US1693721A - Clock-controlled switch - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1928.

H. P. M LAGAN CLOCK CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed Jan. 24. 1925 INVENTOR HECTOR P. MACLAGAN il/Marl? 3644/ I .4 TTORNEV Patented Dec. 4, l 23.

UNETED stares 1.59 3121 PATENT'QFFI'CE.

HECTOR I. MACLAGAN, 01? OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 MCINTOSH ELECTRICAL CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAXVARE.

CLO CK-CONTROLLED SWITCH.

Application filed January 24, 1925. Serial No. 4,401.

My invention relates to an improved construction of devices for operation by a standard clock construction to in turn control the operationof an electric switch by which a desired electric circuit or circuits may be controlled.

By my invention any standard clock construction may be employed to constitute the timing elementof the device, my improved reference to the accompanying drawings showing'a preferred embodiment in which Fig. 1 shows myconstruction in front ele vation as applied to a standard clock movement,

Fig. 2 shows in a view similar to Fig. 1 and diagrammatically, the clock movementemploycd in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a lower edge view of a part of the construction shown in Fig. 1. certain of the parts being shown in section to better illustrate the construction,

Fig. 4 shows in a view similar to 3 and to an enlarged scale the parts directly controlling the switch operation, and

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Fig. 1. the casing of a standard clock is indicated at 10, provided with the usual main staff 11 carrying a. minute hand 12. In placing my devices on a clock of standard construction. the parts employed to drive the hour hand from the main staff are removed and a disk 13 is rigidly secured to the staff 11 below the face 14 of the clock. The face 14 may be the regular clock face, to indicate the posit-ion of the hand 12. and an additional set of figures may be applied thereto as indicated at 15 if desired, to indicate the number of minutes that will elapse before the hand 12 reaches its twelve oclock indication, or in other 'words the position marked zero from'anydesired setting.

As indicated in Fig. 4 the disk 13 is provided on its lower surface with a-beveled face 16 extending nearly or quite to the outer edge of the disk, said disk being provided in its lower face with a counterbore 17 concentric with the axis of the staff-11. The counterbore 17 is provided to receive -the-upper end of a pin 18 carried by the end of a, lever '19 located adjacent the staff 11.

As indicated infFig. 5, the counterbore-17 communicates at one side with a groove 20 having its bottom wall substantially in the same plane as the bottom ofthe oounterbore 17-, which extends nearly to the outer edge of the disk 13, the width of this groove being slightly greater than the diameter of the pin 18.

As indicated in Fig. 1 thelever 19 is pivotally mounted at 21 on the casing IO-ofthe device and is connected by means of=a spring 22 with the casing in a manner tending to move thepin 18 from the counterbore-l? through the groove 20, when the angular position of the groove permits. The spring 22 is of suflicient strength not only to move the lever 19, but also to move the parts connected with said lever and intended-for actuation thereby. For any position of-the disk 13 excepting that bringing the groove 20 into the path of travel of the pin 18, movement of the lever 19 under the action of the spring 22 is restrained by the engagement of the pin-l8 with the cylindrical wall of the counterbore 17.

The bearing 21 of the lever 19 also constitutes the pivotal support of a switch blade 23, for which'reason the pivotal support 21 is preferably mount-ed upon a block of insulating material 24 supported by the casing 10 of the device. In its closed position the switch blade 23 engages electric contacts 25 and 26 mounted on blocks of insulating material 27 and 28 respectively, which in turn are carried by the casing 10 of the device. Electric conductors 29 and 30 are connected with the contacts 25 and 26 to form a part of the electric circuit to be controlled by the device. hen moved to its alternate position, the switch blade 23 is moved from engage ment with the contacts 25 and 26 to interrupt electric connection between them, and

thus openthe circuit controlled by the device. A spring 3135 connected at its ends with the lever 19 and the switch blade 23 in a manner tending to move the switch blade 23 around tb'th upon its pivotal support 21, if for any reason the lever 19 is first moved on said pivotal support in the samedirection. A stop pin 32 is carried by the Switchblade 23 for engagement by thezlever 19 .to prevent movement of the lever 19 around to the left relatively-to the switch-blade 23-beyond the relation-indicated: iniFi-g, 1, The spring 31 is .-ofconsiderably less strength than the spring 22. The switch blade 23 preferably carries a second stop-pin 33 -t o -limit the amountotpossible motion of the lever 19 around to the right relatively-to the switch blade 23, from the-relation of the parts indicated -in Fig. 1, without positively moving theswitch blade :23with it. The lever 19'lias connectedithereto asetting rod .31 extending through a uide post 35 carried by the; casing 10 of the evice, said settingrod having secured-theretoat its outerfentha knob 36 for convenience of operation. As indicated. in Fig.2,the stafi" '11 may convenientlybe part'ofan ordinary timing train, indicated diagrammatically to said figure, makingnnerotation an hour. a Theopera-tionofimy-improved-device is as follows: 7

