US2096072A - Automatic radio program selector - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 19 1937. s." sPAbNLA AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM sLEQ'roR Filed Apri; 2o, 19:55 7 sheets-shut 1 vri/Wa? 55046/1044 Oct. 19, 1937. S SPAGNOLA AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Filed April 20, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY S. SPAGNOLA oct. 19, 1937.

AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 20, 1935 anni NN bm. 3% wh MM.

I N V E N TO R 5k/van ,Siwa/roza ATTORNEY oct. 19, 1937. s. SPAGNOLA' AUTOMATIC RAIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Filed April 20, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1937. s. SPAGNOLA AUTOMATIC RADIO` PROGRAM SELECTORk Filed Api-i1 2d, 1935 7 sheets-sheet 5 Oct. 19, 1937.

S. SPAGNQLAl AuTouTIc :amro PROGRAM ssmac'ron Film1P -April 20, 1,935 -7 Sheen-Sheet 6 y Malin/raf? 55s/vaag @M014 l v Cil Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC RADIO PRQGRAM SELECTOR Samuel Spagnola, Tuckahoe, N. Y.

f Application April 20, 1935, Serial No. 17,411

17 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to a system and apparatus for operating radio receivers automatically in accordance with a preselected program or series of programs.

The principal object of the invention. is to provide a system and apparatus of the type specified which may be applied to any radio receiver and which, whenv so applied, will operate said receiver and 'deliver preselected broadcast programs for an extended period of time without manual control or supervision of any kind.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a simple and highly accurate program selecting mechanism which may be operated without requiring special knowledge or skill; to provide means for' instantly cutting off an undesired sta- -tion during the selecting process or during the playing of a program; to provide means for operating the radio set by hand to obtain any desired `station at any time without impairing the setting of the automatic station selector, so'that automatic operation may be resumed according to v the prearranged program when desired; to provide means for operating the set semi-automatically or by remote control; and in general to simplify the construction and operation of automatic radio sets by the many improvements and reiinements hereinafter described.

Radio broadcasting is standardized to such an Iextent that practically all programs are published in the newspapers at least a day, ahead of time. Most people refer to such papers and check off the programs they wish to hear; then, when the time arrives for a chosen program, they turn on the set and tune in the station by hand, and, of course, turn it oii when the program is nished. My invention, however, makes it possible to select a whole series of radio programs, from various broadcast stations, hours or even days ahead of time, and after a simple setting operation enables the apparatus to deliver .these programs on exact schedule without the slightest manual control or supervision. The mechanisms which I have vchosen to illustrate my invention are arranged to handle a twenty-four hour schedule of programs but may be adapted for longer or shorter schedules without any change in theprinciples of construction and operation hereinafter described.

In its preferred form my invention includes a program member which may comprise a rotatable drum driven at a definite speed as by a clock. In the form illustrated, the'clock rotates the drum once every twenty-four hours. The di'um carries a plurality of adjustablecontacts each oi! PATENT OFFICE which represents a iiiteen-minute radio program, this time interval being used for purposes of illustration because itgis customary to divide radio programs into fifteen-minute periods. Means are provided for setting the drum contacts in 5 various positions allottedv to individual broadcasting stations, and for this purpose I prefer to use an ordinary telephone calling dial although other means may be employed if desired. In the form shown, the operator simply rotates the se- 10 lector drum by means of a knob until a desired quarter-hour mark shows on a scale, after whichV he turns the calling dial up to a linger hole allotted to the particular broadcasting station which he wants to hear during the stated quarterhour period. This operation instantly sets the contact allotted to that quarter-hour period in proper position to operate the radio set and tune in the desired station when the time for that program arrives. The operator continues to rotate the selector drum and operate the calling dial until the drum has absorbed all the desired programs, after which the set is ready to operate automatically.

As the selector drum rotates in step with the clock, each contact will arrive at a predetermined point at exactly the time scheduled for the program allotted to said Contact. When this happens; the contact closes an electric circuit which energizes the radio receiving set and tunes it precisely to the preselected station. At the conclusion of the program the radio set is automatically turned orf unless the next contact on the selector drum happens to be set to the same or another station, in which case it will function to deliver the next program. If no program has been selected for a given period, none will be delivered. If the listener does not like a program which is being played, he can shut it ofi by sim- `ply pressing a button or lever without in any way impairing the continuity of subsequent programs. He can also do this to rectify mistakes, it such there be, at the time of dialing. The apparatus can likewise be shifted instantly from automatic to manual operation, enabling the operator to tune in local or distant stations not represented on the selector, after which automatic operation may be resumed with no interruption in the continulty of subsequent programs. According to another feature of the invention this manual tuning-in'may be accomplished semi-automatically, or by throwing a switchinstead of manipulating the usual hand controls. According to still another feature of the invention the set may be operated by remote control, that is, from across the room or from any other locality however remote from the set itself.

Important advantages of my radio program selector are its simplicity, accuracy and-ease of operation, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds. Other program selectors have been proposed in the past but they have never proved successful because of the tedious and bewildering procedure involved in setting a program and the precautions necessary to avoid mistakes in operation. My apparatus overcomes these disadvantages and avoids previous diiculties in the way of properly selecting radio programs with' a minimum of eiort and the delivery of these programs at the proper times and in vthe proper signal channels.

These and otherfeatures and advantagesA of the invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in whichz' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the programA selector switch mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a partial end view of the selector drum; Fig. 3 is a detail of the selector drum showing one of the cooperating selector contacts;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the dialing and contactor mechanisms of the selector; Fig.;5 is a plan view ofthe mechanisms shown in Fig. 4;

' Fig.' 6 is a detail of the manual drive for. the

tuning mechanism shown in Fig. 9; Y

' Fig. '7 is a detail of the manual Y control for setting the selector drum of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8-8 .l of Fig, 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the automatic tuning mechanism which operates the radio under c control of the selector switch mechanism of Fig. 1; v l Fig. 10 is a detail of the jack shaft andswitch actuating cam discs 0f Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram for thev tuning mechanism of Fig. 9; and

Fig. l2 is a diagrammatic view oi the semiautomatic and remote control circuits for the however, are electrically connected as hereinafter' described.

The mechanism of Fig. 1 is the actual program selecting -mechanisin. In the form illustrated it includes a dial, similar to a telephone dial, and

a time-controlled selector drum. All programs are selected in advance by simply turning the said dial and drum as hereinafter described. lIv'liereafter, the drum is rotated by a clock mechanism, and, as soon as the drum arrives at arpoint corresponding to the time when a preselected program is to go on the air, it closes a contact which operates .the radio tuning mechanism of Fig. 9. The mechanism of Fig. 9 turns on the radio set and tunes it to the aforesaid preselected station. At the conclusion of the preselected broadcast 'the radio set is automatically turned oif andremains deenergized until the time arrives for `program selecting mechanism of Fig. 1; the radio set operating and tuning mechanism of Fig. 9; the operation of the system as a whole; and, lastly,

'the semi-automatic and remote control systems.

Program selecting mechanism The program member shown in Fig. 1 comprises a rotatable index wheel-for drum having spaced parallel iianges 2 and 3 carried by spiders Ii and 5 y which are secured to rotatable shaft 6.

