US1990342A - Radio time switch and automatic tuner - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 5 1935. V c, N EL ETA 1,990,342

RADIO TIME SWITCH AN]? AUTOMATIC TUNER Filed March 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS CHARLES MONGELLI BY CESAREMONGELL/ 1935- c. MONGELLI ET AL RADIO TIME SWITCH AND AUTOMATIC TUNER Filed March 10, 1952 S Sheets-$heet 2 IN VENTORS CHARLES MONGELL/ BY CESAREMONGE'LLI ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1935. Q MQNGELLI ET AL 1,990,342

RADIO TIME SWITCH AND AUTOEEIAZYC TUNER Filed March 10, 1932 3 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTORS T CHARLES MONGLLLI lg- CESAREMONGELL/ ATTORNEY Patented F ch. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Cesare Mongelli and Charles Mongelli,

, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 10, 1932, Serial No. 598,000

4C'laims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a radio time switch and automatic tuner.

The invention has for an object the construction of a radio time switch which is characterized by the ability of being capable of turning on a radio set at a pre-determined time and thereafter of turning off the radio set on another pro-determined time.

Another object of this invention is the construction of a radio time switch which is capable of turning off a radio set at a pre-determined time and at the subsequent pre-determined time to turn on the radio set.

As a still further object this invention proposes the construction of a radio time switch which is capable of either turning on" or only turning off the radio set.

The invention has for a still further object 20 the construction of a device which is characterized by the ability of being capable of turning the radio set off" at a pre-determined time and simultaneously changing the station which is being received by the set to another pre-deter- 25 mined station and thereafter turning the radio set on'f at the newly set station at the predetermined time.

The invention has for a still further object the construction of the radio time switch in a manner so that it is capable of operating according to various variations and sequences hereinafter more fully described.

It is a still further object of this invention to construct a device of the class described which is of simple durable construction, dependable in use and eflicient in operation and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings,.and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a time clock Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a portion of the inside of the clock seen as though 1 ing in the direction of the line 5-5 of Fig. 8. Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a catch which holds the time controlled switch in an open position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of a portion of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of another portion of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of a switch which controls the re-setting of the radio set, shown in greater detail in Fig. 13. i

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of a radio panel equipped with the time switch shown'in Fi 1.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the radio set seen as though taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a. sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a schematic wiringdiagram of the device.

The radio time switch, according to this invention, comprises a clock 10, a pair of switches 11 and 12 associated with the clock and adapted to be selectively closed and opened respectively at pre-determined time by the operation of the clock and hereinafter known respectively as an on switch and an off switch. A radio control circuit 13 includes a radio on switch 14. An off and on or only on circuit 15 including said on switch 11 and off" switch 12 is shunted across the radio circuit 13 and is connected with a double throw double pole single pole switch 16. An "on and off or only off circuit 17 includes the "off switch 12 and the "on switch 11 and is shunted across the radio circuit 13 and is connected with the switch 16. These circuits will be explained in further detail hereinafter.

The clock 10 may be any conventional type of clock. As shown in the drawings, it comprises an electric clock having a frame 21 supporting the various parts thereof. More particularly, a motor 22 is connected with drive wheel 23 in mesh with the minute hand-gear 24. A pinion gear 25 is coaxially fixed upon the minute gear 24 and meshes with an idler 26 carrying a pinion 27 in mesh with the hour gear 28. A conventional hour hand 29 is connected with the hour gear and a minute hand 30 with the minute gear 24. 50.

The hands 29 and 30 work across the face of a clock dial 31. The clock may be set by a knob 32 which extends through the back of the clock and which is connected with a pinion 33 meshing with the idler 26. The clock also includes a coil 34 which is shunted across the supply of current to the radio circuit 13. The details of the operation of the clock will not be gone into since anyone familiar with the art will recognize an understand the operation thereof.

The association of the clock 10 with the on" and "on" switches 11 and 12 respectively, consists in the provision of a pinion 35 meshing with the hour gear 28 and in mesh with a pair of gears 36, 37. The gears 36 and 37 are loose upon setting stems 38 and 39 respectively. These stems are formed with heads on their rear ends and project from the rear of the clock. Each of the stems has a transverse pin 48 adapted to engage in recesses 41 in the hubs of the gears 36 and 37 respectively so as to allow the gears to move longitudinally relative to the pins 40. Spring catch arms 42 and 43 are respectively mounted upon a support element 44 attached upon the frame 21 of the clock and spring 43 is insulated from the support element 54. These spring members 42 and 43 are against the hubs of the gear 36 and the insulated hub 37 of gear 37 and normally tend to urge the gears against the pins 41. Each of the spring members 42 and 43 have their ends 45 turned at right angles and adapted to engage fingers 46 stamped from control levers 47 and 48 respectively for'the operation of the on and "o switches. The fingers 46 have one of their sides straight and the other curved so that the levers 47 and 48 may be moved outwards and during such motion the curved portions of the fingers 46 ride beneath the turned 51 in the front of the clock so that the levers may be set from the exterior of the clock.

