GB2106333A - Programmer for automatic washing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

The programmer comprises drive means for rotating a cam unit actuating switching devices (1-4, 9-12) mounted in modules is provided with metal terminal pins (30, 30a) which are long enough to be connected by removable bridging connectors (40, 40'), thus eliminating the need for double or triple relay pins. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Programmer for automatic washing machines The present invention relates to a programmer for automatic washing machines, comprising drive means for rotating at least one cam unit actuating switching devices mounted in modules, provided with metallic pins for electrical connection, and in which removable means are provided, of appropriate material, shape and length, adapted to cooperate with the pins and to electrically connect certain of them.

According to the washing programs adopted by the machine manufacturers, it is necessary to bridge together certain connecting pins of the programmer. Certain of these pins must also serve for outside connections with the various elements of the machines, such as heating elements, the motors of the drum and the pump, the pressure-controllers and the electrovalves.

A programmer of the type defined hereinabove has already been proposed, with flat pins in which the pin connection means are in the form of a strip folded on itself at its two ends in order to be able to cooperate with the pins.

However, the above-defined programmer does not make it possible to eliminate the double or triple pins of relays which must be provided for the outside connections of the bridge pins.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome this drawback.

To this end, the present invention relates to a programmer of the above-defined type, wherein the length of the pins is such that they may cooperate with at least two removable connecting means.

Due to their sufficient length, the pins may receive at least two connecting means one above the other, which enables bridgings to be made over at least two levels, two of these means being able, symbolically, to intersect, on the one hand, and the double or triple pins of relays are eliminated, on the other hand.

Thus, the possibilities of bridging offered by the programmer of the invention are increased.

In a preferred embodiment of the programmer of the invention, the pins are cylindrical and disposed on the same face of the programmer.

The round pins present the advantage over the fiat pins, and for the same useful section, of being less cumbersome and therefore of further reducing the thickness of the switching modules.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if all the pins are disposed on the same face of the programmer, to facilitate bridges and to allow outside connections by a commercially available connector.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description of several embodiments of the programmer, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a switching module.

Fig. 2 is a view in axial section of this same module.

Fig. 3 is an outside view of a module on the output side of the connecting pins.

Fig. 4 is an outside view of a programmer of the invention seen from the output side of the pins.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a first embodiment of the connecting strip according to the invention.

Fig. 6 is a simplified plan view of the strip of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of a second embodiment of the connecting strip according to the invention, and Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of a switching blade-connecting pin sub-assembly of the programmer of the invention.

Fig. 9 shows various possible combinations of switching, with four switching blades actuated by one or two follower levers in abutment against two-, three- or four-level cams.

Referring now to the drawings, and as shown in Fig. 1, a module is composed of a box 21 moulded from insulating plastics material. The bottom of this box is recessed by a circular slot 21 a which is sufficiently large to allow the passage of the cam unit 22. The edge 21 b of the box (Fig. 3) comprises recesses whose bottom 211 is hemicylindrical to accommodate therein cylindrical pins 30 on which are fixed switching blades 1, 2, 3 etc. These pin-blade assemblies (Fig. 8) are maintained in place by recesses 212 in the following module made in projections which follow the shape of the recesses 21 5 of the module in question, and by projections 21 3a and 21 3b on the box.In addition, dove-tail sectioned grooves 214 make it possible to maintain in position metal bars 32 on which are fixed, by welding or crimping, other pins 31, which are insulated from the switching devices. The free ends 30a, 31 a of the pins 30, 31 are rounded and are long enough to pass through the space defined by a lid 26 of sufficient height to house at least two removable connecting strips 40, 40' one above the other. It is in this space that the bridgings necessary for effecting the diagrams corresponding to the various constructors are established. The disposition of the strips on at least two levels allows the conductors to cross. These strips are pre-cut out from a band of bronze beryllium or cold-hammered brass with a high copper content. By way of example, this band may have a thickness of 0.25 mm and a width of 4 or 5 mm.The pins 30, 31 are disposed on the same face of the programmer and project beyond the lid 26 to allow outside connections by means of commercially available connectors 400.

