US1566561A

US1566561A - Switch operator

Info

Publication number: US1566561A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1925-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 1942-12-22

Description

G. F'. RAUCH SWITCH OPERATOR Filed April 22 1924 Dec- 2 Sheets-Sheet l gmmtoa a "VT/VESSEIS' Dec. 22, 1925- 1,5 1

G. F. RAUCH I SWITCH OPERATOR Filed April 22. 19 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuntom 650452 7771706 M I abkrzmq Patented 22, 1925.

GEORGE F. IRAUGH, IPUI (YETATJTA, fii'OUTH DAKOTA.

S RETCH GEERATOR.

Application filed April 22,

To aZZ 10. 20922 2'! may concern.

Be it known that l. Grosor F. RAUCH, a C11 men of the United States, residing at Pukwana. in the county of Ernie and State or South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch @perators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention appertains to a novel clock mechanism for automatically opening and closing a circuit at predetermined times, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a novel device of exceptionally dura ble and simple construction, which will require little or no attention for closing an electric circuit at predetermined intervals, for permitting the said electric circuit to be used for operating a time signal, whistle, the like or for other purposes and for holding the circuit closed a predetermined length of time, after which the. same will be automatically re-opened.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved switch operating mechanism embodying a spring operated wheel for actuating the saidswitch, and means controlled by an ordinary clock mechanism for setting the spring operated wheel into and out of operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel means for automatically operating a circuit closer and breaker a predetermined number of times a day, and for stopping the operation of the said circuit maker and breaker at certain stated. intervals, such as one day a week, so as to prevent the sounding of the time signals on Sundays or the like.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved switch operator showing the switch lever in its open position, and

Figure 2 is a central vertical through the switch operator.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the improved switch operator and B the switch.

The switch B canbe of any desired character and as shown embodies a post 5 section 1924-. fierial N0. @8390.

formed of insulation or the like the opposite sides of which have connected thereto the wires 6 and 7, which form a part of an GiQC JilC circuit. The wire 6 terminates in spaced relation to the wire and these wires are provided with spaced contact arms or lugs 8 and Swhich le t exposed, for a purpose, which will hereinafter more fully descri ied. It is preferred to have the exposed contact arms 8 and 9 l aid directly on a piece of fibre 1.0 or some other suitable block of insulation, which can be imbedded in the post 5. The post 5 supports the outwardly extending brackets 11 which carry a shaft 12 on which is operatively mounted at. a point intermediate its end the switch lever 13. The lower end of the switch lever 13 has riveted or otherwise secured thereto a block of insulation li, whiih in turn carries a bridge plate 15, which is adapted to engage the contact arms 8 and 9 when the said lever is moved to its operative closed position for permitting the closing of the circuit of the wires 6 and A. spring 16 is utilized for normally urging the switch lever 13 toward the contact arms 8 and 9 so that when the switch lever is free the contact or bridge plate 15 will normally be in engagement with the said contact arms 8 and 9. The switch lever 13 has formed thereon or secured thereto the angularly extendingoperating arms 16 and i7 tor a purpose, which will be hereinafter more fully described. The arm 17 has pivotally connected thereto as at 18 an angularly extending operating foot 19 and this foot 19 is normally held in an operative extended position relative to the arm 1.7 by means of a removable pin 20 for a purpose, which will be hereinafter more fully described. It can be seen that the arm 17 normally extends upward in a vertical plane, while the arm 16 extends rearwardly and upwardly at an angle to the horizontal. The switch operator A comprises a clock frame 25 which can be secured by means of

straps

26 and 27 to the post 5. The clock frame 25 includes any preferred type of clock mechanism 28 and this mechanism is employed for operating the usual hour and minute hands under a ial or clock face not shown in the drawings. Mounted as usual upon the minute hand post 29 of the clock mechanism 28 is the hour sleeve 30 which carries the hour hand and this hour hand sleeve makes one complete revolution in every twelve hours as in the usual construcshown the wheel 3% carries right-angular ly extruding operating his 35 which is ar ranged in the path of the root .9 carried by the arm ll" and is so arranged that the lug 35 will engage t e arm and positively hold the lever 13 in such a position that the plate will not move into engagement with the contacts 8 and 9 for a period of twenty-four hours thereby insuring the fact that the cir-- cuit will not be closed through the wires 6 and 7 one day a week, such as on Sundays. However, when it is desired to have the lever operate every day in the week as will be hereinafter more fully described it is merely necessary to remove the movable pin and drop the foot 19 out of the path of the lug I The time wheel is provided at equi-distance spaced points with a plurality of openings 36 and as shown this wheel is provided with twenty-four of the openings corresponding to one opening for every hour of the night and day. These openings are adapted to receive pins for causing the operation of the means for actuating the switch lever 13 and there can be as many pins utilized as there is time that the circuit is to be desired to be closed during the day. As shown I employ four pins 37 and I have these pins so arranged that the mechanism will be operated say at seven ocloelz, twelve ocloclr, one ocloclr. and sir; oclock, and thus it is evident that the circuit will be closed at these times permitting a time signal or the ike to be sounded.

