MXPA98009890A - Time regulator with bidirectional subinterval mechanism cubri - Google Patents

Abstract

A time regulator for controlling an apparatus includes an upper circuit of subinterval which is used to control a function of an apparatus, the upper subinterval circuit has electric circuit cutters which are movable to open and close the upper circuit of the device. subinterval, the time regulator also includes a desubintervalo lever which makes contact with a subinterval cam, in addition, the time regulator includes a cover lever that adjusts with the blades of the circuit to avoid closing the upper circuit of subinterval

Description

TIME REGULATOR WITH BIDIRECTIONAL SUBINTERVAL MECHANISM CÜBRIBLE FOR DOMESTIC APPLIANCES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a time regulator for home appliances »and more specifically to a time regulator having a subinterval circuit to provide switching functions during the residence time of the time regulator. Time regulators are commonly used in many household appliances such as dishwashers, clothes washers and clothes dryers. The time regulator controls the operation of the apparatus by actuating and unsetting switching assemblies which initiate and stop various work functions within the apparatus such as a rinsing function in the case of a clothes washer. The switching assemblies within the time regulator are driven and deactivated as a result of the interaction between a number of cam surfaces defined in a cam shaft of the time regulator and a number of cam followers which are respectively associated with the assemblies. switching. Each of the switching assemblies typically includes an upper circuit cutter and a lower circuit cutter with an intermediate circuit cutter positioned therebetween. A first end of each of the upper, lower and intermediate circuit blades includes a terminal that is electrically coupled to components associated with the apparatus. A second end of each of the upper and lower and intermediate circuit blades cooperates with the camshaft of the time regulator. Typically, the upper circuit blade and the lower circuit blade are generally passive, while the intermediate circuit blade is generally active. In particular »the second end of the lower circuit blade has a blade support molded therein. A lower edge of the blade support makes contact with a portion of the camshaft which does not have a variable cam surface therein. Therefore, as the cam shaft rotates, the lower circuit blade does not move up or down. Moreover, an upper edge of the blade support supports the second end of the upper circuit blade. Therefore »the rotation of the camshaft does not cause the blade of the upper circuit to be moved up or down. However, the intermediate circuit blade includes a cam follower which cooperates with a cam surface defined on the camshaft. When the cam follower finds a defined drop in the cam surface, the intermediate circuit blade is brought into electrical contact with the lower circuit blade. More specifically, the intermediate circuit blade includes an electrical contact that is driven in contact with a similar electrical contact included in the lower circuit blade when the intermediate circuit blade is lowered onto the lower circuit blade. To subsequently break the electrical contact between the intermediate circuit blade and the lower circuit blade, a cam lifter is defined on the cam surface which lifts the cam follower of the intermediate circuit blade back to its position original. In order to place the intermediate circuit blade in electrical contact with the upper circuit blade, a cam lifter (as opposed to a fall) is defined on the cam surface of the cam shaft. As the camshaft rotates, the cam follower of the intermediate circuit blade advances to the cam lifter of the cam surface thereby bringing the intermediate circuit blade into electrical contact with the upper circuit blade. More specifically »the electrical contact of the intermediate circuit blade it is driven in contact with a similar electrical contact included in the upper circuit blade. In order to subsequently break the electrical contact between the intermediate circuit blade and the upper circuit cutter, a fall in the cam surface is defined which causes the cam follower of the intermediate circuit blade to fall back to its original position. A subinterval circuit of a washer or dishwashing time regulator is used to provide switching for functions such as spray rinsing in a washing machine and filling the valves with water in a dish washer. Historically »the subinterval circuit has been limited to a one-button circuit. The circuit is typically placed in a lower blade where it can be easily actuated by a sub-slider lever that follows a sub-slit cam profile. This profile causes the subinterval lever to open and close a lower set of contacts by raising and dropping the intermediate circuit blade of this circuit. When the intermediate blade is lifted by the sub-rails lever »the circuit is open» when the intermediate blade is dropped by the sub-rails lever »the circuit closes. The subranging lever is driven by a cam profile which is molded as a part of the main cam driver of the time regulator. Because the sub-step lever is operated by the main cam driver, this make / break action occurs at every interval. If it is desired not to make the circuit during some intervals, this can be covered by a neutral radius on the camshaft of the main time regulator. In this way, although the cam profile of sub-slots allows the sub-slider lever to fall, the intermediate blade is still maintained in its neutral position by the neutral cam profile of the cam shaft of the main time regulator. When it is desired to form the circuit »the profile of the camshaft of the main time regulator is made to have a radius in the lower part» allowing the intermediate blade to fall and form the lower circuit when the sub-rails lever is actuated by the cam of subintervals. With washing machines becoming more complex and offering more features, it is now desirable to provide a bi-directional subinterval circuit where the subranging cam has three "bottom" neutral and top profiles. This allows the subinterval lever to actuate the intermediate blade to perform and interrupt both a lower and upper circuit. The lower circuit is still covered by the cam profile on the camshaft of the main time regulator as described above, but the upper circuit will make each interval by the upper radius of the cam profile of subintervals. Because it is desirable that this upper circuit does not operate in each interval, it has historically been electrically shut off by the use of another circuit of the time regulator. This uses an additional circuit in the time regulator that could be used to control other functions of the machine. thus reducing the flexibility of the time regulator and adding complexity to the wiring of the time regulator.

