US1625411A - Time-controlled electric-switch mechanism - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 1927. 1,625,411

L. T. FENNING TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM Filed July 18, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 4a Q I IlllIlllL1lll5!1U]IHITHIIIIlllllllllillUHHilHHHlIHIII ll ammo z jdazjl'imziag April 19, 1927.

L. T. FENNING TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM Filed July 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet a.

1,625,411 Apnl 1927' L" T. FEMNENQS TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM Filed July 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jaws ffi/zrzzzzy (1 Emmy Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES LOUIS 'I. FENNING,

OF JACKSON, OHIO.

TIME-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC-SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application filed July 18,

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches and particularly to electric switches that are tiinc-controlled, that is to say, clock-operated. An object of this invention is to provide a clock-operated electric-switch which willhe simple in construc tion and comparatively cheap in manufacture and therefore susceptible of being sold at a relatively low price, and which will prove reliable, e'llicie'nt and durable in 011611 3 tion and use, and the cost of upkeep of which will be trifling. Another object of this invention lies in the provision of an inexpensive time-switch controlled by clockwork that d'iiders in the main not greatly from the clockwork employed to operate the alarm mechanism of the ordinary so-called nickel alarm-clocks heretofore and now on the market in this country; in other words, the clockwork that regulates the movement of the switch-elen'ients by which the electric circuit is closed and interrupted alternately and at predetermined hours is one that results from Gl'i'lllOClylllg a few slightalterations in and making a small number of simple additions to the clockwork used in present-day alari'n-c'loc'ks for timing the ringing of the alarm-hell at the hour desired by the user.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of this invention and the best mode now known to me of applying that principle,

Fig. 1 is a general View in elevation of the switch mechanism suitably mounted; V

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the clock;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section approximately on the line 3 3, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 1- is a front elevation of the clockwork gear-traiiis, the clock casing being omitted or removed;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55, of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail of mechanism involved in the interruption of the electric circuit;

Fig. '1" is a detail of parts of the same roe hanism in another position;

1 5 8 is a fragmentary detail of the chicl'- face and shows the dials by which the app'aint'us is set to'close and open the el,.3t -ie circuit, at certain predeteri'nined times;

Fig. 9 is a detail of the switch-ind'ica-tor iii (.lQ iYtlOH;

Fig. 1.0 is a detail of the switch-spindle dri V1- Fig. 1.1 and Fig. 12 are detail views that 1923. Serial No. 652,348.

illustrate, in different positions, mechanism involved in the closing of the circuit; and

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic View of the electric circuit.

The framework by which the clockwork mechanism is supported includes (Figs. 3, 4: and two rectangular-shaped 'ame-plates, namely, a front frameplate a and a back frame-plate Z); these frame-plates a, Z), are held in spaced relation to each other by spacing crossrods (sometimes called pillars) c that are positioned near the corners of the frame-plates a, Z). In the latter, there is mounted rotatahly a drive-shaft (Z around which there is coiled a helical motor-spring a one end of which is fastened to the shaft (5 and the other end of which is secured to one of the lower plate-holding spacinga'ods or pillars c. Mounted fast upon the shaft (Z there is a ratehehtoothed wheel f, with the ratchet-teeth j of which engages the free nose-end of a spring-pressed click or pawl g. The other end of this pawl g is pivotally fastened to one of the radial arms h of a toothed wheel it that is mounted on the shaft (Z idly (or free to turn thereon). Hence, when this shaft (Z is turned by the expansion 'of the motor-spring =6, the ratchet-wheel f turns with it; and the direction of rotation is such that the pawl g is engaged by ratchet teeth 7" and thus serves to drive the spurw-heel it that is mounted idly on the shaft d. The la tter shaft extends rearwardly through the back frame-plate Z) and its end d that projects ther-ethrough is fitted with a winding-key 2' which is provided with a milled thinnb-and-iinger hold or head 2" (Fig. By turning the winding-key z, the shaft 41 may be turned to wind up the helical motorspring a. lVhile the spring 0 is beingthus wound, the free nose-end of the pawl g rides idly over the ratchet-teeth 7, as the ratchet wheel turns with the -rnotor-spring shaft d. The nose-end of the pawl 'g. is held pressed against the ratchet-teeth by a spring j, which is carried by the spunwh-eel 12,, as is also the pawl 5 Extending parallel with the 1110li0f-SPlilllg shaft (Z, there "is a liXed or stationary shaft ,l: the extremities of which are mounted in the frame-plates a, Z), and upon which there are mounted, free to rotate, a spur-gear m and a pinion n that of the type of wheel known as a lantern-wheel (Fig. 3) and that is in mesh with the spurwheel h, by which it is (lllVGlL' The two toothed wheels m, n, are so joined together as to be for all practical purposes integral with each other; therefore, they rotate together or in unison upon the fixed shaft 70. Parallel with the two shafts (Z, 7:, there X- tends a shaft which lies above the shafts (Z, 7:, and the extremities of which are rotatably mounted in the frame-plates a, 6; both of the frame-plates a, Z), being formed with downwardly-projecting ears a, Z), in which the two ends of the shaft 0 are received. (See Fig. Mounted fast upon this rotary shaft 0, there is a pinion p, which is of the lantern-wheel type and which is in mesh with the spur-wheel m and is driven by the same. On this rotary shaft 0 there is further fixed a toothed wheel 9 that is sometimes called a verge-wheel and with which coact, in a well-known manner, the free ends 9", 1*", of a double nosed pawl or dog 1 that is known as a verge. The verge 1 is carried by a rock-shaft s that is known as a vergeshaft. The ends 8 of this shaft 8 are reduced, so that the shaft is formed with shoulders 8 (Figs. 6 and 7), and are mounted in the frame-plates a, Z), so that the shaft 8 may rock and may also be shifted or displaced lengthwise, the shoulders s, by their abutting against the frame-plates a, b, serv ing to limit this lengthwise displacement. In well-known types of alarm-clocks, the striker or hammer is carried by the vergeshaft.

