CA1129462A - Timing mechanism with two separate programs operating separate switch actuators and having an alarm system - Google Patents

Timing mechanism with two separate programs operating separate switch actuators and having an alarm system

Info

Publication number
CA1129462A
CA1129462A CA386,946A CA386946A CA1129462A CA 1129462 A CA1129462 A CA 1129462A CA 386946 A CA386946 A CA 386946A CA 1129462 A CA1129462 A CA 1129462A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
cam
timing mechanism
electrical contacts
actuator
open
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA386,946A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Maurice E. Schuder
Richard W. Stafford
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Duracell Inc USA
Original Assignee
PR Mallory and Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US05/947,594 external-priority patent/US4242746A/en
Application filed by PR Mallory and Co Inc filed Critical PR Mallory and Co Inc
Priority to CA386,946A priority Critical patent/CA1129462A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1129462A publication Critical patent/CA1129462A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Landscapes

  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A timing mechanism comprising a switch including first electrical contacts controlling a complete program of the timing mechanism. Second electrical contacts are provided to control a pulsing cycle within the complete program. A first actuator engages a first cam and the first electrical contacts to open and close the contacts. A second actuator engages a second cam and the second electrical contacts to open and close these contacts. A selector disengages the second actuator from the second cam to render the pulsing cycle inoperative. A power drive is provided to drive the first and second cams.

Description

~9~fi~
.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, the present invention pertains to a timing mechanism having a power drive means rotating first and second cam means and a double pole switch means opening and closing in response to a rotation of the cam means comprising coupling means coupling the power drive means to the cam means; first and second movable spring blades disposed in substantially parallel relation and having lengths which are substantially equal, first and second electrical contacts one each carried on each of the blades respectively near distal ends thereof and facing each other, a third spring blade fixedly disposed between the first and second spring blades and in substantial parallel relation therewith, the third spring blade having a length shorter than the lengths of the first and second spring blades so as to provide a gap between the sarne at their distal ends, and third and fourth electrical contacts carried on opposed surfaces of the third spring blade in oper-ational position with the first and second electrical contacts; and first and second actuator arms pivotly mounted in ends thereof to be pivoted in response to the cam means, a distal end of one of the actu-ator arms entering the gap and engaging the first and second spring blades to open the first and second electrical contacts from said third and fnurth electrical contacts, a distal end of the other actuator arm entering the gap and engaging one of the first and second spring blades to open one of said first and second electrical contacts from one of the third and fourth electrical contacts.
One of the cam means includes a sharp contour to a step with one of the actuator arms engaging the cam means to quickly drop at the sharp drop contour to the step. The timing mechanism also includes, in this embodiment, an audible sound means having a spring biased striker pivotly carried on the actuator arm and engaging the audible sound means, whereby the striker drops with the actuator arm and con-'~ lZ946;Z

tinues dropping after the arm engages the step to strike the audible sound means.
In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a short pulsing cycle within a complete program of the timing mechanism.
~n this embodiment one of the actuator arms serves to provide the short pulsing cycle and there is a manual selector means serving as a means to disengage the second actuator arm from its cam means to render the pulsing cycle inoperative for a predetermined period of time.
The present invention pertains to a timing mechanism and more lo particularly to a timing mechanism which provides a short pulsing cycle within a timing program and an alarm system to signal the end of a program and wherein a double pole switching means is also provided.
Timing mechanisms have for sometime been used to control the functions of various appliances such as washers, dryers and microwave ovens. Depending upon the application, such timing mechanisms need to provide various programs. For example, in the case of a timing mecha-nism for a microwave oven there is a need to provide a short pulsing cycle operable within the overall program. Such a system usually requires a double pole switching arrangement and in most cases there shculd also be a means to remove the pulsing cycle frorn the system if desired. In addition, there is also sometimes a need to provide an alarm means in conjunction with the timing mechanism to signal the end of a program.
OBJECTS OR FEATURES OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a timing mechanism having a means to provide a double pole switching arrangement. Another feature of the invention is to provide such a timing mechanism wherein a double pole switching arrangement is provided by three parallel spring blades, each having electrical con-tacts in operational alignment with each other and wherein actuator arms responsive to separate cam means selectively engage the spring blades.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a timing mechanism wherein two outside movable spring blades extend in length beyond a fixed middle third blade to provide a gap into which the actuator arms enter to engage the blades. Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a timing mechanism wherein the distal end of one of the actuator arms enters the gap and engages the outside spring blades to open and close electrical contacts from the middle blade and wherein the distal end of the other actuator arm enters the gap and engages one of the outside blades to open its contact from the electrical contacts of the middle third blade.
Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of such a timing mechanism wherein there is provided an audible sound means with a means to engage the sound means. Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a timing mechanism having a cam means which includes a sharp drop contour to a step and wherein an actuator means engages the cam means to quickly drop at the sharp contour to the step and wherein a spring biased striker is pivotly carried on the actuator so that it will continue to drop after the actuator engages the step to strike the audible sound means.
Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of such a timing mechanism having a short pulsing cycle operable within the complete program of the timing mechanism. Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a timing mechanism wherein the programs are provided by two actuator arms engaging separate cam means and wherein there is a manual selector means permitting one of the arms to become disengaged 4~S~

