US2019157A - Automatic radio station selector - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29, 1935. w R1 5 51- AL 2,019,157

- AUTOMATIC RADIO STATION SELECTOR Filed June 24. 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l G 7 I 23 Q 21 H H. ll-t q Oct. 29, 1935.

w. RICE ET AL 2,019,157

AUTOMATIC RADIO STATION SELECTOR Filed June 24, 1933 3- sheets -sheet 2 35 ,Zg -Q 25.10. Z5 j1 f 7 g 28 25 )fjzbeziazi's dzztarflafc ce A Jig V ,mrwaaw Oct. 29, 1935. w. RICE El AL AUTOMATIC RADIO STATION SELECTOR Filed June 24, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet IS Cl 06K (25d? 19 )5 l g TT. TT

Home on. 29, 1935 PATENT OFFIC 8.010.151 sn'roess'nc nsmo sdwnos smc'roa ZWilliarn Rice and Maurice ll. Goldberg, Chicago,

v 111.; said Goldberg assignor to said lice Application Jane 24, 10:3, sci-1n No. 011.41} 3 Claims. (01. 250-201 'nm invention relates generally to radio reeeiving apparatus, and more particularly toselectivecontrol mechanism for the same.

'nmrehave-been a number of proposals, in the I, out. to provide a mechanism for automatically tuniia radio receiving circuits at timed intervals. but such mechanism have not proved satisi'ectory for various reasons. The objections to devices of this typein the past have been that 0 they all reliedupon the'variable radio condenser for varying the stations selected thereby, the mechanism devised being merely some means for moving said radio condenser to a predetermined point at a predetermined time. I

This means not only made ior'a somewhat complicated and expensive mechanism, but also failed to accurately tune in the selected station as anyone familiar with radio receiving apparatus know how impossible it is to properly tune in a dmired radio circuit by merely moving the condenser thereoi to a predetermined fixed position. Asa consequence, none at these prior devices proved commercially practical. The present invention is a distinct departure it from the prior art proposals in that it combines simple adiustable tuning elements which may be set at predetermined values with simple means for selectively tuning in p'redetermining broadcasting stationsat predetermined time intervals by the mere movement of simple mechanism, such. for example, as a simple switch or the like. It is, therefore. one of the main objects oi this invention to provide an improved mechanism which may be selectably set manually, whereby B automaticalb various stations may be tuned in periodically and the radio instrument set into operation.

Another obiecto! this invention is to provide a of the'above mentioned type having timing means .seleetably responsive to simple switching mechanism associated therewith.

A flirther object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of the above mentioned type in which simple switching mechanism are employed for selectably tuning in predetermined broadcasting stations and automatic time con-- troi means for actuating said switching mechonion.

0 A still further object of this invention is to provide a plurality oi. tuning elements for selectablytuninginpredetcrminedradioreceivingcin cults by tbermovement 01' simple mechanism and time controlled means associated therewith for s periodicalb changing from one to the other of said tuning elements, whereby diflerent stations may be periodically selected thereby.

A still further object oi this invention is to provide time controlled means ior controlling the actuation of switching mechanism which are a associated with radio tuning elements to bring the latter into service for selectably tuning in predetermined broadcasting stations.

A still further" object 0! this invention is to provide in combination with a radio reoeiving cir- 1o cuit including a plurality of tuning elements which are selectably responsive to simple switching mechanism, time controlled means operable to selectably actuate said switching mechanism, whereby the receiving circuit will be tuned to 15 a predetermined station, and to periodically change the switching mechanism alter a predetermined interval of time and to break the supply of power to the circuit at a predetermined time. 90 A still further object of this invention is to provide a mechanism" or the character described applicable to radio receivers as at present canmonly used. whereby the variable condenser 01 suchredioreceiversmaybereadilythrownoutil 01 service and supplemented by other tuning means selectably responsive to simple switchim mechanism, which mechanism may be selectively and individually set to function to automatically tune in various stations at timed intervals. 80

A still iurther object of this invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which embodies not only manually and selectively set means for automatically tuning a radio receiver to bring in various broadcasting 88 stations at predetermined desired times. but which also automatically stops or cuts oil Iran operation the receiver subsequent to the completion of certain predetermined programs. the automatically stop means being also manually and selectively set for such operation, said automatic tuning means being independent of the usual variable tuning elements at-preeent commonly used on radio receivers.

A still further object of this invention is to pro- .vide a mechanism of the character described which will be simple in construction. assembly and operation, which may be produced along lines convenient for low cost manufacture and whichwillbehighly eiilcienti'orcarryingoutthe purposes for which it is designed.

with the foregoing and other objects in view. which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction. arrangement and oombinations 68 of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyin drawings. and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it beinguaderstoodthatvarlouschangesinthe form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of our invention, we have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description. our invention, its mode of construction, as-

sembly and operation, and many of its advantagesshouldbereadllyunderstoodandappreciated.