Centrally disposed with respect to the frame-plates a, Z), and mounted therein free to turn, there is a shaft t, which, from the nature of its function, may be called the clockhands-positioning shaft. Inasmuch as the time-train motor-spring and the parts of the time-train that are involved in the drive of the shaft 6 and are themselves actuated by the expansion of the time-train motor-spring,

are so well-known to all persons skilled in this art, such motor-spring and time-train parts have been neither illustrated nor described herein; and it will be understood that any one of the many forms of gearing-trains used commonly in this art for causing the clockhands to sweep over the clockface, may be employed for the same purpose in the clockwork of the particular embodiment of this invention that is herein shown. This shaft may, therefore, be regarded as a con ventional representation of time-train mechanisin that has for its office to cause the clockhands to travel over the dial-plate. As is usual in the construction of clocks of the alarm-clock type, the shaft 6' is arranged so that it may be employed for the manual setting of the clockhands by the user of the clock; and, to enable the user to turn the shaft 7?, it is made of such length that it projects rearwardly beyond the back frameplate 6 (Fig. 3), where its projecting rearend is fitted with a setting-key '0 the thumband-finger hold 0 of which is milled. Mounted fast on the shaft 25 and positioned just in front of the front frame-plate a, there is a small toothed wheel or pinion u the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of a spur-wheel to that is mounted loose on a stud or stubshaft w which extends forwardly from the front frame-plate a. Substantially integral with the spur-gear w is a pinion :0 that lies in front thereof and is mounted idly on the arbor w and the teeth of which are in mesh with the teeth of a spur-gear y that is mounted idly or loose on the clockhandssetting shaft 25 and with which is substantially integral a somewhat smaller spur-gear 2 (Fig. 4) that is arranged in front of the gear y and is likewise free to rotate upon the clockhands-driving shaft 6. This spur-wheel 2 lies just in rear of the clockface 2 and is formed with an elongated, forwardly extending hub e that projects therethrough (Fig. and upon which is mounted the hour-hand 3. The front end of the clockhands-positioning shaft 1? projects through the clockface 2 and, upon the front extremity of this shaft i", there is mounted the minutehand l. As the shaft 6' is caused to rotate in the frame-plates a, b, by the main spring of the clock acting through the time-train of caring (hereinbefore mentioned but not illustrated herein be *ause of its being thoroughly familiar to all persons skilled in this art), the minute-hand i moves over the clockdial 5 formed on the clocliface 2 and the pinion it turns with the shaft 6 and causes to turn the spur-wheel 'w and the pinion w mounted loose on the arbor w; Rotation of the pinion 02 produces rotary motion of spur-wheel o in mesh with it and also of the spur-gear e that is substantially integral with the gear 3 and on the elongated hub of which is mounted the hour-hand 3. Projecting forwardly from the front frai'neplate a, there is a stud or arbor 6 upon which there is mounted free to rotate a toothed wheel 7 (Figs. 3 and l) the front face of which carries an indicatoncard 8, one half of which is shaded black and the remaining half is left white. Along the diameter that divides the dark half from the light half of the circular card 8, there are marked the abbreviations, AH, and PM, while along the diameter that runs at right angles to the diameterjust mentioned, the word, Noon, appears on the card 8, in the light semicircle (Fig. 4;). In the clockface-plate 2, there is formed a small aperture 8 through which may be observed the indicator-card 8 and at which appear, at regular intervals, the abbreviations and the word just mentioned, as the card 8 turns during the rotation of the toothed wheel '7 that is, the abbreviation, AM, shows squarely at opening 8 at six oclock in the forenoon, the word, Noon, comes fully into view six hours later, and

lit)

1 and 8).

of which engages the lower bifurcated end 30 of a flat-metal bent lever 30 which, as viewed in Fig. 4, extends obliquely upwards and to the right and lies in front of the trout frame-plate (1/. The upper end of this bent lever 30 is formed with a hole through which passes the setting-shaft 22 (Figs. 1, 6 and '7), so that this upper end is interposed between the frame-plate a and the toothed wheel 24. The mid-portion 30 of the bent lever 30 rests or bears against the frameplate (1/ and serves as a fulcrum-point about which the lever 30 rocks or tilts in the operation of the cireuit-interrupting mechanism. As the toothed wheel 2i turns, the notch 26 cut in the cam-edge 25 is brought closer and closer into register with the cam-lug 23 formed on the iixec collar 23 (Fig. 7 shows the notch and cam-lug about to come into register with each other) and, finally, when the cam-lug 23 and the can'i-notch 26 come exactly opposite each other, the tension oi? the almost upright leaf-spring 28 becomes free to act and forces the lengthwi e-slidable rock-shaft s to the rear (that is, "from its position shown in Fig. 7 to its position illustrated in Fig. 6), the bent lever 30 is tilt ed on its n'iid-part 30" and the spur-wheel is pushed along the settiug-shait 22 to the front, whereupon the lixed collar 2 is received within the recessed hub 25 and the aim-lug 23 enters the indentation or depression 26 in the cam-edge 25 (Fig. (i). As will hereinafter be more particularly explained, the shitting of the rock-shaft s longitudinally to the T2111 results in the interruption oi the electric circuit; and the toothed wheel 2-lma properly be te med the Oil-control wheel or 'ear and the setting-shaft 22 n'iay be. caller ierly the (lit-setting shaft.

