US 4,231,310 AGranted

Remote control unit

AssigneeNippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorShigeru Muramatsu

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Abstract

In the construction of a remote control unit advantageously usable for an automatic steering system of small-sized boats and cruisers, a rotatable main-dial, which is adapted for adjusting the resistance of a main variable resistor for manual steering, is always elastically registered at the zero-point for automatic zero-point resetting purpose. In addition to the automatic zero-point resetting function without requirement for any highly skilled technique, unexpected and dangerous accidental turning of the main-dial can be successfully obviated.

Claims1

Dependent claims

An improved remote control unit, comprising:

(A) an elongated, generally cylindrical, main casing housing an A-M switch, a main variable resistor and a subordinate variable resistor;
(B) a main-dial rotatably coupled to one longitudinal end of said main casing and operationally coupled to said main variable resistor, said main-dial being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said main casing over a prescribed angle on both sides of a zero-point responsive to an external force applied thereto;
(C) means for elastically and automatically restoring said main-dial to said zero-point when said external force is removed from said main-dial;
(D) a sub-dial rotatably coupled to the other longitudinal end of said main casing and operationally coupled to said subordinate variable resistor, said sub-dial being rotatable about said longitudinal axis of said main casing over a prescribed angle on both sides of a zero-point responsive to an external force applied thereto;
(E) said main-dial being operationally coupled to said main variable resistor via a shaft which is rotatably coupled to said main casing coaxially therewith and which extends through said one end of said main casing;
and
(F) said elastically and automatically restoring means including:
(1) a driver disc coaxially secured to said shaft outside said one end of said main casing and provided with a pair of hooks projecting towards said main casing at symmetric positions on the periphery thereof;
(2) a stopper disc coaxially secured to said one end of said main disc while allowing free turning of said shaft and provided with a pair of hooks projecting towards said driver disc at symmetric positions on the periphery thereof;
and
(3) an override spring interposed between said two discs and having a center helical portion loosely winding around said shaft and a pair of branches whose ends are in abutting engagement with said hooks of said two discs in such an arrangement that turning of said shaft causes elastic deformation of said override spring via said driver disc.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

An improved remote control unit, comprising:

(A) an elongated, generally cylindrical, main casing housing an A-M switch, a main variable resistor and a subordinate variable resistor;
(B) a main-dial rotatably coupled to one longitudinal end of said main casing and operationally coupled to said main variable resistor, said main-dial being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said main casing over a prescribed angle on both sides of a zero-point responsive to an external force applied thereto;
(C) means for elastically and automatically restoring said main-dial to said zero-point when said external force is removed from said main-dial;
(D) a sub-dial rotatably coupled to the other longitudinal end of said main casing and operationally coupled to said subordinate variable resistor, said sub-dial being rotatable about said longitudinal axis of said main casing over a prescribed angle on both sides of a zero-point responsive to an external force applied thereto;
(E) said main-dial being operationally coupled to said main variable resistor via a shaft which is rotatably coupled to said main casing coaxially therewith and which extends through said one end of said main casing;
and
(F) said elastically and automatically restoring means including:
(1) a driver disc coaxially secured to said shaft outside said one end of said main casing and provided with a pair of hooks projecting towards said main casing at symmetric positions on the periphery thereof;
(2) a stopper disc coaxially secured to said one end of said main disc while allowing free turning of said shaft and provided with a pair of hooks projecting towards said driver disc at symmetric positions on the periphery thereof;
and
(3) an override spring interposed between said two discs and having a center helical portion loosely winding around said shaft and a pair of branches whose ends are in abutting engagement with said hooks of said two discs in such an arrangement that turning of said shaft causes elastic deformation of said override spring via said driver disc.

8 more elements