US 2008/0173112 A1Published application

Detent device

AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho

InventorsTerukazu Hiroe, Masahiko Miyata, Seiji Ishigaki

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A shaft of an operating member is provided with a rotation detention receiving member having a substantially V-shaped concave portion. A detention giving unit includes a coil spring of a steel wire and a pressing member and presses the pressing member against the concave portion of the rotation detention receiving member to give rotation detention thereto. An electromagnet is arranged on a device base. A rotary encoder is attached to the shaft. Of the rotation detention receiving member and the detention giving unit, as regards the rotation detention receiving member is rotatable integrally to the operating member; and as regards the detention giving unit, while the electromagnet is de-energized, it is rotated integrally to the operating member whereas while the electromagnet is de-energized, it is attracted by the electromagnet so that it is fixed in a non-rotating state.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A detent device comprising:

an operating member rotatably attached to a device base;
a rotation detention receiving member;
a detention giving unit that includes a coil spring and a pressing member which is pressed against the concave portion by spring force of the coil spring to give rotation detention thereto;
an electromagnet arranged on the device base;
a position detector that detects a rotary position of the operating member;
and
a controller that controls energization of the electromagnet according to the rotary position of the operating member detected by the position detector,
wherein one of the rotation detention receiving member and the detention giving unit is rotatable integrally with the operating member, and the other of the rotation detention receiving member and the detention giving unit is rotatable integrally to the operation member when the electromagnet is de-energized, and is attracted by the electromagnet so as to be fixed in a non-rotating state when the electromagnet is energized.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/007,989Filed 17 Jan 2008
Priority: JP 2007-00921318 Jan 2007
Published: 24 Jul 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H01H 3/503
With indexing or locating means, e.g. indexing by ball and spring: making use of electromagnets
G05G 5/03
Means for preventing, limiting or returning the movements of parts of a control mechanism, e.g. locking controlling member: means for enhancing…
H01H 19/11
Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon: with indexing means
H01H 21/50
Driving mechanisms: with indexing or latching means, e.g. indexing by ball and spring; with means to ensure stopping at intermediate operative…