While I have used the pin 37 it is to be understood that cams can be used when desired to hold the circuit closed a relatively long length of time. An operating arm 38 is pivoted as at 39 to the frame of the clock and the free end of this arm is disposed in the path of the pin and is adapted to be raised by the said pin. This arm is prevented from falling down below a predetermined point by suitable stirrup or the like l0 secured to the clock frame. This lever 38 is provided with an inwardly extending rightangularly disposed arm 41 which is arranged directly under atrip arm 4-2 which is rigidly secured to a shaft 43 rockably carried by the frame 25 of the clock. This rockable shaft l-3is arranged transversely of the frame and is provided with an escapement arm 44 which is which is mounted upon a rock shaft 51 carried by the frame 25 and arranged below the rock shaft 43. This arm is provided with a right-angularly extending foot 52 which is arranged below and in the path of the stop arm 4-2 so that when the said arm 50 is raised by the arm 41 of the lever 38 that the stop arm 42 will be raised, for a purpose, which will he hereinafter more fully described. This ifting arm 50 is held in a predetermined position by means of depending legs 5 and 5st which are adapted to engage certain portions of the clock mechanism for limiting the swinging movement of the said intermediate arm 50.

The clock frame has associated therewith a. main shaft 55' which is adapted to be rotz ted by means of a main spring 56 similar to the ordinary main spring of a clock and this shaft 55 is adapted to be rotated by a clock key in order to permit the winding up of the spring when the same runs down. This shaft has associated therewith and drives the main gear wheel 57 which in turn drives a shaft 58 arranged directly above the same. It can be seen that the gear teeth of the wheel 57 mesh with a pinion 59 secured to the said shaft 58. This shaft 58 has keyed thereto a relatively large gear wheel 60 which in turn drives a shaft 61 to mesh with a gear 62 which is keyed thereto. This gear 62 carries an escapement wheel 63 wi h is secured to the shaft (3 and which operates the eseapement arm 4a. The shaft (31 has in turn secured thereto a relatively large 'car wheel 63 which drives a cross shaft tl'irough the medium of the gear 65 secured tic-reto. This shaft 6a through the medium of the relatively large gear wheel 49 and the pinion ('36 drives the fly wheel shaft (5'? which is provided ith any preferred type of fly wheel 68. Now it is to be noted that the wheel 39 carries the stop pin 48 and is arranged in the path of the hooked end 4:7 of the holding arm d6 as heretobefore described.

In operation of the improved device the stop pins 3'? are placed at the desired points on the time wheel 32 and the device is ready for operation. It is to be noted however at this point that the trip arm 50 is provided with an inner extending trip foot which is adapted to fit in one of a pair of notches 71 formed in the main wheel 57. These notches 71 ae formed relatively deep and are disposed diametrically at oppositely dis- Elf) lit)

