US1244408A - Coin-controlled circuit-controller. - Google Patents

Description

V. R. BACON.

CUIIN CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPucAHoN msn 1AN.26.|917,

1,244,408. Patenfed oct. 23,1917.

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INVENTOR VVITNESSES A'r'roRNEY V'. R. BACON.

COIN CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 26. IBI?. 1,244,408. Patented 0015.231917.

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ATTORNEY .2%. OCM/f1@ UNITED sTATnsv PATENT onirica.A

VAUGHAN R. BACON, 0F FLORENCE, NEBRASKA.

COIN-CONTROLLED CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

Application filed January 26, 1917.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VAUGHAN R. BACON, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Florence, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Circuit- Controllers, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in coin controlled circuit controllers and has particular application to apparatus for closing an electric circuit for a predetermined time upon the insertion of a coin in the device, thereby enabling current to How through the translating device or devices connected in the controlled circuit, and opening such circuit after the expiration of the prescribed period.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a coin controlled circuit controlling apparatus, whereby the controlled circuit may be closed for a predetermined time, upon the insertion of a coin in the apparatus, and opened after the expiration of the prescribed period of time, and wherein by means of a master switch connected with the spring motor of the chronometer, the controlled circuit will be broken when the motor is in need of rewinding, thereby preventing the apparatus from maintaining the controlled circuit closed inl the event of the chronometer motor running down.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and falling within scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings z- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewy through circuit controlled apparatus constructedin accordance with the presentinvention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the same.

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on a plane parallel with Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 designates a casing composed of suitable material, and having the top wall formed with an opening in which is mounted a vertically disposed coin chute 2. Slidably mounted in the upper end of the coin chute 2 is a plunger 3 normally `held in elevated Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 23, 1917.

serial No. 144,755.

position, while formed in one side wall of the coin chute 2 adjacent to the upper end thereof is an opening l arranged below the plunger l and through which the coins may be deposited in the chute. One side edge of the coin chute 2 below the top wall of the casing 1 is formed with a slot 5 while the opposite side edge is formed with a slot 6 arranged in a plane below the slot 5 and opening into the casing 1.

h/Iounted in the casing 1 is a chronometer mechanism 7. Connected with the chronometer mechanism 7 and adapted to be driven therefrom is a horizontal shaft 8 journaled in suitable bearings and loosely mounted on the shaft 8 a disk 9 composed of insulating material. Secured to one face of the disk 9 concentrically thereof is a split conducting ring 10 having the ends thereof spaced apart. The ring 10 is preferably seated in a groove formed in the disk 9 so that the outer surface of the ring will lie iiush with the adjacent side of the disk. Fastened to one wall of the casing 1 within the latter is a supporting bracket 11 and fastened to the supporting bracket 11 and insulated therefrom and from each other are contact fingers 12 arranged upon the side of the disk 9 carrying the conductor ring and having the free ends thereof nor- A mally bearing upon the disk between the extremities of the ring 10, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Secured to one side of the disk 9 and lprojecting outwardly therefrom are pins 13 and 11i spaced apart across the disk, and fastened to the shaft 8 is one end of a stop bar 15, having the other end arranged between the pins 13 and 14C and adapted to normally engage the pin 14 on the side of such pin opposite from the direction of rotation. Also fastened to the shaft is one end of a leaf spring 16 and the other end of this spring bears upon the pin 13 on the side of such pin opposite from the direction of rotation, Formed in the periphery of the disk 9 is a notch 17, and normally engaging the notch 17 is a dog 18 formed on one end of a lever 19 pivoted be tween its ends on a bracket 20 mounted on the top wall of the casing 1. rEheother end of the lever 19 extends through the slot 5 into the coin chute 2 and is disposed withink the path of the coin. Connected with the coin chute end of the lever 19 is one end of a retractile spring 21 and the other end of the spring is fastened to the top wall of the casing 1, the spring acting toY hold the coin chute end of the lever normally at the upper` end of the slot 5 and the dom in engagement with the slot 17 in the dis 9 to hold the latter against rotation.

Also arranged within the casing l isa master switch, which in the present instance embodies a partially circular strip 22 of insulating material and conductor strips 23 secured to one face of the strip 22 and spaced apart. These strips 23 are preferably seated in grooves formed in the strip 22 so that the outer side of the conductor strip will lie flush with the adjacent surface of the insulating strip. Arranged at the center of the curve described by the conductor strips is a shaft 2,4 and mounted upon this shaft 21 is a toothed segment 25 that meshes with a spur pinion 2G fixed upon the motor shaft of the chronometer. Connected with the segment 25 is one end of a contact arin 27 and the other en d of this arm en- Y gages the strips 23 to bridge the latter. Se-

cured to one end of the strip 22 and spaced f apart from the adjacent ends of the strips 23 is astop pin 28, while secured to the strip 22 at the other end thereof and spaced apart from the adjacent ends of the strips 23 a. distance greater than the width of the contact arm 27 is a stop pin 29.

The gear ratio between the segment 25 and the pinion 26 is such that when the arm 27 engages the pin 29, there is still suiiicient energy left in the chronometer motor spring to render it operative for several additional revolutions of the disk 9 had it not been stopped by the engagement of the arm 27 With the pin 29f This arrangement has a tendency to prevent the possibility of the chronometer stopping before the arm has reached the pin 29 due to unexpected increase in friction in the controller mechanism, which increase in friction might cause the chronometer motor to stop immediately at the time when the chronometermotor spring has nearly run down.

In practice, the strips 23 and the contact fingers 12 are connected in series in the controlled circuit, andthe chronometer motor spring wound up in order to operate the chronometer mechanism. `In the Winding of the chronometer motor the arm 27 moves over the strips 23 and enga-ges the stop pin 28, thereby preventing further Winding of the chronometer motor spring and the pin 28 holds the arm 27 in engagement with the adjacent ends of the strips 23 to bridge the latter. In the normal position of the disk 9 the stop bar 15 engages the pin 14, ,andthe spring 16y in engagement with the pin 13 is undertension yand vacts to move the disk initially aroundthe shaft 8 as soon as the dog 18 is disengaged from the notch 17.

When it is desired to close the controlled circuit, a coin of the proper denomination is deposited in the coin chute 2 through the opening f1, and such coin engages the adncent end of the lever 19. The plunger 3 1s then depressed and engages the coin with the e'ect'to swing the lever 19 about its pivotal connection with the bracket, thereby disengaging the dog 18 from the notch 17 in the disk 9, the coin, after swinging the lever 19, dropping through the slot 6 into a com receptacle arranged within the casing 1 to catch the coin. As soon as the disk 9 is relieved of kthe influence of the dog 18 the spring 16 reacts and rotates the disk 9 around the shaft 8 and in this rotation of the disk the pin 13 engages the bar 15 under the action of the spring 16, Ywhile one end of the ring 1() moves under the lingers 12, thereby closing the controlled circuit so that the translating devicestherein may be energized. As the chronometer mechanism is now free to turn the shaft 8 incident to the dog 18 having been moved out of the notch 17, the disk 9 will now be caused to rotate by the thrust of the spring 1G exerted against the pin 13. since the spring 16 is rigidly secured to the shaft 8 and under tension when the circuit controller is inactive. 1V hen set in motion, as just described, the disk 9 will continue to rotate through one revolution, at the end of which, the dog 18 engages the notch 17, vthus preventing further rotation of the disk 9 and leaving the disk in such position that the Contact ends of the lingers 12 rest in the open space between the ends of the ring 10, thereby breaking the controlled circuit so that it iS necessary to deposit another coin in the apparatusbcfore the controlled circuit may be again closed. After the disk 9 is stopped by the engagement 'of the dog 18 with the notch 17, ,the shaft 8 will cont-inne to rotate the bar 15 through the angular space from the pin 13 to the pin 14, thereby increasing the tension upon the spring 16. When the bar 15 engages the pin 14 the bar is held against further movement and the spr-ing 16 is under maximum tension, further movement of the shaft 8 being prevented incident to the bar 15having enga-ged the pin 14.

As long as the spring motor of the chronometer isunder tension, the arm27 travels slowly over the strips 23, and when such motor runs down the arm 2,7 engages the pin 29 and disengages the strips 23, thereby breaking the controlled cincuit at the master switch and preventing further ation Q f the chronometer until the motor 1s rewound.

It will be noted that owing inthe springA 16 rotating the disk 9 immediately on the movement of the dog 18 out of the notch 17, the notch is moved out of line with the dog, thereby preventing the dog from rengaging the notch until the disk has made one complete Arevolution.

While I have `herein shown and described the preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein shown and described, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l. In a time controlled circuit controller, a chronometer, circuit closing mechanism operable from said chronometer and embodying a disk, a split conductor ring secured to one face of said disk concentrically thereof and having the ends spaced apart, contact lingers connected in the controlled circuit and having the ends thereof normally engaging said disk at a point between the ends of said ring to hold the controlled circuit open, and means holding said disk normally against turning movement under the action of said chronometer and operable to release said disk.

2. In a time controlled circuit controller, a chronometer, circuit closing mechanism operable from said chronometer and embodying a disk, a split conductor ring secured to one face of said disk concentrically thereof and having the ends spaced apart, contact lingers connected in the controlled circuit and having the ends thereof normally engaging said disk at a point between the ends of said ring to hold the controlled circuit open, and coin controlled mechanism holding said disk against turning movement under the action of said chronometer and operable to release said disk.

3. In a time controlled circuit controller, a chronometer, circuit closing mechanism operable from said chronometer and embodying a disk, a split conductor ring secured to one face of said disk concentrically thereof and having the ends spaced apart, contact fingers connected in the controlled circuit and having the ends thereof normally engaging said disk at a point between the ends of said ring to hold the controlled circuit open, means holding said disk normally against turning movement under the action of said chronometer and operable to release said disk,A a shaft upon which said disk is loosely mounted, a connection between said shaft and chronometer, and means for imparting initial movement to said disk upon its release and serving as a driving connection between the disk and said chronometer mechanism.

4C. In a time controlled circuit controller, a chronometer, circuit closing mechanism operable from said chronometer and embodying a disk, a split conductor ring secured to one face of said disk concentrically thereof and having the ends spaced apart, contact fingers connected in the controlled circuit and having the ends thereof normally engaging said disk at a point between the ends of said ring to hold the controlled circuit open, means holding said disk normally against 'turning movement under the action of said chronometer and operable to release said disk, a shaft upon which said disk is loosely mounted, a connection between said shaft and chronometer, and means for initially rotating said disk upon its release and thereafter serving` as a driving connection between the disk and the chronometer mechanism.

In testimony whereof I a'IfiX my signature.

VAUGHAN R. BACON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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