band extends therearound and includes two electrically insulated sections with ends extending in opposite directions from the roller.
  • the roller carries with its conductor member which is effective to bridge between the twosec tions of the band in certain predetermined positions of the roller and band and to thus complete a circuit between these two sections of the band.
  • These two sections of the band may actually comprise a plurality of electrically insulated legs and the conductorrnay be disposed so that these up are simultaneously connected to'the other portion of the band or may be arranged so that they are bridged sequentially as the rollerand band move in a predetermined direction.
  • a switching apparatus of the type described above ls utll zedjinconnection with a keyboard switchj havingja u'niquc-manualactuator for the switch device.
  • the band has an internal bias urging it towardone end position and the actuator may bemoved in response to an external force/in opposition to the internal bias to perform the.
  • I l Still another object of the invention is to provide a switch l appar atus'asaforesaid which is particularly adaptable for use -T s vn n wq ssarelat i l f bkl i ihs aw paratus utilizing a rollernband device of the typewhich usesa so selectively connecting d fferent output termtnals of the var I switching, function ⁇ force-amplifying connects the I l manual a ctuator tolthe roller in such a way that a force substantially greater-than that appliedby the band to the roller 'mustbe applied by; th'e'extemal force to-the actuator in order to overcome the force applied by the band.
  • this force-amplifying arrangement is constructed so that as the e roller andband aremoved away from the .end' position to which thebandurges them, the force required to move them -drops off sharply so that a
  • object oftheinvention is to provideia simple electrica l switching device utilizing a roller band device. 1 i
  • Another object of invention is toprovide a roller-band switehingf device'. which is simple and easy to manufacture,
  • Another-object of theinjvention- is to provide a roller-band 3o switching device capable of switching between a common conductor and a plurality of separate output conductors.
  • Another object'of the invention isto 'provide a roller-band switching. device as aforesaid which is adaptable to be operated in response to a variety of different external forces.
  • Another object of the'invention is to provide a roller-band switching device utilizing a simple actuating-means, especially useful for manual operation, which provides positive actuation and brea'kaway-typ'e response.
  • FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device takcn'generally along line 2-2 o'fFlGl.
  • FIGJS isa'transverse cross-sectional view of the device takengenerally along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 is alongitudinal cross-sectional view; genera lly 651 similar to FIG. 2,: but disclosing the roller and band whichform a part of the invention, in a diflerent position.
  • FIG. 5 discloses a plan view of a band which forms a part of I 'thedevice.
  • FIG. '6- shows schematically a form of the invention 70 generally similar. to .thatdisclosed in FIGS. 1 through 5 but with a somewhat modified band arrangement.
  • FIG. 6A discloses one section of a band which-forms apart of the structure of FIG. 6..
  • FIG. 6B discloses another band portion which formsa part
  • FIG. 7 discloses a modified form of the switch device disclosed in FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 8 discloses still another modification of the switch device. I
  • FIG. 9 discloses still another embodiment of the switch device substantially of the type disclosed in FIGS. 6 through 8.
  • FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a keyboard switch constructed according to this invention and including a unique manual actuating means for the switch apparatus.
  • FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view substantially the same as FIG. 10 except that the switch mechanism is disclosed in an actuated position.
  • reference numeral 10 refers generally to a roller-band switching device which is shown schematically for the sake of simplicity. It includes a support means which may be a casing or frame, preferably made of moulded plastic, and which includes a boxlike member having end walls 11 and 12, a bottom wall 13, and sidewalls 14 and 15 A cooperating cover 16, also preferably of molded plastic, may fit onto the case and may be secured thereto by appropriate means such as adhesive or thermal bonding (not shown). Disposed within the opening inthe casing is a single roller set 17 encircled by a flexible band 18. Band 18 can best be seen in FIG. 5. As seen there, it has a longitudinally extending centerline 20 and is generally symmetrical with respect thereto.
  • Band 18 includes two separate sections, the first being a left-hand end (as seen in FIG. 5 which comprises a tongue 21 of relatively narrow width. This portion is connected to a second .section comprising a pair of spaced legs 23 and 24, spaced a distance slightly greater than the width of tongue 21.
