Odometer using an electric motor disposed within annular figure wheels
AssigneeKanto Seiki Co., Ltd.
InventorEtsuo Ichimura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a highly compact odometer an electric motor which drives a mechanical display thereof, is disposed within the set of annular figure wheels used in the display and drivingly connected to said wheels through a worm and worm wheel drive train. In the case of integrated "total" and "trip" odometers a multipole rotor having a torque capacity adequate for driving both odometers is disposed within the set of figure wheels used for the "total" odometer display while the coil is disposed within the "trip" odometer set. Yokes extend between the sets of wheels to provide a magnetic connection between the coil and rotor. To prevent reversing of the odometer and gear chatter in the drive train a one-way clutch type bearing is used to support the output shaft of the electric motor.
Claims9
In an odometer for a vehicle:
- a first essentially cylindrical hollow housing;
- a rotor having a shaft, said rotor being rotatably disposed within said hollow housing and forming part of an electric motor;
- a plurality of rotatable annular figure wheels slidably disposed on the external periphery of said housing, said housing being arranged to pass through all of said figure wheels;
- a gear train drivingly interconnecting said shaft and said plurality of figure wheels for rotating said figure wheels in response to the rotation of said rotor, said gear train including drive pinions which interconnect adjacent figure wheels, said drive pinions being located on the external periphery of said figure wheels;
- and
- means for inducing said rotor to rotate in response to an electronic signal indicative of vehicle speed.
In an odometer for a vehicle:
- a first essentially cylindrical hollow housing;
- a rotor having a shaft, said rotor being rotatably disposed within said hollow housing and forming part of an electric motor;
- a plurality of annular figure wheels rotatably disposed on the external periphery of said housing so as to surround that part of said housing in which said rotor is disposed;
- a gear train drivingly interconnecting said shaft and said plurality of figure wheels for rotating said figure wheels in response to the rotation of said rotor;
- a second essentially cylindrical hollow housing;
- a second plurality of figure wheels rotatably disposed on the external periphery of said second housing;
- a second gear train interconnecting said shaft with said second plurality of figure wheels;
- stator poles disposed in said first hollow housing;
- a coil disposed within said second hollow housing;
- and
- magnetic yokes extending from said coil to said stator poles which yokes provide a magnetic connection between said coil and said stator poles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.