These strips, made of elastic suitable conducting material are of different length and shape depending on the pins to be bridged. In one embodiment, they are insulated by a supple tube 41 made of insulating material. The ends of these strips are rolled in cylinder or loop form 40a, of which the diameter corresponds to that of the pins, with an elastic tightening of some tenths of millimeter. To have sufficient elasticity, the short bridges are made with a strip having one or two prefolds 40b, so that it is easily adapted to the distance between centres of the pins.

The strips may be easily cut out and bent by automatic means for mass production.

The advantage of the insulated strips is that their edgewise disposition makes it possible, for example, to house three of them, juxtaposed, between two cylindrical pins spaced apart by 6 mm.

Finally, thecylindrical form 40a is much less cumbersome than a female clip for flat pin and ensures a good electrical connection on the pins. As a variant (Fig. 7), the bridgings may be made with pieces of commercially available electric wires 43 to the ends of which are fixed, by soldering for example, the outer part of pieces of tube 42, rolled in a material similar to that of the strips 40.

The switching devices are of the type with superposed elastic metal blades adapted to cooperate with one another and of which the relative positions enable electrical connections to be established or cut off depending on the section of one or more program cams rotated by drive means (not shown).

As regards the programmer shown in the drawings, these blades 11 (Fig. 8) for example made of bronze beryllium, are fixed by electric arc welding (11 Oa) on the end 30a of the pins 30 forming the connection means. In each module 21 of the programmer are disposed one or two assemblies of four blades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9, 10, 11, 12. Certain of them, which are longer, are actuated by means of follower levers 23,24,25 as a function of the sections 22a, 22b and 22c of three distinct program cams. Fixed stops 21 0a, 21 0b, 21 0c . . limit their displacement to obtain, in certain configurations, the opening or closure of the electric contacts 250 and the minimum contact pressures.

Depending on the or each blade in movement and depending on the position of the fixed stops disposed in the bottom of the module 21, a plurality of electrical combinations as shown in Fig. 9 is obtained.

Thus, depending on positions A, B, C or D of a single follower lever 23 in contact with the section of a four-level cam 22a, the following electrical connections may be obtained: Position A (Fig. 9A)=high level of the cam; simultaneous closure of contacts 1,2 and 3.

Position B (Fig. 9B)=first intermediate level; closure of contacts 2 and 3.

Position C (Fig. 9C)=second intermediate level; all contacts are open.

Position D (Fig. 9D)=low level of the cam; closure of the contacts 3 and 4.

In this configuration, it is blade 3 which is longer than the others and follows the movements of the lever 23, blades 1 and 2 being limited in their movement by two fixed stops 21 0a, 21 Ob and blade 4 being maintained in fixed abutment on a stop 210 unless it is made rigidly.

If the lever 23 possesses two lugs 23a and 23b on which two blades 6 and 7 respectively abut, and if only blade 5 is limited in its stroke by a stop 210c, when the lever 23 follows a three-level cam 22b, the following electrical connections are obtained: Position E (Fig. 9E)=high level of the cam, closure of contacts 5 and 6.

Position F (Fig. 9F)=mean level of the cam; all contacts are open.

Position G (Fig. 9G)=low level of the cam; closure of contacts 7 and 8.

Another possibility of assembly consists, from four blades 9, 1 0, 11 and 12, in having the blade 10 in contact with a follower lever 24 on the section of a three-level cam 22c, the blade 1 2 in contact with a second follower lever 25 on the section of a second two-level cam 22d, blades 9 and 11, which are shorter, being limited in their movement by two fixed stops 21 Od and 21 owe.

The following electrical combinations are thus obtained:

Position H (Fig. 9H): Levers 24 and 25 on low level; Contacts 10-11 closed.

Position I (Fig. 91): Lever 25 on low level Lever 24 on intermediate level All contacts are open.