  • the two sections of the band overlap but are separated by an insulative member 19 and are connected by an insulative pin 22 which extends through the two sections of the band and into roller 17 to secure the two sections of the band thereto.
  • band 18 is wrapped around roller 17 with the two sections thereof extending around the roller in opposite directions and with tongue 21 extending through the space between legs 23 and 24 and with the tongue and leg portions then extending substantially in opposite directions from the roller. They are attached to the bottom wall 13 of the support by appropriate means such as screws 30, rivets or the like, extending through the apertures in the band. Alternatively, they may be attached to the support by heat staking.
  • the band is mounted under tension so as to hold the roller in position and so that the sections of the band rather tightly engage the surface of the roller. It will be appreciated that the band and roller move together, without substantial sliding friction therebetween, in a direction generally normal to the axis of the roller and generally parallel to the bottom and side walls of the casing.
  • the limits of movement of the roller and band may be determined by appropriate stops which have been shown, for convenience, as stop members 31'and 32 extending down from cover 16.
  • roller 17 is electrically insulative, or at least its surface engagedby the band is electrically insulative.
  • Each of the band sections is electrically conductive.
  • Extending axially along the surface of roller 17 is a conductive strip of material 61.
  • This conductive strip is relatively narrow and thin, and preferably provides a surface substantially continuous with the surface of the rest of the roller.
  • the conductor 61 is disposed so that when the roller and band occupy the position disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 (in engagement with end stop 32), only tongue 21 engages conductor 61. However, it is disposed so that when the roller moves to the left,- to the end position disclosed in FIG. 4, this conductive strip also is engaged by legs 23 and 24.
  • the effective cross-sectional area of the two legs is substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of the tongue and hence the band provides an internal bias urging the roller and band into engagement with stop 32.
  • Any type of force may be utilized to move the roller toward stop 31.
  • the switch may operate as a tilt switch whereby it will move when tilted to a position so that gravity provides sufficient force upon the roller to ,cause it to overcome the bias exerted by the band. It may also be used as a motion or acceleration switch wherein it will be responsive to some predetermined force which will overcome the internal bias of the band.
  • an external means may be provided for applying a force manually to the roller to cause it to move.
  • This type of switch may be utilized in many applications and with various modifications depending upon the particular requirement encountered. Since the ends of the band are connected to the support structure under tension, the two sections of the band engage rather tightly the conductive member 61 so there is substantial contact force therebetween and a rela tively large electrical current may be switched, if desired.
  • FIG. 6 discloses schematically a modified form of the same switch apparatus disclosed'in FIGS. 1 through 5.
  • a roller 117 is encircled by a band made up of two separate sections 121 and 123.
  • Roller 117 is electrically nonconductive or at least has a nonconductive surface.
  • Band sections 121 and 123 are electrically conductive members.
  • Member 121 serves the function of a tongue member similar to tongue 21 in the previous embodiment and member 123 is a generally rectangular member which has a central portion removed leaving a pair of Spaced legs 123a and l23b joined at each end.
  • One end of member 121 is connected to roller 117 by an appropriate pin or the like while the other end is connected to a base or support 113 by an appropriate pin or rivet 131.
  • Member 123 has one end connected to roller 117 by an appropriate'pin or the like 132 while the other end is connected to support 113 by an appropriate rivet or the like 133.
  • the space between legs 123a and 123b is wide enough so that tongue 12] may be disposed therebetween without engaging the legs.
  • the two band sections extend from the point at which they are attached to the roller, which is relatively close together thereon, generally in opposite directions around the surface of the roller.
  • a conductor 135 extends along the surface of roller 1 17 and, in the position disclosed in FIG. 6, is engaged only by a tongue 121. It will be appreciated that as roller 17 moves to the'right, this conductor will engage legs 123a and 123b, also completing an electrical circuit between the two sections of the band.
  • FIG. 7 discloses a modification of the structure disclosed in FIG. 6.
  • the structure is generally the same in that a roller 117 has connected thereto an electrically conductive band made up of two sections electrically insulated from each other. These sections include a conductive tongue 121 connected to roller 17 by an appropriate pin 130 and has its other end connected to support 113 by a rivet 131.