Springs 52 act between the levers 47 and 48 and the frame 21 to normally urge the levers together. The 0 switch 12 consists of the.

lever 48 and its, action with the spring element 43. It is at these points that the circuit is broken I when the lever 48 moves oil from its contact with the spring element. The on switch 11 con-v stitutes the lever 47 which carries the extension 60 and the connection between the extension 60 and the insulated stationary contact 61. It should be recognized that the stems 38 and 39 may be turned to pre-determined positionsclock and work across dials 64 and 63 which are respectively marked "on andofl to indicate the setting when the "on or the "011 switch will close. When the gears 36 and 37, rotated by the clock mechanism, reach positions in which the recesses 41 engage the pins 40, then the springs 42 and 43 move the gears 36 and 37 longitudinally and the ends 45 release the levers 47 and 48 so that the springs 52 move the levers.

The radio circuit 13 includes a plug 66 which is adapted to be connected with a radio set to control the operation of the set. Such connection is generally known and will not be necessary to 71 from the pole 70. The purpose of switch 14 is to close the circuit of the radio set when the switch is thrown to the "To Radio Set" position, regardless of the setting of the time switch. when the switch is thrown in the To Clock position, the switch is open and the radio set is controlled by the setting of the time switch.

The re-setting switch 18 comprises a lever 78 which is pivotally mounted at its bottom end 79 and is urged in one direction by a spring 80. The

top of this lever extends through a'slot 81 in the. panel board of the radio set and is there equipped with a knob 82 so that the lever may be moved from the outside. The lever 78 is provided with a projecting tongue 83 adapted to pass in one direction but be held from moving in the other direction against a spring member 84 which is mounted upon the back of the panel of the set. The lead 57 is connected with an insulated stationary contact 85 from which a flexible lead 86 extends to a contact finger 87 mounted upon the lever 78, and is insulated therefrom. In the caught position of the lever 78 the finger 87 en gages with an insulated stationary contact 88 from which a lead 89 extends to the motor 19. The motor 19 is connected with a gear system 90 terminating in a gear 91 upon the shaft 92 of the control dial 93 of the radio set. As this dial is turned the condensers 94 of the set accom plish tuning. The details of this arrangement will not be shown since it forms no part of the invention.

A pinion 95 connects the gear 91 with another gear 96 free upon a shaft 97. The latter is held frictionally from rotation by a spring 97' when the gear 96 turns. The shaft 97 extends through the panel of the set and carries a second disc98 which may be read through an opening in the front of the panel. The hub of the gear 96 is provided with a recess 99 adapted to engage a pin 100 upon the spindle 97. The spring arm 84 normally acts against the gear 96 to urge it against the pin 100 upon the spindle 97. A control for turning the disc 98 is provided and comprises a gearsystem 101 which terminates in a knob 102 upon a control stem 103. The arrangement allows the knob 102 to be turned for turning the shaft 97 and the dial 98 so that it may be set to a station subsequently. As the dial '98 turns the spindle 97 is correspondingly moved and the location of the pin 100 is changed relative to a cutout 99 in the hub of the gear 96. If the pin 100 moves out from the cutout 99, the gear 96 is forced forwards and moves the spring arm 84 to engage the lever 78 so that the lever 78 is held with the contacts 87 and 88 closed if manually moved against the action of spring 80.