What is needed, therefore, is a time regulator that includes a bidirectional subinterval which allows the sub-interval lever to actuate the intermediate blade to form and interrupt both the upper and lower circuits and a mechanical means to cover the upper circuit of the circuit. a bidirectional subinterval circuit. This would eliminate the need for a separate electrical circuit to cover the upper circuit of the bidirectional subinterval switch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a time regulator for controlling an apparatus is provided, which consists of an upper circuit of subintervals controlling a function of the apparatus. The upper circuit of subintervals has electric circuit blades that are movable to open and close the upper circuit of subintervals. The time regulator also includes a sub-interval lever which contacts a sub-interval cam. The sub-interval lever is movable in response to the sub-interval cam to impart movement to the circuit blades to open and close the upper circuit. subintervals. A cover lever is adjusted to the circuit blades to avoid closing the upper circuit of sub-ranges to cover the movement of the sub-interval lever. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a time regulator for controlling an apparatus is provided, which includes a camshaft having a plurality of program blades corresponding to predetermined functions of the apparatus. The time regulator further includes a camshaft impeller which is coupled to the camshaft to rotate the camshaft and an upper circuit of subranges »whose opening and closing controls a function of the apparatus. The time regulator also includes a subranging lever having a first end and a second end »the first end contacts the camshaft impeller to impart a predetermined movement to the subranging lever. The second end makes contact with the upper circuit of subintervals. A covering lever is adjusted with a program blade and makes contact with the upper circuit of sub-ranges to avoid the realization and interruption of the upper circuit of sub-ranges. According to a third embodiment of the present invention, a time regulator is provided for controlling an apparatus which includes a camshaft having a plurality of program blades corresponding to predetermined functions of the apparatus and a camshaft impeller the which is coupled to the camshaft to rotate the camshaft. Also included is a subinterval circuit having a lower circuit cutter »an upper circuit cutter» and an intermediate circuit cutter disposed between said upper and lower circuit cutters. The intermediate circuit blade is movable between a raised position wherein the intermediate circuit blade makes an upper circuit of subintervals and a lowered position where the intermediate blade makes a lower circuit of subintervals. A subranging lever having a first end which makes contact with the camshaft impeller and a second end which is positioned in functional relation to the intermediate blade which is pivotally mounted and movable in response to the camshaft impeller to move the intermediate circuit blade in contact with the upper circuit blade or with the lower circuit blade. A cover lever adjusts a track of the camshaft program and is movable between a raised position and a lowered position according to the blade of the program. When the cover lever is in the raised position »the covering lever raise the upper blades beyond the reach of the intermediate blade thus preventing the upper subinterval circuit from being made. When the cover lever is in the lowered position. the cover lever lowers the upper blade to allow the upper subinterval circuit to be made. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful time regulator for controlling an apparatus. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a time regulator that includes a bidirectional subinterval circuit mechanism that allows the coverage of the subinterval lever without using a separate time regulator circuit to electrically turn off the circuit. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a time control apparatus that utilizes a bidirectional subinterval that does not add complexity to the timing controller wiring. The above and other objects »features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus that includes a time regulator which incorporates the features of the present invention therein; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the time regulator of the apparatus of Figure i; Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the relationship between the switching assembly and the camshaft of the time regulator of Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the IO camshaft of figure 3; Figure 5 is a rear view of separate parts of the time regulator of Figure 2 showing the internal components of the subinterval circuit of the time regulator; Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the relationship of the subinterval components and the camshaft of the time regulator of Fig. 2; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 »but showing in more detail the components of the sub-interval circuit» the cover lever of the sub-interval circuit »and the electric circuit cutters of sub-intervals» each circuit cutter being placed in its respective neutral position; Figure S is a side elevational view showing the circuit blades of the subinterval circuit with the intermediate circuit blade in a "falling" position thereby realizing the lower sub-tier circuit; Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 »but showing the intermediate circuit blade in a raised position thereby performing the upper subinterval circuit; and Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 »but showing the upper cover lever in its actuated position» thereby moving the upper circuit blade beyond the reach of the intermediate circuit blade and covering the movement of the subranging lever to lift the intermediate circuit blade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Although the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternate forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be hereinafter described in detail. It must be understood "however" that there is no attempt to limit the invention to the particular detailed form, but on the contrary "the intention is to cover all the equivalent and alternative modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention" as defined for the appended claims. Referring now to Figure 1, an apparatus 10 such as a laundry washing machine is shown. The apparatus O includes a time regulator 12. The time regulator 12 is secured to a console 14 of the apparatus 10. The time regulator 12 controls various work functions associated with the apparatus IO. Examples of such work functions include agitation »washing» turned »rinsing» drying »detergent dispersion or fabric softener» hot water filling »filling with cold water and draining water.

Referring now to Figures 2-4 »there is shown the time regulator 12 in more detail. The time regulator 12 includes a housing 16 »a side plate 18. an upper plate 20. a switching assembly 22, a control shaft 24» a knob 26 »and a camshaft 28. An operator of the apparatus 10 can set the time regulator 12 at a desired point when handling the knob 26. In particular »the operator of the apparatus 10 can press the knob 26 inwards and from there turn the knob 26 in order to set the time regulator 12 to the point wanted. The camshaft 28 is secured to the control shaft 24. In particular, the control shaft 24 is received through a central hole 28a defined in the camshaft 28 in order to be secured thereto. One way of securing the camshaft 28 to the control shaft 24 is with a clutch mechanism (not shown). The control shaft 24 includes a protruding end 24a which protrudes from an opening 30 defined in the side plate 18 of the time regulator 12 in order to be coupled to the knob 26. The camshaft 2S includes a number of cutters of driving 32. Each of the driving blades 32 has defined therein a group of retainer teeth 34. The detent teeth 34 cooperate with a ratchet driver (not shown) in order to provide rotation to the camshaft 28. In addition, the camshaft 28 includes a number of program blades 36 and 38. The program blade 36 has a number of cam lifts 36a and a number of cam dips 36b defined therein while the program blade 38 it has a number of cam lifts 38a 5 defined therein (see figure 4). The driving blades 32 are non-rotatable coupled to each of the program blades 36 »38. More specifically» the rotation of any of the driving blades 32 makes the rotation of each of the program blades 36 »38. The switching assembly 22 includes a number of lower or first circuit knives 44 »a number of intermediate knives or second circuit 46» and a number of upper knives or third circuit 48. Each of the circuit knives 