  • the other section of the band is made up of two separate leg members 140 and 141 spaced generally as were legs 123A and 1238 in the structure'disclosed in FIG. 6.
  • Leg 140 is connected to roller 117 by a pin or the like 142 and has its other end connected to support 113 by a rivet or the like 143.
  • leg 141 is connected to roller 117 by a pin 144 and has its other end connected to support 113 by a rivet 145.
  • legs 140 and 141 are electrically insulated from each other. They are also electrically insulated from tongue 121.
  • two separate conductors are provided on the surface of roller 117. The first of these, a conductor 146, is disposed so that it may bridge tongue 121 and leg 140 in certain positions of the roller and-a second conductor 147 is disposed so that it will bridge between tongue 121 and leg 141 in certain positions of the roller. As disclosed in FIG. 7, conductors 146 and 147 are disposed so that, as roller 117 moves to the right (as seen in FIG.
  • FIG. 8 shows a roller-band switch structure generally similar to that disclosed in FIG. 7 except that the means for providing the bridging between tongue 121 and legs 140 and 141 has been modified.
  • tongue 121 adjacent the end at which it is connected to roller 117, is provided with a laterally extending portion so that this end of the tongue looks substantially like the letter T.
  • a portion 121a extends down, generally parallel to leg 140, and to a position so that upon movement of roller 117 toward the right (as seen in FIG.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 more than two legs may be utilized in connection with the switching apparatus as disclosed in FIGS. 7 and 8. Additional conductor members may be utilized on the surface of the roller in a structure like that disclosed in FIG. 7 or the crossbar on the T" may simply be made longer and have additional downwardly extending portions in a structure similar to that disclosed in FIG. 8. Also-it will be appreciated that the various legs may make electrical contact with tongue 121 allat the same time or they may bearranged to make such contact in any desired sequence.
  • FIG. 9 discloses an arrangement wherein a plurality of legs (six of them are shown by way of example) are connected to a single roller 117 which also has connected thereto a tongue 121.
  • legs 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, and 155 disposed so that they are arranged generally parallel with tongue 121 and with three of the legs oneither side of tongue 121, substantially symmetrically, so that roller 117 will be maintained in its proper alignment.
  • tongue 121 has been disclosed with an elongated portion 121: which appears like the crossbar of a large T" across the end of tongue 121 and disposed so as to engage simultaneously all six of the legs when the roller movesto a predetermined position.
  • Portion 121v may be provided with downwardly extending portions adapted to engage the difi'erent ones of the legs at different positions of the roller if desired.
  • the arrangement disclosed in FIG. 9 is especially useful perhaps with a substantially greater number of legs involved, in connection with keyboard switches or the like for use in connection'with computer peripheral equipment.
  • a very simple keyboard has been disclosed in FIG. 15 where the keyboard 160 has a plurality of these switches labeled A, B, C, D, E, and F mounted thereon. All of these switches may be made identically except that different ones of the legs therein will be actually connected into an output surface. conventionally, in order to obtain the proper signals in keyboard devices a multitude of diodes are required.
  • switches can simply be plugged into the printed circuit board and used in connection with a binary coded system for computer peripheral equipment or the like.
  • FIGS. 10 through 13 disclose a keyboard switch utilizing a roller-band switching arrangement substantially as disclosed and described previously herein and also including a unique manual actuating means therefor.
  • a support member 200 may be formed with an L-shape and is preferably formed of an insulative material such as molded plastic.
  • a roller 201 is encircled by a flexible conductive band made up of a tongue 202 and a pair of spaced legs 203 and 204.
  • Legs 203 and 204 are connected to a common electrical conductor 205 while tongue 202 is connected to a conductor 206. Legs 203 and 204 and tongue 202 are chosen so that the legs provide a force urging the roller to the right (as seen in FIG. 10) with a substantially greater force than that applied by tongue 202 urging it to the left. Thus, the apparatus in FIG. 10 has an internal bias urging it to the right with a predetermined force.