The flange 2 of the drum carries a continuous band 'I comprising a scale which is graduated in fteen minute intervals. These fifteen minute graduations are the long lines shown on the scale 'I' in Fig. 1. 'I'he drum is driven at the rate of one revolution each twenty-four hours as hereinafter described; hencey the scale 'I is graduated into ninety-six equally spaced lines each representing a period of fifteen minutes.

This particular scale, with graduations arranged at fifteen minute intervals, is used simply because it is customary to divide radio programs into periods of fifteen minutes each. This holds true even for longer broadcast programs as there isl always a pause for station announcements at the end of each fifteen minute period. It is to be understood, however, that my selector drum may be vcalibrated and otherwise adjusted .to'

function at other than the standard fifteen minute interval if this should be desirable for any reason.

The selector ydrum rotates in the direction of thearrow in Fig. l, moving the scale I past a window 8 which is mounted in the front panel I of the radio cabinet. The scale is illuminated at the window 8 by a lamp 9 which is lighted, as hereinafter described, whenever the drum is operated manually for the purpose of preselecting the days programs. Preferably one-half o f the scale I is made with black calibrations and numerals for the hours on a white eld to indicate day programs, while ythe other half of the scale is madel with white calibrations and numerals indicating evening programs.

The anges 2 and 3 of the selector drum contain circular seriesof round holes I2 and I3 respectively, the holes I2 of flange 2 being aligned with the holes I3 of flange 3. Slots 'I4 are cut through the periphery of ange 3 into each of the holes I3 as shown in Fig. 1. There are ninety-six holes I2 in flange 2 and a corresponding number of holes I3 in flange 3, or one set of holes I2|3 for each fifteen minute interval on the twentyfour hour selector drum. Each such set or pair of holes I2-I3 is aligned with one of the fifteen minute graduations on the scale 1. Inach set of holes I2-I3 is mounted a tube I5 as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. Each tube I5 contains a longitudinal slot I6 which extends the entire length of the tube except for the small portion which extends into the flange 2, and each slot I6 is aligned with the slot I4 of the corresponding-hole I3 in ange 3 as best shown in Figs. 4 andf5.`

In each tube I5, free to slide therein, is a rod I'I' which is disposed transversely or at right angles to the plane of rotation of the drum and contains spaced notches I8. Adjacent its inner end, or at the left as viewed in Figs. l, 4 vand 5, each rod I1 carries a contact member or segment I9 having a neck which projects through the longitudinal slot I6 in the associated tube I5. 'I'he rods I'I are normally .held inside their respective tubes I5 -are five Vin number.

by means of springs 2I which have one end fastened to flange 2` of the drum and the other end fastened to a cantilever 22 on the outer end of each rod. I1.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, particularly Figs. 4 and 5, the notches I8 in rods I1 Whenever any rod I1 is moved outwardly in its tube I5, or toward the right as viewed in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, one `or another of the notches I8 in such rod is engagedA by a catch 23 pivoted in the adjacent slot I4 in the flange 3 of the drum, thereby holding the rod I1 in said extended outward position. Each rod I1 has its own l catch 23 and each such catch has a leaf spring 24 which is fiexed to force the catch inwardly into engagement with the notches I8 as indicated in Fig. 5. Whenever a rod I1 is held in extended position by its catch 23, it can be released only by tripping said catch about its pivot as hereinafter described. Whenever a rod I1 is moved in its tube I it of course carries its'contact segment I9 with it, and the notches I8 in each rod are spaced to cause the rod to stop in such position that, contact segment I9 will be in exact line with one or another of ,the contact members or ngers 25, 26, 21, 28 or 29 which are mounted on an insulating block 30 in front of the drum as contact segments I9 to preselect radio programs shown in Figs. 1 to 5. When a contact segment I9 is thus set in line with one or another of the contact fingers25-29 it will engage such -finger at a prearranged time during the rotation of the selector drum. rI'he contact segments I9 are of such length that they will remain in engagement with the fingers 25-29 for iifteen minutes, corresponding to one broadcast period, after which the rotating drum will carry the segmentsbeyond said fingers. During the period of engagement between a contact segment I9 and one of the contact fingers 25-29 the radio circuit of Figs. 9 and 11 is completed, automatically operating the radio set and delivering the preselected program. This operation will be described later; for the present it is sufficient to say that the operating circuit, so far as it concerns the selector drum mechanism of Figs. 1 to 5, extends from conductor 32 to the metal chassis of the selector drum,

and thence through contact segment I9, one or another of the contact lingersV 25-29, and one or another of conductors 33, 34, 35, 36 or 31, to the radio set operating and' tuning mechanism of Figs. 9 and 11.

The mechanism for automaticallysetting the will now be described. This mechanism includes a rod or ram 38 carried by rack 39 which is ac-v tuated by gear 40o-n shaft 4I journaled in frame 42. The rack 39 is confined in its travel by a l flanged roller 43 on frame 42 while the ram 38 extends through a hole in the inner end 44 of frame 42 which serves to guide the ram. The

` outer end of rack 39 carries a bumper 45 of rubber l'lo or the like adapted to engage the outer end 46 cf frame 42 to cushion the impact of the rack when it returns to the normal position-shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 of the drawings. The ram 38 is preferably of the same diameter as the rods I1 of the selector drum, although it may be of smaller diameter, and said ram is supported in a plane perpendicular to the drum ilange 2 in such position that it will be in exact alignment with any rod I1 whenever the graduation of scale 1 allotted to said rod is aligned with pointer 48 in the window 8 at the .front of the radio cabinet. Thus, whenever any graduation representing a fifteen minute period on scale 1 is aligned with the pointer 48 said rod I1 and thereby locks said rod in the shifted position with its contact segment I9 in line with one or another of the contact fingers 25-29, according to the length of travel of said ram 38 and rod I1.

Gear 4D, which actuates rack 39 and ram 38, is rotated by dial 59 secured to shaft 4I. This dial is similar to an ordinary telephone dial, having the usual finger holes 5I and stationary linger piece 52 limiting the travel of the dial. A coil spring 53 is secured to shaft 4I for the purpose of 'returning dial 5I), rack 39 and ram 38 to the normal retracted position shown in Figs. 14 and 5; preferably the dial 5I! is also provided with a suitable governor of the type commonly employed in telephone dials. Each finger hole 5I in dial 50 represents an individual radio station. In the apparatus shown in the drawings there are 'five contact fingers 25, 26, 21, 28 and 29 cooperating with the selector drum (Figs. 1, 4 and 5), hence this particular apparatus is capable of handling only five different radio stations although it will be understood that the apparatus may be modi. fied to handle as many stations as desired. l have chosen a five-station set for purposes of illustration because there are seldom more than five first class radio stations available in any given locality; and, of course, additional stations not represented on the dial 59 can always be tuned in manually when desired. Having decided upon the radio stations desired in the locality where the set is to be used, one of the finger h'oles 5I of dial 50 is assigned to each such station and appropriately labeled, as WEAF, WJZ, etc. It makes no difference which finger hole is assigned to a given station although it is convenient to distribute the stations around the dial according to their wavelengths. Thereafter, in order to set the selector drum for any particular station signed to the desired station, and then rotates the dial in a clockwise direction until restrained by stationary finger piece 52, after which the dial is .released -and allowed to return to its normal vposition This operation moves and locks a con- -tact segment I9 in line with one of the contact fingers 25-29, which contact fingers are connected by their respective conductors 33-31 to the radio set operating and tuning mechanism of Figs. 9 and 11 which is adjusted in a manner hereinafter described to correspond with the l setting of the dial 50 and selector drum mechanism.