in addition to the clock-dial 5, the clockl ace-plate 2 bears two other dials 31, 82, which i'nay be designated setting dials, the dial I'll being called the (in-setting dial, and the dial 32 being named the (lit-setting dial, because oi the functions periormed respectively by these dials 31, 32. At the center oi the Oil-setting dial 31, the clockface-plate is formed with a hole (Figs. 3 and 8) through which projects the trout extremity of the On-setting shaft 17 that carries a setting-hand or pointer 81 which, as the shait 17 is turned, sweeps over the dial 31 Fl s. This dial includes a graduated circle 31 having twenty-tour main (or hour) divisions, each of which is bisected and which are numbered consecutively from 1 to 12 and again from 1 to 12, or in two equal twelve-number series that follow each other, in going around the circle. That part of the dial 31 that lies below the diameter joining the diametrically-opposite numerals 6, 6, thereon, is blackened and bears in white letters the word, Night, while the part of: the dial 231 lying above this diameter is left white and bears the words, Noon, Day and On, which appear one below the other in the order given and all under the upper numeral 12. Further, just above this diameter, there are shown the two abbreviations, AM and PM, the abbreviation AM appearing adjacent to the numeral 6 that is at the left (as Viewed in Fig. 8) of the center of the circle, while the abbreviation PM is shown near the other numeral 6 at the right of that center. The On-pointer 31 extends in the same direction as does the camlug 20, which projects from the collar 20 lined on the front end of: the On-setting shaft 17; that is, the hand 31 is so positioned, when it is fastened on the extremity of the latter shaft, that it ever points in the same direction as the cam-lug 20. In shading the lower part of the dial 31, the somewhat arbitrary assumption is made that the hours from six oclocl: in the evening; until six oclocl; in the morning are night time hours, while the remaining twelve hours of the day are day-thne (or daylight) hours. By seizing the milled button 18 that is on the end oi the (En-setting shaft 17 and turning the same in the direction indicated by the arrow shown on the dial 331 in Fig. 8, the pointer 31 may be set to indicate the hour at which the circuit is to be closed (that is, for example, the time at which it is desired to turn on the electric lights in a store showwindow). The other dial 32 is substantially identical with the On-dial 31, except that where the word On shows on the latter dial, the word Oil appears on the dial 32, which may be designated as the OI-ti-dial. The trout end of the Off-setting shaft 22 projects through a hole 22 (Fig. 3) in the ClOClifElCB- plate 2 and, upon this end, there is fastened a pointer 32 which extends parallel to the cam-lug 23 and which serves to indicate the hour at which it is intended to interrupt or break the electric circuit (that is, for example, the time at which the electric lamps in a show-window are to be turned OH or darkened). The Git-indicator 32 is turned to the desired hour shown on the Oil-dial by grasping the milled head 22 on the rear end of the (lit-setting shaft 22 and rotating the same in the direction of the arrow shown on the Oil-dial in Fig. 8, until the Oii-hand 32 points to that hour.

To the run frame-plate 7), there is fastened a switeh-supporting block 33 that is made ot suitable electric-insulation mate rial and formed with a recess 3i within which there is titted securely an electric switch 85 which, in the embodiment of this lllVPDlllOll herein shown and described is of the well-known type con'nnonly known as a snap switch. The shaftor spindle 36 ot the electric snap-switch is rotatable and carries an elongated metal contact-plate (or switch-blade plate) 37 that extends at Lil) right angles to the switch-spindle 36 and is formed, at each of its two ends, with a contact-tongue or linger 38. lVhen the electric circuit is closed through the snap-switch the contact-plate 37 bridges the gap between the terminal contact-1nembers 39 of the switch, which are mounted on the switch-block 33, the cmitaet-tingrers 38 then engaging the terminal-contacts $5 but, when the electric circuit is interrupted, the switclrblade plate 3? is thrown around ninety degrees from its closed-circuit position and there is a gap between the terminal-contacts 39 (see Fig. 5), in which position of the switch-blade plate 317 its longitudinal axis lies at right angles to a line joining the terminal contact-members 39. This displacement of the switch-blade plate 87 is effected by turning the switch-shaft 86. which, in an ordinary manually operatcd snap-switch is accomplished by seizinn and turning aturn-hutton mounted on one end of the shalt. In the electric snapswitch 3.1 the spindle 3G .is rotated from the driveshaiit (Z (Fig. 3) that is actuated or propelled by the expansion of the motorspring 0, the rotary movement of the driveshaft (Z being transmitted to the switch-opcrating shaitt 36 through the tollowingdescribed gear-train, to-witr The front end of the switelnactuating spindle 38 extends torwardly just beyond the rear 'lFran'ie-plate Z) and carries a fixed spur-gear 40 that is in mesh and driven by a smaller spur-gear ll which is mounted, tree to turn, on the drive-shaft (Z and upon the front face of which there is secured a spring click or pawl 42 the nose-end of which is pressed, by the inherent resiliency oi? the click itself, l'irinly against the teeth of a pinion 43 which is mounted fast upon the drive-shaft (Z and therefore rotates therewith. hen

the drive-sl'iatt (Z is turned. by seizing and turning the milled button i, in such a direction as to wind up the motor-spring c, the teeth of the pinion 43 slip under the nose of the spring; pawl it? without there resulting any engagement of such l'eetl'i with the latter, so that the toothed wheel *lfl remains motionless while the spring 0 is being wound up; but, when due to the expansion of the motor spring a, the drive-shaft (Z is caused to rotate in the opposite direction, the teeth ot the pinion 4.3 do engage the nose-end of the spring-pawl 42, so that, as the pinion 43 turns with the drive-shalt (Z under the influence oi the tension of the expanding motor-spring; c,

the spur-gear ll. turns with the crive-shatt v (Z upon which it is idly mounted and cans s the SPUlfIQflrflll and the switchactuating shaft 36 to rotate. Carried by the switchblade plate 37 but electrically-insulatcd therefrom, there is provided an elongated switch-shaft arrestenplate l-l the ends 44 position illus .fltQCl in Fig. 0, niahe electrical contact with the terminalinotor 7 that is, when the electric circuit is opened the switch (Fig. 5). The arrester'plate ll. is located in front of the contact-plate that carries it, that is, it lies nearer the bottom of the switch-receiving recess 34.