  • a conductor 207 is embedded in the surface of roller 201 in a position where it is continuously engaged by tongue 202 and wherein it will-engage legs 203 and 204 only when the roller is moved a predetermined distance to the left (as seen in FIG. 1 l
  • a manual actuating means for the keyboard switch includes a yoke 210 having spaced finger members 211 and 212 spaced so that they are disposed along opposite ends of roller 201.
  • Yoke 210 has a stem 213 which extends through an opening in the upright leg of base 200 and, spaced a distance from this upright portion of the base, the base for the yoke includes an.
  • abutment surface 215 which, when it engages the upstanding portion of the support, defines an end position for the roller as will be described hereinafter.
  • Fingers 211 and 212 have vertically extending slots 216 formed therein. Extending from the ends of roller 201 are 'a pair of aligned pins 217 extending into slots 216 in fin'ge'rs211 and 212. Pins 217 are offset from the axis of the cylindrical roller by a substantial distance.
  • the structure if arranged so that when the roller is in its unactuated position wherein cap 214 is released,pin 217 is disposed substantially on a vertical line through the axis of the roller and disposed below the axial center of the roller.
  • the band is exerting a predetermined force on the roller urging it to the right and opposing its movement by the application of a force to cap 214.
  • roller 201 may be moved to the left but only upon the application of a force sufficient to overcome the force applied by the band acting through the lever arm which is has due to the pin and slot arrangement.
  • the lever arm referred to is the lever arm between the instantaneous center about which the roller is moving at any given instant and the pin.
  • This force is cyclic as can be seen in FIG. 14 which is a graph of the force which must be applied to overcome the bias of the band acting through this lever arm. As seen there, this force is at a maximum at position a which is the position that the roller occupies in FIG. 10.
  • a substantially greater force than the force actually applied by the band must be applied to pushbub ton 214 in order todepress it and move the roller.
  • the roller is moved towards the left and the lever arm continuously changes reducing the amount of force which must be applied. This amount of force drops off rapidly as can be seen in FIG.
  • the structure described in connection with FIGS. 10 through 14 is such that a relatively lightweight band, providing arelatively small amount of force on a roller, can be utilized even in an application where a substantially greater amount of force is desired to be required to activate the switch.
  • the pin and slot arrangement provides a force, amplifying means between the actuator (provided by the yoke andpushbutton) and the roller. Also, it provides breakaway action so that once sufficient force is applied to begin movement of the roller, it moves away very quickly and with increasing ease. This assures fast contact between conductor 207 and legs 203 and 204 and also makes the switch easier to operate which is important especially when utilized in a keyboard. If desired, the
  • keyboard switch which has just been described may be utilized using a large variety of rollerband type switches including those described in connected with the other embodiments herein.
  • a particular advantage is obtained with a switch arrangement having a plurality of legs, generally of the type disclosed in FIG. 9, so that a plurality of identical switches can be utilized in a keyboard eliminating the need for different switches utilizing a plurality of diodes as is common now. All that would need to be done is to connect appropriate ones of the legs of each of the switches into the output circuit.
  • This invention provides a very simple switching arrangement utilizing a roller-band device capable of switching a variety of current loads, readily adaptable for miniaturization, and particularly useful in keyboard switches or the like.
  • the device is extremely simple and easy to manufacture and-a single switch may be utilized to perform a plurality of switching functions. It is especially adaptable for use in connection with a keyboard switch of the type disclosed with a forced amplifying arrangement between the manual actuator and the roller providing the desired touch" for the key and also providing breakaway action.
  • the structure described is not only useful in keyboard switches but may be used. in toggle switches, G- switches, or many other types.
  • a roller-band device including a roller and a flexible band substantially encircling the roller and having end portions extending generally in opposite directions from the roller, the roller and band being rollable together without substantial friction therebetween, the improvement comprising the roller having an electrically nonconductive surface about which the band extends, the band being comprised of two disposed between said leg portions and extending in the other direction around said roller, said tongue and leg sections extending generally in opposite directions from the roller and being connected at their ends to said support means.
  • said conductor means comprises a plurality of conductor members movable with said roller and disposed in a position to bridge between said first and second sections of the band in a plurality of different positions of the roller and band.