The selector drum of Fig. l is rotated by synchronous electric clock 55 which is connected byeonductors 56-51 to any suitable source of current such as the alternating current mains of a house lighting system. The clock shaft driving the hour hand carries a gear 58 which drives gear 59 in a 2:1 ratio so as'to drive the selector drum at the rate of one complete revolution per twentyfour hour day. Gear 59 has a hub 68 in which is reamed a tapered hole adapted to receive a tapered pin 6I which is carried by' the outer or left-hand ange of the spool-shaped shaft coul pling 62 as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. Coupling 62 is secured to shaft 6 of the selector drum byl VTmeans of a sliding feather key, not shown, permitting said coupling 62 to slide longitudinally on shaft 6 while requiring shaft 6 and coupling 62 to rotate in unison. The inner or right-hand angeof coupling 62 is serrated so as to engage in corresponding teeth in the hub 68 of gear 65. Gears 59 and 65 are both loosely mounted on shaft 6, being free-to rotate about said shaft. Lying in the reduced central shank of .the spoolshaped coupling 62 is a guide pin 66 which is carried by lever 61, Figs.' 7 and 8, for the purpose of moving said coupling 62 into engagement either` with hub 68 of gear 59 or hub 66 of gear 65.

Lever 61 is secured to a shaft 68 which is jour- Ais rotatably mounted on shaft 1 6 extending parallel to rod 12. Collar 15 is held in place on shaft i6 by two positioning'collars 11 which are xed to said shaft as shown in Figs. '7 and 8. On its outer end shaft 16 carriesan actuating knob 18 which extends outside the front panel of the radio cabinet, while the inner end of said shaft `is bored hollow and carries within it one end of a stub shaft 19 which is journaled in frame 68 and carries worm 88 in constant mesh with gear 65. A pin 82 on stub shaft 19 extends through longitudinal slot 83 in the hollow portion of shaft 16 as show nin Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8, from which it will be seen that shaft 16 and stub shaft 19 necessarily rotate together. It will likewise be evident that this telescoping arrangement of shaft 16 andstub shaft 19 permits shaft 16 to be pulled out (toward the left as viewed in Figs. 2, l and 8) by means of its knob 18 for a distance equal to the length of slot 83, such longitudinal movement of shaft 16 being limited by the engagement of pin 82 with the ends of said slot 88.

Collar 15 on shaft 16 carries a pin 88 which engages in a forked lever 85 having a hub 81 journaled on horizontal .shaft 88 in front `of the selector drum. Shaft 88 is rotatably mounted in supports 89, 90 and 9| as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. A pin 92 secured to shaft 88 tracks in a short arcuate slot 93 in hub 81 ras shown in Fig. 4, enabling lever 85 to rotate shaft 88 whenever pin 92 engages either end of slot 93, while at the same time lpermitting shaft 88 to be rotated slightly by other means without actuating lever 85 or shaft 16. At its other end, to the right as viewed in Figs. l and 4, shaft 88 carries a disc having a pin 96 adjacent its upper peripheral edge. A spring- 91 is connected at one end to said pin 96 and at the other end to a hook 88 on the base of the radio cabinet as sho-wn in Figs. l, 2 and4. When shaft 16 is pulled out by means of knob 18 it actuates lever 85 through pin 85, the hub 81 of lever 85 thereby engaging pin 92 and rotating shaft 88. Before knob 18 on shaft 16 is pulled out its maximum distance, shaft 88, carrying disc 95, will rotate pin 96 over the top center of said disc 95, whereupon the tension of spring 91 will further rotate shaft 88 and hold same in actuated position with pin 92 against the lower end of slot 93 of Ahub 81. When knob 18 and shaft 16 are again pushed back to the normal position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 7 and8, pin 92 is engaged by the lower end of slot 93, thereby rotating shaft 88 until pin 96 on disc 95 is returned across the top center of said disc. Hence, just before knob 18 and shaft 16 reach the limit of their inward travel, pin 96 will cross the topcenter of disc 95, whereupon the tension of spring -91 will continue to rotate disc 95 and shaft 88 until said shaft is returned to its original. position with pin 92 engaging the upper end of slot 93 as best shown in Fig. 4.

The insulating block 30 carrying contact fingers 25-29 is mounted on shaft 88 as shown in Figs. l to 4, the block being keyed to rotate with the shaft. Hence whe-n knob.18 and shaft 16 are.

pulled out as described above, the resulting rotation of shaft 88 and block 30 will tip contact ngers 25--29 away from the selector drum thereby permitting the drum to rotate Without bringing any ofthe previously set contact segments I9 into engagement with said contact fingers 'Z5-29. Also mounted on shaft 88 isla trip linger |00, same being directly inthe path of catches 23 on the selector drum so as to trip said catches about their pivots and thereby release rods l1 carrying contact segments I8 whenever a catch engages trip finger |00 during rotation of the drum. It is evident that trip finger |00 will be tilted back out of the path of catches 23 whenever knob 18 and shaft 16,are pulled out as previously described. It sometimes happens that an operator may dial the wrong radio station, or for other reasons may wish to change the setting of a contact segment I9v from a position allotted to one radio station to a position allotted to another radio station, making it necessary to return rod |1 and contact segment I9 to normal position. To accomplish this I provide a lever |0| secured to shaft 88 by a slot and pin connection |08 and pivoted at |02 to a vertical lever |08 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. At its upper end lever |88 is pivoted at |05 to a short trip finger |06, which finger is pivoted at |01 to thesupport 9|. By' depressing 'lever 40| until it engages stop |08, trip finger v|06 will be rotated about its pivot |81 causing the free end of said trip finger |06 to strike the adjacent catch 23 thereby tripping said catch so that it releases its rod |1 and returns its contact segment i9 to its original position. When lever |0| is depressed in this manner it rotates shaft 88 through slot and pin connection |08 sumciently to tip contact nngers 25-29 away from the selector drum, thus preventing contact segments I9 from striking said contact fingers. Such slight rotation of shaft 88, however, is not transmitted to shaft 16 and its associated elements because *of the play afforded pin 92by the arcuate slot 931m the hub 81 of le'ver 85. On the other hand, the engagement of lever |0| with stop |08 does not prevent the more eX- tended rotation of shaft 88 by actuating knob 18 because pin |08 on shaft 88 is free to move forward in its slot in the hub of lever |0| as shown in Fig; 4.

Longitudinal movement of knob 18 and shaft 16 causes corresponding movement of` rod 12' which is secured to collar 15 on shaft 16 as previously described. Such longitudinal movement of rod 12 actuates lever 10 thereby rotating shaft 68 which, in turn, actuates lever 61 carrying guide pin 66 which lies in the reduced central shank of spool-shaped coupling 62 as sho-Wn in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8. When knob 18 is pulled out, the resulting movement of lever 61 and guide pin 66 is such as to move the serrated flange of coupling 62 into engagement with the teeth in hub 64 of' gear 65, thereby permitting knob 18 to rotate the selector drum through shaft 16, stub shaft 18, worm 80,

gear 65 and shaft coupling 62 which is keyed to the selector drum shaft 6. On the other hand,

when knob 18 is pushed .inwardly the resulting movement of lever 61 and guide pin 66 is such as to move coupling 62 toward gear 59 until the tapered pin 6| of coupling 62 engages in the tapered hole in hub 60 of gear 59, thereby permitting clock 55 to drive the selector drum through gears 58 and 59 and shaft coupling 62. If pin 6| does not coincide with the tapered hole in hub 69 of gear 59 the knob 18 will be unable to complete its travel ysufficiently `to disengage coupling 82 from the teeth in hub 64 of gear 65, and spring 91 will be unable to ride over the top of disc 95 on shaft 88. Furthermore, the time reading on dial 1 will not coincide properly with pointer 48 in Window 8 until pin 6| nests in the tapered hole in hub 60 of gear 59. When this condition prevails it is simply necessary to turn ob 18 slightly in either direction until pin 6I falls into the tapered hole in hub 60. On the rear of frame 69 is 'a light spring ||0 carrying roller I I I which bears against a span of two teeth of gear 65 as shown in Figs. l and 7. This mechanism serves to register the quarter-hour graduations ofscale 1 with pointer 48 in window 8 and therefore makes the center line of each tube I on the selector drum coincide exactly with the center line of rain 38 at the time of dialing the radio stations.

As shown in Figs. l, 4 and '1, the inner end 44 of frame42 carries a T-shaped trigger I I3 which is pivoted to said frame atv |I4. 'The vertical shank of this trigger contacts with the edge of collar 15 on shaft 16, being held in engagement with said collar by spring ||5 which is connected to one arm of trigger II3 and to the end frame 44 as shown in Fig. '7. This'same arm of trigger ||3 l carries electrical contact ||6 cooperating with contactv ||1 which is mounted on and suitably insulated from end frame 44 as shown in Fig. 7. Contact III ls connected by conductor ||8 to lamp 9 adjacent window 8 in the front panel I of the radio cabinet, and is thence connected by conductor ||9 (Fig. l) to the radio set operating and tuning mechanism of Figs. 9 and 1l. The energizing circuit of lamp 9 will be traced later in the description of Figs. 9 and 11; for the present it is sufficient to point out that lamp 9 is lighted whenever contactsl ||6 and ||1 are closed by pulling out knob 18 at the front of the cabinet, and, conversely, lamp 9 is extinguished when contacts ||6 and ||1 are opened by pushing knob I8 back to the normal position shown in Figs. 1 and '1. It will be remembered that the selector drum of Fig. 1 can be rotated by/ knob 18 only when said knob is pulled out, hence the lighting of lamp 9 is a signal to the operator that the drum is ready tovbe rotated by knob 18 for the purpose of selecting the days radio programs. The T-shaped trigger II3 has a secondV nism of Figs. 9 and -11, after which I shall describe the operation of the set as a whole.

Radio tuning mechanism The radio set tuning mechanism of Figs. 9

and 11 includes a hollow shaft 25 which is rotatably mounted in supports |26 and |21 on the base |28. Shaft |25 is suitably keyed to radio set control shaft |29 carrying the usual tuning elements which are here represented by tuning dial |30 and condenser |3I; hence dial |30 and condenser |3.| rotate whenever shaft |25 is rotated by either the automatic or manual means which will now be described.

Shaft |25 carries worm wheel |32 which is free to turn on said shaft. Worm wheel |32 meshes with worm |33 on shaft |34 which is journaled in support |35 as shown in Fig. 9. Shaft |34 carries gear |36 meshing with pinion |31 on shaft |38 of electric motor |39 which may be any suitable type of reversible motor such as a single phase induction motor. Jack shaft |4| extends lengthwise through hollow shaft |25 and has its outer end slidably mounted in bearing |42 on support |35 as shown in Figs. 9 and l0. Jack shaft |4| is-adapted to be coupled to worm wheel |32 by means of a pin |43 on the jack shaft and a cooperating slot |44 in the hub of worm Wheel |32. A spoolshaped clutch |45 is loosely mounted on hollow shaft |25 and is xed to jack shaft I4| by pin |46 passing through slot |41 in shaft |25 as shown in Figs. 9 and l0. It will thus be observed that thepin and slot connection I46-I41 makes shaft |25 and jack shaft |4| rotate in unison while permitting the jack shaft to move lengthwise in shaft |25 a distance equal to the length of slot |41; and when clutch |45 is moved to the righthand end of slot |41, as viewed in Figs. 9 and 10, pin' |43 will engage in slot |44 in the hub of worm wheel |312, enabling motor |39 to rotate shafts |4| and |25 through the gear connections described above.

Shaft |25 carries worm wheel |49 adjacent clutch l|45 as shown inFigs. 6, 9 and 10. This Worm wheel is adapted to mesh with worm |50 carried by shaft |5| which projects through a vertical slot |52 in the-front panel of the radio cabinet and has an actuating knob |53 outside said panel. Shaft |5I is rotatably mounted 'in a carriage |54 which is pivoted at |55 to bracket |56 on support |26 as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Carriage |54 has a wedge-shaped projection |51 on its lower edge cooperating with a similar Wedge |58 on vertical plunger |59 which is surrounded by spring |60 compressed between wedge |58 and base |28 as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. When knob |53 is actuated to move shaft |5| up or down in slot |52 the knife edge tip of wedge |51 on carriage |54 rides over the corresponding tip of wedge |58 on spring-pressed plunger |59 so that the upward pressure of wedge |58 on other extreme position at the top or bottom of slot |52. Shaft I5| extends through a slot in lever |62 which is pivoted at |63 to support |26 as shown in Fig. 9. Lever |62 is fixed to fork |64 which straddles the reduced central'shank of the spool-shaped clutch |45 of jack shaft |4I; hence vertical movement of shaft I5| by knob |53 causes lever |62 to rotate on its pivot |63 thereby rocking fork |64vwhich moves clutch |45 and jack shaft |4| lengthwise in hollow shaft |25 for a distance equal to the length of slot |41 and in a direction depending upon Whether knob |53 is moved up or down. When knob |53 is in.

vso

gaging pin |43 of jack shaft |4| from slot |44 in the hub of 4worm wheel I 32 and disconnecting the reduction gears of motor |39 'from shaft |25. When the parts are in this position worm |50 on shaft |5| meshes with worm wheel |09 on shaft |25, enabling shaft |257, dial |30 and condenser |3| to be rFotated manually by knoby |53. On the other hand, when knob |53 is in the down position, with shaft |5| engaging the lower end of slot |52, worm |50 is disengaged from worm wheel |49 and pin |03 on jack shaft |6| is engaged'in slot |44 in the hub of'worm wheel |32, enabling motor |39 to rotate shaft |25, dial |30 and condenser |3| through the reduction gears described above. If pin |63 does not exactly register with slot |54 when knob |53 is being lowered; it is simply necessary -to rotate said knob slightly in one direction or the other until pin |43 enters slot |40 since it ls impossible to lower knob |53 until this condition prevails. Shaft |5| also actuates the elongated central blade or contact'nger |65 of a two-way switch ,having opposite short contact ngers |86 and |61 as shown in Figs. 6, 9 and 11. The purpose of this switch will be described later; for the present it is noted that when shaft |5| is raised out of engagement with contact finger |65 said linger engages finger |66, whereas when shaft |5| is depressed it forces iinger |65 into engagement with finger |61.

Shaft |25 carries a plurality of cam discs |10 each of which contains a peripheral slot 1| as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. Cooperating with each disc |10 is an elongated contact finger |12 having an insulated roller 13 bearing on the peripheral edge of said disc. Each roller linger |12 is mountedbetween and insulated from an upper contact finger |14 and a lower contact finger |15, al1 of said banks of contacts |12, |14 and |15 being mounted on a horizontal plate |16 secured to end supports |26 and |21 as best'shown in Fig. 9. Each disc |10 with its associated contact lingers |12, |14 and |15 is allotted to and represents anv individual radio broadcasting station. In the embodiment shown in the drawings there are five discsY |10 and five banks of contact fingers |12, |14 and |15, representing a five-station set, which corresponds with the number of contact lingers 25-29 associated with the selector drum of Fig. 1. The various roller ngers |12 are connected by` individual conductors 33-31 to they respective contact lingers 25--29 of the selector drum mechanism as shown inv Figs. 1, 9 and 11. 'I'he upper contact ngers |14 are all connected to a common conductor |18 while the lower contact lingers |15 are'all connected to another common corfductor |19 as indicated in Fig. 11. To simplify the description and avoid confusion, however, Fig. 11 is wired for only one complete radio vbroadcast station, to wit, the station allotted to con- -tact nger 25 in the selector drum mechanism of Fig. 1. It will be evident that when the roller |13 of 'any contact finger |12 rests on the peripheral edge of its cam disc |10, that linger |12 will engage'its adjacent upper contact nger |14; and when any roller |13 falls into the slot |1| in the periphery of its cam disc |10, the contact finger 12 carrying such roller will flex downwardly into engagement with its adjacent lower contact linger |15. The cam-discs |10 are secured to control shaft |25 by individual clamps I 80 which are carried by said discs and are clamped to said shaft by screws |8| as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.'y By loosening screws |8| any disc`|10 may be rotated to any lection of the signal channel or wave length of any given radio station'is accomplished by iirst turning knob |53 by hand until dial |30 arrives at the desired station; shaft |25 is locked or held at this setting, after which the disc |10 is slowly rotated by hand until the roller |13 of its associated contact linger |12 falls into the slot |1| on the peripheral edge of said disc, whereupon said disc is locked to shaft |25 by tightening screw |8| in clamp |80. In this manner each disc |10 is adjusted and clamped on shaft |25 in a particular angular position corresponding to a particular Vsetting of dial |30 and tuning condenser |3|. Once a disc |10 is set in this manner, no further adjustment is necessary. The next step in ad-` justing the apparatus preparatory to use is to trace the leads 33-31 of lthe various roller fingers I the finger piece 52, ram 38 will push a contact segment |9 into position opposite one of the ngers 25-29, whereupon that particular finger hole 5| is labeled with the letters of the radio station allotted to the nger 25, 26, 21, 28 or 29 opposite which the contact segment I9 came vto a stop. 'I'his procedure is repeated yuntil all the finger holes 5|. of dial 50 are properly traced and labeled. Of course alli such adjustments -are usually made in advance or at the time the radio set is installed in the home or other place of use, although they may be varied from time to time by the user if occasion requires.

The electric operating circuit for the mechanism described above includes conductors 56 and 51 which in the present instance are connected by plug |83 to any suitable source of alternating current such as a house lighting system. Branches of conductors 58 and 51, shown in broken lines at the top of Fig. 11, are connected to the electric clock 55 in Fig. 1 from which it will be seen that,

clock 55 runs continuously day and night provided plug |83 is connected to the current outlet. The energizing circuit of the radio set itself (radio tubes, etc.) extends from conductor 56, through contact |84 and arnmtureof electromagnet |85,

conductor |86, and thence through the radio set.

to conductor 51 as illustrated in Fig. 11. Connected across supply' conductors 56-51 is a low voltage transformer |81 the purpose of which is to reduce the line voltage to, say, 24 volts, to operate electromagnets |85 and |88, etc., as will now be described. As shown in the drawings,

electromagnets |85 and |88 are clapper-type conto engage a cylindrical drum |94 carried by shaft |38 of motor |39. When magnet |89 is energized, it attracts its armature |9|l and thereby disengages brake shoe |93 from drum |94, permitting lmotor |39 to rotate its shaft |38 and associated gears controlling dial |30 and condenser I3 The instant magnet |89'is deenergized, however, spring |95 returns armature inwhich brake shoe |93 engages drum |94. As will be explained below, motor |39 is deenergized at the'sme time as magnet |89, but the prompt application of the brake to the motor shaft is |9| tov normal the position,

nevertheless highly desirable as it .prevents the 75 i momentum of the motor, etc.,from rotating condenser |3| beyond the exact setting required for perfect tuning of a given radio station.

When the rotating selector drum of Fig. 1 arrives at a point where a contact segment I9 engages one of the contact fingers 25-29, for example contact finger 25, magnet 88 of Figs. 9 and 11 will be energized over a circuit extending from the low voltage side of transformer |81 through conductor |98,'contact fingers |65 and |61 (which are always held closed by shaft |5| during automatic operation of the set), conductor 32, metal chassis of the control drum in Fig. 1, contact segment I9, contact finger 25, conductor v33, roller ngero |12 in Figs. 9 and 11, associated upper contact finger |14 (which is closed since roller |13 is normally riding on the periphery of disc |10), conductor |18, through winding of Vmagnet |88, and thence by conductor |99 to the other terminal on the low voltage side of transformer |81. Magnet |88 thereupon attracts its armature, closing contact |90 which simultaneously connects motor '|39 and brake magnet |89 to supply conductors 56-51. Since magnet |89 releases brake shoe |93 from drum |94, the motor |39 can rotate only when said motor and magnet are energized at the same time. The armature of magnet |88 preferably carries a finger- |91 which engages the armature of magnet |85 and causes said armature to close its contact |84 thereby closing the radio set energizing circuit and warming up the tubes preparatory to the electrical operation of relay |85 which will be described presently. Motor |39 now drives control shaft |25 until roller |13 of contact finger |12 falls into slot |1| in disc |10. When this occurs, finger |12 disengages upper contact finger |14, thereby deenergizing magnet |88 and consequently stopping motor |39 and applying the brake |93 which prevents the motor and associated mechanism from coasting or carrying condenser |3I past the desired point of tuning. At the instant roller finger |12 disengages upper contact finger |14 it engages `lower contact |15, thereby energizing magnet |85 which closes the energizing circuit of the radio set through contact |84 as described above. The radio set thereupon delivers the desired preselected radio program. It will be evident from the foregoing description that a single magnet |85 and a single magnet |88 are all that are required to handle any number of broadcast stations; and it will further be evident that the cycle of operations just described is the same for all broadcast stations except, oi' course, that each station is allotted to its own individual cam disc |10'and its own individual contact segment I9 and cooperating contact finger 25-29 on the selector drum mechanism of Fig. 1. When motor |39 rotates control'shaft |25 and cam discs |10, as described above, various rollers |13 on contact fingers |12 may fall into the slots |1| of their respective discs |10 before the roller |13 of the desired preselected station reaches its slot |1.|; but of course control shaft |25 and discs |10 will continue to rotate until one of the roller fingers |12, in breaking contact with its upper finger |14, breaks the energizing circuit of magnet |08 previously established through a contact segment |9 and one of the associated contact fingers 25-29.

As long as a contact segment I9 remains in en gagement with one of the contact fingers 25-29,

magnet |85 will remain energized and the radio set will continue to deliver the program selected in the manner described above. The length of each program is fifteen minutes, after .which the continuously rotating selector drum of Fig. 1 will carry contact segment I9 beyond its associated contact finger 25-29. When this happens, magnet |85 will be deenergized and the4 radio set turned off since its energizing circuit will be broken at contact |84 of magnet |85. If the next fifteen minute period happens to be assigned to the saine identical broadcast station as the preceding period, the energizing circuit of magnet |85 will be instantly reestablished when the succeeding contact segment I9 engages its Contact finger 25-29 because contact fingers |12 and |15 of camv disc |10 will still be engaged due to the fact that roller |13 of finger |12 will still rest in the slot |1| of said disc; hence the same broadcast station as that previously heard will continue to play without interruption. O'n the other hand, if the next program happens to be scheduled from another broadcast station, whether it follows immediately after the last program or later in the day, the mechanism functions to tune in the proper station as previously described.

It has already been explained that operating knob |53 and shaft |5| of Fig. 9 must be in raised position at the upper end of slot |52 in order to operate the set by hand, that is, in order to actuate dial |30 and condenser |3| by rotating knob |53. When knob |53 and shaft I5| are in such raised position the shaft is out of Contact with finger |65 (Figs. 9 and l1) and said finger |65 therefore engages finger |66, thereby energizing magnet 85 over a circuit .extending from the low voltage side of transformer |81, through conductor |98, contact fingers |65 and |66, conductor 200, winding of magnet |85, to the other terminal on the low voltage side of transformer |81. The energizing-circuit of the radio set is therefore completed at contact |84 of magnet |85 as previously described and any desired station may be tuned in simply by rotating knob |53 inthe usual manner. It is of course understood that 'the set maybe disconnected at any time either by pulling plugv |83 out of its socket or by operating a suitable master switch which may be provided for that purpose. Ordinarily, however, the set will be permanently connected to the lighting circuit or other source of current by plug |83 even if the set isnot used continuously since in such case the only power consumption is by the electric clock 55 which draws very little current.

It has been explained that lamp 9 adjacent window 8 in Fig. 1 is lightedwhen contacts ||6 and ||.1 are closd by pulling out knob 1B at thefront of the cabinet. The energizing circuit of this lamp contains a resistance unit (Fig.

11) for the purpose of reducing the transformed voltage to say 2.5 volts for feeding this lamp. The lamp circuit extends lfrom the low voltage lside of transformer |81, through-resistance 20|,

conductor ||9, lamp 9, conductor ||8, contacts ||1 and ||6, chassis of the control drum, conductor 32, contact fingers |61 and |65, to the other terminal on the low voltage side of transformer |81. Of course if knob |53 and shaft |5| are in raised position at this time, contact fingers |61 and |65 will be disengaged and lamp 9 will not be lighted. This will serve to remind the operator to depress knob |53 to prepare the set for automatic operation; and thereafter,when the selector drum of Fig. 1 is loaded with the desired programs, automatic operation can proceed without further adjustment as soon as lamp 9 is extinguished by pushing back knob 18 in Fig. 1.

Operation In describing the operation of the set it is assumed that the cam discs |10 of Fig. 9 are adjusted to correspond with various predetermined settings of condenser |3| so that, whenever a roller |13 is seated inthe slot |1| of a disc, the condenser |3| will be in the exact posipapers, the knobv '18 is pulled'out the entire length of its travel which equals' the length of the slot 83 in shaft 16. This disconnects the selector drum from electric clock 55 and enables said drum to be rotated manually by turning knob 18. It also lights lamp 9 at window 8, indicating that the process of selecting the program may begin. The knob 18 isaccordingly turned until the mark on scale 1, representing the timeof the desired program, is directly opposite the pointer 48 in window 8. The operator then rotates calling dial 50 up to the nger hole 5| assigned to the desired station, causing ram 38 to force the adjacentl contactsegment I9 into alignment with oneof the contact fingers 25-29 as previously described. The calling dial is then released and returns to normal position while the contact segment I9 is locked in its new position by its associated catch 23.

After a stationis dialed, the knob 18 is turned to the next desired fteen minute mark and the operator dials the next station which may, of course, be the same or different from the previously selected station. This operation is continued until the entire program is absorbed. On completion, the knob 18 is pushed in to connect the selector drum with electric clock 55. The angular .position of the selector drum at this time will correspond with the time indicated on the face of clock 55 since^otherwise the tapered pin 6| of shaft coupling 62 wouldnot engage the tapered hole in the hub 60 of gear 59. As soon as k'nob 18 is pushed in the full length of its travel, and the selector druml is thereby connected to electric clock 55, lamp 9 is extinguished, thereby indicating that the set is ready y to function automatically to deliver the preselected radio programs. y.

If the listener desires for any reason to shut off a program while it is being played, all that is necessary is to depress leverI at the front of the 'cabinet,vrthereby actuating trip nger |06 (Fig. 2`) which allows contact segment I9 to returnto itsA normal position and therefore shuts off the program. Lever |0| is also actuated in this manner if `an error in dialing occurs when setting the program. I

'Y In the course of a day the operator may wish to tune in some station, either local or remote, which is not represented -on calling dial 50 and hence has not been selected for automatic operation. Any such station may be obtained simply by raising knobv |53 (Figi 9) and rotating said knob by hand until the desired station appears on tuning dial-|30. Thereafter, automatic operation will be resumed as soon as knob |53 is depressed since the selector drum of Fig. 1 continues its rotation and therefore keeps in step with clock 55 even when knob |53 is raised for manual operation.

The set continues to operate automatically until the selector drum of Fig. 1 completes its revolution and all the contact segments |9 return to normal position, indicating that the days programs are ended.

Semi-automatic and remote control The apparatus described above may be modified for semi-automatic operation as well as for remote control if desired. For semi-automatic operation the knob |53,`switch IE-|61 and associated manual control mechanisms of Fig. 9 are omitted and replaced by a toggle switch 203 which is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 12 and may be mounted in the position now occupied by the guide slot' |52 in Fig. 9. For manual operation, switch 203 is rocked slightly to the right as viewed in Fig. 12, thereby causing contact blade 200 to engage blade 205. As these blades are connected, respectively, to conductors |98 and |19 of Fig. 11, their engagement will cause the radio set to be operated over a circuit similar to that previously described. Then, by rocking switch 203 still further to the right, blade 205 is brought into engagement with blade 206 which` is connected Vto conductor |18 of Fig. 11, this operation completing the energizing circuit of motor |39 which rotates control shaft |25 and condenser |3| until the desired station is tuned in and contact blades 205-208 are disengaged by rocking switch 203 slightly to the left in Fig. 12. All tuning can be accomplished by rotating motor |39 in one direction although is connected to conductor |98 while blade 2084 is connected to conductor 32 in Fig. 11; hence the engagement of these-blades conditions the system for full automatic operation in the same manner as does the engagement of contact ngers |65 and |61 whose place they take.