-termed in the switch-supporting block 33; hence, when the. plate ell is thrown into the it does not plates 89 and remains at all times out of the plane of the latter. As shown in Fig. the longitudinal axes of the plates 87, -.--.l-, are at right angles to each other. On outer end of the switcl'i-actuating shaft 36, there is mounted a circular indicator plate 45, the outer (or rear) face of which is divided into four parts (Figs. 2 and 9), or sectors, two of which are shaded black and lie on opposite sides of the center of the plate 4-15, while the other two sectors are left white. The blackened sectors bear the word Oil, while the white sectors are marked with the word On. In the back: plate 46 of the clock-casing; 47, there is formed an opening 4:6 through which the indicator plate 45 is in part visible and bctore which appears one of these words, Off, On. When the electric circuit is closed through the switch, the word On shows at the opening 416 while when the electric circuit is open. the word Oil therethrough is seen (Fig. 2), so that the condition of the circuit at the switch may be at all times determined. by a glance at the opening 46. Parts of the switch mechanism that, in addition to the switch elements already described, play a part in the production of the so-called snap-action of the switch are illustrated only scl'icinatically in the draw and are marked S therein. and their construction and mode of operation are so well known and understood by all persons skilled in this art. as to require no further detailed. description or illustration herein, except to say that there is wound around the switch-actuating spindle 36' a helical in-i111; :7 the outer end of which is tastened thereto while its other or inner end is secured to the herein conventionally illustraled mechanism S.

