US 4,656,457 AGranted

Position-sensing potentiometer arrangement

AssigneeWABCO Westinghouse Steuerungstechnik GmbH & Co.

InventorsWalter Brausfeld, Helmut Gottling, Rudolf Moller, Peter Muller, Gerhard Scharnowski

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Abstract

A position-sensing potentiometer arrangement for sensing the position of a movable piston and piston rod configuration within a linear actuator includes a first support member extending longitudinally within an open-ended recess formed in the rod and a sliding contact mounted thereon. A tubular support is mounted to a stationary closed end of the linear actuator and extends into the recess to surround a portion of the first support member and a center support member which is also mounted on the closed end of the a actuator. A longitudinally-extending resistance element and a parallel conductor element are mounted on and supported by the center support member. As the first support member moves through the tubular support, the sliding contacts couple the resistance element to the conductor element to provide a resistance value variable as a function of the position of the piston rod. In the event of movement of the piston rod, other than longitudinal movement, the resistance element is isolated by the tubular support against contact by the piston rod.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A position-sensing potentiometer arrangement for sensing the position of a movable piston and piston rod configuration within a linear actuator comprising:

(a) a rod recess formed coaxially in the piston rod and having a rod opening facing a closed end of the linear actuator;
(b) at least one sliding contact secured to a first support member extending within said rod recess in a spaced-apart relation to an inner wall of said rod recess, said at least one contact being secured to said first support member at a point substantially corresponding in position to said rod opening;
(c) resistance means secured to and extending from the closed end of the linear actuator and in contact with said at least one sliding contact for providing a measurable resistance value which varies as a function of the piston rod position, such measurable resistance value corresponding to one of a range of predetermined resistance values associated with a range of such piston rod positions, said resistance means including a resistance element extending approximately the length equivalent to the length of travel of the piston rod, and a conductor element extending the approximate length of said resistance element;
(d) resistance support means secured to the closed end of the linear actuator and extending into at least a portion of said rod recess, said resistance support means further surrounding at least a portion of said resistance means for protecting said resistance means from contact by the piston rod and for supporting said resistance means in a stationary manner;
(e) said resistance element being disposed parallel to said conductor element, said first support member having said at least one sliding contact secured thereon is movable adjacent thereto such that said at least one sliding contact electrically couples said resistance element to said conductor element at approximately the position of said rod opening;
and
(f) said resistance support means including a tubular support member secured to the closed end of the linear actuator and surrounding at least a portion of said first support member.

4 more elements

A position sensing potentiometer device for sensing the position of a movable member within a housing comprising:

(a) a recess formed coaxially in the movable member and having an opening facing a closed end of the housing;
(b) at least one sliding contact secured to a first support member extending within said recess in a spaced-apart relation to an inner wall of said recess, said at least one contact being secured to said first support member at a point substantially corresponding in position to said opening;
(c) resistance means secured to and extending from said closed end of the housing and in contact with said at least one sliding contact for providing a measurable resistance value which varies as a function of the position of the movable member, such measurable resistance value corresponding to one of a range of predetermined resistance values associated with a range of such movable member positions, said resistance means including a resistance element the length of travel of the movable member, and a conductor element extending the approximate length of said resistance element;
(d) resistance support means secured to said closed end of the housing and extending into at least a portion of said recess, said resistance support means further surrounding at least a portion of said resistance means for protecting said resistance means from contact by the movable member and for supporting said resistance means in a stationary manner;
(e) said resistance element being disposed parallel to said conductor element, said first support member having said at least one sliding contact secured thereon is movable adjacent thereto such that said at least one sliding contact electrically couples said resistance element to said conductor element at approximately the position of said rod opening;
and
(f) said resistance support means including a tubular support member secured to the closed end of the housing and surrounding at least a portion of said first support member.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.