44 » 46 48 are inserted by molding inside a contact plate 64 »66» 68 »respectively. One end of each of the circuit blades 44, 46 and 48 protrudes outward from the contact plates 64, 66, 68, respectively, thereby defining electrical terminals 75, 77, 79, respectively, as shown in FIG. figure 3. The terminals 75 »77» 79 »are provided for electrically coupling the components associated with the apparatus 10 such as a main machine motor or a power source (not shown). The circuit blades 44 »46» 48 are self-inclined in the general direction of the arrow A of figure 3. Therefore »another end of each of the circuit blades 44» 46 »48 is diverted towards the camshaft 28 and therefore the program blades 36 »38. Each of the lower circuit blades 44 includes a blade support 50. A contact surface 52 of the blade support makes contact with a number of cam shaft valleys 58 (see FIG. 4) defined in FIG. camshaft 28. The blade supports 50 are provided to maintain a constant distance between the lower circuit blades 44 and the camshaft 28. By maintaining a constant distance between the lower circuit blades 44 and the camshaft 28 » the blade supports 50 compensate for any variation in tolerance and oscillation associated with the camshaft 28. In addition »the blade supports prevent lateral movement of the lower circuit blades 44. The blade support a 50 also includes a bearing surface 54. A support tab 56 (see Figure 3) defined in each of the upper circuit blades 48 »is supported by the bearing surface 54. Therefore» the blades of the circuit upper 48 are held at a predetermined distance away from the lower circuit blades 44 when the intermediate circuit blades 46 are not driven towards the upper circuit blades 48 so as to lift the upper circuit blades away from the abutment surface 54. Each one of the intermediate circuit blades 46 includes a cam follower 62. The cam follower 62 cooperates with the cam surface 36 thereby allowing the intermediate circuit blades to move in the general direction of the arrows A and B of Figure 3. In particular »if the cam follower 62 makes contact with one of the cam lifters 36a of the program blade 36 »the cam follower 62» and therefore the intermediate circuit blade 46 »are driven in the general direction of the arrow B of figure 3. However, if the follower of cam 62 falls into one of the cam drops 36b of the program blade (10) 36 the cam follower 62 and therefore the intermediate circuit blade 46 are driven in the general direction of the arrow A of figure 3. Referring to figure 5, the time regulator 12 includes a drive system for advance the cam shaft. drive system includes a motor (not shown), a cam drive 66 »a gear train (not shown). The motor transmits torque through a gear train to the pulse cam 66 which in turn rotates the camshaft 28 through the thrust blades 32. The cam impeller 66 includes a subinterval cam 74 and a separation ledge 76. The driving cam 66 »through the sub-slit cam 74 operates a sub-slider switch 78 (Fig. 5> by actuating a sub-slider lever 86 to operate at least one cutter blade. intermediate circuit 46 independent of the camshaft 28. The separation ledge 76 assists in capturing the subinterval lever 86 in the housing 16. The subinterval cam 74 is sequenced with the impeller to couple and disengage a regulator circuit. 23 camshaft time unless covered. The sub-interval cam 74 includes a lower cam profile 80 »a neutral cam profile 82 and an upper cam profile 84. Referring to Fig. 5, the subinterval switch 78 includes a subinterval lever 86"a subinterval pivot hole 88. a subinterval follower 90" a subinterval foot 92"and a subinterval actuator 94. The subinterval switch 78 is configured to operate a subinterval switch. electrical circuit of subintervals 95 for an interval of 15 to 20 seconds in order to operate a specific function of the apparatus such as a rinsing sprayer in a laundry washing machine. The subranging lever 86 is preferably stamped from a pre-coated zinc steel material with the protruding side of the latter away from the housing 16 to facilitate installation. The lever 86 is formed to avoid interference with the housing 16 and other components of the time regulator. The sub-slider switch 78 is configured for a bi-directional switch for making and interrupting electrical circuits with both a lower circuit blade 44 and an upper circuit blade 48 driving the intermediate circuit blade 46 with the sub-range lever 86.