Carried by the trout end of the lengthwise-slidable rock (or Verge) shaft 8 there is a rocker-arm 48 the body-part of which extends in a. substantiz-illy horizontal direction toware s the vertical mid-plane of the clock (see the dotted-line position shown in Fi and the inner free end of which is ar ranged to rest upon the upper extremity 21 of the leaf-spring 21, which, for this purpose, is bent inwardly (or rearwardly) and forms a lug 21 from which projects rearwardly a finger 21* (see Figs. 6, 11 and 12), upon which finger the end of the rock-shaft 48 is supported, when the cam-lug 20 is rubbing against the raised part of the ring; cam 20. As has hereinbefore been explained, the sprin 21 is maintained compressed, until. the cam-lug 90 and the camnoteh 19 are brought into register with each other (Fig. 11). lVhen the cam-lug 2O arrives opposite the cam-notch 19, the tension of the spring 21 is free to act and forces the On-c-ontrol gear 16 to the front (Fig. 12). The upper free end of the spring 21 jumps away from the front frame-plate a and the support afforded the free end of the rocker-arm &8 by the finger 21* is withdrawn. To the other or rear end of the same rockshaft 8, there is fastened the upper end of a bent rocker-arm 4E9 the body part of which is substantially vertically-disposed (Figs. 5 and 6) and the lower end 50 of which is bent at right angles to the body-part or leg and is made comparatively flat and wide, somewhat after the shape of the end of a spatula (Figs. 5 and 6). iVhen both the Onsetting shaft 17 and the Off-setting shaft 22 have been turned to set their respective pointers 31, So, at the hours (shown on the dials 31, 32) at which the electric circuit is to be first closed and afterwards interrupted, respectively, and the electric circuit is open at the switch 35 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) the rockerarm toe 50 lies in the plane of rotation of the switch-shaft arrester-plate M, which position is that indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, and in Fig. 3. In this position of the rockerarm toe 50 relative to the thin tongue-like ends n of the arrester-plate 44, the rocker-arm 4-9 may be made to oscillate or vibrate. .Vhen, under these conditions, the finger 21* is disengaged from the free end of the rocker-arm t8, which is thereby left free to oscillate also, the release of the verge r is col'nplete and the verge wheel 9 is free to rotate and is driven, by the expansion of the motor-spring c, from the main drive-shaft (Z through the geartrain that includes the toothed wheels f, 72, w, m, p 3). The rotary movement of the drive-shaft (Z is communicated to the switchactuating, spindle or shaft 36 by the pinion l3, which is pawl-coupled to the spur-wheel ll that is in mesh with the gear t0 fast on the front end of the switclrshaft 86. The rotation of the latter effects the same result, so far as the electric circuit is concerned, as is produced by turning the button of an ordinary snap-switch; that is. in the -case assumed, the switch-blade plate 37 is thrown around through ninety degrees, whereby its contact-tongues 38 are brought into engagement with the terminal-contacts 39, and the electric circuit is closed. Another resultfollowing the rotation of the switchturningshaft 36 is the automatic arresting of the same, which is broughtabout by the operation of the following parts, to-wit: lVe have seen that, during the rotation of the switch-driving spindle 36, the crownwheel (or verge-wheel) (1, by the alternate engagement and disengagement of its teeth vith the nose-ends r, '1' of the doub1e-nosed pawl or verge 1', swings the rock-shaft a back-and-forth and maintains the rockerarms 48, 4:9, in a state of rapid vibration or oscillation, the paths of these rockerarms being unobstructed. The back-andforth path of travel of the rocker-arm toe 50 is in the plane of the switch-shaft arrester-plate at, at the time assumed, that is, the period during which the switch-throwing shaft 36 is being turned just prior to the closing of the electric circuit, as described i: the foregoing. lVhen the snap action of the switch takes place and the circuit-closing plate 31? is displaced ninety degrees from its position illustrated in Fig. 5, the arresterplate lt'carried thereby is likewise displaced through the same are, whereby one of its tongue-like ends l l is interposed in the path of vibration of the rocker-arm too 50 and prevents further oscillation of the rockshaft 8. The verge r mounted fast on the latter shaft locks the verge-wheel 9 against further rotation and the drive-shaft (Z and switch-actuating shaft 36 come to rest. The switch-shaft stop-arm 4C9 remains in this position (i. e., with its toe 5O abutting against an end lit of the arrester-plate at), until the cam-lug 28 is brought into register wit-h the indentation 26 in the cam-edge 25 by the rotation of the hub 25 of the Off-control wheel or gear 24: (Fig. 6), at which time the latter is pressed forwardly along the shaft by the tension of the leaf-spring 28 acting upon the rock-shaft s and the bent lever 30 that is interlocked therewith, as hereinbe't'ore described. The rock-shaft (or vergeshaft) 5', in this movement, is shifted lengthwise to the rear; and it carries the switchshaft stop-arm 4.9, which is fast upon it, in the same direction and the toe 50 thereof out of abutting engagement with the obstructing end l4. of the arrestenplate a4 and into the plane of rotation of the eircuitarrakingplate 37. While the Off-control spur-wheel 24 has been turning to bring the cam-notch Q6 opposite the cam-lug 23, as just mentioned, the On-control wheel 16 has also been rotating (in fact, the spur-wheel l6 drives the spur-wheel 2% through the transmissionpinion 27), and, duringsuch rotation, the cam-lug 20 has moved (relatively) and no longer lies in the cam-notch 19 but rides now out thereof on the cam-edge 16" (compare Figs. 11 and 12), with the result that the spur-wheel 16 has been forced towards the ill) front frame-plate a and the upper end 2]. of the leaf-spring 21 has been pressed inwardly and carried with it the catch-finger 21:. Despite this change in the position of the latter nieniber, amounting in a broad sense to its restoration to the position it had before it was withdrawn or tripped to per- .uiit the Oll-IL'GlGZlb) arni 4:8 to swing freely, the arm etS now aga'n tree to swing :treely; tor, the rearward -11g of the rock-shaft a just described has caused the arm t8 thereon to be dis tilz'iced and carried to the rear and away -lt'rorn the catch-linger 21*. Hence, it will be seen that both rocker-arms +18, 49, are again free to vibrate, their paths of oscillation being once again unobstructed and the verge-wheel or crown-wheel g is made free to turn and does turn, being driven again by the drire-shaft (Z, which produces rotation of the switch-throwing shaft 36 also, through gear-trains already named in connection. with the description of the turning of the latter shaft in the closing of theclcctric circuit. hen the spindle 36 has been turned until the snap-action oi? the switch occurs, there is produced another displacement of the cireuit-closing plate 37 through a quarter-turn and the circuit is interrupted, the plate assuming its position in Fig. 5. The switclrshatt stop-arm 49 has been vibrating in the plane of rotation of the circuit-closing plate 37 and, by the tin-owing of this plate out of electrical contact with the switch-terininals 39, one of its ends 38 is projected. into the path; of movei'nent of the too 50, blocking that path and bringing the stop-arm 49 to rest. One of the ends 1', r, of the verge 1 remains in engage ment with the verge-wheel or crown-wheel Q and locks the same against further rotation. This locking of the crown-wheel Q and its shaft prevents further rotation of the drive-shaft (Z and so of the switch-throwing spindle 36 propelled by it. The tune-train conventionally represented by the clockhands-positioning shaft t continues to drive the switch-control (or On-control and Oil control) gears 16, 521-: and the cam-lug; 23 rides (relatively speaking) out of the camnotch 26 up onto the cam-edge of the ring-cam or hub 25. Tl actual result of the continued rotation oi the spur gcar 2t to force the same rearwardly and axially along its shaft (the ()fl setting shaft 22), whereby the bent lever 3i) tilted on its mid-part and the grooved end of the rock-shaft carried to the front by the forked end .30 of the lever 30 against the tension of the upright leaf-spring 28 (compare Figs. (3 and T). The -tin-ward lengthwise movement ot' the rock-shaft a carries the rockerarms 48, hi, to the front, also; but, owing to the broadened extren'iity of the ha toe 50 of" the stop-arm 49, the toe 50 is not released from its abutting engagement with the tongue-like contact-end 38 of the circuitelosing (or switch-blade) plate 37 iniinedirtely. hen the toe 50 does linally clear the end 38 with which it has been in abutting engagement, the inner or free end of the On-releasfc arni (t8 has been n'ioved l'orwardly a sui'licicnt distance to bring it over, the catch-linger 2?, which then supports it and prevents its vibration and so locks the rocleslniift 8, until the catch-linger 21 is withdrawn from its supporting po ion by the forward springing ot the lent-spring 21, when the cani lng 20 and the caiu'notch 19 are again brought into register with each other by the rotation of the Oil-control. spurgear 16 and its hub, the ring-cam 1-6, as hereinbetore set forth,

In Fig. 13, there is shown a, diagram of the electric circuit that is controlled by the clock-operated time-switch C hereindescribed and shown. ()ne of the line conductors 55 leads from any suitable source of electric energy (e. fl, the battery I) to a bank or group of electric lamps seheinatically depicted at L, Fig. 13, and thence to a. terminal post 56 see also Fig. 5) of the electric block or plug" One of the switch terniinalnates 39 is electrically united to the electric-block terminahpost 56 through a binding-wire 5?, while the other terminalplate 39 is electrica ly joined, by a second binding-wire 57, with the other terminalpost 56 of the electrie-plug 54. These wires 5?. 57, are within the metal cylindrical sidewall 46 of the clock-casing 47, between which and the electric-block 54: there is interposed a block 58 (Fig. 5) of electric insulation. But any suitable means of connecting the time-switch C with the line-wires 55, 55". may be used. without departing from this invention, instead. of the particular eleetric-block ti-l shown in Fig. 5. Front: the

tel-ininal-post 56 of the lattcr, the line-wire runs back to the source P of electric power. I

