US2244678A - Automatic tuning mechanism - Google Patents

Automatic tuning mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
US2244678A
US2244678A US165469A US16546937A US2244678A US 2244678 A US2244678 A US 2244678A US 165469 A US165469 A US 165469A US 16546937 A US16546937 A US 16546937A US 2244678 A US2244678 A US 2244678A
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United States
Prior art keywords
stop
tuning
shaft
movement
rack
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Expired - Lifetime
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US165469A
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English (en)
Inventor
Frederick L Creager
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RCA Corp
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RCA Corp
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Publication date
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Priority to US165469A priority Critical patent/US2244678A/en
Priority to FR843874D priority patent/FR843874A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2244678A publication Critical patent/US2244678A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03J—TUNING RESONANT CIRCUITS; SELECTING RESONANT CIRCUITS
    • H03J5/00—Discontinuous tuning; Selecting predetermined frequencies; Selecting frequency bands with or without continuous tuning in one or more of the bands, e.g. push-button tuning, turret tuner
    • H03J5/02—Discontinuous tuning; Selecting predetermined frequencies; Selecting frequency bands with or without continuous tuning in one or more of the bands, e.g. push-button tuning, turret tuner with variable tuning element having a number of predetermined settings and adjustable to a desired one of these settings
    • H03J5/04—Discontinuous tuning; Selecting predetermined frequencies; Selecting frequency bands with or without continuous tuning in one or more of the bands, e.g. push-button tuning, turret tuner with variable tuning element having a number of predetermined settings and adjustable to a desired one of these settings operated by hand
    • H03J5/12—Settings determined by a number of separately-actuated driving means which adjust the tuning element directly to desired settings