The hole of the subinterval pivot 88 cooperates with the housing 16 to provide a fulcrum for the operation of the subinterval lever 86. The subinterval follower 90 cooperates with the subinterval cam 74 to convert the rotary movement of the cam actuator to a linear movement. The subinterval foot 92 makes contact with the housing 16 to position the subinterval follower 90 at the sub-tier 74 cam level and provide a support surface for when the subinterval lever 86 pivots in response to the subinterval cam 74. The subinterval actuator 94 contacts a sub-recess tab 98 of the intermediate circuit blade (see Figures 3 and 5) to drive an intermediate circuit blade 46. The sub-slider actuator 94 is radiated to provide a support surface during the drive. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the sub-slider switch 78 further includes a cover lever 100. In the preferred embodiment, the cover lever 10O is a two-piece design using a first cover lever 102 and a second lever. cover 104. The first cover lever 102 includes a first cover pivot rod 106 at its first end »an elevator of the first cover lever 10B at a second end, and a cover lever cam follower 110 arranged between them. The pivot rod 106 of the first cover lever is pivotally adjusted to both the housing 16 and the cover IB of the first side perpendicular to the rear surface of the housing and provides a pivot axis around which the pivot bar of the first lever cover pivots. The camshaft follower of the first cover lever is arranged in such a way that the camshaft follower 110 is adjusted to a program blade of the upper cover lever 126 of the camshaft 28. The second camshaft lever cover 104 includes a slot 112 of the second cover lever »a pivot pin 114 of the second cover lever» an actuator 116 of the second cover lever »and a guide 118 of the second cover lever 118. The second lever cover 104 is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 114 of the second cover lever on the side plate 18. The pincer 116 of the second cover lever is at the opposite end of the second cover lever 104 from the pivot pin 114. The slot 112 of the second cover lever is located substantially in the middle between the two ends of the second cover lever. The lifter 108 of the first cover lever is slidably connected to the second cover lever 104 in the slot 112 of the second cover lever. The actuator 116 of the second cover lever makes contact with the upper circuit cutter 48 of the subinterval circuit 95 at the end of the upper circuit cutter 48 opposite the upper contact plate 68 (see figure 6) for raising the cutter of upper circuit 48 beyond the range of the intermediate circuit blade 46 of the subinterval circuit 95. The guide 118 of the second cover lever fits a slot in the rear surface of the housing 16 to maintain proper alignment of the second cover lever 104 as it pivots in response to the lifting action of the first cover lever 102. Referring now to FIGS. 8--10 »the operation of the time regulator 12 and the subinterval switch 78 will now be discussed in more detail. detail. Only one of the electric circuit blades 44 »46» 48 are shown in Figures 8-10 for clarity of description. Referring to figure 8 »the lower circuit blade 44 and the circuit blade upper 48 are in the neutral position and the intermediate circuit blade 46 is in the fallen position. The neutral position of the lower circuit blade 44 occurs when the contact surface 52 of the blade support 50 makes contact with the cam valley 58 of the camshaft 28 (FIG. 3). The upper circuit blade 48 is placed in a neutral position when (1) the lower circuit blade 44 is placed in the neutral position »and (2) the intermediate circuit blade 46 is not in contact with a cam lifter 36A ( as will be discussed in more detail below). In this position »the support tab 56 of the upper circuit blade is placed on the bearing surface 54 of the blade support 50. Similarly» when the intermediate circuit blade 46 is not in contact with a cam lifter 36A or a drop of cam 36b (see figure 3), the intermediate circuit blade 46 is placed in the neutral position. When (1) the intermediate circuit blade 46 is placed in the neutral position »and (2) the lower circuit blade 44 and the upper circuit blade 48 are also placed in their respective neutral positions» the intermediate circuit blade 46 does not is in electrical contact neither with the lower circuit blade 44 nor the upper circuit blade, 48.

In particular »when the circuit blades 44, 46 and 4B are each placed in their respective neutral positions thereof» an electrical contact 120 included on the upper surface of the lower circuit blade 44 is separated away from an electrical contact 122a included on the lower surface of the intermediate circuit blade 46.