in the following brief description. of the operation oi? the tin'ie-switch C, it is assumed that, as is indicated by the position of the rlochhands 3, 42:, (Fig. 1). the hour is between twenty and twenty-live minutes after live ocloch, and that, furthermore, as is shownby the symbol PM now almost completely visible at the clock'iace-openiin, 8, the time of day is after-110011., As indicatwl in Fig. 8. by the position of the Onpointer 31 re tively to the Oil-dial 31, the Oil-setting shaft 17 has been adjusted so as to bring about the closing of the electric cir" cuit at the switch 35 at the hour of eight ocloclc in the evening. Similarly, the Ottindicator SQis pointing to the hour of six cclocl; the tellowing l1lO111l1'lE,lt having been set by its shaft 1'? so that the electric circuit will be interrupted at that hour and the lamps L will be darkened. Nhen'the hour of eight oclock in the evening arrives, the cam-notch 19 formed in the cam-ct go 16 of the ring-cam or hub 16 of the Oil-control spur-wheel 16 comes exactly into register with the cam-lug 2O projecting from the collar fixed on the shaft 17, and, as a re suit, the tension of the flatspring 21 urges the spur-wheel 16 forwardly along that shaft and the upper end 21' of the spring 21 recoils and thereby withdraws the lug 21 from within the inner space between the fraine-plat' s (4, 7), and deprives the Orr-release arm l8 of the support of the catch-finger 21 (compare Figs. 11 and 12), whereby the verge-shaft a is permitted to rock and the drive-shaft (Z is made free to rotate and to propel the switch-throwing spindle 36. The electric circuit 55 is now closed at the switch 35 and the bank of energized electric lamps L (Fig. 13) consequently illuminate the showwindow of the store, for example. The vibration of the stop-arm 19 having been interrupted by the interposition of the end 11 of the arrester-plate 4-1 in the path of the too 50 of that stop-arm, the switclnactuating shaft 36 comes to a standstill, while the timetrain runs on, turning the spur- gears 16, 24, until the cam-notch 26 cut in the cam-edge of the hub 25 of the spur-wheel 2st is brought opposite the cam-lug 23 carried by the col ar 23 fixed on the Off-setting shaft 22 and the upright leaf-sp i 28 is thereby made free to shift the rock-shaft s to the rear and to release its arms 18, -19. These arms are set vibrating by the engagement of the teeth of the verge-whcel Q with the noses 1-, r, of the verge r, alternately, as the ver e-wheel shaft 0 is propelled by the drive-shaft (Z, the rotation of which is transmitted to the switch-actuating spindle 36, with the result that the switch-blade plate 37 is tnown around another quarter of a full turn and the tongue-like contact-ends 38 of this plate 87 are disconnected from the ter minal-plate 89 of the switch (compare Figs. 6 and 7 and see. also. Figs. 8, 5 and 13). The electric circuit 55 is now open at the switch 35. \Vhen, as just described, the switch-blade plate 37 is shifted into its circuit-breaking position, one of its ends 38 is projected into the path of oscillation of the toe of the stop-arm 19 and checks its bacleand-forth movement, whereby the drive-shaft (Z and the switclrturning spindle 30 thereby propelled are arrested, as hereinliefore explained. 'the time-train continues to propel the Oil-control spur-wheel 2-1, the cam-lug 23 begins to rub against the raised part of the cam-edge or face 25 of the ringcaiu or hub 25, the spur-wheel 2st is forced rearwardly and axially along its shaft 22, the bent-lever 30 is rocked on its mid-part :30, the rock-shaft 8 moved lengthwise towards the front frame-plate a, the switchshaft stop-arm 19 is carried out of its abutting engagen'ient with the contact-end 38 of the switclrblade plate 37 and into the plane of rotation of the arrester plate ll, and the On-release rocker-ari'n 18 is shifted over the catch-linger 2 X again and thereby is held against vibratory movement and the vergewheel shaft 0 and the drive-shaft J against rotatory movement. until the catch-linger 21 is once more jerked from under the ()nrelease arm s18 by the recoil of the flat spring 21 when the cam-notch 19 arrives opposite the cam-lug 20 and the electric circuit is once again closed at the switch 35. The cycle of operations is repeated over and over, so long as the time-train of the clock runs, as will be readily understood by all persons skilled in this art.

The electric-block 5-1 upon which the clock rests (Fig. 1) is supported by a shelf-bracket fastened to a wall 52; but, of course, any other suitable way of mounting the apparatus C may be adopted, as the exigencies of the particular situation may demand. Between the clock-casing a7 and the electricbloc; 01-, there is interposed a block 58 of electric insulation. (Fig. 5). Instead of the particular form of electric plug or block 51 shown in Fig. 5, any suitable device of this character forming a means of electric connection between the time-switch O and the line may be substituted for the electric block for example, the block illustrated and described in the United States patent granted me April 18, 1910, No. 1,179,512. For the sake of clearness in the drawings, the clock main-spring the stored energy of which serves to drive the time-train, is not illustrated; but there is shown, in Fig. 2, the head z' of the key by means of which the shaft of this main-spring is turned and the mun-spring thereby wound up.

The foregoing description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, makes clear to all persons skilled in this art how, by the introduction of certain modifications in and additions to the mechanism that controls and times the actuation of the well-known hammer or striker of the alarm-bell, in the common so-called nickel alarn'i-clock, that mechanism has, in the hereinbefore-disclosed embodiment of this invention, been altered and adapted and arranged to effect the movement of an electric switch of the rotary type, at predetcri'nincd times for the iiurpose of regulating the automatic making and breaking, at such times, of an electric circuit, that is, without manual control other than that involved in wind ing-up the motor-springs of the clockwork and the setting of parts of the mechanism so as to bring about the operation of the clcctrio switch at the appointed times.