  • one of said band sections comprises a plurality of spaced and electrically insulated leg portions connected along the surface of said roller and extending in one direction therearound
  • the other of said sections includes at least one conductive tongue portion disposed between adjacent ones of said leg portions, connected to said roller and extending in the other direction therearound, said tongue portion being disposed on the roller so that said leg portions are arranged generally symmetrically about it
  • the conductor means is disposed for bridging between and electrically connecting said tongue portion to said leg portions in one or more predetermined positions of the roller and band.
  • each of said leg portions has an output terminal adapted for connection to a printed circuit board or the like and wherein said conductor means is effective to bridge all of said leg portions and said tongue portion simultaneously in predetermined positions of said roller and band.
  • said conductor means is a conductive member imbedded in the roller along a portion of the surface thereof and substantially continuous with the surface of said roller in a position wherein it is engaged only by said tongue portion in certain positions of Said roller and band and simultaneously by said leg portions and said tongue portion in other positions of the said roller and band.
  • said conductor means is an electrical conductor member common with said tongue portion and secured to a portion of the surface of the roller in a position where it will be engaged by said leg portions only in certain predetermined positions of said roller and band.
  • the device of claim 1 including support means, the ends of said first and second band sections being fixed to said support means and said roller and band being movable back and forth on said support means, actuating means including a yoke member mounted on said support means for movement generally along the direction of movement of the roller and band, means connecting-said yoke means tosaid roller, and means yieldably urging said yoke me'ans, said roller and said band to one positiomsaid yoke meansbeing movable by an external force when in opposition thereto and in the other direction.
  • said band sections are formed of a flexible resilient-material and are constructed so that an internal bias urges said roller and band in one direction
  • said roller is generally cylindrical in shape
  • said yoke means has a pair of finger members straddling said roller and extending along opposite ends thereof, each of said finger members has elongated slots therein, a pair of pins are disposed in opposite ends of said roller and offset from the axis thereof, and said pinsare disposed in the slots in said finger portions of said yoke member to connect said yoke means to said roller, said offset pins and the cooperating slots providing a force amplificationmeans whereby the force exerted upon said roller by said band sections are amplified and said roller and band can be moved against the bias of said band sections only by the application of a greater amount of force to said yoke means by an external force.
  • one of said band sections comprises a tongue section connected to said roller and extending in one direction around the surface thereof and having its end connected to said support means
  • the other said band section comprises a plurality of electrically insulated leg members each connected to said roller and extending generally in the opposite direction .around the periphery thereof and having their remote ends also connected to said support means
  • the tongue section providing a common electrical lead and said leg members providing a plurality of electrical output circuits
  • said conductor means bridging between and electrically connecting said tongue section and said leg members at predetermined positions of said roller and band.
  • a roller-band device of -the single roller type comprising support means, a roller rollable in a generally singular plane,.a flexible band substantially encircling said roller said band including a first section having at least two spaced legs and a second section having a tongue member said legs and said tongue extending directly from said roller in substantially opposite directions and in substantially the same plane along which said roller rolls, said legs and tongue connected to said support means whereby said roller and band are movable together back and forth on said support means, actuating means including yoke means movably mounted on said support means for movementgenerally along the direction of movement of said roller and band thereon, said yoke means having spacedfinger portions disposed on opposite ends of said roller, means operably connecting said fingerportions and said roller, means yieldingly urging said roller and band and said yoke means in one directionon said support means toward an end position, and said yoke means being externally operable to move it and said rollerand band in the opposite direction on said support means toward a second end position, and conductive
  • said band including a first section comprising an electrically eonductive tongue member, said legs and tongue being connected to said roller and extending in opposite directions therearound, said tongue and said-legs being electrically insulated from each other, conductor means including means for completing the circuit between said tongue and said legs in predetermined positions of said roller and band, actuating means including yoke means movably mounted on said support means for movement generally along the direction of movement of said roller and band thereon, said yoke means having spaced finger portions disposed on opposite ends.
  • leg and said tongue are formed of resilient flexible material and whereinsaid legs and tongue have different effective cross-sectional areas and thereby provide an internal bias urging said roller and band in said one direction.