posed points of the said wheel 57. When the time wheel 32 has been rotated in a coun ter clockwisedirection and one of the pins 37 lifts up the lever 38 it is obvious that the arm 41 will raise the intermediate arm 50 which will in turn lift up the trip arm 42 and move the hooked end 7 0 thereof out of engagement with the notch 71 formed in the periphery of the main drivewheel The lifting up of the trip arm 50 will rock the shaft 43 which in turn will move up the arm 46 and dispose the hooked end 47 thereof out of the path of the pin 38 carried by the wheel 49. This will permit the operation of the shaft 55 under the influence of the spring 56 which of course will actuate the main drive wheel 57 and the train of gears operatively connected thereto. Now it is to be noted that the main drive wheel 57 is provided directly in advance of each slot 71 with an outwardly extending pin 72 which is disposed directly in the path of the switch arm 16. Now when the hooked end of the trip arm 42 is in one of the notches 71 one pin 72 is in engagement with the arm 16 which normally holds the switch lever 13 in such a position that the bridge plate 15 will be out of engagement with the contacts 8 and 9, against the influence of the spring 16. It can be seen however that as soon as the wheel starts rotating that the pin 72 will ride past the hooked arm 16 allowing the operation of the switch lever 13 under the influence of the spring and that the bridge plate 15 will engage the contacts 8 and 9 thus permitting the circuit to be closed through the wires 6 and 7 which will allow the circuit to be used for the desired purpose. The escapement wheel 45 is of course operated from the wheel 57 due to its connection in the train of gears operated from said wheel 57 and the rotation of the escapement wheel 45 will actuate the escapement arm 44 which will intermittently rock the shaft 43 and raise and lower the trip arm 42 permitting movement of the wheel 57 tooth by tooth. Now when the wheel 57 has made one-half a revolution it is obvious that the slot or notch 71 diametrically opposite the first mentioned slot will come into alignment with the end 70 of the trip arm 42 and the spring 73 operatively connected with the rock shaft will urge the said end 7 O of the trip arm 42 into the notch which will rock the shaft 43 a greater distance permitting the tooth 47 of the. arm 46 to again move in the path of the pin 48 carried by the wheel 49 which will bring about the stopping of the said mechanism. Just at the time when the end 70 will ride into the other slot the pin 72 adjacent to the slot into which the end 70 will ride will engage the switch arm 16 again rocking the foot lever moving the plate 15 away from the contacts 8 and 9 thus opening the circuit.

In the present showing of the invention it is obvious that the circuit will be closed four times during the day in view of the fact that I employ four pins, but it is obvious that the circuit can be closed as many times as it is desired during the day.

When the device is to be used as a time signal for giving working people notice of the time to come to work, the time for lunch and the time to quit, that it will not be desired to have the said time signal operate or Sunday when there will be no need for giving such signals. it is in this instance when the trip 35 carried by the wheel 34 is utilized. As this wheel 34 makes one complete revolution every week and the trip .35 is so positioned that the same will engage the trip 19 on Sunday that the said trip 35 operating in a crosswise movement will engage the arm 19 and move the switch lever 13 further away from the contacts 8 and 9 and the arm 16 away from the pins 72. Thus irrespective of the operation and movement of the wheel 57, the said switch lever 13 will not be actuated on Sunday and the said trip 35 will engage the foot- 19 for substantially a period of twenty-four hours. This foot 19 can be moved out of the path of the trip 35 when it is not desired to use said trip.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided a novel mechanism of simple and durable construction for actuating a circuit closer automatically at predetermined times.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but:

What I claim as" new is:

1. The combination with a switch including a pair of spaced contacts, of a switch lever, of means for automatically operating the switch lever, comprising a spring operated wheel, pins carried by said wheel for operating said switch lever, a trip lever, a time wheel operated from said time mechanism, removable pins carried by said time wheel for engaging and operating said trip lever, and a trip arm disposed in the path of and actuated by the trip lever for engaging said wheel for normally holding the same against movement.

2. The combination with an electric switch including a pair of spaced contacts, and a pivoted switch lever, spring means for normally urging the lever toward the contacts, a switch arm connected with said lever, of means for automatically operating the switch lever including a time mechanism and a spring operated wheel, pins carried by the wheel disposed in the path of the switch arm for engaging the switch arm and for holding the same against movement against the tension of said spring means, whereby a the switch lever will be normally held out of engagement with the said contacts, a trip lever, a time Wheel operatively connected with and driven by the time mechanism, means removably carried by the time Wheel for raising the trip lever, the operating Wheel having notches formed therein adjacent to said pins, and a trip arm having a tooth formed thereon for normally engaging in said notch, and means operated by said trip lever for raising said trip arm upon move-v ment of said trip lever.

3. The combination With a switch including a pair of spaced contacts, and a pivoted trip lever, a pair of spaced switch arms formed on the switch lever, of means for operating the switch including a time mechanism, a Wheel operated by the time mechanism and arranged to make one complete revolution every twenty-four hours, spaced operating pins carried by the time Wheel, a trip lever pivoted to the frame of the time mechanism and adapted to beraised by said pins, a spring actuated operating Wheel, pine carried by th operating Wheel for engaging the switch arm for normally holding the switch. lever out of engagement with the spaced contacts, means operated from the trip lever for engaging said operating Wheel for normally Dl'GVGlltlllg rotation thereof, and second t e Wheel operatively connect ed to the first mentioned time Wheel arranged to rotate one complete revolution every twenty-four hours, and means carried by said second mentioned time Wheel for engaging the other switch arm for normally holding the first mentioned switch arm from out of engagement With the pins carried by the operating Wheel for a predetermined length of time.

In testimony Whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE F. RAUCI'I.