In accordance with the patent statutes, 1 have shown and described the preferred form of this invention; yet, however, I deill) , sire it to be distinctly understoodthat I fully reallize thatchanges may be made in "the particular embodiment of this inyention that is illustrated in the, drawingsand hereinbefore described, and that I intend to inelude within. the scope of the claims that folof; this invention that do not vdepart substantially from thejspiritthereof or sacri- Ificeany of the advantages to be derived 7 I v the said further actuation of the vswitch is I her from. H a, a, a

c Having now particularly described the natnrefof this invention a'nd in what manner thelsameiis to beiperformed, what, I claim as 'newand desire to secure by Letters Patn isrm. A

e 1. Time, mechanism for controlling the bpening and cjlosfing of a rotary electric switch, including a time-train; a switcht rowing sha 1 'riy g 1 c m y whichthe switch-throwing shaftc is rotated to close andfopen the switch; verge mechanism operatively connectedwitli the driving mechanism; loc ing mechan sm by whichthe Verge mechanism and the driving mechan sm are held arrested when the switchis in open Yposition; releasingjmechanism which is controlled by the time train "and" by which the "locking mechanism is released to permit the driving mechanism to turn the swltchthrowing shaft and close the switch; and stop mechanism by which the operation of the driving mechanism is again arrested after. the switch is closed thereby.

2., In a time-controlled electric-switch "mechanism, the combination of a rotary electric switch with means. controlling the. operation thereof, said; means including a time-train; a switch-throwing shaft; driving mechanism by which the shaft is turned to close and open the switch; locking mechani'sm by which the operation of the driving mechanism is prevented when the switch is in open position; releasing mechanism which is controlled by the time-train and byme'ans of which the locking mechanismv is released to perinitthe driving mechanism to actuate the .vswitch throwing "shaft and {01039 the T'switch; means by' which such [actuation of.

the'switch'throivingl shaftiis arrested When the switch is in,closedipositiomriand releasing means Qbyjwhich the =1ast named means is releasedto permit the; dri'ving mechanism .Hagain to turn. the switch-throwing shaft in "the. same direction and thereby to open the. switch.

In 1a feiimhi tlid electric-s c mechanism, the; combination of an electric switch with means controlling the operation thereof; said means inclu ing a me-tra driving, mechanism by which theflswifch is closed ,and' opened locking mechanism by which the operation of the driving mechaism, is pre en ed wh i e wi chi n Open position releasing mechansm which controlled by the t'ime train and by means ,of which the locking mechanism is released to permit the driving mechanism to close the switch; means by which such acitfiation of p arrested when the witch has been fbp ed, @In a ,t-11necontr0lled electric-sw tch mechanism the combinationof a rotary electric" switch with means controlling the o'pe/ration thereof said means incl idi nga tin etraln; a switch-throwing ,shaft; driving mechanism by which the'shaft is turnedito close, and. open the switch locking .'mechaby which the operation of a the. driving mechanism is prevented; when the switch is in, open position; releasing jmechanism Which is controlled by the time-titai'nfand by means of which the lockingmecliainisinv is released topermit the driying mechanism to acti atepthe switchsthrowing shaft to close the switch; means by whichsiich actuation ,of the switch throwing shaft is arrested when the switch is in closed position; releasing means by, which thedastmained means, is released to permi't the driying mechanism again to turn the switclnthrowing shaft and thereby to open the switch;

' a -nd;s top,means by which the switch-throwing shaft is again arrested when the switch a e pene a i a time-controlled electric-switch mechanism, the combination ,of an electric switch with means controlling the operation thereof to malge' and break the circ uit said means including a time-train; driving mechanism by which the switch is act iated; a verge-wheel; a yergeqyheel carrying 1 shaft verge that is mo unted on the latter and arr n e to co pera w h the i ve g hee ocking m c anis y wh ch th osci lati at: t.. e TQ' -sh f i preven d; .mkaing mechanisnrwhi chis controlled by the timerein e d by i ens f which/ he. le in .m Q iS I is rel as to. per t t e l ion tth c cshef an the u -ingieithe y rge-Whed-e ryi g sha t a he; pe tion Qfsth r i g m nism; en e.e

ing of theswitch; and inte'rlockingymeans by th gag ment of whi h su h; p at f the. swi chis ar este si 1 51ne ns.. .bB

' ar ie by he reekv a a t e Sw tc Ge nH tini -een r-ell d tricsw t cme eni it i emb nat abi e r teryel tr p. swi h w th ans se t iollng t pe ation thereoflsaidmeans including a timetrain; a switch-throwing shaft; driving driven by said mechanism; a rock-shaft; a

mechanism by which the shaft is turned to actuate the switch; a verge-wheel; a vergewheel-carrying shaft driven by said mechanism; a rock-shaft; a verge that is mount-- ed on the latter and arranged to cooperate with the verge-wheel; locking mechanism by which the oscillation of the rock-shaft is prevented; releasing mechanism which is controlled by the time-train and by means of which the locking mechanism is released to permit the oscillation of the rock-shaft and the turning of the verge-wheel-carrying shaft and the operation of the driving mechanism and the actuation of the switchthrowing shaft to close the switch; and interlocking means by the engagement of which such operation of the switch-throwing shaft is arrested, such mean being carried by the rock-shaft and the switch-throwing shaft.

7. In a time-controlled electric-switch mechanism, the combination of an electric switch with means controlling the operation thereof, said means including a time-train; driving mechanism by which the switch is actuated; a verge-wheel; a verge-wheelcarrying shaft driven by said mechanism; a rock-shaft; a verge that is mounted on the latter and arranged to cooperate with the verge-wheel; locking mechanism by which the oscillation of the rock-shaft is prevented; releasing mechanism which is controlled by the time-train and by means of which the locking mechanism is released to permit the oscillation of the rock-shaft and the turning of the verge-wheel-carrying shaft and the operation of the driving mechanism and the actuation of the switch; interlocking means by the engagement of which the operation of the switch is arrested, such means being carried by the rock-shaft and the switch; and releasing means by means of which the interlocking means are disengaged from each other to permit the further actuation of the switch by the driving mechanism.