The operation of the device may best be traced by first assuming the switch 16 to be thrown so as to connect the poles 70 and 74, and the poles 77 and 68, that is, so that the switch handle indicates the "off and on or on only position shown in Fig. 2. The levers 47 and48 must next be moved by the knobs 49 and 50 to set the on" and "oil" switches'll and 12. Then the time control may be set so that the hands 63 point to the hours when it is desired to have the radio set turned oil then on or on only. For example the current may be traced from the lead 71 to the pole 70, the pole 74, along lead. 73, to the ground 59. Then the current continues to the grounded lever 48, the switch 12 across to the spring catch 43, the lead 53 to the pole 75 through shunt connection. 20 to the pole 77 then across to the pole as along lead 67 through the radio plug so. It is readily seen that when the "ofl time is reached the lever 48 will be released so that the 011" switch 12 operates and breaks the circuit through the radio set. Some time after, as pre-determined by the-setting of the on" switch, the lever 47 will be released so that the on" switch 11 functions and the circuit then is closed from the ground 59 through the lever 47, the extension 60,

contact 61, lead 62, pole 68, lead 67 and the radio plug 66. Thus the radio set now is functioning. If it were previously desired turn the radio set on at a certain time only the switch 12 should have been left off and only the switch 11 moved to its set position. Consequently, when the proper time arrives the lever 47 will be released for turning the radio set on.

When the switch 16 is thrown in the other direction, that is, to close the circuit between poles 70 and 75, in other words to operate the switch 16 in the direction of the notations on and off shown in Fig. 2, the time switch is now in condition to function to turn the set on and off or only ofi. For example, the current may be traced from lead 71 across to the pole '75, lead 73, spring contact 43, the switch 12, the ground,

the lever 47, the switch 11, the extension 60, the contact 61, the lead 62, the pole 68, the lead 67 and the radio plug 66. Consequently, when the on" switch operates this circuit will be closed and the radio set will be on. Thereafter, when the off switch 12 operates the circuit will be broken at the 0115" switch and the radio set will cease to function. If so desired, only the off switch 12 could have been set to its operating position so that the radio set is on continuously and turned off at a pre-determined time when the "oif switch 12 breaks the circuit.

There is another setting, namely, to cause the time switch to turn the radio set off at a predetermined time, reset the radio to a new predetermined station and at another pre-determined time to turn it on so that the new station functions. To do this the switch 18 is closed and the dial 98 set to the new station; Consequently, should the motor 19 operate and turn the radio control 93 until the new station is reached, the rotation will be transmitted to the gear 96 and the pin 100 will allow the spring 84 to move the gear at the new setting and thus break the circuit at the switch 18. Now then, the current may be traced starting at the lead '71 to the pole 70, the pole 74, the lead 73, the ground 59, the grounded lever 48, the switch 12, the contact spring 43, lead 53, pole 75, lead 20, pole 77, pole 68, lead 67 and radio plug 66. At the predetermined time the "off switch 12 breaks the circuit to turn the radio set off. As the off switch 12 breaks the circuit a new circuit is closed through the extension 55 and the stationary contact 56. A current then may flow which may be traced from the ground 59 to the lever 48, the extension 55, the contact 56, lead 57, contact 65, lead 86, extension 87, contact 88, lead 89, the motor 19, and lead '16 which concludes the circuit. The motor 19 then functions and causes turning of gears 91 and 96. As the gear 91 turns the station of t e being changed and when 113:, ion is reached the gear 95 y the recess 99 switch the circuit is then closed through the radio set and may be traced from the ground 59 to the lever 47 through the on switch 12, the extension 60, the contact 61, lead 62, pole 68, lead 67, and the radio plug 66.

While we have shown and described the preferred. embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A radio time switch comprising a body, a pair of shafts turnably mounted on said body and provided with radial pins, a gear free on each shaft and having hubs with recesses for said pins and meshing with a clock driven gear, spring arms urging said gears against said pins and having ends moved forward when said shafts are turned to force said, pins out from said recesses, pair of movable levers'mounted on said body and urged into neutral positions and manually movable to positions engaged on said ends in the forward positions of said ends, a switch comprising one of said levers and its contractable spring arm and hereafter called an off switch, a switch comprising engaging contacts on said body and on said other lever in its neutral position and hereinafter called an on switch, a power circuit of a radio receiver, a double pole double throw switch, a circuit connecting said ofi switch in series with saidpower circuit in one position of said double pole double throw switch, a circuit connecting said on switch in series with said power circuit in the other position of said double throw switch, another switch comprising engaging contacts on said body and said lever of the oif switch in its neutral position and hereinafter called a master" switch, tuning mechanism operated with a motor, a turnable shaft provided with a radial pin, a gear free on said shaft and having a hub with a'recess for said pin and meshing with a pinion driven by said tuning mechanism, a spring arm urging said gear against said pin and having an end moved forward when said shaft is turned to force said pin out from said recess, a movable lever urged into a neutral position and manually movable to a position engaging on said end in the forward position of said end, a switch comprising engaging contacts on said lever and a stationary element in the moved position of said lever and hereinafter called a resetting switch, and a circuit shunted across said off switch circuits and the said power circuit and including series said .master switch, the resetting and said motor.

