US1193159A

US1193159A - John h

Info

Publication number: US1193159A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1916-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1933-08-01

Description

J. H. LAMB,

ELECTRIC TIME SWHCH.

APPLlCATION FILEDIOCT. 1:;19x5,

1,1 93 1 59, Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

7 f7 0 1 $5 Z4 Z3 M T; 2 14 4 179,3,

Witnesses Z I a; nven or /777m. I l WWW by Attorneys,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. LAMB, OF WASHINGTON, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC TIME-SWITCH.

Application filed October 11, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. LAMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vashington, in the county of Daviess and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Electric Time-Switch, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to electric time switches, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that character.

The invention embodies an electric switch adapted to control an electrical circuit, and clock actuated means for closing said switch at predetermined intervals, means being provided whereby the switch may be closed at various times, and may be held closed for predetermined lengths of time.

Another object of the. invention is to provide an electric switch adapted to be closed by a clock, and means for positively opening or releasing the switch if the same is not done by the spring means provided for that purpose.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide an appliance of the nature indicated which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, as well as being practical, serviceable and eflicient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein. disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of the appliance. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, partly in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an opposite elevation of the switch device removed from the clock.

The switch device is preferably applied directly to the case or frame 1 of a suitable clock, and embodies a supporting strip or plate 2 having a pair of key-hole-shaped slots 3 receiving the headed ends of screws or retaining elements 1 engaged with the back of the case or frame 1, the slots 3 each having a head or enlargement at one end Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

Serial No. 55,271.

for the passage of the head of the respective screw 4, whereby the strip or plate 2 may be readily applied to and removed from the clock. lfiurthermore, the strip 2 can be ad usted longitudinally of itself for timing the opening of the switch, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The strip 2 carries an outstanding block 5 constructed of fiber or other insulating material, and a standard 6 is secured upon the block 5, and has attached thereto a binding post 7 for the attachment of one terminal 8 of an electric circuit. A switch blade 10 is pivoted, as at 11, to the standard 6. An upstanding contact 12 is secured upon that end portion of the block 5 opposite the standard 6, and the free end of the blade 10 is engageable downwardly with the contact 12,to close or bridge the space between the standard 6 and contact 12 when the blade is depressed. A binding post 13 is secured to the contact 12 for the attachment of the other terminal 1% of the circuit, whereby the switch blade 10 controls the circuit.

In order to normally open or disengage the switch blade 10 from the contact 12, a coiled wire expansion spring 15 is disposed between the blade 10 and block 5, so as to lift the blade when it is free to swing upwardly.

A device is carried by the clock for de pressing or swingingthe switch blade into engagement with the contact 12 at suitable intervals, and to this end a strip 16 has one end pivoted, as at 17, to the back of the case or frame 1 above the strip 2, and a gear wheel or pinion 18 is secured upon the rear protruding end of the minute hand arbor A of the clock. A relatively large gear wheel 19 is mounted for rotation upon the strip 16 adjacent the pivot 17 thereof, and has an outstanding tappet pin 20 upon one face and adjacent its margin, so as to overhang the switch device. The gear wheel 19 meshes with a lantern wheel or pinion 21 carried by a gear wheel 22 mounted for rotation upon the strip 16 adjacent the gear wheel 19, and the gear wheel 22 is adapted to mesh with the pinion 18 when the strip 16 is swung downwardly to normal position. The strip 16 has a downwardly opening slot 23 adjacent its free end, and a bolt or other securing member 2 1 is carried by the back of the case or frame 1, to be received by the slot 23 when the strip 16 is lowered, to thereby hold the strip 16 in place with the gear wheels 18 and meshing.

The free end of the blade 10 projects into the path of the pin 20, whereby when the wheel 19 is rotated, the pin 20 will depress the blade 10 into engagement with the contact 12, for closing the circuit, and when the pin 20 leaves the blade 10, the spring 15 raises the blade to open the circuit. By raising the strip 113, the gear wheel 22 can be disengaged from the gear wheel 18, and this allows the gear wheel 19 to be rotated for setting the pin 20 to the desired position, whereby said pin will close the switch at the proper time.