In addition, an electrical contact 124 included on the lower surface of the lower circuit blade 48 is spaced apart from an electrical contact 122b included on the upper surface of the intermediate circuit blade 46. Referring to FIG. 9 »for the purpose of coupling electrically the upper circuit blade 48 to the intermediate circuit blade 46 »the cam follower 62 is advanced in contact with the cam lifter 36a thereby moving the intermediate circuit blade 46 to an actuated position in which the intermediate circuit 46 is driven in the general direction of the arrow B of figure 9. In this position »the upper circuit blade 48 is moved out of contact with the bearing surface 54 of the knife holder SO and is placed in a position out of center in which the upper blade 48 is supported by the intermediate blade 46 as shown in figure 9. When the blade of intermediate circuit 46 is placed in the driven position »and the upper circuit blade 48 is placed in the out-of-center position» the intermediate circuit blade 46 is in electrical contact with the upper circuit blade 48. More specifically »the electrical contact 124 of the upper circuit blade 48 is electrically coupled to the electrical contact 122b of the intermediate circuit blade 46. If it is desirable to electrically uncouple the upper circuit blade 4B from the intermediate circuit blade 46 »the cam follower 62 is advanced out of contact with the cam lifter 36a. More specifically »if the cam follower 62 is advanced out of contact with the cam lifter 36a» the cam follower 62 will fall or otherwise be driven in the general direction of the arrow A of figure 9 thus returning the intermediate circuit blade 46 to the neutral position. When the intermediate circuit blade 6 is returned to the neutral position "and the lower circuit blade 44 is placed in the neutral position" the upper circuit blade 48 is also returned to the neutral position in which the upper circuit blade 48 it is again supported by the bearing surface 54 of the blade holder 50. Referring to FIGS. 5-7, the operation of the subinterval switch 78 is now discussed. The subinterval follower 90 contacts the subinterval cam 74 to provide movement. linear to the subinterval lever 86. The linear movement of the subinterval follower 90 is transferred to the subinterval actuator 94. The subinterval actuator 94 makes contact with the subinterval tab 98 of the intermediate blade and causes the subinterval actuator 94 to press against the tab 98 of subintervals of the intermediate blade to operate the circuit of subintervals 95. The motor through a set of reduction gears »the cam driver 66 rotates. As the cam driver 66 rotates the sub-range follower 90» which is adjusted with the sub-range cam 74 »moves between the lower cam profile 80 »The neutral cam profile 82» and the upper cam profile 84. If the sub-interval follower 90 is engaging the neutral profile 82 of the sub-interval cam 74 »the intermediate blade 46 of the sub-range circuit 95 is in the neutral position and the intermediate circuit blade 46 is not in electrical contact with the lower circuit blade 44 nor with the upper circuit blade 48. In particular »the electrical contact 120 included on the upper surface of the lower circuit blade 44 is separated from the electrical contact 122a included on the lower surface of the intermediate circuit blade 46. In addition, the electrical contact 124 included on the lower surface of the upper circuit blade 48 »is separated away from the electrical contact 122b included on the upper surface of the intermediate circuit blade 46. When the sub-range follower 90 is adjusted with the lower profile SO of the subinterval cam 74. the subinterval follower 90 drops. As the subinterval follower 90 drops »the subinterval lever 86 pivots about the pivot hole of the subinterval lever 88 causing the subinterval actuator 94 to move in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. 5. According to FIG. sub-step actuator 94 moves in the direction of arrow A »intermediate circuit blade 46» which is oriented in the direction of arrow A »also moves in the direction of arrow A. When the intermediate circuit blade falls »Makes electrical contact with the lower circuit blade 44. In particular» the electrical contact 122a on the lower surface of the intermediate circuit blade 46 moves in contact with the electrical contact 120 included on the upper surface of the lower circuit blade 44 (see figure 8).

When the sub-slider 90 engages the upper profile 84 of the sub-slit cam 74 »the sub-slider lever 86 pivots about the pivot hole of the sub-slit lever 88 causing the sub-slit holder 94 to move in the direction of the arrow B as shown in Fig. 5. As the sub-slider actuator 94 moves in the direction of the arrow B »the intermediate circuit blade 46 moves on contact with the sub-slider actuator 94 in the direction of the arrow B. When the intermediate circuit blade 46 is raised »this makes electrical contact with the upper circuit blade 48. More specifically» the electrical contact 124 of the upper circuit blade 48 is electrically coupled to the electrical contact 122b of the intermediate circuit blade 46 (see figure 9). Because the sub-slider lever 86 is actuated with each revolution of the cam driver &6 »it is necessary in the operation of the apparatus to cover the opening and closing of the sub-slider circuit 95. The actuation of the sub-slit circuit» ie, when the intermediate circuit blade 46 falls in electrical contact with the lower circuit blade 44, it can be covered by a cam profile 36 on the cam shaft 28. This is achieved by using a neutral radius on the cam profile 36. this mode, although the lower sub-slit cam profile 80 allows the sub-slit lever 86 to fall »the intermediate circuit blade 46 of the sub-slider circuit 95 is still held in the neutral position by the cam profile 36 of the cam shaft 28 In particular, the neutral position of the cam profile 36 prevents the electrical contact 122a from coming into contact with the electrical contact 120 of the lower circuit blade. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in order to cover the operation of the upper subinterval circuit, the cam follower of the first cover lever 110 cooperates with the program knife of the upper cover lever 126 of the cam shaft. to move the first covering lever 102 and the second covering lever 104 in the general directions of the arrow B of figure 6. In particular when the cam follower of the cover lever 110 makes contact with one of the lifters of cam 126a of the program blade of the upper cover lever 126 »the first cover lever 120 pivots about the pivot pole 106 and thus causes the first cover lever lifter 108 to move in the general direction of arrow B of figure 6. By moving the first lifter of cover lever 108 in the direction of arrow B, the second cover lever is moved in the direction n of the arrow B according to the second cover lever 104 is lifted into the slot 112 of the second cover lever. When the second cover lever 104 is raised in the slot 112 »the second cover lever pivots about the pivot pin 114 thereby causing the actuator 116 of the second cover lever to move in the direction of the arrow B. the actuator 116 makes contact with the upper circuit cutter 48 of the subinterval circuit 95 and moves the cutter 48 in the direction of the arrow B beyond the range of the intermediate circuit cutter 46 (see FIG. 10). Therefore if the second cover lever 104 is in the raised position "and the sub-slot lever 86 is actuated by the upper profile 84 of the subinterval cam 74» the intermediate circuit blade 46 moves in the direction of the arrow B but the second cover lever 104 retains the upper circuit blade 48 in an off center position which is beyond the range of the intermediate circuit blade 46 of the subinterval circuit 95. With the second cover lever 104 in this out of center position, the subinterval circuit 95 can not be performed electrically and thus the upper subinterval circuit has been covered. Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character "being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described" and that all changes and modifications that are within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

For example »the cover lever 100 can be manufactured as a single piece and will serve the same function as described above. However, by manufacturing the cover lever in two pieces and incorporating a pivot point in each the lifting associated with the cam lifter 126a is multiplied and a relatively small lift in the direction of the arrow B in the cam follower 110. is multiplied by a larger movement in the direction of the arrow B in the actuator of the second cover lever 116.

Claims (9)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS 1. - A time regulator for controlling an apparatus »consisting of: an upper circuit of subintervals controlling a function of an apparatus» said upper circuit of subintervals has electric circuit blades that are movable to open and close said upper circuit of subinterval; a subinterval lever making contact with a subinterval cam; said subinterval lever is movable in response to said subinterval cam to impart movement to the circuit blades to open and close the upper subinterval circuit; a cover lever that couples said circuit blades to prevent closing said upper subinterval circuit and therefore covers the movement of the electrical circuit blades of the upper subinterval circuit.
2. 2. A time regulator according to claim 1 »further characterized in that it includes a cam having a plurality of program blades corresponding to predetermined functions of the apparatus.
3. 3. A time regulator according to claim 2 »further characterized in that said cover lever is additionally adjusted to one of the program blades, said cover lever cooperating with said program knife to prevent the aforementioned closing upper circuit of subinterval.
4. 4. A time regulator according to claim 3. further characterized in that the cover lever is pivotally mounted and additionally includes a cover lever cam follower which adjusts to the blades of the program to pivotally move said blades of circuit to a position to avoid closing said upper superinterval circuit.
5. 5. A time regulator according to claim 4. further characterized in that said sub-interval cam is arranged on a cam guide surface and therefore said sub-interval lever is actuated in each interval of the time regulator of the device .
6. 6. A time regulator for controlling an apparatus, comprising: a camshaft having a plurality of program blades corresponding to predetermined functions of the apparatus; a camshaft impeller coupled to the camshaft to rotate the camshaft; an upper circuit of subinterval, whose opening and closing controls a function of the apparatus; a subranging lever having a first end and a second end. said first end of said subranging lever makes contact with the camshaft impeller to impart a predetermined movement to the subranging lever. said second end makes contact with said upper subinterval circuit; a cover lever engages one of said program blades and makes contact with said upper subinterval circuit to avoid performing and interrupting said upper subinterval circuit.
7. 7. A time regulator according to claim 6, further characterized in that the camshaft impeller has an outer surface and the superturval lever has a first end that contacts the outer surface of the camshaft impeller.
8. 8. A time regulator according to claim 7 further characterized in that the sub-slot lever is a tai-directional sub-slot in which the exterior surface of the camshaft impeller has a lower profile, a top profile and a neutral profile.