Definitions

  • This invention relates to automatic tuning control systems for radio apparatus and the like, and particularly to a system wherein the tuning element of the controlled apparatus is actuated by mechanical means, as distinguished from systems employing electric motors for the same purpose.
  • a principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved and simplified automatic tuner of the mechanical preselection type.
  • Another object of' the invention is to provide an extremely simple, inexpensive, compact, accurate and trouble-free selector mechanism for radio receivers, and one which lends itself readily to mass production methods.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic station selectorof the :type above referred to and wherein the stations may he Vset up conveniently from the exterior of the cabinet which houses the set.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic station selector capable of tuningin a desired maximum of stations, and this too with 'the application of a minimum intensity oi actuating force.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a tuning device employing push-buttons for selecting the more frequently tuned-stations (for example, local stations) and provided with the usual rotary knop for tuning the less ⁇ frequently dialed stations (for example, distant and short- Wave stations) and wherein the push-buttons are self-disengaging whereoy the tuning mechanism is automatically cleared so that changeover from one inode of operation to: the other is accomplished at will ⁇ and Without in wise affecting the set-up of thepreselector mechanism.
  • Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel Amechanism for converting a simple thrust movement, applied selectively to any of several push-buttons, into torque capable of driving a, rotor shaft through its entire range oi movement, said mechanism being characterized by an economy and simplicity of parts.
  • Figure l is a tcp plan view of a portion ci a radio receiver provided with an automatic tun'- ing control mechanism embodying'the invention
  • Figure 2 is a front Vview in elevation of the apparatus yof Fig. 1, I Y
  • Figure 3 is a sectional View of the actuating mechanism taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are elevational views, partly in section of alternative forms of driving elements suitable for use with the selector mechanism o i the invention
  • Figure 6 is a front View in elevation of another form of rack or driven member and showing an alternative arrangement of the station-selecting buttons or driving members, Y
  • Figure '7 is a front view in elevation of another embodiment ofthe invention.
  • Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the Vline 8 8 ofFig. 7, and
  • Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line U9 9 of Fig. 7 and shows certain details of the actuating element there employed.
  • l designates generally a portion of a radio receiver chassis having a front panel 2 and a shelf ⁇ or'base 3 upon which base certain component parts such, for example, as tubes 4, a coil 5, a transformer 6, a fixed capacitor 1, and a. variable tuning element 8, are mounted.
  • the tuning element 8 may ,be constituted oy a frame 9 containing one or more units l0 and i! including the usualstator AI2 and rotor plates I3.
  • the rotor plates are mounted on a common tum ing shaft I4 which is adapted itc he rotated through a range of in a manner later described.
  • a mounting plate I5 A is secured to the front panel 2 of the chassis l, as by hollow studs i6, Ita, and
  • the mounting plate i5 in .turn supports a front dial plate I8 which is Ispaced therefrom and secured thereto by spacers I9 (Fig. 3).
  • An extension Ma of the main tuning shaft. I4 extends through plates l5 and I8 and is provided with .
  • a double ended pointer 20 which is iixe'd directly on the end of the extension la so that its position accurately depicts the angular position of the main tuning shaft i4, and hence the setting of the condenser 8.
  • the radio receiverv which has been selected for purposes of illustration will be understood to comprise a two-band set having la band selector switch indicated generally at '22 (Fig. l) and a .dial -2l which is provided with a pali' of 180 arcuate scales 2id and 2
  • One of the scales say the top scale 2id, is allotted to the broadcast zband, and the bottom scale, 2lb, to another band, say a short-wave band.
  • the correspondingly lettered ends of the double-ended pointer 26 are individual to these 180D dial scales.
  • the band switch 22 may, as sho-wn in Fig. 1, be controlled by a knob 2 3 ⁇ affixed to a shaft 24 which extends to the front of the set through one of the hollow spacers i3 which :supports the mounting plate I5.
  • Knob 25 may also be employed independently of the selector mechanism, later described for logging stations in the broadcast band.
  • the shaft 26 to which the tuning knob 25 is attached carries a pinion 2l (see Figs. 3 and 2) the teeth of which mesh with complementary teeth 28 on a dependent section 29 of a rack 33.
  • This drive element 33 is supported for linear movement as in a groove
  • the upper edge of rack 33 is provided intermediate its ends with a toothed segment 3
  • Gear 32 drives a pinion 33 carried on the main tuning shaft I4, so that this shaft and the rotor described, is of more or less conventional design.
  • the automatic station selector of the invention utilizes the rack 3
  • the stop engaging members 35 are the driving elements of the preselector; each is affixed to the end of a hollow plunger 35, and the plungers are journaled in and are supported by the plate i8 which supports the tuning dial 2
  • the plungers are preferably equally spaced and each is provided with a spring 31 for returning it to its idle position. If desired, these springs may be covered by caps, not shown.
  • the pre-set s'tops 34 are the driven members; they are adjustably secured to the rack 3i), each by a screw 38 (Fig.
  • each stop or male member 34 may be in the form of a 90 includedangle icone and each stop-engaging or female member 35 has an opening of complementary contour for receiving and vcentering its stop when the plunger 36, to which the stop is affixed, is thrust inwardly.
  • Each stop is provided This condition is fulfilled when (a) the large at its apex with a slot 4I so that it may be loosened and tightened as by means cf a screw driver (not shown). Adjustment of each stop may be made from the front of the set by removing a spring-retained cap 42 on the end of the plungers 36 and inserting the tool through the bore.
  • the main tuning shaft I4 has a, 180 range of rotation.