:Assuming that't-he switch 23 is in its open position, andthat it =is'desired to set'ithe devicesato maintain the circuit connect-ed with-the wires 29 and 30 in 'closedcondition for a limited time, for example fifteen minutesythe stafill is turned to thepo'sition corresponding to the desired time interval, for example-- to the position-shown in Fig. 1, eitherabythie regular devices forming a part of the standard clock work mechanism provided for setting the hands, or by turningthe hand 12 itself. This moves the groove '20 from alignment with the 'path of travel of the pin 18, assuming that i-t-may have been in alignment before settingthe hand 12, and in any event prevents immediate release of the pin 18 when it is moved to its position to cause the closing of the electric circuit. lVith the hand 12in its set position. the knob 36 is moved to the left for the relation of the parts shown in Fig. 1, to move the rod 34 through the post 35 thus moving the lever 19 around to the left on its pivotal support'21 against the action of the spring 22. 4 he lever 19 is preferably made of spring material, for example spring brass or spring steel. and is thin enough to permita ready bending of the lever when the end of the pin 18 engagesthe beveled or conical surface 16 of the disk '13. This permits the pin 18 to spring around the projecting edge of the counterbore 17 when the knob 36 is moved to set the switching mechanism. The spring of the lever 19 moves the pin 18 into the counterbore 17 as soon assaidp'in hascleared the edge of said counter-bore, and the lever 19 is wide enough to maintain the parts in their set p0 sitien indicated in Fig. 1 against the action of the spring-l2. i r

At the same time-that the lever 19 is moved as described by the setting operation, it moves the switch blade 23 around to the left on its pivotal support 21, due to the engagement between the lever 19 and the stop pin 32, the parts being so proportioned thatithe switch blade -is moved :to fully engage-the contacts 25 and-26 at the same timethat the pin 18 passes the ed e of the counterbore 17 during the setting operation. The switch blade 23 is thus held positively in itsclo3ed position until the predetermined interval. of time has elapsed, for which the =ci-rcuit through the wires 29 and 30 is to be maintained in closed condition. At the end of. that interval, by the j rotation of the staifi 11 and the disk 13, the groove 20-is brought .into alignment with the path of travel oithe pin 18. which is thus freed from restraint byZihe cylindrical wall ofthccounter-bore 17.- The tension on the spring 22 thereupon movesthe lever 19 away from the stafi 11 untilit-engages the pin 33 carriedby the switchbla-dc 23, at the same time placing the spring 31 under tension. r a I The further action of the spring 22bhe'n moves the switch blade from engagement with the contacts 25 an'd2'6 and .atthe instant of release of the switch-blade from=thezoimtacts, the spring 31 is effective to-quickly-move the switch blade away from the contacm and in the same direction ofanotion as imparted to the lever 19 by the spring 22. Mot-ionin this direction of the switch blade-is limitedby engagement of the stop pin '32 with' the lever 19. Motion of the lever 19 under the action of the spring 22 may be limited in any Jconvenient manner, for example-by the engagement of the knob 36 with the post 35. The action of the switch referred to, thus provides a quick break at its contacts to save the contact portions from undersirable-arcing.

My device above described is intended for use where an electric circuit is to'be controlled for a comparatively short interval thatinay be represented by one complete revolution (or nearly so) of a staff of-a standard clock construction, for examplethe main staii, that is the staff making one complete rotation in an hour. It will be observed that the parts employed to control the closure of the desired circuit and the parts requiring to be attached to the standard clock construction, are simple in construction and readily attached to the clock, and that they are located entirely outside of the frame work of the clock, thus making them applicable to clock work of any standard construction. It will further be observed that on account of the staff 11' having relatively slow motion in any event, that a considrable' amount of pressure may be producedibetween the pin 18 and the wall of the counter-bore 17 without modifying the action of'the timing train materially, and that therefore the spring. 22 may be given considerable tension, thus insuring positive ac-. tion of the switch mechanism when released by theti'ming train. It will be understood that I do not limit myself to=the=particular relation ofthe-disk 13 to the'staif '11', as it may be applied tothe Sta-if in eitherway that is most convenient; it will understood that I do not limit myselfto theparticular form. of switching mechanism employed, as any equival'ent'zmay'be used incarryingout my inventions The particular requisite is that a member acted upon by a spring shall be employed, rest-rained substantially as described by a deviceicarried by aclock'stafi, and that there shall be connection. between the switch em pldyed: and said member,such that theswitch isiactuated by theispringswhen the member is freed from the restraint exercised by the cooperating device carricd by the timing stafiif..-.- .1 o

