US3693024A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotational shaft encoder having a bearing tube having a slot therein
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
•
Filing: 1971-05-17
•
Granted: 1972-09-19
•
Expires: 1991-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A rotational shaft encoder having two encoder discs mounted to rotate at different speeds in a preselected ratio determined by a gear train where the transmission of motion from an input shaft, carrying the high-speed encoder disc, to a low-speed encoder disc. The low-speed encoder disc is mounted on a bearing tube which houses the input shaft and is driven by a gear train which extends through a slot in the bearing tube to mesh with a gear integrally mounted on the input shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M Hulle
- 👤 Jerry L Steward
- 👤 Merle D Borman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:25
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/22; H03M1/24; H03M1/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A shaft encoder comprising: a. a frame; b. a bearing tube having a slot therein, said bearing tube having at least one end rigidly connected to said frame; c. a rotatable input shaft coaxially mounted in said tube, said input shaft including a pinion gear in juxtaposition with said slot in said tube; d. a first spur gear means rotatably mounted on said bearing tube; e. a gear assembly mounted on said frame, said gear assembly engaging said first pinion gear through said slot and engaging said first spur gear means for driving said first spur gear means at a speed which is a preselected ratio of the speed of said input shaft; and f. a first encoder disc mounted on said first spur gear means to rotate therewith; said encoder disc being coaxially aligned with said input shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A shaft encoder comprising: a. a frame; b. a bearing tube having a slot therein, said bearing tube having at least one end rigidly connected to said frame; c. a rotatable input shaft coaxially mounted in said tube, said input shaft including a pinion gear in juxtaposition with said slot in said tube; d. a first spur gear means rotatably mounted on said bearing tube; e. a gear assembly mounted on said frame, said gear assembly engaging said first pinion gear through said slot and engaging said first spur gear means for driving said first spur gear means at a speed which is a preselected ratio of the speed of said input shaft; and f. a first encoder disc mounted on said first spur gear means to rotate therewith; said encoder disc being coaxially aligned with said input shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 and further including a pair of bearings mounted near each end of said tube for supporting said input shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device according to claim 2 wherein each said bearing of said pair is separated from the other bearing of said pair by a distance in the order of five times the diameter of the input shaft for minimizing run-out and radial compliance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gear assembly comprises a second spur gear and a second pinion gear mounted on said frame to rotate together, said second spur gear extending through said slot and meshing with said first pinion gear, said second pinion gear meshing with said first spur gear for driving said first spur gear and said first encoder disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said input shaft protrudes from both ends of said tube a predetermined distance and further including a second encoder disc coaxially mounted on one end of said input shaft to rotate therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface areas of said first spur gear means and said tube which are in juxtaposition comprise the outer and inner races of a bearing respectively and further including a plurality of needle bearings positioned between said races for supporting said first spur gear means and said first encoder disc in coaxial alignment with said input shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device as claimed in claim 5 and further including a first and a second light source illuminating each encoder disc and a first and a second light detector means for detecting light signals commutated by each encoder disc.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein each said light source is a gallium arsenide diode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device as claImed in claim 7 and further including first and second amplifier means for amplifying light signals detected by said first and second light detector means respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said shaft encoder and said amplifier means are integrally mounted in one housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
A shaft encoder comprising: a. a frame; b. a bearing tube having a plurality of slots therein, said bearing tube having at least one end rigidly connected to said frame; c. a rotatable input shaft coaxially mounted in said tube, said input shaft including a pinion gear in juxtaposition with each said slot in said tube; d. a plurality of spur gear means rotatably mounted on said bearing tube; e. a plurality of gear assemblies mounted on said frame, one gear assembly therefrom engaging each said pinion gear through a corresponding slot and engaging a corresponding spur gear means for driving said corresponding spur gear means at a speed which is a preselected ratio of the speed of said input shaft; and f. a plurality of encoder discs, one therefrom mounted on each said spur gear means to rotate therewith, each said encoder disc being coaxially aligned with said input shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
151 words
A shaft encoder comprising: a. a frame; b. a bearing tube having a plurality of slots therein, said bearing tube having at least one end rigidly connected to said frame; c. a rotatable input shaft coaxially mounted in said tube, said input shaft including a pinion gear in juxtaposition with each said slot in said tube; d. a plurality of spur gear means rotatably mounted on said bearing tube; e. a plurality of gear assemblies mounted on said frame, one gear assembly therefrom engaging each said pinion gear through a corresponding slot and engaging a corresponding spur gear means for driving said corresponding spur gear means at a speed which is a preselected ratio of the speed of said input shaft; and f. a plurality of encoder discs, one therefrom mounted on each said spur gear means to rotate therewith, each said encoder disc being coaxially aligned with said input shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device as claimed in claim 11 and further including a light source illuminating each said encoder disc of said plurality of encoder discs and a light detector means corresponding to each said encoder disc for detecting light signals commutated by each said corresponding encoder disc.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2733008A
Cited
US3588887A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |