US2240498A - Multiple function control clock - Google Patents

Description

May 6-, 1941. H. F. ELLIOTT MULTIPLE FUNCTION CONTROL CLOCK Filed May 29, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 27 Jul/mm! mm) W VOLUM E FRONT INVENTOR v lbro/J Ig;-EioTI W 7? TT EY y 6, 1 H. F. ELLIOTT 2,240,498

MULTIPLE FUNCTION CONTROL CLOCK Filed May 29, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ii-Z 'REFIR FRONT INVENTOR c I Hare/J I EEHZQTI May 6, 1941. H. F. ELLIOTT MULTIPLE FUNCTION CONTROL CLOCK 7 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed May 29, 1936 r i g REAR - INVENTOR Harold HEN/oft y 6 1 41- H. F. ELLIOTT 2,240,498

MULTIPLE FUNCTION CONTROL CLOCK Filed May 29, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 H Ul INVENTOR Hare/a EE/l/OZT 754; ATTORN y 6, 1941- H. F. ELL IOTT 2,240,498

MULTIPLE FUNCTION CONTROL CLOCK Filed May 29, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 LII IIIIH INVENTOR Haw-ole] F Elliott May 6, 1941.

' H. F. ELLIOTT MULTIPLE FUNCTION CONTROL CLOCK 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I INVENTOR git/0U EE/llbif P. WTTO NE Filed May 29, 1936 y 6, 1941- H. F. ELLIOTT 2,240,498

MULTIPLE FUNCTION CONTROL CLOCK Filed May 29, 1936 i '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented May 6,1941

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE FUNCTION oon'rnor. CLOCK Harold F. Elliott, Palo Alto, Calif. Application May 29,1936, Serial No. 82,495

28 Claims.

The inventions which I have described in this and my copending application S. N. 82494 filed May 29, 1936, pertain to electric timing and control systems and applications thereof in various fields. An electric clock capable of carrying out a multiplicity of control functions for setting up and carrying out predetermined schedules and programs of operations is one of the features of my inventions and it is with this that the present patent application is principally concerned. One of the important fields of application of the clock is in the reception of entertainment programs and the like via wire, radio, television, facsimile, etc. Apparatus and methods involving new and novel features in this connection are described in my said copending application.

The clock, of which several preferred forms are described in detail hereinafter, has many marked advantages over previous developments in electric timing and control systems. It has a greater range of utility, is far more flexible, is simple and less expensive in construction. It is easier to operate, more compact, more convenient, and more attractive in appearance. These and other advantages of construction and application above outlined or which are set forth in detail in the following description comprise the objects of the present invention.

It will be understood of course, that I do not limit myself to the iorms and features selected as illustrative but claim as my invention the new and novel features and methods set forth in the appended claims. It will also be understood that the field of utility is in no way limited to broadcast receivers, that this is but one important application of my apparatus and methods, and that the examples of the application of the clock to this purpose are illustrative of its mode of use in this and other fields. It will be obvious that it may be applied advantageously to electrical timing and control in industry. in the home and elsewhere.

and showing the cam in elevation within the cam housing:

Figure '1 is a sectional view on line 1-1 of Fig.

Figure 8 is a development of the cam;

. Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9a is a fragmentary portion of a conducting ring and push-button supporting structure from the apparatus of Fig. 9 with the view taken along the line 9a.8a of such figure.

Figure 10 is a. circuit diagram showing the application of the clock to the operation of relays in a radio receiver or other apparatus;

Figures 11 and 12 show the assembly and details of another preferred form of the clock;

Figures 13 and 14 show an assembly and section of a third preferred form; and

Figures 15 and 16 show an assembly and section of still a fourth.

Each of the forms has certain advantages for certain applications, as will be apparent in the detailed discussion hereinafter.

Taking up details of construction, reference is made first to Fig. 2, which is a sectional view of the first form of the clock. The clocl; ineludes two sets of busses: (a) a set of station" busses, and (b) a set of time busses. The station busses are numbered i-Ill inclusive and comprise a set of parallel rings spaced from each other on a common axis concentric with the axis of the clock. The time busses l2 are shown within the circular area of the set of station busses, parallel to the axis of the said set In the accompanying drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views,

Figures 1 and 3 show front and back respectively of one of the preferred forms of the clock;

of station busses, and thus transverse to the several station busses. Ihe several time busses are all equally spaced from each other and from the said axis of the set of station busses and are arranged accordingly as a cylindrical set or cage of busses. In practice there are preferably ninety-six of the time busses so as to have one for each fifteen minute periods of the day. This number is chosen because of the present practice of dividing radio broadcasting station time into quarter. hours; obviously any other number for any other division may be substituted. For clarity, only part of the set of time busses isshown and numeral I2 applies as to such as are shown. A set of interconnectors, also ninety-six in number in practice are provided for making interconnections between the station and time busses. One of these interconnectors, designated by numeral l3 in Figures 2, 3 and 10, to whichfurther reference for a more detailed description of the busses and interconnectors will be made hereinafter, is provided for and remains upon each time" bus II.

The ninety-six interconnectors I! are mounted upon the ninety-six "time busses I2, one interconnector upon each said bus, and mounted to ride or slide along on its respective bus II. The several interconnectors It may be moved along "time busses II, to make electrical connections between the "time" busses and "station" busses, I to II, in any desired combination. Any'of the ninety-six "time busses may thus be connected to any of the eleven station" busses. The system of connections thus established may then be applied through relays to bring in selected radio or wire line programs at quarter hour intervals throughout the twenty-four hours of a day, or perform other operations as described hereinafter. It will be understood that the several busses of either set are electrically insulated by dielectric mounting and spacing from the other busses of the same set and that electrical connections between busses of one set to busses of the other set is through said interconnectors only.

For convenience in moving the interconnectors to positions making desired cross connections between "time" and station busses two dials are provided. The first of these is a time dial, shown at H in Figures 1, 2 and 3; it is graduated in quarter hours and serves to select the time bus and interconnector corresponding to any given quarter hour. The second dial is a station dial, shown at I! in Figures 1 and 2; it is graduated in terms of stations or functions, and serves to move the selected interconnector to the desired station bus. This latter operation is carried out by a special cam it having two followers H and Ill. The cam is shown in section in Figure 2 and a full view and development are given in Figures 6 and 8. Said cam is preferably a cylinder axially coincident with the axis of the tion of rest, towardthe front of'the clock at a place somewhat in advance or forward of the most forward of said "station" busses, namely. bus i0.

The front end of the cam cylinder i8 is attached directly to "station dial it, so that the cam is rotated whenever this ,dial is rotated. In its preferred form, dial l5, as shown in Fig. 1, resembles somewhat the dial used upon automatic or dial telephones, providing near its periphery a series of finger holes I9 by which the dial may be rotated varying angular distances for "station" selection just as the telephone dial is rotated for selecting various numbers. The present dial differs from the telephone dial, however, in that the dial of the present invention may be rotated either way from its normal position of rest. Principal movement of the followers i1 and I8 is not simultaneous, but only one may have its principal movement at a time, and this is controlled by the direction of rotation of the dial from its normal position of rest.

When the station dial it is rotated clockwise from its position of rest at which it is shown in Fig. 1, the cam it moves the rear follower l'l toward the front, that is to say toward the right from the position shown in Fig. 2. Follower i1 is provided with a ring protruding circumferentially therefrom, said ring having a radial projection 2| at one part of the outer periphery Just wide enough to engage one and 'only one of the ninety-six interconnectors 13 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. When follower I! is moved to the right, one of the interconnectors is engaged and accordingly moved with it, the others remaining stationary. Ring 20 with projection 2|, may be rotated with respect to follower l1, ad- Justing the projection to engage any desired in tel-connector. This angular adjustment is obtained by rotating the time" dial ll. Rotative connection between insulating ring 20 and said dial is-obtained through the medium of slide rods 22 which are fast upon said dial and project therefrom rearwardly within the space between the cam cylinder and sets of busses. These slide rods pass through holes provided for the purpose in said ring 2|, thereby enabling the rings to slide forwardly and rearwardly upon the rods, but requiring that the ring rotate in unison with the dial. The dial is thus adapted to obtain desired registration of the projection 2i with any one of the interconnectors. For obtaining exact registration, the said time dial it is provided with a convenient placement structure which is here shown as accomplished by notching the periphery of the dial (similar to gear teeth) Such that a notch 28 is provided to correspond to each of the ninety-six quarter hours of a day. The notched edge isavailable from the top of the housing at the open cavity Y shown in Fig. 2, and by dotted lines in Fig. 1. A notching device, such 'as roller 24, Figure 1, is provided to snap into the nearest notch and set the time dial it so that it always stops with projection 2| opposite an interconnector. Time dial it is provided with a graduated scale upon the front surface. A part of this scale is visible through an opening in the easement and serves to indicate the quarter hour 'for which the dial is set.

An interconnector may be set to tune in a desired program at a specified quarter hour by two simple steps: (1) rotating the time" dial ll to the specified quarter hour, as 10:15 p. m. illustrated in Figure 1; and (2) rotating the station dial I! Figure 1 for the desired station or program. For example, if the program is to come over station WJZ, the station dial is operated by inserting the finger in theflnger hole I! marked WJZ in Figure 1 and rotating the dial clockwise till the finger reaches stop 26 iust as in dialing an automatic telephone. This process moves the interconnector corresponding to time of 10:15 from bus ii to bus 4, Fig. 2.

As many of the interconnectors as desired may thus be moved to establish connections for se-' lecting desired programs at given quarter hour intervals. It will be evident that such settings may, if desired be made for 24 hours in advance.

Breviously made settings may be cleared" by moving all interconnectors back to starting position, that is, in the particular showing, back to registration with bus i l. The operator performs that function by inserting a finger in the dialhole marked "clear" in Fig.1, and thereby turning dial l5 counter-clockwise until the finger reaches stop 21. 'Now this counter-clockwise rotion of course rotates the directly connected cam cylinder, and the cam thereupon functions to move the front fol-lower i8 toward the rear, and during this principal movement of the front follower, the rear follower ll has substantially no movement. Whereas the rear follower l'l only hasmeans for engaging one interconnector at a time, the front follower diflfers in having means for engaging as many of the interconnectors at once as may be in its path of movement. It will therefore be observed that this front follower [8 has a circumferentially projecting insulative ring 28 the radius of which at any point is greater than the distance of the interconnector from ,the centralaxis. The cam is constructed to move this follower and its projecting ring rearwardly to a position where it will have slid the several interconnectors back to original or starting position in contact with bus H from whatever posion they had been set to in the last setting of the same. This particular structure @rovides, it will be noted, for clearing all settings and does not permit of correcting one setting and leaving others as set. Furthermore, in thisparticular showing, the bus H engaged by all of the interconnectors at starting position is a neutral bus, but it may be given a circuit function if desired. As heretofore stated, rods 22 pass through rings 20 and 28. The rings are rotatable upon their respective followers I! and I8, and the followers are in turn axially slidable upon but non-rotatable with respect to a cam housing 40 hereinafter more particularly described.

Closing of an operative circuit is accomplished at the several times set to the, chosen station, by a clock 29 incorporated as part of the apparatus. As shown, an electrically actuated clock 29 is provided, being physically positioned in the space provided within the cylindrical cam, and mounted in fixed position by appropriate attach ment to fixed parts of the easement at one or both ends of the said cam. The hands or corresponding time-controlled parts of the clock mechanism provide electriccontact brushes. For convenience I prefer to use a clock in which the hour hand makes a single revolution in twenty= four hours. A different circuit may thus be completed for any desired division of the rotation of the minute hand to cover the twenty-four hour period by completing the several circuits through the hour and minute hands in series from contacts made by each. I arrange to close a relay circuit each time the minute hand passes the hour, quarter, half and three-quarter hour positions. The particular structure thus shown and described will provide for establishing circuits through the ninety-six time busses in succession.

by I have arbitrarily termed the face of the detime having the selector dials the front, merely for convenience. The opposite face may as well have been termed the front, because it has a glass window or crystal for Visioning the clock hands and dial. -However, since the device is primarily for setting the automatic switch connections and the time-telling function is of secondary importance, I shall adhere to the elected designations and refer to the time-telling hands and dials as at the rear of the clock.

The several instrumentalities heretofore described are enclosed within a cabinet or casement C which has a false back D of insulative material spaced inwardly from the rear wall E which has an opening for the time-telling face and which supports the crystal or glass window F. Between the rear wall and false back is appropriate space for a stepped or sectional dial and certain circuit closing mechanisms about to the hands.

ably of insulative material.

bf. described. it being within said space that the time-telling hands rotate.

In the construction now being described, I prefer to provide an electric contact brush 30, shown of leaf-spring formation, this brush being attached to or otherwise made rotatable with the hour hand 3|. Preferably the said hand 3| is of insulative material so as to avoid grounding the brush through the metallic parts of the timepiece mechanisms. It isappropriate to observe here that the rear ends of all of the time'busse's pass through the false back D to the rear surface thereof thereby providing a circularly disposed series of contacts. The outer end margin of the brush describes an orbit coincident with the circle of said series of contacts, and presses against each as it passes thereover thus briefly closing an electric circuit from brush to successive busses in turn. Said brush may have an inclined tip thereon as shown at 30 in Fig. 5 enabling it to drop off thehead of one timebus, as HA, and ride onto the next, as I213.

Similarly, a brush 32, also of leaf-spring formation is attached to or otherwise caused to rotate with the minute hand 33 which again is prefer- It is a desideratum that this minute hand brush 32 function to establish a circuit connection of only a few moments duration exactly at the beginning of each quarter hour. One means of accomplishment of this desideratum is shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 wherein is indicated an annular insulating member 3 concentric with the axis of revolution of The face of this member upon which the brush rides is a series of inclines which end abruptly to permit the brush to snap from the incline to a metallic contact 36 suitably formed as part of an annular bus 35. The abrupt ends of the successive inclines occur precisely where the brush may snap therefrom to the contact at the quarter hour. Said contact is not at the bottom of the next incline, that being lower still, so that the brush may, as it travels, snap off of the contact into the bottom of the incline. Such structure affords punctual and positive making of contact, a brief retention of closed circuit, and a quick, non-sparking break of contact. The brush then climbs the next incline during the fifteen minute advance of the hand and snaps off the end thereof as before, and so on for each quarter hour period. I deem it preferable to make the insulative annular member 36 of molded material with the bus extensions 36 partially embedded therein. However, assembled stampings or other suitable mechanically equivalent structure may be employed.

The hour and minute brushes Sit and 32' are electrically joined in series as by a U-shaped brush 3i fast to one hand, for instance the hour hand 39 and its brush 3%, and rides against a metallic hub portion of brush 2-32 on the minute hand. It may be opportune to state here that the,minute hand is closer to the glass or crystal F than the hour hand, said hands revolving in pla'nes definitely separated by a space which will accommodate therebetween the annular insulating member with its inclined faces, bus bar and contacts. Ring- like dial sections 38 and 39 for showing the hours and minutes are mounted in substantially the respective planes of rotation of the hour and minute hands, and are of course concentric with the axis of rotation of said hands. Actuation of the hands is obtained by any suitable clock mechanism or motor 29 preferably of the synchronous type with proper means for setting the hands, but as the details of structure of ical details of the cam and other parts may be helpful in fully understanding the mechanism. Referring to Figs. 2, 6 and 7, the cam l8, rotates inside a fixed housing 40, upon ball bearings 4|. Slots 42 are provided in and longitudinalLv of the housing 40. Sets of pairs of rollers, the axis of which are radial with the cam cylinder, and indicated at 43 and 44 are attached to the cam followers, I1 and it. One roller, 43, of each set engages the slot 42 in the housing 40 and the other roller 44 of the set engages in a cam groove 45 in the surface of cam Iii, causing the followers to move to the right or left as the cam is rotated. Referring to Figs. 6, '7 and 8, it will be noted that the cam here illustrated has three sets of identical grooves 45, 45 and 45" equally spaced around the cam cylinder. This construction is advantageous since each cam follower may have three sets of rollers spaced at 120, thus actuating the follower rings, I! and it, from three equally spaced points, which makes for smooth operation and avoids any tendency to bind. Each cam slot consists of three connected portions, as illustrated at 41, 48 and 48, Figure 8. The portion 41 has greatest inclination longitudinally of the cam cylinder, and is the part utilized to give to the followers l1 and II their principal functional movement to perform the operations of setting and clearing the interconneotors, as discussed hereinbefore. Portion 48 has but slight inclination longitudinally of the cam cylinder and permits the follower I8 to idle and slowly back away about the width of the slot when follower I1 is being actuated by clockwise operation of the dial. Portion 48 extends from one end of the greater inclined portion 41, and from the other end of that greater inclined portion 41 extends another slightly inclined portion 49 which serves a corresponding purpose of backing follower i I away when follower. I8 is being actuated by counterclockwise rotation of the dial.

In order to assure proper sequence in the operation of the "time dial l4 and "station dial IS, an interlock 50, Figure 1, is provided. As shown, this interlock 50 is a roller adapted to engage a notch ii in the periphery of dial l5. Said interlock roller is on one end of a first class lever or rocker arm 52 on the other end of which is mounted roller 24 of the notching device. Said rocker arm 52 is fulcrumed at a mid point, as by In order that "station" dial Ii and its attached cam ll may return automatically to neutral position following rotation in either direction. a pair of spiral springs, 85 and It, Figures 1 and 2, are provided. These springs may conveniently be of the clock spring type and are anchored at their inner, ends to a fixed shaft 51 axially disposed with respect to the dial, said shaft being shown attached to the rear plate 58 of the clock motor 28. Springs II and I! actuate radial arms I and II respectively which are trunnioned at one end upon fixed shaft 51 and which at their outer ends engage a key I which is attached to the inner surface of cam cylinder ii. A pin 81 serves as a stop for arms 59 and it when in neutral position. When dial II is rotated clockwise, key If carries arm ll against the force of spring ll. When the dial I! is rotated counterclockwise, key ll carries arm 59 against the force of spring II. In neutral position the arms rest against pin 2 and no spring action is applied to key 8| effective to move the cylinder either way. In order that the return motion of the dial and cam may not be so rapid as to cause excessive rebound or bouncing," an escapement or governing mechanism is provided. This consists of escapement wheel 83 and follower 64. The escapement wheel I! is driven by pinion 65 and gear 65. Gear 81 floats on shaft 51 but is engaged and driven by arms BI and II through pawls 61 and 88 whenever the arms and are returning to neutral position after operation oi. the dial. In neutral position, the pawls are disengaged from gear I! by virtue of resting against pin 62 which lifts them from the gear.

In order that the radio set or other mechanism under control of the clock may be actuated manually as well as automatically, a set of push buttons as I, Figure 1, is provided. One convenient construction for these buttons is illustrated inFigure 9. The buttons as 89, actuate contacting rods as II, to make contact with the station" busses, as I. A leaf spring 1| serves to hold rod I! normally disengaged from bus 5. The leaf spring H is one of a series of spring fingers integral with or secured to a metal plate "A (Fig. 9a) which is connected to the energizing source II as shown in Fig. 10. Each rod 10 (Fig. 9) is soldered or otherwise secured to a corresponding leaf spring or spring finger Ii and is maintained out of contact with a corresponding bus 5 by the normal positioning of the leaf spring when it is not under tension. With the buttons 69 on the rods II, slidable in corresponding apertures in the face of the housing as shown in Fig. 1, the rods are maintained in a transverse position out of engagement with the corresponding busses, and when a button 68 is pushed, the corresponding leaf spring II flexes suiiiciently to permit the pivot 53. When notching roller 24 is in any one of the ninety-six notches (in time dial l4) rocker arm 52 Fig. 1 permits interlock 50 to ride on the edge of the station dial ii. To change the rod on the pushed button to engage a corresponding bus, as is readily apparent from a consideration of Fig. 9.

A lens 12, Figure 2 may be provided to aid in reading the time dial indications if desired. Means for controlling volume and tone may be included as illustratedin Figure 1 at 13 and 14.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that "time bus 12 is supplemented by an adjacent auxiliary rod i2c mrallel thereto, over which intel-connector I3 is bent. Interconnector [3 may be a spring metal stamping having the form shown in Figures 2 and 3, or other suitable construction. One of the station" or ring busses is shown at H Figure 3 illustrating the manner in which an interconnector i3 makes an electrical trolled devices.

connection between a time" bus l2 and a 'station bus ll. Figure 3 also shows rod 22 in section, insulating ring 20 and the projection 2i thereon, as previously described.

Details of the supporting framework, housing, etc. will be omitted for sake of simplicity. It will be obvious that these may take many forms, depending upon production methods, installation requirements, and so forth. It may be mentioned, however, that the type of face to be employed for the clock may be of many forms, one of which is the 24 hour arrangement shown fragmentarily at 38 and 39 in Figure 3. Another form is the revolution counter type of dial now coming into usage for household clocks. Another suitable arrangement comprises a standard l2 hour clock face for indicating time with a two-to-one reduction gear for driving the brush 39, which may if desired be provided with an auxiliary 24 hour hand and dial. Alternatively other means of difierentiating the a. m. from p. m. time setting of the clock hands and attendant contact brushes may be provided. Obviously the bus, dial and cam mechanism illustrated may be applied to a standard 12 hour clock rather than 'a 24 hour clock but. the limitation thus imposed renders such an arrangement less preferable. The arrangement of clock face and dials to be used for any specific purpose is obviously subject to many variations.

Figure 10 shows schematically one manner in which electrical circuits may be established through the busses, interconnectors and brushes for operating relays, electrical communication receiving apparatus with electrically controlled channel selecting means, or other electrically con- Electrical energy from a source 75, which may be a battery, transformer or other suitable source, is conducted to bus 35, thence through projections 36 to minute hand brush 3 2, thence through iJ-shaped brush 31 to hour hand brush 30, thence through time bus I! to interconnector l3, and thence to "station bus 2 and associated relay coil 16, or other device to be operated. The return circuit may go directly back to source 15 or further relay coils or other apparatus may be included in the return circuit as illustrated at 16A. C011 16 may represent the closing coil of a relay which serves to establish connections for tuning the circuits of a radio receiver to receive a given station, and coil "A may represent a trip coil for opening previously closed relays. Numerals 69 and 70 represent push buttons and contact making rods such as were described in connection with Figure 9.

Brief reference will be made now to Figures 11 to 16 inclusive which show several alternative constructions for the assembly and details of the multiple function control clock. Figure 11 shows a horizontal section through an alternative assembly in which the cam mechanism hereinbefore described for actuating the interconnectors is replaced by two sets of lead screws together with followers, gears and other parts for actuating the same. Follower "A and insulating ring 28A, which performs the function of moving all interconnectors "E from an operating position such as illustrated in dotted lines and indicated by reference character IIB, rearward, is mounted upon, three other parallel but intermediate lead screws, 80, 8| and 82, Figures 11 and 12. These three intermediate screws are also spaced 120 apart and occupy positions preferably half-way between the first mentioned 5 screws. Follower HA has three threaded'projections 83, 84 and 95 directed radially inwardly which engage screws 80, 8i and 82 and follower MA has three corresponding threaded projections directed radially inwardly engaging screws H, 18 and 19 as shown in Figure 12. The lead screws ii, [8 and 19 of the first mentioned set project nearer to the dial than the second mentioned set of lead screws 8!), 9i and B2. Toward the forward end toward the dial of each of the screws of this latter set is fixed a pinion 86, the several pinions being in a common plane. Likewise, at the forward end toward the dial, the lead screws 11, I9

and i9 each have a pinion 81 in a common plane and parallel with the plane of the first mentioned pinions.

A gear 38 is in mesh with all three pinions of the set of pinions 86 more rearward from the dial so as to operate all three simultaneously. The other three pinions 81 are operated in unison by a lever 89 attached to another gear 99 in mesh with the several pinions of this set, namely, the pinions 81 actuating lead screws Ti, 18 and 19. Gear 89 is connected via a shaft 98, to dial 92 which is provided with finger holes a's93, similar to a telephone dial. When dial 92 is rotated clockwise, gear 98 drives lead screws 80, 9i and 82 counterclockwise and follower HA advances frontward. Whenlever 89 is rotated counterclockwise, gear 99 drives lead'screws 11, I8 and I9 clockwise and follower 18A moves rearward. Interconnectors I3E, may thus be fnoved singly forward by action of dial 92. They may be moved in unison and rearward by lever 89 which is the clearing or resetting? lever.

A pair of spiral springs 94 and 95 serve to return the dial 92 and lever 89 with associated gears, screws and followers to neutral positions after operation. Suitable stops (omitted for simplicity) will, of course, be provided, these 45 features being substantially as described in connectlon with the preceding figures. In order to prevent rebound suitable retarding means may be provided where this refinement is deemed desirable. One form of retarding mechanism is shown by numerals 96-9'|-98 -and 99. A disk type of ratchet mechanism, 96 is attached to the lead screw 90. This ratchet engages gear 91 during the return motion-of dial 92. Gear 91 drives pinion 98 to which is attached a centrifugal gov- 55 ernor 99. During the forward motion of dial 92', ratchet slips over gear 91 and the governor is inoperative. A second retarding device duplieating that just described may-be provided for the lead screw I1 and the associated mechanism acso tuated by lever 89.

The time busses and interconnectors illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 show an alternative construction of these items. As shown, the 96 time busses as |2D and HE, are in the form of small rec- 55 tangular bars and the 96 interconnectors as HE and IIB comprise metal stampings formed to slide along the bars. Each interconnector' comprises a body portion which is wrapped around the bus, clinging thereto by spring action, an ex-' 70 tension which springs against the station busses as H, and a second extension which engages with projection MA on followerring "A or ring 28A on follower "A. The clock and contact-makingrangement shown in Figures 11 and 12 may be used. The showing of Figures 11 and 12 includes a clock dial "A and hour and minute hands I IA and "A respectively for indicating time. A brush IIII attached to a 24 hour hand III may drop from the head of one time bus to the next as illustrated inFlgure 12. Alternatively, spring Ill may be replaced by a small rigid contact arm pivoted upon the ends of the hand III and arranged to drop from the inner surface of one bus to the next. Such alternative structure is illustrated in the rigid pivoted contact arm I" on the hand I! as shown in Fig. 15. These arrange.- ments provide a quick break action whereby the hour hand may be used for the timing and contact making action without the use of the minute hand, as was illustrated and described in connection with Figures 3, 4 and 5; The latter provides for an accurately timed electrical impulse of a few seconds duration. The method of Figures 11 and 12 provides a continuous circuit connection somewhat less accurately timed. A

In some instances; it may be desired to provide indicating means for showing the settings of the interconnectors. This may be carried out in a variety of ways, one example of which is shown for interconnector IIE at the upper left of Figure 11. A flexible strip IIC, having printed figures or letters corresponding to the settings of the interconnectors opposite the various station busses, is arranged to slide past a window IID. By providing such a strip and window for each interconnector, the program of settings of the interconnectors may be seen at a glance, as indi -x position in the housing. Mounted in movable relation to the busses, clock, andhousing, are the 5 time selector dial II (Fig. 2) (llAJifig. 11), selectOI' finger II (Fig. 2) (IIA, Fig. 11), and the station'selectordial II (Fig. 1) (92. Fig. 11).

Rotary motion of this station selector dial is;

translated into linear or axial motion of the selectorfingerinthestructureofFigs. lto9,as wellasthatiliustratedinFlgs.l1and12. In the arrangement of Figs. 1 to 9, this translation ofrotarytoiinearmetionisaccomplishedbythe.

cylindrical cam I. and associated followers II and Il. Theoriginalstaiion settingofthe sliding interconnectors to predetermmed times is carried outby clockwise movement of the station tionofsuchdialinacountermlockwise direction causesthe movement of the cylindrical cam II andassociatedrollowerlltocauaetheinsulated 'dialllaspreviouslymentionedwhiletherot,

s tor. In Figs. 11 chair, instead of utilizing the station selector dial I! for resetting, a lever 8| is employed which acts through an associated gen 90 and pinions such as '1, to rotate lead screws 11, II, and It, to cause linear movement of the follower IIA with the ring 28A of insulating material thereon.

The various relatively movable parts may be grouped in a variety of ways other than that shown in Figs. 1 to 9, and Figs. 11 and 12. In the arrangement of Figs. 13 and 14 the entire group of parts comprising the clock motor 29H, a notched time setting disc I02, time dial I03, station busses l-II inclusive, time busses, as I20 and IIH, together with their ninety-six inter-- connectors, as I36 and IIH, all revolve as a unit in housing II as contrasted to the fixed relationship between the housing, busses, and clock, for instance, in the structures of Figs. 1 to 11. Follower Ill with insulative projection I" for moving the interconnectors individually is actuated by lead screw I01, which is in turn driven by pinion Ill, gear m, and station dial III, to translate rotary into linear motion. The time setting disc III, and time dial Hi3 are rotatable relative to the housing Ill, but are fixed to rotate with the bus assembly rather than relative thereto as in the previously described structures. The lead screws I01 are rotatably supported in a fixed position with reference to the housing IN. The

station dial II! is manually operated by the user as in Fig. 1, by insertion of a finger in the appropriate dial hole for that purpose, and while the station dial. I III is being rotated to rotate the lead screws III, the bus assembly remains stationary. A spiral spring Ill returns the dial .with associated gears and ratchets may be pro- 40 vided as discussed in connection with Figure 11 when this refinement is desired to minimize rebound. For.clearing" previous settings of the interconnectors an insulating disc I I3 is provided. This is actuated by pulling outward on knob III which is attached to disc III through rod Ht. An Insulating finger II actuated by knob II'I through rod II I provides means for clearing the interconnectors individually. Finger H6 is slidably mounted on hollow rod Iii and made fast to the core rod III by a transverse pin Ill extending from said finger to the core rod I It. This pin passes through a slot I40 longitudinal of the hollow rod enabling the inner core rod to be slid with the pin riding in the slot at such time. Disc III is attached to the end of hollow rod Ill by a nut I42. To. clear a single interconnector, the time setting disk I I! is rotated to the appropriate setting and then the smaller knob Ill on inner rod III is pulled out at which time pin III rides ringlltomovethehlidinginterconnectorsallto' -apoaitionolre'statthervearofthehousingorv left-hand side, as viewed in Fig. 2. In the arrangement of Figs. 11 and 12, the sliding interconnectors such as III are originally moved to a predetermined position by the rotation of stationselectordialflinaclockwisedirection. such.

rotary movement is translated into linear movement through the lead screws II, II, and II, operated through the medium of gears such as It and II as shown in Fig. 11. The follower II with in slot I. A spring Ill on the outer rod pressing against the finger will return the finger to position shown in Figure 13 when released. If all interconnectors are to be cleared no rotation of the time setting disk II! is necessary, as disc III lies behind all of them; knob III on the hollow rod is pulled, and since the disc is held by nut Ill from leaving the said rod, it moves forward with it and clears all interconnectors. Of course when the hollow rod III is pulled forward, inner rod Ill comes forward with it and the same spring Ill actuating the finger rearwardly then acts to Figure 14, an indicia plate I I9G may be provided adjacent window 9 indicating the functions of the busses seen through the window. A set of push buttons II9H, indicated in the drawings above the indicia plate I IQG, may be provided for manually closing the circuits under control of the clock in a manner similar to the showing of push buttons 69 in Figure 9. The station busses, I to I I inclusive, together with three additional busses shown at the left of bus l (see Figure 13), are preferably supported in a cylinder I20 of transparent insulating material. This'cylinder' I20 is preferably transparent so as to permit seeing through the same, thereby enabling the I operator to see the interconnectors within the cylinder and thus observe what settings have been accomplished. Alternatively these busses may be supported by insulated tie rods and spacers of any convenient construction. Brushes I2I illustrated at the bottom of Figure 13, sliding against the ring busses, I-II etc., provide connections to these when the drum assembly is rotated. The three extra busses at the left of bus I0 (Figure 13) provide connections to the synchronous clock 29 and brush I23, which contacts the heads of the time busses as I21-I.

specific conditions to be met, production facilities,

costs and other considerations.

Figures 15 and 16 show a fourth construction for. the clock. In this arrangement, the time busses as I2J are placed radially about the clock motor 29J, and the station busses comprise a set of conducting rings, IJ to IIJ inclusive, concentric with the axis of the clock. The interconnectors as I3J, slide radially on the time busses as I2J, and insulating tabs as I3K, project through slots, as I23, in dial I24, to provide for moving the interconnectors by means of ones fingers or other means. This construction enables resetting of any one interconnector slide without clearing all settings. A twenty four hour hand I25 carrying a pivoted contact member, I26 provides means of establishing a circuit to the time busses I2J in succession. When minimizing cost is an important consideration, the arrangement; above described providing for finger operation of the interconnectors via the tabs, is complete in itself. When the cost factor permits, a telephone" type of finger index or station dial as I2I together with a time index dial as I30 may be added for selecting and setting the interconnectors in a manner similar to that already described for the other forms of the clock.

The station" dial I2'Iis arranged to actuate a cam I28, and the cam in turn actuates follower I 29. The latter serves as a push rod for moving the interconnectors, asv I3J, from bus IIJ to one of the busses numbered IJ to IOJ. By rotating dial I21 various angular distances corresponding to the various finger holes, the cam I28 and push rod I29 may be made to push the interconnectors to the corresponding station busses. The push rod I23, may beset opposite any desired time" .bus, as IN, by rotating the time index dial I30.

relative to dial I24. The dial I30 is provided in a substantially cup-shaped member having a plurality of notches I30A in the circumference thereof corresponding to the 96 time graduations. A spring member I30B appropriately and rigidly secured as to the outside of the clock 29J, rides in the notches I30A and acts to hold the dial I30 in any adjusted position. Either time index dial I30 or dial I24 may be stationary and the other rotatable, as desired. If time index dial I30 is to be the rotatable member, a rack and pawl mechanism, I3I-I32, may be inserted to operate between the dial.I2'I and cam I28. The rack or ratchet I3I portion is provided on the inside of a flange on a cup-shaped member I3IA. The cam I28 is secured directly to this member I3IA and is rotatable therewith. An arm I33 is connected to the dial I21 by means of a bushing I34 carried on a pin axis I31, andsuch arm and dial rotate together. The pawl I32 in turn is supported for limited pivotal movement on the arm I33. Dial I2'I may drive lever or arm I33 and the pawl I32 through shaft like bushing I34. In operating this mechanism the dial I30 is rotated until the push rod or follower I29 slidable in an aperture therein is opposite the desired time indication on the dial I24. A connecting mounting or bushing I34A is rotatably supported on the bushing I34. This bushing I34A connects the dial I30 and the cupshaped member I3IA carrying the. rack I3], and these latter two members are thereby rotated with the dial I30 upon movement of such dial. If station dial I21 is then rotated clockwise, pawl I32 will engage rack I3I, which in turn rotates cam I28. The dial I2'I is rotated until the operators finger in a dial hole engages the stop I38. In the meantime the cam I28 rotating under movement of arm I33, carrying the pawl I32 in engagement with the notch in I3I, acts on the pin I44 on the push rod I29 to move the latter a distance corresponding to the movement of the dial I21 to set an interconnector I3J to a-station which corresponds to the finger hole' in the dial. The push rod I29 is guided in the aperture in the dial I30, and the guide frame portion I46 on the push rod is slidable on the assembly at the bushing I34A. A stop I41 on the dial I30 posi= tions the cam I28 in its restracted position with respect thereto. Another stop I48 on the dial I24 positions the arm I33 with respect thereto. The

dial I30 remains stationary during movement,

of the dial-I21 by virtue of a spring member I30B, and with. the dial I21 moving clockwise to stop I38, arm I33 is moved away from stop I48 and cam I28 is moved away from stop I4'I. A retracting spring I49 is provided for the push rod I29, and a clock spring I5I secured at one end to the base or dial I24 and at the other end the bushing I34 assembly acts to retract the dial I2'I. Spring I49 pulling on .follower I29 acts on the cam I28 through the pin I44. The pin is integral with or rigidly mounted on the follower I28 and because it is in engagement with the cam I28 it, causes such cam to return to the rest position against stop I41 when the spring I49 pulls on the follower. When dial I21 is in rest position, as shown, pawl I32 is lifted from the rack by a stop, I35. In this condition, member I30 may be rotated freely to choose any desirechtime setting on dial I24 without actuating the cam I28 or follower I29. When dial I30 has been set to a predetermined angular position with the follower or push rod I28 opposite a time setting on the stationary dial I24, rotation of the dial I21-in a clockwise direction with respect to the dial- I30 moves the pawl I22 over the stop I 35 until such pawl engages a tooth in the rack II I. Continued rotation of the dial I21 causes corresponding rotation of' the member IJIA carrying the rack III and the cam I2l moves therewith to actuate the follower I2]. The rack III employs a plurality of circularly disposed teeth corresponding in number to the time settings or some multiple thereof so that the pawl I22 will engage a tooth with practically no lost motion upon the initial movement of the dial I21 regardless of the angular position of the dial I20 with reference to the dial I21. With the rack and pawl-construction. dial Ill connected with cup IIIA through bushing 4A may be ro-' tated independently of dial I21, and yet follower l2! actuated by cam I2l'on cup I2IA will be moved radially substantially simultaneously with the rotation of dial I21 for a station setting of an interconnector. As has been previously explained, the dial it! is rotated to select a predetermined time setting while the-dial I21 acts for selecting a desired station on the predetermined time setting.

If the dial I24 is rotatable while the dial III is stationary, as previously explained, the cam I2l may be connected directly to thedial I21 for accomplishing station settings and the rack and a pawl structure III-432 may be omitted. With this construction there is relative motion between the stationary dial Ill and the rotatable station When making a time selection dial I21 remains stationary as well as dial Ill, and it is only dial I24 which is moved to bring a time slot with an interconnector moving therein opposite to the follower I28. The construction with the dial I24 stationary and dials .I21 and I 84 each rotatable as to dial I24 and relative to one another, is the preferred construction over the rotatable dial I24 construction described. because the designating numerals and letters for the time slots as shown in Fig. 15 remain in the same upright position for easy reading To summarizethe various arrangements which 45 nectors, or interconnectors, further, route the cirhave been chosen for illustration in the drawings: all the mechanisms have certain essential features in common. Each comprises a clock together with means for selecting and positioning members through which operationsmaybecarried out in terms of tim and a point of radio eachcaseselectionofamembertob'emovedis carried out by rotation of 'a'time dial memberisthenmovedtopositionbymeans'oia fllbbtiondial. Inall'ofthetsillus- 5 l3 and 14, the coordinated bus system is also of cylindrical formation, but in this case the bus system and the time dial I" (Fig. 13) rotate together, and this assembly together with the clock 22 are rotatably mounted in the supporting frame. Since in this latter case, the whole bus system rotates relative to the supporting frame, the selector finger Ill, and its associated lead screw I01 may be mounted directly upon the supporting frame, withgthe relative rotary motion for bringing such finger into alignment with an interconnector for setting the same being secured by the turning of the whole coordinated bus system. In the form illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16, the coordinated bus system is simpler in arrangego ment and the time selector finger I28 rotates in another parallel plane. In all cases selection ofan interconnector member to be moved for setting upa time-function schedule is carried out by rotation of the time dial which positions the g5 selector finger opposite a movable interconnector member. This member is then moved linearly by rotation of the second dial, the function dial. In the forms illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9, the rotary motion of the function dial is translated into 90 linear motion as by means of a cylindrical cam. dial I21 only when making a station selection.

In the forms illustrated by Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14, the rotary motion of the function dial is translated into linear motion by means of lead screws. In the form illustrated by Figs. 15 and 16, translation of rotary to linear motion in the interconnector is carried out by a flat cam. All the forms, therefore, comprise two sets of busses with relatively movable cross connectors, and two dials,

with one dial adapted to select the cross connec- 4a tor,'and' another dial to position it. All forms also include a clock with contact making means for closing a circuit at intervals, and for routing a circuit directly and successively to the busses of one of the two sets of busses. The cross concuit to selected busses of the other set. The relative arrangements and motions by which the parts are tied together and carry out their functions each have certain advantages as have been described. It will be obvious that a great I methods disclosed, but claim broadly the new and novel features and inventions set forth in the claims appended to this andmy associated application when construed in the light of the prior 1 claim:

LjA timing and control unit for apparatus performing a plurality of functions under electrical control, comprising a plurality of rod-like conducting busses radially equidistant from and trated,theiattermotionisilnearandmeansareg spaced around and parallel to u may be helpful to summarise the reiative'srl rangements and motions of the essential parts of acentral axis, a plurality of spaced conducting ring-like busses concentric with the said central axis, an interconnector slidable along each rodiike bus in contact therewith for making succescontact between the rod-like bus and'a selected one of the ring-like busses, a clock, contact making means operated by the clock for establishing circuit connections at timed intervals to said rod-like busses, a rotatable dial with finger mechanism. The time selector dial, and the seindex' holes, means comprising a member having a progressively advancing surface and a follower operated by the dial for mechanically moving the interconnectors one at a time to establish cross connections between the rod-like and ring-like busses, a rotatable member for selecting the interconnector to be moved by the dial operated means, and a reset member for moving all interconnectors to a starting position.

2. A control unit in accordance with claim 1 in which the means for moving the interconnectors comprises 2 double acting cylindrical cam with two followers, one follower being actuated by rotation of the cam in one direction for moving the interconnectors individually to establish connections between the'rod-like and ring-like busses and the other follower being actuated by opposite rotation of the cam for moving them collectively to starting position, said cam being actuated-by the finger index dial and said operations being effected by opposite rotations of the finger index dial.

3. In combination, a plurality of equally spaced concentric conducting rings having a common axis, a plurality of equally spaced conducting rod-like busses grouped around and parallel with the axis of the rings, a plurality of contactors movable relative to the rod-like busses and rings to cross-connect selected busses and rings, a

spirally threaded member having a follower for moving the contactors individually, a rotatable finger index dial for driving said spirally threaded member, a second member having notches corresponding to the said busses for directing the follower to selected contactors, and means for moving the contactors collectively to a starting position.

4. A multiple function electric timing and control apparatus comprising two series of busses and a plurality of interconnectors for electri cally connecting busses of the two series for establishing selected electric circuits, means for moving the interconnectors individually comprising a follower, lead screws, pinions associated therewith, and a finger index dial operating the pinions and lead screws, and the means for returning all interconnectors to starting position comprising a follower, lead screws, pinions associated therewith and means operating the pinions and lead screws.

5. A multiple function electric timing and control apparatus having. a plurality of spaced metallic rod-like conductors arranged in cylindrical cage formation around a central axis, a plurality of function conductors comprising spaced metallic rings concentric with said axis, an interconnector for each time conductor slidable in contact therewith for contact with at least one function conductor, means for preselecting individual interconnectors, including a movable time selector and connecting mechanism extending therefrom, means for moving said preselected interconnectors individually into contact with an individual function conductor, said latter means including a function selector, connecting mechanism therefrom having a progressively advancing surface 'thereonand a followermovable thereby for directly moving the preselected interconnector, means for returning all of the interconnectors to starting position, and an interlock between the preselecting means and moving means for preventing the operation of the selector in one of said means when the selector in the other of said means is not in proper operating position.

6. A timing and control unit in accordance with claim 1 with the addition of indicating means for showing the positions of the interconnectors.

'7. A timing and control unit in accordance with claim 1 in which the means for moving the interconnectors comprises a spirally grooved member, with a follower for moving the interconnectors individually in one direction and a second follower for moving the interconnectors collectively in the opposite direction, spring operated means for returning the member to a starting position after operation, and retarding means for mini mizing rebound when the member returns to starting position.

8. In combination, a plurality of equally spaced concentric conducting rings having .a common axis, a plurality of equally spaced conducting rod-like busses grouped around the axis of the rings, a plurality of contactors movable relative position.

9. Electric control apparatus comprising a plurality of function busses, a plurality of time busses, a time index member, a function index member, means controlled by the time index and function index members for establishing connections between the time busses and function busses, said means comprising a connector slidable on each time bus, a finger for moving the connectors individually, means mechanically-connected with and operated by the time index member for positioning the finger opposite a selected connector, means comprising a progressively advancing surface and follower mechanically connected with and operated by the function index member for moving the finger and selected connector to a selected function bus by mechanical transmission of force applied by the operator to said function index member.

10. Electric control apparatus comprising a plurality of function busses, a plurality of time busses, a time index member, a function index member, means controlled by the time index and function index members for establishin connections between the time busses and function busses, said means comprising a connector slidable on each time bus, a finger for moving the connectors individually, means mechanically connected with and operated by the time index member for positioning the finger opposite a selected connector, means comprising a progressively advancing surface and follower'mechanically connected with and operated by the function index member for moving the finger and selected connector to a selected function bus by mechanical transmission of force applied by the operator to said function index member,,and means for returning the connectors collectively to a starting position.

11. Electric timing and control apparatus comprising a plurality of time busses, timing means for successively energizingihe time busses, a plurality of function busses, a time dial graduated in time units, a function dial graduated according to the functions of the function busses, means operated by the time and function dials for cooperatively establishing connections between the time and function busses, said means comprising an interconnector mounted upon and slidable along each of the time busses for cross connecting individual time and function busses, a pusher for sliding individual interconnectors along selected time busses, means operated by the time dial for moving the pusher to selected interconnectors, and means comprising a spirally threaded member actuating the pusher and itself actuated by the function dial for advancing the interconnector to a selected function bus.

12. Electric control apparatus including a system of coordinate electric conductors comprising a plurality of lntercrossed conductors, a plurality of interconnectors movable on some of said conductors for interconnecting corresponding intercrossed conductors, rotary means for I preselecting an interconnector in accordance with a division of time, rotary means for accomplishing .the movement of the preselected interconnector to a position corresponding to a predetermined control position, with said first rotary means having a plurality of notches thereon, interlocking means for preventing the operating movement 01' one of said rotary means when the other of said rotary means is out of normal operating position, said interlocking means including a rocking member having a portion riding on the notched portion of said first rotary means and having another portion adapted for locking engagement with said second rotary means.

13. Electric control apparatus comprising a group of function conductors, a group of time conductors, a time index member, a function index member, means for interconnecting the function conductors and time conductors comprising a-plurality of contacts slidable upon the conductors of one of said groups for engagement with the conductors of the other group, a selector member for sliding the contacts individually upon the conductors, means mechanically connected with the time index member for bringing a selected contact member and the selector member into alignment with one another, means mechanically connected with and operated by the function index member for moving the selector member and selected contact member to a predetermined interconnecting position by mechanical transmission of force applied by the operator to said function index member. said means including structure having a progressively advancing surface and a follower movable there 14. Electric controljapparatus for a radio receiver, includin a frame. a plurality of time conductors, a plurality of station conductors extending transversely with respect to the time conductors and fixed with relation thereto. an interconnector slidable on each of the time conductors for selectively interconnectin correspondin time conductors and station-conductors. means for individually slidably setting the intercnn nectors to predetermined positions with reference to the station conductors includ ng a linearly moving selector, with said linearly movin selector and said time conductors bein mounted in said frame in a manner as to ovide one of the two movable relative to the other, a rotary stationindicating member.; and mechanical means intermediate said stationindicatlng memher and said linearly moving selector for operatlvely connecting the same comprising means having aprogressively advancing surface, and

means for extending an electric circuit through said time conductors and the corresponding interconnectors and station conductors.

15. Electric control apparatus for a radio receiver, including a plurality of time conductors and a plurality of station conductors extending substantially transversely thereof, with the time conductors being fixed relative to the station conductors, a metal sliding contact on each of the time conductors having a body portion mounted on said time conductor and engagirng said time conductor with sufficient friction as to remain in a selected set position on a. time conductor, having a pointed contact portion for electrical engagement with only a single selected station conductor at one time and having a pro- .iecting portion thereon for engagement by a contact setting member, a linearly movable contact setting member for individual engagement with a preselected contact, rotary means for actuating the contact setting member and means mechanically connecting said rotary means and said contact setting member.

16. A control device for controllable apparatus comprising two groups of electrical conductors with the conductors in each group substantially parallel to one another and with the conductors in one group fixed relative to the conductors in the other group, an interconnector slidable upon each of the conductors in one of said two groups to electrically connect such conductor with a corresponding conductor in the other group, rotary means for setting a preselected interconnector to a predetermined electrical connection, and means operatively connecting said rotary means with said preselected interconnector for moving the latter to such predetermined electrical connection but disconnectible therefrom after such moving, including a plurality of spaced apart rotatably supported lead screws.

17. Electric control apparatus including a plurality of axially aligned ring-like conductors insulated from one another, a plurality of rodlike conductors spaced apart and extending transversely of said ring-like conductors in a cage-like formation with all of said onductors fixed with respect to one another, an intercom nector on each of said rod-like conductors, and means positioned substantially within the confines of the end limits of the rod-like conductors in the cage-like formation and operable substantially therein for selectively setting said interconnectors with respect to said ring-like conductors including a selector for positioning opposite an interconnector and with said cage-like conductor formation and selector being rotatable relative to one another, rotary means at one side of said apparatus operatively connected with said selector in a. manner whereby said selector moves axially upon rotary movement of said rotary means, and means for extending an electric circuit through the interconnected ring-like and rod-like conductors.

18. Electric timing and control apparatus for a control circuit comprising timing means for energizing the control circuit at timed intervals, a plurality of function conductors, a time dial graduated in time units, a function dial graduated according to the functions of the function conductors, a plurality of contact means movable to selectively interconnect the timing means and the function conductors, means movable to necting means intermediate said time dial and 1 said movable means for accomplishing preselecting of a contact means upon movement of Said time dial, and additional mechanical connecting means for said function dial and said movable means to transfer the movement of said function dial to said movable means for moving said contact means to a predetermined interconnecting position.

19. An electric control device *for apparatus to be controlled, comprising a plurality of time conductors, clock means for routing electric current to said time conductors in successive order, a plurality of function conductors for routing the current to apparatus to be controlled thereby, a plurality of interconnectors slidable on the time conductors for establishing connections between the time and function conductors. a time index member graduated in time intervals, a function index member graduated in accordance with the operation under control of the function conductors, a follower movable to selected positions aligned with the path of movement of any one of said interconnectors, means establishing direct mechanical connection from the time index member to said follower for movement of said follower upon setting movement of the time index member, and movable means having a progressively advancing surface thereon mechanically connected to the function index member and operated thereby and mechanically connected to said follower for operating the follower to in turn engage said interconnector with which it has been aligned to move said interconnector to a predetermined control position.

20. Electric timing and control apparatus comprising a clock with means for establishing an electric circuit at timed intervals, a plurality of time conductors for routing the circuit for each interval comprising a plurality of conductors spaced around a central axis and parallel thereto, a plurality of function conductors comprising conducting rings spaced relative to one another and to the time conductors and having an axis common therewith, a plurality of 'electrical interconnectors slidable upon the time conductors and movable to predetermined positions interconnecting said time and function conductors, a movable time index dial, a movable function dial, a combination interconnector-selector and-mover member operated successively bysaid two dials to move in a rotary direction or linear direction depending upon the particular dial operated, means connecting said combinationv member with said time dial, and additional means connecting said function dial with said combination member.

21. Electric control apparatus comprising a plurality of intercrossed but insulatingly separated time conductors and function conductors in a substantially cage-like formation, a'contact member slidable upon each time conductor for selective connection with a corresponding function conductor, means for selecting and thereafter moving a contact member to a predetermined conductor connecting position, said means including a linearly movable supporting ring, a selector member carried on said supporting ring and rotatable with respect thereto, a time index member operatively connected with said selector member for rotatably moving the same to a preselected position, a function index member operatively connected with said ring-like supporting member for linearly moving said ring-like supporting member and carrying therewith said selector member. for moving the preselected contact member to a predetermined position with said ring-like supporting member and the selector'member thereon automatically returnable to starting position after such setting operation.

22. Electric control apparatus including two groups of electric conductors with one group including ring-shaped conductors insulated from one another and with the other group including a plurality of rod-like conductors extending transversely of said ring-like conductors, interconnectors on each conductor of one of said groups selectively slidable thereon for engagement with aselected conductor in the other group, setting means for individually sliding each of said interconnectors for setting the same, and means for clearing all of said interconnectors to move the same collectively to starting position, a plurality of rotatable spirally grooved members spaced apart from-one another with-alternate members operatively connected with said setting means and the remaining members operatively connected with said clearing means, and means available at one side of said apparatus for selectively rotating the alternate members or said remaining members, for correspondingly setting or clearing said interconnectors depending upon the particular member rotated.

23. A time-control device for controllable al paratus comprising a group of control conductors, and a group of time conductors extending substantially transversely of said control conductors, an interconnector movable upon each conductor of one of said groups of conductors and adapted for engagement'with a preselected conductor in the other group, means for selectively moving said interconnectors one at a time to a predetermined set position to establish a cross-connection with a corresponding transversely extending conductor, means for collectively moving the set interconnectors to clear the cross-connections, and a single rotary means rotatable clockwise or counter-clockwise and operatively connected with each of said moving means for rotation to set or to clear said interconnectors depending upon the direction of rotation of said single rotaryvmeans.

- 24. A control device for controllable apparatus comprising a plurality of intercrossed but insulatingly separated conductors, a plurality of interconnectors movable relative to said intercrossed conductors 'to electrically connect corresponding conductors, means for moving said interconnectors individually from a starting position to set them in predetermined positions relative to the intercrossed conductors. means for moving the set interconnectors collectively to move them to starting position, a rotatable control member operatively connected with each of said means for moving one of said means u'pon clockwise rotation of said member, and for moving the other of said means upon counter-clockwise rotation of said member, and means for extending a circuit through the corresponding conductors and set interconnectors.

25. A time control device for controllable apparatus, said device including a group of rod-like conductors arranged in a substantially circular cage-like formation, a second group of ring-like conductors positioned in substantially cylindrical formation and extending transversely with respect to the conductors in the first group, in terconnectors movable relative to corresponding conductors in said two groups, means for preselecting an interconnector to be moved, means for moving said preselecting means to move the preselected interconnector to a position to electrically connect a pair of transversely extending corresponding conductors, a clock for said device supported within the cage-like conductor formation having hour and minute handsthereon. means for driving said hour and minute hands, a contact brush movable in accordance with the movement of the minute hand, a second contact brush movable in accordance with the movement of the hour hand, a plurality of contacts in the path of movement of said first contact brush adapted for engagement thereby at predetermined intervals within the total interval of one hour, with said second contact brush supported in a manner to successively directly engage an end portion of said rod-like conductors, and with said brushes electrically connected to extend a circuit through said brushes and the corresponding interconnected rod-like conductors and ring-like conductors.

26. Electric control apparatus for a radio receiver, including a frame, a plurality of intercrossed and insulatingly separated time conductors and station conductors arranged in a cage-like formation and rotatably supported on said frame, a plurality of contact members slidable on said time conductors for setting to a predetermined interconnecting position with reference to said station conductors, means for setting said contact members including a movable member for individual engagement with said contact members linearly movable but non-rotatably supported on said frame, a rotary station member for moving said movable member to a predetermined position and mechanically connected therewith, and means linearly movable in said frame for collectively moving th set contact members to starting position. 1

27. Electric control apparatus including a fixed supporting frame, conductor means rotatably. carried upon said supporting frame including a plurality of intercrossed time conductors and function conductors with said conductors being relatively fixed with respect to one another, a contact member slidably carried on 'each time conductor, a time index mem ber connected with said conductor means for rotating said conductor means to a predetermined position corresponding to an interval of time, a selector member non-rotatably but axially movably supported within said frame, with said conductor means adapted to be rotated to bring a preselected contact member into alignment with said selector member, a function index member and means mechanically connecting said function index member and said selector member for sliding a preselected contact member on a corresponding time conductor by means of said selector member upon movement of said function index memher, and means for directly but collectively moving the set contact members to starting position.

28. In a control system for tuning a radio receiver, a source of electrical energy for said system, a control unit including a plurality of time conductors, a plurality of station conductors extending transversely with respect thereto, a frame for said control unit supporting said conductors, and alternately operated means for selectively extending an electrical circuit through the station conductors, one of said alternately operated means including an interconnector slidable on each of the time conductors for selectively interconnecting corresponding time conductors and station conductors, mechanically operated means for individually slidably setting said interconnectors, and means connecting said station conductors with said source of electrical energy through said interconnectors, and with the other of said alternately operated means comprising a plurality of push buttons supported on said frame and available at one side of said control unit for direct manual operation, with each of said push buttons having a conducting shank electrically common to said source of electrical energy, spring means for supporting the push button to normally retain the same out of engagement with a station conductor, and with said push button adapted to be moved to in turn move said shank against the force of said spring means for engagement with a corresponding station conductor to extend a circuit from said source of electrical energy through the engaged station conductor.

HAROLD F. ELLIOTT.

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