2. A radio switch ca pair of shafts mo" and provided with r l on said body gear tree on pins an o switch, a switch comprising engaging contacts on said 'body and on said other lever in its neutral position and hereinafter called an "on" switch, a power circuit of a radio receiver, a double pole double throw switch, a circuit connecting said "011 switch in series with said power circuit in one position of said double pole double throw switch, a circuit connecting saidon" switch in series with said power circuit in the other position of said double throw switch, another switch comprising engaging contacts on said body and said lever of the "of!" switch in its neutral position and hereinafter called a "master switch, tuning mechanism operated with a motor, a turnable shaft provided with a radial pin, a gear free on said shaft and having a hub with a recess for said Pin and meshing with a pinion driven by said tuning mechanism, a spring arm urging said gear against said pin and having an end moved forward when said shaft is turned to force said pin out from said recess, a movable lever urged into a neutral position and manually movable to a position engaging on said end in the forward position of said end, a switch comprising engaging contacts on said lever and a stationary element in the moved position of said lever and hereinafter called a resetting switch, and a circuit shunted across said oif" switch circuits and the said power circuit and including in series said -master" switch, the "resetting switch and said motor, all of said movable levers being pivotally mounted.

3. A radio time switch comprising a body, a pair of shafts turnably mounted onsaid body and provided with radial pins, a gear free on each shaft and having hubs with recesses for said pins and meshing with a clock driven gear, spring arms urging said gears against said pins and having ends moved forward whensaid shafts are ,turned to force said pins out from said recesses, a pair of movable levers mounted on said body and urged into neutral positions and manually movable to positions engaged on said ends in the forward positions of said ends, a switch comprising one of said levers and its contractable spring arm and hereafter called an off switch, a switch comprising engaging contacts on said body and on said other lever in its neutral position and hereinafter called an on" switch, a power circuit of a radio receiver, a double pole double throw switch, a circuit connecting said 0 switch in series with said power circuit in one .position of said double pole double throw switch, a circuit connecting said on" switch in series with said power circuit in the other position of said double throw switch, another switch comprising engaging contacts on said body and said lever of the ofl switch in its neutral position and hereinafter called a master" switch, tuning mechanism operated with a motor, a turnable shaft provided with a radial pin, a gear free on said shaft and having ahub with a recess for said pin and meshing with a pinion driven by said tuning mechanism, a. spring arm urging said gear against said pin and having an end moved forward when said shaft is turned to force said pin out from said recess, a movable lever urged into a neutral position and manually movable to a position engaging on said end in the forward position of said end, a switch comprising engaging contacts on said'lever and a stationary element in the moved position of said lever and hereinafter called a "resetting switch, and a circuit shunted across said off switch circuits and the said power circuit and including in series said master switch, the

resetting switch and said motor, springs being having ends moved forwards when said shafts are turned to force said pins out from said recesses, pair of movable levers mounted on said body and urged into neutral positions and manually movable to positions engaged on said ends in the forward positions'of saidends, a switch comprising one of said levers and its contractable spring arm and-hereafter called an o switch,

a switch comprising engaging contacts on said body and on said other lever in its neu position and hereinafter called an on switch, a power circuit of a radio receiver, a double pole double throw switch, a circuit connecting said off switch in series with said power circuit in one position of said double pole double throw switch,

a circuit connecting said "on" switch in series with said power circuit in the other pomtion of said double throw switch, another switch comprising engaging contacts on said body and said lever of the ,oif switch in its neutral position and hereinafter called a "master switch, tuning mechanism operated with a motor, a tumable shaft provided with a radial pin, a gear free on said shaft and having a hub with a recess for said pin and meshing with a pinion driven by said tuning mechanism, a spring arm urging said gear against said pin and having an end moved forward when said shaft is turned to force said pin out from said recess, a movable lever urged into a neutral position and manually movable to a position engaging on said end in the forward position of said end, a switch comprising engaging contacts on said lever and a stationary element in the moved position of said lever and hereinafter called a resetting switch, and a circuit shunted across said ofi switch circuits and the said power circuit and including in series said master switch, the "resetting" switch and said motor, indicators being associated with said shafts.

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