Actuating mechanism for gauge pointer
AssigneeYazaki North America, Inc.
InventorsYuriy Taborisskiy, Zinoviy Kelman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuating mechanism for a relative slow-acting vehicle gauge indicator, such as a rotatable pointer. A muscle wire driven rack gear is operatively connected to a rotatable pointer gear. The rack gear is biased to a gauge at-rest position by a spring member. Upon receiving an electrical signal from a vehicle sensor, the muscle wire contracts, moving the rack member against the spring force to drive the gauge pointer to an appropriate reading on a gauge face.
Claims12
An apparatus for operating a relatively slow-acting gauge indicator in a vehicle, comprising:
- a gear-driven pointer;
- a muscle wire activated rack gear operatively connected to the pointer gear.
An apparatus for operating a relatively slow-acting gauge indicator in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a muscle wire operatively connected to a moveable gauge indicator through a gear mechanism, the muscle wire further being electrically connected to a vehicle sensor measuring a vehicle condition which the gauge indicator represents, such that electrical signals from the sensor cause the muscle wire to contract and move the gauge indicator over a gauge face visible to an operator of the vehicle.
An apparatus for operating a relatively slow-acting gauge indicator in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a muscle wire operatively connected to a moveable gauge indicator, the muscle wire further being electrically connected to a vehicle sensor measuring a vehicle condition which the gauge indicator represents, such that electrical signals from the sensor cause the muscle wire to contract and move the gauge indicator over a gauge face visible to an operator of the vehicle, the gauge indicator being biased to an at-rest position by a spring member operatively connected to the gauge indicator so as to oppose the contraction of the muscle wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.