Referring 'to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar throughout the several figures of the drawings:

Figure iisafrontelevationalviewofapanel board with mechanism embodying the present invention supported thereby;

Fig.2isabottomplanviewofthemechanlsm shown in Fig. l; V

3 is a bottom plan view of the selector 41s anenlargedfragmentaryviewofthe opposite side of the drum shown in Fig. 3, parts thereof being broken away to show the inside construction thereof;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of one of the selector elements;

Fig. Bisaview taken on lined-l of Fig.5 showing the selector element in one of its operative positions;

1 'lgs.'1,8,9, 10, and iiareviewssimilarto Fig. 6, but showing the selector element in the other of its operative positions;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view partly in section showing the manual for actuating the selector elements; and

Fig. 13 lsa diagrammatic view of the electric circuit employed.

Stated generally, the invention involves the provision of a plurality of simple adjustable tuning elements, the values of which may be set to bring in predetermined broadcasting stations, said tuning, elements being capable of being brought into operation by the closing of a simple switching mechanism. These adjustable tuning elements are provided in addition to the variable tuning units as at present commonly used in radio receivers.

For the purpose of automatically actuating said switching mechanism, there is provided a time controlled mechanism, including a plurality of selector elements, each of which is adapted to be moved to a plurality of adjusted positions, said positions being arranged so as to bring about either one of a plurality of desired operations.

'When in one position each of said selector elecarried by said panel are a plurality of simple adjustable condensers II, It, I3, and il which are controlled by the switches II, II, It, and II, respectively. The said switches may be of any suitable and well known construction, and, as 41 illustrated in the drawings, are carried in blocks 2| which are secured to the bracket 22, said bracket also supporting intermediate its ends suitable bus bars 23 which are connected in circuit with the condensers llto ll. Thus the simm ple movement of the switching elements ll to II will close the circuit through predetermined sets of the adjustable condensers II to It. Suitable conductors 2! connect the condensers II to M with their co-operating switching elements i1 i:, to II.

In order to actuate said switching elements automatically and also at timed intervals the following. improved mechanism is provided.

' Mounted on the panel II for rotary movement 3 thereon is a selector drum, generally designated by the reference character 25, said drum being formedofapairofdisksfl and 21 rigidlysecured to each other inspaced relation in any suitable manner. Adjacent the outer periphery .5 of the drum are mounted a plurality of selector elements 28, there being forty-eight of such elements equally spaced apart to permit for the predetermined setting of' the device for a complete twenty-four hour period at half hour intervals. 30 Each of the selector elements 2| is provided with a circular portion 2! adjacent one end thereof which is received in a suitable opening provided therefor in the disk 2 and a reduced circular portion it provided at its opposite end for 3: reception in an opening provided therefor in the other disk 11. These portions 2! and ill thus form suitable bearings for the selector elements II, whereby the same may be rotated relative to said drum. Intermediate theportions 2t and II 40 the selector elements are of a hexagonal cross section as shown in the drawings, and are provided with a plurality of transverse grooves ll, said grooves being arranged in onset relation and there being a total of six of said grooves in each of said selector elements. Thus by rotating the selector elements in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described, the desired groove II of any selector element may be brought to any one of the six positions shown in Figs. 8 to 11. so Each of the selector elements is provided with a specially shaped head 32 which is shown to be triangular, said head being adapted for reception in a similarly shaped socket for imparting the duired rotary movement to the selector elements on In order to keep the said selector elements in the desired adjusted positions to which they may be moved, there is provided a fiat annular spring 33, shown in Fig. 4, said spring normally pressing against the inner sides of said elements for holdon ing the same in the positions to which they may have been moved. The resiliency of the spring 33, however, permits the ready turning of said elements when actuated by the actuating member to be presently more fully described. as The selector drum II is mounted for rotary movement in a vertical plane, as shown in Fig. 1, and for that purpose it is disposed on a suitable sleeve 84 carried by the panel '0. Intermittent half hour rotary movement is imparted to the selector drum by means of a pawl II carried on the outer end of a lever 36, said lever being pivoted intermediate its ends to the sleeve it and has its opposite and disposed in position to be actuated by a double acting'cam 31 which is con- 1| nected with a suitable clock 88 mpported on the panel by means 01' the bracket a. said cam 31 being connected with thsblock mechanismsoastomakeoneiullrevolutionevery hour. The clock Il may be oi any suitable construction and may be either spring wound or electrically driven. If an electric clock is used the same may be oi the well known synchronous motor type and may be included in the circuit, as

wshowninFig.l3,sothatthesamemaybeinconstant operation as long as the house current to which it is connected is uninterrupted.