from its cam means. These and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in combination with the accompanying drawings.
According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a timing mechanism comprising switch means including first electrical contacts control-ling a complete program of the timing mechanism, and second electrical contacts controlling a pulsing cycle within the complete program. A first actuator means engages a first cam means and the first electrical contacts to open and close the contacts. A second actuator means engages a second cam means and the second electrical contacts to open and close same. A selector means is provided to disengage the second actuator means from the second cam means to render the pulsing cycle inoperative. Power drive means is provided for driving the first and second cam means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a top view of a timing mechanism employing the features of the invention.

- 4a -4~

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the timing mechanism of FIGURE 1 with portions thereof broken away.
FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the cam means of the timing mechanism and a coupling means which couples the cam means to the motor drive means of the timing mechanism.
FIGURE 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a timing mechanism 10 employing the features of the invention. The elements of the timing mechanism are enclosed in a cup-shaped housing member 12 with a cover plate 14 enclosing the open end of the housing. A cam 16 is fixedly carried on a shaft 18 which is rotatably journalled in the base 12' of cup-shaped member 12. A second cam 20 is rotatably journalled on shaft 22 which is fixedly carried in base member 12' of the cup-shaped hous-ing. Both of the cams are coupled to a suitable motor drive means 24, which is schematically shown in FIGURE 4, through coupling means 26.
Coupling means 26 includes a series of gears and pinions 28, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 and a clutch means 30. As more particularly shown in FIGURE 3, the gears and pinions include two pairs of cooperating non-circular gears such as scroll gears 33, 35, and 36, 38. Such scroll gears provide for a non-linear speed of rotation to cam 16 such that the rotation of the cam can be varied as desired. As shown cam 20 is located upstream toward the motor from the scroll gears such that it is driven at a constant speed.
A pair of actuator arms 40 and 42 are pivotly carried on a post 44, the post being carried by housing member 12. Actuator arm 42 has a cam follower 46 which engages cam 20 while actuator arm 40 has a cam follower 48 that engages cam 16. Thus, actuator arm 40 pivots in accordance with the program of cam 16 while actuator arm 42 pivots in accordance with cam 20. Both the actuator arms are spring biased toward 9~L6~

their respective cam through a spring 45 which includes a pair of fingers 45' and 45" engaging actuator arms 42 and 40 respectively.
Referring to FIGURE 1, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, a double pole switching means is provided with the combination of actuator arms 40 and 42 and double pole switching means 50. Double pole switching means 50 includes outer movable spring contact blades 52 and 54 and middle fixed contact blade 58 all of which are mounted in terminal block 56. The terminal block is formed as part of housing member 12. As shown, the blades are in substantial parallel relation to each other and the outer blades 52 and 54 have lengths which are substan-tially equal and longer than the fixed middle blade 58 to provide a gap 60 at the distal ends of the outer blades and at the end of the middle blade. The outer blades 52 and 54 carry electrical contacts 52' and 54' near their distal ends in line with and facing each other. The middle contact blade 58 carries electrical contacts 58' and 58" at its distal end in line with and facing the other two contacts. Each of the actua-tor arms include V-shaped extensions 40' and 42' extending from the distal ends of the actuator arms. When the actuator arms are pivoted in accordance with their respective cams, the V-shaped extensions will enter gap 60 to engage the outer spring contact blades 52 and 54 to selectively open and close the electrical contacts. ~hen being used in a microwave oven, for example, when the oven is working, all the contacts will be closed. During this time the oven can be intermittently turned off and on through cam 20 operating actuator arm 42 to open contacts 54' and 58". At the end of the complete cycle cam 16 causes actuator arm 40 to drop to disengage contacts 52' and 58' to completely open all the contacts.
Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3 a manual selector means 62 permits actuator arm 42 to be disengaged from the system. Manual selector means 62 includes a handle 64 which is carried by the actuator arm 42 and 946;2 -`

