The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 03, 1989
Filed:
Feb. 23, 1988
Robert W Brandstetter, Fairborn, OH (US);
The Warner & Swasey Company, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A joystick controller (38) for three axis control of a powered element such as a probe shaft (24) of a coordinate measuring machine (10) is disclosed in which a joystick handle assembly (40) is mounted for pivoting movement along either of orthogonal horizontal X or Y axis, with a plunger (64) mounted within a hollow joystick shaft (58) for up and down movement along a vertical Z axis orthogonal to the X and Y axes. Control signal generators, such as potentiometer assemblies (84, 106, 134), are drivingly engaged with the hollow joystick shaft (58) and plunger (64), each generating control signals corresponding to each motion of the joystick handle assembly (40). These signals are used to produce corresponding controlled movement of the probe shaft (24) of the coordinate measuring machine (10) along respective X, Y and Z axes. In the first embodiment, the hollow joystick shaft (58) carries, at its lower end, a Z axis potentiometer assembly (106) which is operated by an actuator arm (112) engaged by the plunger (64). A gear rack (146) acting on rotary actuator gear (148) directly operates Z axis potentiometer assembly (106) in an alternate embodiment.