  • on rack 30 should be no less than one-half the circumference of the pinion 33, for it is that distance which the rack must travel to rotate the tuning elemen't from one limit of its movement to the other.
  • one of the preselected stations to which the set is to be automatically tuned may be at one end of the scale (2H) and another at the other end, it is obvious that each stop engaging member 35 must be capable of driving its stop 34 (and hence the rack 3i) and condenser shaft I4) this maximum distance.
  • diameter of the opening 35' in the stop-engaging members 35 is substantially twice 'the length the rack must travel in driving the condenser shaft through its entire 180 range of movement and (b) when each stop 34 is so positioned with respect to its stop-engaging member 35 that its apex at all times falls within the large circumference of the opening 35' of the stop-engaging member to which it is presented.
  • this latter connection (b) i't. Will be noted that the length of each slot 39 in which the individual stops 34 are secured is such as to ensure that the apex of each stop will fall within the boundaries of its stop-engaging member 35.
  • the automatic tuner of the receiving set shown in Figs. l and 2 is provided with iive plungers or push-buttons 36 and a similar number of stops 34 and stop-engaging members 35 It is thus capable of rotating the main tuning shaft I4 selectively and automatically to any ve angular positions required to achieve that number of different station frequencies.
  • each plunger 36 is removed and each stop 34 loosened as by means of a screw driver (not shown) which is inserted through the bore of the plunger into engagement with the slot 4l with which each stop is provided (see Fig. 3).
  • the manual tuning knob 25 is then rotated to bring in the rst of the desired stations.
  • one (any one) of the plungers 36 is pressed in to the limit of its movement. Since the stops 34 have been loosened, each is free to move with respect to the rack 3i).
  • the manual tuning knob 25 is then turned to tune the apparatus to the frequency of a second desired station.
  • Another button or plunger is assigned to this station and the stop individual to the selected plunger is centered with respect toits stop-engaging member (lby pressing inthat plunger) and then vtightened on the rack by means of the screw driver.
  • the other stations are set up in the same manner.v ⁇ It is immaterial which plunger is assigned to a given station frequency. For example, it is not necessary that a. button on the left f center be assigned to a station whose frequency is indicated at a point on the left side of the dial.
  • the stops (ve in this case) 34a, 34h, etc. are spaced different distances from each other (and .hence different distances from the respective centers of' the uniformly spacedstop-engaging members 35, 35h, etc.), as determined by the different degrees of rotation required by the rack 30 to rotate the condenser shaft I4 from any given angular position to any of the selected positions whereat a particular station is tuned in.
  • each stop engaging member is adapted to engage and to drive its stop irrespective of the position of the rack upon which the stops are mounted.
  • Each pair of complementary members 34--35 may therefore be said to include means operable at the limit of the above-described movement for locating the variable tuning element at the position whereat the selected frequency, individual to each stop and its stop-engaging member, is achieved.
  • each button or plunger 3B is preferably provided with a spring 31 for returning ilt to its idle position.
  • the stop-engaging members 35 are out of engagement with their stops 34 so that the set is in condition to be operated either automatically by means of the plungers 35 or manually by means of the tuning knob 25. changeover from one mode of operation is thus possible without any positive supplementary action on the part ofthe operator.
  • the stops 34 need not necessarily be in the form of 90 included angle cones, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but may be mere cylinders, as indicated at 44, Fig. 4, in which case the end presented to the stop-engaging member 45 is preferably rounded, as shown at 44a.
  • the stops' may beV in the form of a generally conical member 54 having two surfaces of revolution (54a and 54h) ⁇ exhibiting different degrees Vof convergence, in Which case the angle of that portion 51
  • the stops 44 and 54 of Figs. 4 and 5 respectively possess the advantage of requiring less force to initiate their movement.
  • VThe driven member or rack, 30, of the embodiment of 'the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is a inere strip of metal with the stops 34 arranged in line thereon, and the actuating mem-V bers 36 are similarly arranged, in register with these stops, beneath the dial 2 I.
  • Other arrangements of the station selecting or actuating members may be made Without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the invention.
  • 30 is shown, making it practical to distribute the stops
  • 39 in which the stops
  • the long dimension of these duplicate slots, and hence the limits within which each stop must be set corresponds to the distance the rack must be moved to rotate the tuning shaft II4 through its entire range of movement.
  • the stops are individual to the separate frequencies and are relatively spaced in their slots as determined by the different degrees of movement required by the rack to rotate the tuning shaft from any given position to any of the selected positions individual to the different station frequencies.
  • 35 are affixed are prei'- erably equally spaced from each other on the dial plate IIB.
  • 25 is here shown disposed in line with the center of the dial plate.
  • 35 isafiixed are conveniently similarly disposed.
  • 23a for actuating a manual volume control are shown arranged, in the interests of symmetry, on opposite sides of the tuning control knob
  • the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6 may otherwise be similar in all respects to that shown in Figs. 1 and 5, inclusive.
  • 35, Fig. 6, are female elements and the stops 34, Figs. 1 to 3; 44, Fig. 4; 54, Fig. 5; and
  • 34, Fig. 6, are male elements.
  • the relative form of the stops and stop-engaging members may be reversed if desired. This is brought out, together with certain other modifications, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. '7 to 9, inclusive.
  • the main tuning shaft is designated 2I4, the rear mounting plate 2
  • 8 As in the previously described embodiments a two-band dial scale 22