To make the set operable by remote control I provide a socket 2|0 which may be conveniently mounted on the front panel and a portable unit comprising plug 2||, a suitable length of cable 2|2 and a box 2|3 containing a potential meter 2|0 calibrated in kilocycles and a toggle switch 2|5 which is a duplicate and takes the place of toggle switch 203 described above. It will thus be seen that plug 2||, cable 2|2 and toggle switch 2|5 merely extend the toggle switch circuit previously described. However, in order to give the operator an answer back, which will let him known what station is being selected,

, a suitable standard high resistance potentiometer 2|5 in the' manner previously described in connection with toggle switch 203, motor |39 will rotate control shaft |29 carrying the contact arm 2| 1 of potentiometer 2|6. 'I'his causes contact arm 2|'| to vary the drop in potential across the leads to meter 2|! according to the position of arm 2|1 and control shaft |29. 'Since meter 2|4 is calibrated in kilocycles instead of volts, the reading thereon will identify the station which is being tunedy in by remote control. One prong 222 of plug 2| I, and its cooperating hole 223 of socket 2 0, are made larger than the other prongs and holes in order to avoid accidental connectionof dissimilar leads when plugging in.

Among other advantages of my radio program selector may be mentioned its simplicity and accuracy of operation. The preselection of programs, for example, involves a simple dialing operation with which the public is already familiar through the common use of automatic telephones. Once the program is s'et, the operation is automatic even to the restoration to normalcy after the program is completed. This eliminates many bewildering appliances to be disconnected or things to be remembered after the program is completed, as well as in setting same. Furthermore, the ease with which the cam discs of Figs. 9 and 10 may be set for any station enables the set to be used with equal flexibility in all localities.

It will be evident that various changes may be made in the details of construction and mode of operation described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is: f

1. In combination in a radio receiver, an energizing circuit, a tuning element, a control member comprising a rotatable cam shaft for setting said tuning element to selected radio stations, a plurality of cams carried by said cam shaft, means for setting said cams to correspond with predetermined positions of said tuning element, a motor for rotating said cam shaft, a brake for said motor, a magnet for operating said motor and releasing said brake, a second magnet controlling said radio energizing circuit, operating circuits for said magnets, pairs of contact members adjacent each of said cams, one contact member of each pair being connected to the operating circuit of one magnet and the other con- Y tact member of each pair being connected to the operating circuit of the other magnet, a contact finger between each pair of contact members actuated by the adjacent cam and adapted to engage one or the other contact member according t'o the' angular position of the cam, a time controlled selector adapted to be set to a predetermined sequence of stations, and means controlled by said selector for selectively completing the operating circuits of said first and second magnets through said contact fingers according to the angular position of said cams.A

70v .brakefor said motor, a magnet for operating said motor and releasing said brake, a second 2. In combination in a radio receiver, anenergizing circuit, a tuning element, a control member comprising a rota-table cam shaft for setting said tuning element to selected radio stations, a plurality of cams carried by said cam shaft, means rfor setting said cams to correspond with predetermined positions oi.' said tuning element, a motor for rotating said cam shaft, a

magnet controlling said radio energizing circuit, operating circuits for said magnets, pairs of contact members adjacent each of said cams, one

contact member of each pair being connected to the operating, circuit of 'one magnet and the other contact member of each pair being connected to the operating circuit of the other magnet, a contact Ifinger actuated by each of said cams for selectively engaging the adjacent contact members according to the angular position of the cam, a time controlled selector having a plurality of contact segments, means for setting said contact segments in a plurality of positions representing individual radio stations, and means controlled by said contact segments for selectively completing the operating circuits of said rst and second magnets through said contact fingers at predetermined times according to the angular position of said cams.

3. In combination in a radio receiver, an energ'izing circuit, a tuning element, a control member comprising a rotatable cam shaft for setting said tuning element to selected radio stations, a plurality of cams carried by said cam shaft, means for setting said cams to correspond with predetermined positions of said tuning element, a motor for rotating said cam shaft, a brake for said motor, a clutch for disconnecting said cam shaft and tuning element from said motor, means for operating said clutch and for rotating said tuning element by hand, a magnet for operating said motor and releasing said brake,

- a second magnet controlling said radio energizing net, a contact finger actuated by each of said cams for selectively engaging the adjacent contact members according to the angular position of the cam, a time controlled selector having a plurality of contact' segments, means for setting said contact segments in a plurality of positions representing individual radio stations, and means controlled by said contact segments for selectivelyv completing the operating circuits of said iirst and second magnets through said contact fingers at predetermined times according to the angular position of said cams. i

4. In a radio program selector, a rotatable drum, means for driving said drum at a definite speed, a clutch for disconnecting said drum from said driving means, a plurality of equally spaced contact segments disposed about the periphery of said drum and adapted to be adjusted thereon in a direction transverse to the plane of rotation, means for adjusting said contact segments transversely of said drum, catches pivoted on said drum for holding said Contact segments in adjusted position, means for returning said contact segments to normal position when released by said catches, a plurality of contact members adjacent said drum for engagement with the adjusted contact segments, a tripping device beyond said contact members for tripping said catches to return said contact segments to normal position on said drum, means for actuating said clutch to disconnect said drum from said driving means, means speed, a clutch for disconnecting said drum from g5 said driving means, a plurality of equally spaced tubes disposed about the periphery of said drum at right anglesto its plane of rotation, springactuated contact segments adjustable longitudinally of said tubes, catches pivoted on said drum adjacent said tubes for holding said contact segments in adjusted position, a ram mounted at right angles to the plane of rotation of said drum in the path of said tubes and adapted to move longitudinally in said tubes to actuate said contact segments, means for actuating said ram to move the adjacent contact segment a predetermined distance longitudinally of its tube, a plurality of lcontact members adjacent said drum for engagement with the adjusted contact segments, a tripping device beyond said contact members for tripping said catches to return said contact segments to normal position under the vaction of said springs, means for actuating said clutch to disconnect said drum from said driving means, means controlled by said clutch actuating means for moving said contact members and tripping device outof the path of said drum, and means for rotating said drum independently of said driving means.

6. In a radio program selector, a rotatable l drum/means for driving said drum at a denite speed,A a clutch for disconnecting said drum from said driving means, a plurality of equally spaced tubes containing longitudinal slots disposed about the periphery of said drum at right angles to its plane of rotation, rods slidable in said tubes and having a plurality of spaced notches facing said slots, springs acting on said rods to hold them nested in said tubes, contact Vsegments carried by said rods outwardly of said slots, spring actuated catches pivoted on said drum adjacent said tubes and exed to engage the notches in said rods to hold said rods and contact segments in adjusted position in said tubes, a ram mounted at right angles to the plane of rotationof said drum in the path of said tubes and adapted to move longitudinally in said tubes 'to actuatel said rods, means for actuating said ram to move the adjacent rod and contact segment a predetermined distance longitudinally of the tube, a plurality` of contact members adjacent said drum for engagement with the adjusted contact segments, a tripping device beyond said contact members for tripping said catches to return said rods and contact segments to normal position under the action of said springs, means for actuating said clutch to disconnect said drum from said driving means, means controlled by said clutch actuating means for moving said contact members and tripping device out of the path of said drum, and means for rotating said dru'm independently of said driving means.