The pawl ll isadapted to co-operate with suitable ratchet teeth 4. provided on the disk 21 of the selector drum. A spring ll normally urges said pawl into engagement with said ratchet teeth. I! desired, the ratchet'teeth ll may be eliminatedand the pawl ll arranged to operate with the projections ll of the selector elements ll,- which projections, it will be noted, extend a substantial distance beyond the outer surface of the disk 21, as more clearly shown in Pig. 5 of the drawings.

Asshowninl'ig.1,onearmottheleverflis disposed in the path of movement of the cam I! while the other arm thereof is yieldably urged in a clockwise direction by means of the coil spring 2-, which spring will also be elective for holding the lever in contact with the cam 31. From the above it should be apparent that the cam I1. because its rotary movement imparted to it by the clock 88, will actuate the lever ll to move the same in a counter clockwise direction asainst the action or the spring 42.

When the lever has passed the highest point onthecamlhthespringflwillmovethelever and pawl to rotate the selector drum 2| in a clockwise direction through an angle equal to the angle between any two selector elements II or' one-iorty-eighth of a revolution. A stop member I is provided for preventing greater movementthanthatoitheselectordrum. The 'selectordrumilwillthusbeadvencedapredetermined distance every halt hour, this movement being entirely automatic and controlled by the clock mechanism ll.

As already explained, each of the selector elements II is adapted tor disposition in either one of six positions to which it may be moved. In order to move a desired selector element to a predetermined position, we have provided the following improved mechanism. A lever ll having a pointer 4! provided at one end is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a shaft ll, whichshaitisadaptedtobereceivedinthesleeve 84 for rotation therein.

On one face-oi the selector drum are provided suitable designations indicated by the reference character ll, said designations designating the selector elements by numbers from 1 A. M. to 12 noon. and from i P. M. to 12 midnight. The pointer is so mounted as to co-operate with said n'flhers, whereby the disposition of the pointer opposite a designated time number will permit the setting of the desired selector element to the desired position for that will time interval.

The end oi the lever 45 disposed opposite that o! the pointer is provided with an enlarged portion II in which is slldably mounted a shaft ll t0 the'bottom end of which is secured'a socket bl adapted for receiving the triangular shaped head ll of the selector elements 28. A suitable disk I! issecuredtotbeupperiaceoitheenlarged portion ll in any suitable manner, such. for example, as by means of the screws 53.

Disposed above the disk 52 and in spaced relation thereto is a handdial 54, said dial being' rigidly keyed to the upper end oi the shaft SI for 5 imparting rotary movement thereto. A coil spring I! is interposed between the disk I! and dial 54, said spring surrounding said shaft and normally holding the latter in its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 12. A suitable shoulder ll is provided on the shaft I0 intermediate its ends for limiting its upward movement. A cut-out l1 7 is provided on the periphery of the dial it through which cut-out may be observed certain designations 52' provided on the disk I! for racili- 1g tating in the setting of the selector elements to the desired positions.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 2. the normal position of the socket ll will be out of engagement with the selector drum 4!. However, when it is go desired to set the selector drum so as to bring in a certain broadcasting station at a predetermined time, the lever arm ii is moved to a position where the pointer 48 thereof will be disposed opposite the designated time. The shaft ll may go then be depressed to bring the socket 5i into engagement with the head of the selector element disposed directly below it.

The hand dial l4 may then be rotated to bring the said selector element to the desired position, said position being indicated by the markings or designations on the disk 52. As there are only six positions to which any selector element may be moved. the markings on the disk 52 will, therefore, beirom l to 6. By thus observing the markas ings of'the disk '2 through the cut-out ll of the hand dial, the particular selector element being actuated may be moved to the desired position as noted by the indication on the disk II.

In order to lock the drum 2' against move- 40 ment when the selector elements are being setby thehand dial 84, there is provided a suitable braking mechanism which, in the embodiment illustrated, comprise a lever ll pivoted at one end to a the panel ll, as shown at N. and having its op- 46 posits end disposed in position to engage the selector drum 2! when moved to such position by anarmll,whicharmisdisposedagainst the underside oi the lever 58 and is adapted when moved about its pivot ii to urge said lever ll against the 60 drum, and when moved in the opposite direction to permit the lever I. to move out of engagement with said drum. A flat spring 62 having one end thereof secured to the panel II is provided for cooperating with the arm for holding the latter II in oi oi two adjusted positions. A stop member 08 may be provided for limiting the movement or the arm I in one direction. 7

As hereinbeiore mentioned the selector elements are employed for actuating the switching 00 elements I! to 20 at predetermined time intervals to bring about the desired operation of the device during that time interval. Those disposed directly below the selector drum II are a plurality of levers I, b, "I, 8!, i9, and It, said levers I being pivoted intermediate their ends on a stud 'l I, which stud is secured to the panel III as shown at 12 in Fig. l. The said levers 65 to is are mounted so that their longest and heavier ends are on the right 0! their pivot I I, as viewed in Fig.