The length of time that the switch is closed, is controlled by adjusting the supporting strip 2 of the switch. Thus, by adjusting .the strip longitudinally to the left, as seen in Fig. 1, the switch blade 10 is moved longitudinally so that only a short portion thereof projects into the path of the pin 20, whereby the switch blade will only be held depressed by the pin 20 a comparatively short period of time. When it is desired to hold the circuit closed a greater length of time, the strip 2 is adjusted or shifted to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, whereby a greater portion of the switch blade 10 will project into the path of the pin 20. Consequently, the blade 10 will be held depressed for a greater length of time. It is thus possible to properly time the opening of the switch by adjusting the switch blade 10 through the medium of the supporting strip 2 which carries the switch. It will be evident that the pin 20 wipes along the upper edge of the blade 10 when the wheel 19 is rotated in direction of the arrow in Fig. 1.

As a precaution, a device is employed for positively disengaging the switch blade 10 from the contact 12, should the spring 15 fail to do its duty. To accomplish this result, a lever 25 is pivoted, as at 26, to the contact 12, and has an angularly extending finger 27 projecting below the switch blade 10. The finger 27 is carried by one arm or end of the lever 25, and the other arm of the lever has an upwardly projecting finger 28 projecting into the path of the pin 20 adjacent or in rear of the free end of the blade 10. A coiled wire retractile spring 29 connects the block 5 and that arm of the lever 25 having the finger 27, so that the finger 27 is normally swung downwardly away from the blade 10, with the finger 28 projecting into the path of the pin 20. lVhen the wheel 19 rotates, the pin 20 after leaving the blade 10, engages the finger 28, and swings the lever 25 so as to raise the finger 27, and should the blade 10 stick to the contact 12 after the pin 20 has left the blade 10, the lever 25 in being swung by the pin 20 will cause the finger 27 to raise the blade 10 and thus disengage it from the contact 12 forcibly. This avoids the possibility of the circuit remaining closed should the blade 10 stick to the contact 12.

The

gear wheels

18, 22, 21 and 19 are preferably of such diameters, that the wheel 19 is rotated once every twenty-four hours whereby the switch will be closed once every day or night, thus rendering the mechanism serviceable for turning 011 the lights of a show window automatically at the beginning of darkness, the lights being turned oil late in the evening, when the lights are no longer desired or useful. The device may also be employed for controlling various other electrical circuits, appropriate changes in the structure being made, when necessary, in adapting the device to various uses.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In an electric time switch, the combination with a clock, of a longitudinally adjustable supporting member carried thereby, a switch blade pivoted to said member, a contact carried by said member with which the blade is engageable, and a wheel carried by the clock and connected to one arbor thereof, said wheel having an outstanding pin engageable with the free terminal of said blade.

2. In an electric time switch, the combination with a clock, of a block of insulation carried thereby, a standard carried by said block, a contact carried by said block, a switch blade pivoted to the standard and engageable with said contact, a member pivoted to the clock, a wheel carried by said member and having an outstanding pin engageable with; the free terminal of said blade, and means for connecting said wheel to one arbor of the clock when said member is swung properly.

3. In an electric time switch, the combination with a clock, of a block of insulation carried thereby, a contact carried by said block, a switch blade pivotally connected with said block and engageable with said contact, means for disengaging the blade from said contact, a strip pivoted to the clock, a gear wheel carried by said strip and having a pin engageable with the free ter minal of the said blade to swing it into engagement with said contact, a gear wheel carried by one arbor of the clock, and a gear wheel carried by said strip and connected to the first mentioned gear wheel and adapted to mesh with the second mentioned gear wheel when the strip is swung properly.

4:. In an electric time switch, a contact, a pivotally mounted switch blade engageable therewith, a. wheel having an outstanding pin engageable with said blade to move it into engagement with said contact, and

means ope'ated by said pin after it leaves said blade to forcibly move said blade away from the contact.

In an electric time switch, a contact,

a pivotally mounted switch blade engage-s able therewith, a rotary wheel having an outstanding pin to engage the blade for swinging it into engagement with the contact, and a pivetally mounted lever having a portion with which said pin is engageable after it leaves said blade so as to swing the lever, the lever also having a portion engageable with. the blade whereby when the lever is swung by said pin it disengages said blade from said contact.

(1. In an electric time switch, a contact, a plvotally mounted blade engageable therewith, a rotary wheel having an outstanding pin engageable with the free terminal of said blade to swing the blade into engagement with said contact, and a spring pressed lever pivoted to said contact and having a finger projecting into the path of said pin beyond the free terminal of said blade, said lever also having a finger projecting under said blade whereby when the lever is swung it disengages said blade from said contact. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereunto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. LAMB. \Vitnesses:

H. ARTHUR Sass, ROBERT P. COURTNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.