7. In a radio program selector, arotatable drum,

means for driving said drum at a denite speed,4 -a clutch for disconnecting said ldrum from said driving means, a plurality of equally spaced tubes containing longitudinal slots disposed about the peripheryof said drum at right angles to its plane of rotation, rods slidable in said tubesand lhaving a plurality of spaced notches facing said slots springs acting on said rods to Vhold them nested in said tubes, contact segments carried by said rods outwardly of said slots. spring-actuated catches-pivoted on said drum adjacent said tubes and ilexed to engage the notches in said rods to -hold said rods and contact segments in adjusted position in said tubes.- a ram mounted at right angles to the plane of rotation of said drum in segments to normal* position under the action of said springs, means"for actuating said clutch to disconnect said drum from said driving means, means controlled by said clutch actuating means for moving said contact members and tripping device out of the path of fsaid drum, and means for rotating said drum independently of said driving means.

8. In combination in a radio receiver, a tuning element, means for setting said tuning element to selected radio stations, a time controlled selector mechanism comprising a rotatable element having mounted thereon and revoluble therewith a multiplicity of selector members, each secured to said rotatable element and movable axially and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, means for moving each of said selector members into a plurality of differentially selectable positions comprising an element movable axially to variable extents toward and into contact with one of said selector members to move said member into selected positions, a xed support for said element, manually controlled means to cause said element to move said selector member into any selected position with a single manual motion, means to move each selector member into line with said element, and means controlled by said selector mechanism for operating said setting means at predetermined times to tune the receiver to said stations in predetermined sequence.

9. In combination in a radio receiver, an en-A ving mounted thereon and revoluble therewith a multiplicity of selector members, each secured to said rotatable element and movable axially and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, means for moving each of said selector members into a plurality of diierentially selectable positions comprising an element movable axially to variable extents toward and into contact with one of said selector members to move said member into selected positions, a ixed support for said element, manually controlled-means to cause said element to m'ove saidseleetor member into any selected position with a single manual motion, meansto move said selector member into line with said element, and means controlled by Said selectormechanism for energizing said circuit andzfor operating said setting means at predetermined times to tune the receiver to said stations in predetermined sequence. 10. In combination in a radio receiver, an energizing circuit, a tuning element, a. time controlled selector having aplurality of contacts of a length corresponding to the, durationv oi' a radio program comprising a rotatable element having mounted peripherally thereon, permanently secured to and revoluble therewith a mul- ,tiplicity o! selector members, each movable axial- 75 ly and parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotatable element, means for moving each ci! said selector members into a plurality of differentially selectable positions to control said contacts and to move the same selectively into a plurality of positions representing individual radio stations, said means comprising an element movable axially to variable extents toward and into contact with one o! said selector members to move said member into selected positions, a fixed support for said element, manually controlled means to cause said element to move said selector member into any selected position with a single manual motion, and means to move each selector member into line with said element, means controlled by said contacts for setting said tuning element to a preselected station to energize said circuit, and means controlled by said contacts for de-energizing said circuit.

1l. A mechanism as dened by claim 8 further comprising means operative immediately upon the completion of a program to return said selector members to normal position. A

12. A mechanism as defined by claim 9 further comprising means operative immediately upon the completion of a program to return said contacts to normal position.

13. In combination in a radio receiver an energizing circuit, a tuning element, a control member for setting said tuning element to selected radio stations, a time controlled selector rotor having mounted thereon, and revoluble therewith, a multiplicity of selector members each permanently secured to said rotor and movable axially and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, each of said selector members representing a division of time, means for moving each of said selector members into a plurality of diierentially selectable positions comprising an element movable axially to variable extents toward and into contact with one oi said selector members to move said member into selected positions, a fixed support for said last element, manually controlled means to cause said last lelement to move said selector member into any selected position with a single manual motion, and means to move each selector member into line with said element, a series oi contact lingers adapted to be engaged at times by selected selector members and thereby to bring in at any time and in desired sequence a series of stations, and means controlled by said selector. for selectively operating said `control member and for energizing said circuit according to the position of said tuning element.

14. In combination in a radio receiver, an energizing circuit having branches representing different radio stations, a tuning element, a control member for setting said tuning element to selected radio stations, a motor for operating said control member, a time-controlled selector mechanism comprising a rotatable drum having mounted thereon peripherally, in parallelism with the axis o1 said drum, a multiplicity of lengthwise adjustable selector rods each provided with a contact and each representing a unit oi operating time, a manual setting device in xed alignment with a peripheral axial position commontoanextensionoitheaxisoteachofsaid rods when brought into registry with said device by rotation oi said drum for moving each of said selector rods into a plurality of differentially selectable positions and for connecting its contact into one of said branch circuits thereby to bring in a predetermined sequence oi stations,said de- 5 vice comprising an element movable axially to variable extents toward and into contact with one of said selector rods to move said rod into selected position, manually controlled means to cause said element to move said selector member into any selected position with a single manual motion, means controlled by said selector l'or selectively operating said motor and energizing said circuit according to the position of said tuning element, and means for disconnecting said 15 control member ,from said motor and for setting said tuning element by hand.

15. In combination with a radio receiver, a rotatable drum, means for driving said drum at a deiinite speed, means for disconnecting said drum from said driving means, a plurality ci contact segments permanently secured to said drum about the periphery thereof and movable axially and parallel to the axis of rotation, means for moving each of said contact segments into a plurality of differentially selectable positions comprising an element movable axially to variable extents toward and into contact with one oi said contact segments to move said segment into selected positions, a xed support for said element, manually controlled means to cause said element to move said segment into any selected position with a single manual motion, means to move each segment into line with said element by rotating said drum independently of said driving means,

means for holding said segments in adjusted position and for returning them to normal position when released, a plurality of contact members adjacent said drum for engagement with the adjusted segments, and means for releasing said v contact segments'.

16. A radio receiver as defined in claim 9, including a motor for operating said control member, a brake for said motor, a magnet for operating said motor and releasing said brake, a second magnet controlling said radio energizing circuit, said means controlled by said' selector for selectively energizing said rst and second magnets according to the position of said tuning element.

17. A radio receiver as deiined in claim 9. said control. member comprising a rotatable cam' shaft for setting said turning element to selected radio stations, a plurality of cams carried by said cam shaft, means for setting said cams to correspond with predetermined positions of said tuning element, a motor for rotating said cam shaft, a brake for said motor, a magnet for operating said motor and releasing said brake, a second magnet controlling said radio energizing circuit,

operating circuits for said magnets, contacts in said operating circuits, means controlled by said cams for selectively operating said contacts according to the angular position of said cams, said means controlled by said selector for selectively completing the operating circuits of said first and second magnets through their respective cam-operated contacts according to the angular position of said cams.

SAMUEL SPAGNOLA.

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