  • the device ofclaim 19 further including force-amplifying means between said roller and said yoke means whereby the force which must be applied to said yoke means in orderto overcome said internal bias is greater than the force applied to said roller by said band.
  • said first section of the band includes a plurality of legs each providing an output electrical circuit member
  • said second section includes at least one tongue member providing a common electrical connection and said conductor means is effective to connect said tongue member and said legs at predetermined positions of said band and said roller.
  • a roller-band device comprising support means, a roller .thatan internal bias therein urges said roller and'band in one direction .toward an end position, actuating means including yoke means movably mounted on said support means for movement generally. along the direction of movementof said roller and band thereon,.said yoke means having spaced finger portionsdisposed on opposite ends of said roller, said finger portion means including force-amplifying means whereby the external force required to operate said yoke means is different from the force applied to said roller by said band, said spaced finger portions further including aligned slots which are generally normal to the direction of movement of said roller and band and said yoke, means operably connecting said finger: portions .andsaid roller including a pair of pins extend, ing from the opposite ends of said roller and disposed in said slots, said pins being offset from the axis of said roller, means yieldably urging said roller and band and said yoke means in one direction on said support means toward an end position,
  • said yoke means being externally operable to move it and said roller and band in the opposite direction on said support means.
  • a roller-band device comprising support means, a roller having an electricallyinsulative surface, flexible, electrically conductive, band means encircling said roller with ends extending generally in opposite directions therefrom, said band means including two separate band sections, one of said sections being connected to said roller and extending in one direction therearound, the other of said sections including at least two spaced legs connected to said roller on opposite sides of said one band section and extending in the other direction around said roller, and means connecting the remote ends of v means movable with said roller and adapted to electrically connect two band sections in predetermined positions of said roller and band.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Shielding Devices Or Components To Electric Or Magnetic Fields (AREA)
US9162A 1970-02-06 1970-02-06 Roller-band device Expired - Lifetime US3643049A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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US934970A 1970-02-06 1970-02-06
US916270A 1970-02-06 1970-02-06

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US3643049A true US3643049A (en) 1972-02-15

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US9349A Expired - Lifetime US3643048A (en) 1970-02-06 1970-02-06 Roller-band device
US9162A Expired - Lifetime US3643049A (en) 1970-02-06 1970-02-06 Roller-band device

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US (2) US3643048A (de)
DE (1) DE2106373A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2078284A5 (de)
GB (1) GB1347564A (de)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3932045A (en) * 1973-03-05 1976-01-13 Purdue Research Foundation Rolling contact joint
US4016401A (en) * 1974-12-30 1977-04-05 Societe D'etudes Et De Construction De Materiel Electronique S.E.C.M.E. Switching device, in particular for a printed circuit
US4150579A (en) * 1977-04-11 1979-04-24 Northrop Corporation Hydraulic torquer device for floated inertial platform
US4170146A (en) * 1977-08-18 1979-10-09 Micro Peripherals, Inc. Mechanism for transforming rotary motion to linear motion adapted for driving a magnetic head
US4985604A (en) * 1989-10-10 1991-01-15 Trw Technar Inc. Rolamite sensor
US5360956A (en) * 1991-09-18 1994-11-01 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Acceleration sensor for vehicle
US5394070A (en) * 1989-10-04 1995-02-28 University Of Utah Research Foundation Sliding contact mechanical/electrical displacement transducer
US5462363A (en) * 1994-07-21 1995-10-31 Brinkman; Erik J. Scroller roller band device