extends through an elongated slot 66 so that the handle may be moved lengthwise in the slot. Although not shown in the interest of simplicity it should be understood that means would be provided to hold the handle in a desired position.
Cam 16 has a very sharp drop contour 68 such that actuator arm 40 very quickly falls, the fall being terminated by step 16' of the cam. The sharp drop contour is provided by a spring pawl 70 carried on cam 16. The spring pawl is pivotly carried at one end by post 72 which is carried on the cam and the pawl is slideably carried by its inner surface 70' by being sprung over post 74 which is also carried by the cam 16. The spring pawl has a lug 76 that has a very sharp edge 76' to provide the sharp contour 68. The lug 76 pivots between a tab 80 and rim 82 which extends around the periphery of the cam except for the space provided by the step 16'. As viewed in FIGURE 1, when cam 16 rotates in a clockwise fashion cam follower 48 approaches the lug 76 and then quickly drops when it reaches the straight edge 76'. When the cam is manually reset by rotating cam 16 in a counter-clockwise direction lug 76 will pivot a sufficient amount to expose the tapered edge 16" of step 16' to permit the follower 48 to become disengaged from the lug.
Upon follower ~8 being relieved from the lug, the lug will return to its original position due to the action of the spring pawl.
Referring to FIGURE 1, 2 and 3, in accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided an alarm to indicate the end of a program cycle of the timing mechanism. Such alarm is provided by an audible sound means 90 which includes a bell 92 that is carried on the cover 14 and a striker 94. Striker 94 includes an L-shaped arm 96 pivotly carried on post 98 which extends through and is carried by actuator arm 40. The L-shaped striker engages the bell. lhe striker is spring biased at its one end through a coil 100 which is carried on a post 102 extending from the striker and which extends into a channel 104 7_ 46;~.
.

that is carried by the actuator arm 40. Stop means 41 stops the drop of the actuator arm. In the present embodiment, stop means 41 includes step 16' of cam 16. ~hen actuator arm 40 drops at the end of a cycle at the straight edge 76' and quickly stops at step 16' of cam 16 striker 96 continues to drop to engage or strike the bell 92 to indicate the end of the cycle. ~hen the striker engages the bell 92 the pivoting of the striker causes coil 102 to compress to then disengage the striker from the bell.

This is a division of Canadian patent application serial number 335,237 filed September 10, 1979 ^~Ith the same title.

Claims (3)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A timing mechanism comprising:
a) switch means including first electrical contacts controlling a complete program of said timing mechanism, and second electrical contacts controlling a pulsing cycle within said complete program;
b) a first actuator means engaging a first cam means and said first electrical contacts to open and close same;
c) a second actuator means engaging a second cam means and said second electrical contacts to open and close same;
d) selector means disengaging said second actuator means from said second cam means to render said pulsing cycle inoperative; and e) power drive means driving said first and second cam means.
2. A timing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said first and second actuator means include first and second arms pivotly mounted at the end thereof and wherein said selector means includes a handle coupled to said second arm and extending through a housing.
3. A timing mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said handle is integral with said second arm.
CA386,946A 1978-10-02 1981-09-29 Timing mechanism with two separate programs operating separate switch actuators and having an alarm system Expired CA1129462A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA386,946A CA1129462A (en) 1978-10-02 1981-09-29 Timing mechanism with two separate programs operating separate switch actuators and having an alarm system

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US05/947,594 US4242746A (en) 1978-10-02 1978-10-02 Timing mechanism with two separate programs operating separate switch actuators and having an alarm system
US947,594 1978-10-02
CA335,237A CA1123032A (en) 1978-10-02 1979-09-10 Timing mechanism with two separate programs operating separate switch actuators and having an alarm system
CA386,946A CA1129462A (en) 1978-10-02 1981-09-29 Timing mechanism with two separate programs operating separate switch actuators and having an alarm system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1129462A true CA1129462A (en) 1982-08-10

Family

ID=27166398

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA386,946A Expired CA1129462A (en) 1978-10-02 1981-09-29 Timing mechanism with two separate programs operating separate switch actuators and having an alarm system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1129462A (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4146760A (en) Line switch assembly for a timing mechanism
US4246454A (en) Timing mechanism having a short pulse prior to its overall program
US4242746A (en) Timing mechanism with two separate programs operating separate switch actuators and having an alarm system
US4307270A (en) Momentary switch for a timing mechanism
US3500005A (en) Variable circuit timer
US4412750A (en) Timing mechanism with two separate programs operating separate switch actuators and having an alarm system
CA1129462A (en) Timing mechanism with two separate programs operating separate switch actuators and having an alarm system
CA1184042A (en) Timing mechanism
US3582582A (en) Timer utilizing momentary switch operable from segmented timer shaft
US4497985A (en) Line and program switch assembly for a timing mechanism
US4355217A (en) Switch inhibitor for timers
CA1130353A (en) Timing mechanism with two separate programs operating separate switch actuators and having an alarm system
CA1214049A (en) Clutch for a timing mechanism
US4867005A (en) Timing mechanism
CA1264347A (en) Means providing intermittent motion to a cam means of a timing mechanism
US2824181A (en) Automatic and manual control time switch
US2861235A (en) Servosystem control unit for antenna rotators
US2913048A (en) Timer
US4381430A (en) Coin operated timing mechanism
US4206337A (en) Microwave oven having improved defrost cycle timer means
US3015706A (en) Electric switch
CA1113141A (en) Means limiting a manual rotation of a cam assembly used for operating electrical switches
US4297545A (en) Switching means for a timing mechanism
US3280276A (en) Sequential timer
US4429195A (en) Timing mechanism

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKEX Expiry