9. 9. A time regulator according to claim 8 »further characterized in that at least one electric circuit cutter includes an upper circuit cutter» a lower circuit cutter and an intermediate circuit cutter placed between the cutters of upper and lower circuit »said intermediate circuit blade is movable between a first off-center position where the intermediate blade contacts the upper circuit blade» a neutral position »and a second off-center position where the blade of intermediate circuit makes contact with the lower circuit blade. IO.- A time regulator according to claim 9 »further characterized in that the sub-interval lever has a second end that makes contact with the intermediate electric circuit blade. 11. A time regulator according to claim 10 »further characterized in that the intermediate blade is in the first position out of center when the sub-interval lever engages the upper profile of the outer surface of the camshaft impeller. 12. A time regulator according to claim 10 »further characterized in that the intermediate blade is in the neutral position when the sub-interval lever engages the neutral profile of the outer surface of the camshaft impeller. 13. A time regulator according to claim 10. further characterized in that the intermediate blade is in the second position out of center when the sub-rails lever engages the lower profile of the outer surface of the camshaft impeller. 14. A time regulator according to claim 6, further characterized in that the track of the upper covering lever of the camshaft includes a lower radius and an upper radius »said covering lever prevents an electric circuit from being made and interrupted by the sub-range lever when said covering lever engages the upper radius of the cover lever track. 15. A time regulator according to claim 14 »further characterized in that the cover lever does not prevent the realization or interruption of an electrical circuit by the lever of sub-intervals when the cover lever is engaging the lower radius of the track of the upper cover lever of the camshaft. 16. A time regulator for controlling an apparatus, which consists of: a camshaft having a plurality of program tracks corresponding to predetermined functions of the apparatus; a camshaft impeller coupled to the camshaft to rotate the camshaft; a circuit of subintervals that has a lower electric blade »an upper electric blade. and an intermediate blade disposed between said upper and lower blade; said intermediate blade being movable between a raised position wherein said intermediate blade performs an upper subinterval circuit and a lowered position wherein said intermediate blade performs a lower subinterval circuit; a sub-interval lever having a first end that makes contact with the camshaft impeller and a second end positioned in functional relation to the intermediate blade; said sub-step lever is pivotally mounted and movable in response to said camshaft impeller for moving said intermediate blade in contact with the upper blade or with the lower blade; a covering lever which engages a track of the camshaft program »said covering lever being movable between a raised position and a lowered position according to the program track» in said lifted position said lifting lever lifts said upper blade beyond the reach of the intermediate blade »thus preventing the upper circuit of sub-slots from being made. in said lowered position, said cover lever lowers the intermediate blade to allow the upper subinterval circuit to be made. 17. A time regulator according to claim 16 »further characterized in that said camshaft impeller has an outer surface that includes a lower radius» an intermediate radius and an upper radius for pivotally imparting movement to the second end of the lever of subintervals to move the intermediate circuit blade between the upper and lower circuit blades. 18. The time regulator according to claim 17. further characterized in that when the first end of the sub-interval lever makes contact with the lower radius of the outer surface, the intermediate circuit blade moves in contact with the blade of the lower circuit. 19. - The time regulator according to claim 17, further characterized in that when the first end of the subinterval lever makes contact with the upper radius of the outer surface, the intermediate circuit blade moves in contact with the upper circuit cutter . 20. The time regulator according to claim 17 »further characterized in that when the first end of the sub-interval lever makes contact with the intermediate radius of the outer surface» the intermediate circuit blade is separated away from the circuit blade upper and the lower circuit blade. 21. The time regulator according to claim 17, further characterized in that the first cover lever includes a cam follower which is adjusted with the blade of the camshaft program and a tip that makes contact with the blade of the camshaft. upper circuit. 22. The time regulator according to claim 16, further characterized in that said cam shaft includes a lower covering program track, said lower sub-interval blade being movable between a raised position and a lowered position in response to said one. lower coverage program track. 23. The time regulator according to claim 22 »further characterized in that when said lower blade is in its lowered position» said lower blade is lowered beyond the reach of the intermediate blade »thereby preventing the electric closure of the circuit of subinterval. 24.- The time regulator according to claim 22 »further characterized in that when said lower blade is moved to its raised position» said lower blade is within the reach of the intermediate blade »thereby allowing the blade to be electrically closed. subinterval circuit.