  • Each element or button 242 has an extension 242a (Fig. 9) of a reduced diameter which is journaled for Iaxial movement in the rear mounting plate 2
  • a button When a button is depressed, the sloping surface of the male element thereon will engage a complementary sloping surface of a driven female ⁇ or stop element 234 which may constitute an orifice having a bevelled rim 234a arranged adjacent the end portion of a surface of an arm 230 which is pivoted as at 2322L on the rear mounting plate 2 I5.
  • Only one female element may be arranged on any given arm since each is individual to a given station frequency.
  • a given arm When a given arm is actuated (by the force incident to the centering of its male and female elements) its movement Will be a pivotal one, about the common axis 232a of the several arms 23H. instead of a linear movement, as in the case of the driven element (rack 30, or 130) of the earlier described embodiments of the invention.
  • the pivotal movement of an arm 235!V serves vto move a gear sector 232 to which the several arms are fixed as by means of a washer 232b (see ⁇ Fig. 8).
  • the gear sector in turn drives a pinion 233 secured'to the main tuning shaft 2M.
  • the degree of movement imparted to the gears 2152-233 and shaft 2id depends upon the arcuate distance an arm 23! must be moved to center its stop-engaging male element 235 with ⁇ respect to its stop or female element 234.
  • the curved arrows adjacent the ends of the .arms indicate such pivotal or arcuate movement.
  • ] must be xed to the gear sector at certain angles. (It will be noted in connection with Fig. 7 that the arms 23B intersect the line -B at different Y angles.)
  • the tuning knob 225 is forcibly turned, (to overcome the friction of the washer 2321)) to the desired stations. Torque applied to knob 225 and Vtransmitted through gear 221 and pinion 233 to the gear sector 232 will serve to move the gear sector with respect to that arm which is being momentarily held against movement.
  • each arm 23 s relatively fixed with respect to the gear sector 232 by the friction Washer 232b and movement of an arm resulting from, the centering action of the male and female elements 235, 234, produces a corresponding movement of the gear sector 232 and tuning shaft 2M.
  • an element to be tuned a rotor shaft on Which said element is mounted, driven means connected to said shaft, a ⁇ plurality of preset adjustable stops on said driven means and through which a driving force for rotatingvsaid shaft may be applied to said driven means, ⁇ and a movable sto-"p engaging member for applying said driving force mounted adjacent each stop, said stops and stop engaging members comprising male and female ele- ⁇ ments, the opening in each female element bee ing of a diameter sufficient to permit the entrance therein of its male element irrespective of the position to which said driven means may be moved.
  • said driven means is constituted by a toothed rack having duplicate slots therein Within which said pre-set stops are seated, and wherein the dimensions of each of said slots and hence the limits within which each stop must be set correspondsl to the distance said rack must be moved to rotate said shaft through its entire range of movement.
  • the invention las set forth in cla-im 1 wherein said stop engaging members are contained on plungers mounted for axial movement and which extendzto the exterior of said apparatus, said plungers being hollow to permit of access to said pre-set stops for purposes of adjustment.
  • a variable tuning element requiring different degrees of angular movement to tune said apparatus to separate selected frequencies
  • a rotor shaft on which said tuning element is mounted a driven element connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft through its entire range of movement, and means for selectively applying a driving force to said rotor shaft through said driven element suhicient to move said variable tuning element from any given position to any of said selected angular positions
  • said driving means comprising a plurality of spaced stops mounted on said driven element, a plurality of movable female stop-engagingmembers individual to said stops and each of a diametersuflicient to engage its stop irrespective of the position of said driven element, and means including the selected stop and its stop-engaging member for halting the y. movement of said driven element when said rotor shaft completes Vthe movement it requires to move said tuning element to that angular position whereat the selected frequency is achieved.
  • a variable tuning element a rotor shaft on which said element is mounted, driving and driven elements operatively connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft through its entire range of movement, and auxiliary means for rotating said shaft from any given angular position to any of a plurality of selected angular positions
  • said auxiliary means comprising a plurality of pre-set adjustable stops of substantially conical contour mounted on a common driven element for applying a driving force thereto, said stops being spaced one from another as determined Yby the different degrees of movement requiredby said driven means to rotate said shaft from the limits of its movement to any given of said selected angular positions, a movable stop engaging member for each stop for applying a driving force to said driven element, said stop engaging members each beingk of a contour complementary to its stop and of a diameter sufficient to engage and to drive its stop irrespective of the position of said driven element.

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  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Structure Of Receivers (AREA)
  • Channel Selection Circuits, Automatic Tuning Circuits (AREA)
US165469A 1937-09-24 1937-09-24 Automatic tuning mechanism Expired - Lifetime US2244678A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US165469A US2244678A (en) 1937-09-24 1937-09-24 Automatic tuning mechanism
FR843874D FR843874A (fr) 1937-09-24 1938-09-24 Perfectionnements aux mécanismes d'accord automatique des appareils radio-récepteurs

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US165469A US2244678A (en) 1937-09-24 1937-09-24 Automatic tuning mechanism

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3212343A (en) * 1964-06-25 1965-10-19 Motorola Inc Tuning apparatus

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3212343A (en) * 1964-06-25 1965-10-19 Motorola Inc Tuning apparatus

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Publication number Publication date
FR843874A (fr) 1939-07-12

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