\Vhile I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment above described, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to this exact construction as I may em iioy equivalents known to the art at the time of the filing of this application without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a time controlled switch, the combination of a stall", devices for rotating said stall at a predetermined rate, a first member carried by said stafi and having a retaining portion and a releasing portion, a second member for engagement with and disengagement from said first member, spring tending to move said second member from engagement with said first member, an electric switch, and connections between said switch and said second member actuating said switch by movement of said second member to its disengaged position, said first member comprising a disk having a connterbore constituting its retaining portion and a clearance slot from said counterbore constituting its releasing portion and said second member comprising pivotally mounted lever having a projecting portion for engagement with said first member.

2. In a time controiled switch, the combination of a clock driven staff, a disk carried by said staff and having a counterbore and releasing groove, mechanism for engaging said counter-bore including a. spring tending to move said mechanism to its released position, an electric switch, and connections between said itch and said mechanism to open said switch upon release of said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a pivotally sup ported lever having a pin for engaging said counterbore.

3.- :InJ a time controlled switch,'the combination of a clock drivenstafi', a disk carried by said staff-and having a counterbore and releasing -groove, mechanism for enga ing said counter-bore including'a springten ing to move said mechanism to itsreleased position, an electricswitch and connections between said switch and said mechanism to open said switch upon'release of said mechanism,"- said mechanism, comprising apiv otally supported lever havinga pinl-for engagingsaid counterbore,"-a nd said 'c'onnec'- tions' including-a spring impartingaquickbreakopening movement to said switch upon release of saidmechanism. A a 451 In "a time controlled switch, the combinati'on of a clock driven "stall, a disk carried-by said stall? and having a='counterbore and releasing groove, mechanism ior enga ing said counterbore'fincluding =a s'p'rin'g tening to move said mechanism to its 'rele'ased position, a" pivotally mounted SWltOllblade, contacts for engagementby said; blade, a spring connectingsaidblade and said' mech'-' anism for quickly, moving :said blade on its release from said contacts, said mechanism comprising a pivotally supported lever havin a pin for engaging said counterbore, and stops for limiting relative movement between said lever and said blade.

5. In a time controlled switch, the combination of a clock driven staff, a disk carried by said staff and having a counterbore and releasing groove, mechanism for engaging said counterbore including a spring tending to move said mechanism to its released position, an electric switch, and connections tween said switch and said mechanism to open said switch upon release of said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a pivotally supported lever having a pin for engaging said counterbore, said disk having an inclined surface adjacent its counterbore facilitating engagement between said counterbore and said mechanism, and said lever being of spring material permitting movement of said pin over said inclined surface in setting said lever and switch.

6. In a switching mechanism for attachment to a clockwork having a stall moving at a constant rate, the combination of a disk for attachment to said staff, said disk having a counterbore and a releasing groove, mechanism for engaging said counterbore including a spring tending to move said mechanism to its released position, an electric switch, and connections between said switch and said mechanism to open said switch upon release of said mechanism, said mechanisn'i comprising a pivotally supported lever having a pin for engaging said counterbore.

7. In a switching mechanism for attachment to a clockwork having a staff moving at a constant rate, the combination of a disk for attachment to said staff, said disk having a counterbore and a. releasing groove, mechanism for engaging said counterbore including' a spring tending to move said mechanism to its released position, an electric switch, and connections beiween said switch and said mechanism to open said switch upon release of said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a pivotally supported lever having a pin for engaging said counter-bore, and said connections including arspring imparting a quick-break opening movement to said switch upon release of said mechanism.

8. In a switching mechanism for attachment to a clockwork having. a staff moving at a constant rate, the combination of a disk for attachment to said stall, said disk having a counterbore and a releasing groove, mechanism forengaging said counterbore including a spring tending to move said mechanism to its released position, an electric switch, and connections between said switch and said mechanism to open said switch upon release of said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a pivotally supported lever hava pin for engaging said counterbore. said disk having an inclined surface adjacent it counterbore facilitating engagement between said counterbore and said mechanism, and said lever being of spring material permitting movement of said pin over said inclined sui face in setting said lever and switch.

9. In a time controlled switcli,'-the--combination of a staff rotatable at a. predetermined rate, a rotary retaining'member carried by said staff, an electric switch, a lever extending from said switch to operate it, and a spring tending to move said lever ;to actuate said switch, said leverrhavingarigid portion directlyenga-ging said member and communicating the. forceof said sprin directly to said member and holding said ever? against the force of-said spring, s'aid'memher having a clearance at one point freeing said lover of restraint by said. member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day of January, A. D. 1925.

HECTOR P. MACLAGAN.

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