Position J (Fig. 9J): Lever 25 on high level Lever 24 on intermediate level Contacts 11-12 closed.

Position K (Fig. 9K): Lever 25 on low level Lever 24 on high level Contacts 11-12 closed.

Position L (Fig. 9L): Lever 25 on high level Lever 24 on high level Contacts 9-10 and 11-12 closed. Position M (Fig. 9M): Lever 25 on high level Lever 24 on low level Contacts 10-11-12 closed.

Finally, if it is blades 14 and 1 5 which are longer, to abut on the two follower levers 26 and 27 respectively on two three-level program cams 22c and 22d, the blade 1 3 being limited in its movements by a stop 21 0c and blade 16 being rigid or in fixed abutment on a stop 210, the following electrical combinations are obtained, as shown in Figs. 9N to 9T:

Position N: J Lever 26 on mean level Lever 27 on low level; contacts 15-16 closed.

Position 0: I Lever 26 on mean level Lever 27 on mean level; all contacts are open.

Position P: J Lever 26 on low level Lever 27 on mean level; contacts 14-15 closed.

Position Q: | Lever 26 on low level Lever 27 on high level; contacts 13-14-15 closed.

Position R: I Lever 26 on high level Lever 27 on mean level; contacts 13-14 closed.

Position S: | Lever 26 on low level Lever 27 on low level; contacts 14-15-16 closed.

Position T: J Lever 26 on high level Lever Lever 27 on low level; contacts 13-14 and 1 5-1 6 closed.

The device forming the subject matter of the invention enables programmers for automatic washing machines of small dimensions and low cost price to be made, which allow a large number of electrical combinations and bridgings between pins.

Claims (11)

Claims

1. In a programmer for automatic washing machines, comprising drive means for rotating at least one cam unit actuating switching devices mounted in modules, provided with metal pins for electrical connection, and in which removable means of appropriate material, shape and length are provided, adapted to cooperate with the pins and to electrically connect certain of them, the length of the pins is such that they may cooperate with at least two removable connecting means.

2. The programmer of Claim 1, wherein the pins are cylindrical.

3. The programmer of one of Claims 1 and 2, wherein the pins are disposed on the same face of the programmer and their length is such that they may further be connected to an outside connector.

4. The programmer of one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the removable means consist in metal strips comprising at least one prefold and of which the ends are rolled in a loop to be fitted with elastic tightening on the pins to be bridged.

5. The programmer of Claim 4, wherein the strips are sheathed from the level of the loops, by an insulating material, are made of bronze beryllium or cold-hammered brass with a high copper content.

6. The programmer of one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the removable means each consist of two tubes of rolled metal connected together by a conductor wire fixed on an outer part of the two tubes.

7. The programmer of one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein pins are insulated from the switching devices and are fixed on bars maintained in dove-tail grooves.

8. The programmer of one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein, in the same switching module, at least four blades are superposed to cooperate with one another, an inner blade being longer than the others to abut on a follower lever following the four-level section of a cam, two of three other blades being respectively limited in their movements by stops.

9. The programmer of one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein, in the same switching module, at least four blades are superposed to cooperate with one another, two inner blades being longer than the others and abutting respectively on two lugs of a follower lever, which follows the section of a three-level cam, one of the other two blades being limited in its stroke by a stop.

10. The programmer of one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein, in the same switching module, at least four blades are superposed to cooperate with one another, a first blade being in abutment on a first follower lever following the section of a first three-level cam, a second blade being in abutment on a second follower lever following the section of a second, two-level cam, the other two blades being limited in their movements by two fixed stops.

11. The programmer of one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein, in the same switching module, at least four blades are superposed to cooperate with one another, a first blade being in abutment on a first follower of a three-level cam, a second blade being in abutment on a second follower lever of a second threelevel cam, a third blade being limited in its movements by a stop.

1 2. A programmer for automatic washing machines substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.