8. In a time-controlled electric-switch mechanism, the combination of a rotary electric switch with means controlling the operation thereof. said means including a time-train: a switch-throwing shaft; av driving mechanism by which the shaft is turned .to actuate the switch; a verge-wheel; a

verge-wheel-carrying shaft driven by said mechanism a rock-shaft; a verge that is mounted on the latter and arranged to cooperate with the verge-wheel: locking mechanism by which the oscillation of the rockshaft is prevented; releasing mechanism which is controlled by the time-train and by means of which the locking mechanism is released to permit the oscillation of the rocleshaft and the turning of the verge- .wheel-carrying shaft and the operation of the driving mechanism and the actuatlon of the switch-throwing shaft to operate theswitch; interlocking means by the engagement of which the operation of the switclrtlnrowing shaft is arrested, such means being carried by the rockshaft and the switch-throwing shaft; and releasing means by which the interlocking means are disengaged from each other to permit the further actuation of the switch-throwing shaft by the driving mechanism and the further operation of the switch thereby through the last-named shaft.

9. In a time-controlled electric-switcli mechanism, the combination with an electric switch and driving mechanism therefor, of a rock-shaft arranged to be oscillated by the driving mechanism: locking mechanism by which the rock-shaft is locked against oscillatory movement and the driving mechanism is maintained inoperative; a timetrain; timetrain-c'ontrolled releasing-mechanism by which the rock-shaft is released and permitted to oscillate and the driving mechanism is made free to operate "the switch; a stop-device carried by the rockshaft: and an arrester-devicecarried by the switch and arranged to be thrown into interlocking engagement with the stop-deviceby the circuit-closing movement of the switch and to arrest the further operation of the switch by the driving mechanism.

10. In a time-controlled electric-switch mechanism, the combination with an electric switch and driving i'nechanism therefor, of a lengthwise-shiftable rock-shaft; interlocking stop-devices which are carried by F the rock-shaft and the switch and which are susceptible of being disengaged from each other by the lengthwise shifting of the rockshaft and by the engagement of which the rock-shaft is prevented from oscillating and the driving mechanism from actuating the switch; a time-train: and ti1ne-train-controlled mechanism by which the rock-shaft is shifted lengthwise and the interlocking; devicesare disengz'iged from each other to permit the oscillation of the roclesha'ft and the actuation of the Switch by the driving mechanisi'n.

11. In a time-controlled electric-switch mechanism, the combination with an electric switch and driving mechanism therefor, the switch being provided with a circuit-closing device: of a rock-shaft arranged to be oscillated by the driving mechanism; a stopdevice carried by the rock-shaft; a timetrain: and time-train-controlled mechanism by which the stop-device isinterposed in the path of the circuit-closing device and said devices are brought into interlocking engagement and the switch is brought to rest.

12. In a time-controlled electric-switch mechanism, the combination with an electric switch and driving mechanism therefor; of a rock-shaft arranged to be oscillated. by the driving mechanism and to be shifted length loo wise; a stop device carried by the rockshaft; a time-train; and time-train-controlled mechanism by which the stop-device is interlocked with the switch by shifting the rock-shaft lengthwise and the driving mechanism is made inoperative and the switch is arrested.

13. In a time-controlled electric-switch mechanism, the combination with an electric switch and driving mechanism therefor; of a lengthwise-shiftable rock-shaft arranged to be oscillated by the driving mechanism when the latter actuates the switch; interlocking devices by the engagement of which the rock-shaft is locked against oscillatory movement and the driving mechanism is made inoperative; a stop-device carried by the rockshaft and arranged to enter into interlocking engagement with the switch and thereby to prevent the actuation of the same by the driving mechanism when the interlocking devices are disengaged from each other; a time-train; and time-train-controlled mechanism by which the rock-shaft is shifted lengthwise and the stop-device is freed from interlocking engagement with the switch and the interlocking devices are brought into interlocking engagement to prevent the 0scillation of the rock-shaft and the actuation of the switch.

14. In a time-controlled electric-switch mechanism, the combination of an electric switch with means controlling the operation thereof to open and close the switch, said means including a time-train; driving mechanism by which the switch is actuated; a plurality of locking mechanisms by which the actuation of the switch is prevented; on-mechanism which is controlled by the time-train and by which one of the locking mechanisms is momentarily released to permit the driving mechanism to close the switch; and off-mechanism which is controlled also by the time-train and by which the other of the locking mechanisms is released momentarily to permit the driving mechanism to open the switch again.

15. In a time-controlled electric-switch mechanism, the combination of an electric switch with means controlling the operation thereof to open and close the switch, said means including a time-train; driving mech anism by which the switch is actuated; looking devices by which the actuation of the switch is prevented; on-mechanism by which the locking devices are momentarily released to permit the driving mechanism to close the switch; off-mechanism by which the locking devices are momentarily re leased again to permit the driving mechanism again to open the switch; and means by which the on and off mechanisms are operatively connected to permit one of them to drive the other therethrough and the time train to control both of them.

16. In a time-controlled electric-switch mechanism, the combination of an electric switch with means controlling the operation thereof to open and close the switch, said means including a time-train; driving mechanism by which the switch. is actuated; a

verge-wheel; a verge-wheel-carrying shaft driven by said mechanism; a rock-shaft; a verge mounted on the latter and arranged to cooperate with the verge-wheel; locking devices by which the actuation of the switch is prevented; O11-I1l8CllfLnlSl11 by which the locking devices are momentarily released to permit the driving mechanism to close the switch and which is controlled by the timetrain; and oftmechanism which is controlled by the time-train and by which the locking devices are again momentarily released to permit the driving mechanism to open the switch again; one of said mechanisms by which the locking devices are released in cluding means by which the rock-shaft is shifted to permit the driving mechanism to operate the switch.

Signed at Jackson, in the county of J ack son and State of Ohio, this 11th day of July, A. D. 1923.

LOUIS T. FENNING.

Images