US20060027447A1 (en) * 2004-08-03 2006-02-09 Lo Kam C Tilt switch and system
US20100281861A1 (en) * 2009-05-07 2010-11-11 Emigh S Grant Linear roller bearing assembly and sub-assembly and reciprocating machinery incorporating the same
US8881520B2 (en) 2009-05-07 2014-11-11 S. Grant Emigh Linear roller bearing assembly and sub-assembly and reciprocating machinery incorporating the same

Families Citing this family (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3812726A (en) * 1972-09-28 1974-05-28 Technar Inc Velocity responsive apparatus
US3859488A (en) * 1973-07-13 1975-01-07 W Dale Jones Point contact roller band switch
US4856172A (en) * 1988-03-18 1989-08-15 Hughes Aircraft Company Method for the strain-free mounting of optical components
US5178264A (en) * 1991-06-20 1993-01-12 Trw Technar Inc. Rolamite sensor

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US2765454A (en) * 1952-04-17 1956-10-02 Gen Motors Corp Clip terminals
US3167962A (en) * 1961-12-06 1965-02-02 Bosch Arma Corp Doubly integrating accelerometer
US3384850A (en) * 1966-11-14 1968-05-21 Honeywell Inc Partially rolling, partially sliding contactor for electrical slidewires
US3488098A (en) * 1968-03-26 1970-01-06 Teletype Corp Motion translating device
US3548138A (en) * 1968-07-18 1970-12-15 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Rolamite pushbutton switch

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US1812410A (en) * 1930-04-11 1931-06-30 Cutler Hammer Inc Electric switch
US1935498A (en) * 1930-12-20 1933-11-14 Arrow Hart & Hegeman Electric Lever operated snap switch
US3452175A (en) * 1967-05-29 1969-06-24 Atomic Energy Commission Roller-band devices

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US2765454A (en) * 1952-04-17 1956-10-02 Gen Motors Corp Clip terminals
US3167962A (en) * 1961-12-06 1965-02-02 Bosch Arma Corp Doubly integrating accelerometer
US3384850A (en) * 1966-11-14 1968-05-21 Honeywell Inc Partially rolling, partially sliding contactor for electrical slidewires
US3488098A (en) * 1968-03-26 1970-01-06 Teletype Corp Motion translating device
US3548138A (en) * 1968-07-18 1970-12-15 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Rolamite pushbutton switch

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Wilkes; Rolamite, A New Mechanical Design Concept; Research Report SC RR 67 656A, December 1967; publication of AEC; pp. 70, 166, 167, 194 195 included; *

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3932045A (en) * 1973-03-05 1976-01-13 Purdue Research Foundation Rolling contact joint
US4016401A (en) * 1974-12-30 1977-04-05 Societe D'etudes Et De Construction De Materiel Electronique S.E.C.M.E. Switching device, in particular for a printed circuit
US4150579A (en) * 1977-04-11 1979-04-24 Northrop Corporation Hydraulic torquer device for floated inertial platform
US4170146A (en) * 1977-08-18 1979-10-09 Micro Peripherals, Inc. Mechanism for transforming rotary motion to linear motion adapted for driving a magnetic head
US5394070A (en) * 1989-10-04 1995-02-28 University Of Utah Research Foundation Sliding contact mechanical/electrical displacement transducer
JPH0793084B2 (ja) * 1989-10-10 1995-10-09 ティーアールダブリュー・テクナー・インコーポレーテッド ローラマイトセンサ
US4985604A (en) * 1989-10-10 1991-01-15 Trw Technar Inc. Rolamite sensor
JPH03163718A (ja) * 1989-10-10 1991-07-15 Trw Technar Inc ローラマイトセンサ
US5360956A (en) * 1991-09-18 1994-11-01 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Acceleration sensor for vehicle
US5462363A (en) * 1994-07-21 1995-10-31 Brinkman; Erik J. Scroller roller band device
US20060027447A1 (en) * 2004-08-03 2006-02-09 Lo Kam C Tilt switch and system
US7115824B2 (en) * 2004-08-03 2006-10-03 Kam Chun Lo Tilt switch and system
US20100281861A1 (en) * 2009-05-07 2010-11-11 Emigh S Grant Linear roller bearing assembly and sub-assembly and reciprocating machinery incorporating the same
US8220258B2 (en) * 2009-05-07 2012-07-17 Emigh S Grant Linear roller bearing assembly and sub-assembly and reciprocating machinery incorporating the same
US8881520B2 (en) 2009-05-07 2014-11-11 S. Grant Emigh Linear roller bearing assembly and sub-assembly and reciprocating machinery incorporating the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1347564A (en) 1974-02-27
US3643048A (en) 1972-02-15
DE2106373A1 (de) 1971-09-30
FR2078284A5 (de) 1971-11-05

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