1, whereby they will by their own weight be urged in a clockwise direction at all times.

Each oi the levers N to so is provided adjacent the end disposed opposite the drum 20 with a pro-. iecting portion 13, which portion is adapted to be II received in the groove ll or the selector element disposed directly above it when said element is in a position where one 01' the grooves ll thereof is is, which toes are adapted to engage their cooperating switching elements for moving the some out or. contacting engagement with the bus bars II. v

The lever II is provided adjacent one end with a depending portion II, which portion is adapted to engage the movable contact ll 01' a switch "IO-ll. the other contact ll of which isilxed.

The switch ls-J1 is in the main line connecting the 110 volt house current with the radio receiver. The contact I! is so arranged that when the depending portion II is in a down position, that is, when its portion I3 is out of engagement with the groove ll of the selector element disposed directly above it, the circuit to the radio receiver will be closed and the receiver capable 0! operation. However, when the projection II oi the lever II is disposed in the groove Ii 01' the selector element directly above it, it will permit the opening or the switch It-T1, thus cutting oil the power to the radio receiver and shutting oi! the same. The lever Ill, therefore, is employed for the purpose of maintaining the circuit to the receiver closed when the selector element directly above it is in any one of its tlve positions of the six positions to which it may be moved and to break. said circuit when said selector element is in its last of its said six positions.

One of the other levers O5 to N. say, for example, the lever is arranged so that when its projecting portion 13 is in the groove ll of the selector element and directly above it, it will permit the actuation oi a switch element II, to cut in the usual tuning elements I. and 80, whereby the radio receiver may be tuned in the ordinary manner. when in this position it will be apparent that the other switches ii to II will be open by reason of their engagement by their respective levers II to II, thus cutting out from the circuit the simple adjustable condensers ii to II, thereby Permitting the ordinary operation of the receiver for tuning the same in the usual manner to bring in desired broadcasting stations by actuating the. variable condensers II and II.

It will also be'noted that at this time the switch IO-11 will be in a closed position, thereby closing the circuit to the radio receiver.

When one or the other levers it to I are disposed in a position with the projection 13 thereoi disposed in the groove II of the selector element directly above it, one of the switch elements l'l to II, which is disposed opposite the toe ll of that particular lever, will be permitted to make contact with the bus bars 23, thus completing the circuit through the respective adjustable condemers Ii to N, thereby bringing in a particular station to which the particular condenser has been. previously tuned.

From the above it will be readily apparent that eacholtheseleotorelementsmaybesetinone aoiaisv otsixpoaitimis for co-operating'with one of the levers II to II for bringing about a 'desired operation ot'the radio receiver; Thuswhen in one position it will permit the swinging oi the-lever I. to bring about the opening of theswitch ll-l1 for completely; shuttingoi! the radio-receiver.

When in another position itawill permit the swinging o! the lever so to permit the actuation of the switch 18 for cutting out the condensers II to I4 and for cutting in the variable con- 1 densers II and 80 for permitting the usual operation of the radio receiver. when in one or the remaining four positions the selector element will co-operate withone oi the remaining levers to permit the closing or the circuit automatically 1: through one oi. the condensers to 14, thus bringing in s particular broadcasting station tor which the particular condenser, has been pre-- viously set.

' In theuse or our invention thesimple adjust g4 able condensers II to are set in the desiredpositions to correspond to the station that the particular condenser is to tune in, that is to say, the condenser ll may be set to tune instation WBBM, the condenser II to tune in station a WGN. the to tune in station KYW and the condenser ll to tune in station -WM.AQ. Although four such adjustable condensers are illustrated in the drawings, it is understood-that a lesser or greater number of said simple ada justable condensers may be employed with equally satisfactory results. Thus the selector elements may be octagon in cross section, thereby permitting its disposition in eight instead or six diiierent positions, in which case a plurality oi a six semi-fixed condensers maybe employed for bringing in automatically six broadcasting stations by the mere closing of simple switching The condensers ii to it maybe or any type 4 suitable for this purpose. and in the preferred embodiment, these may be'o! what is known as the semi-fixed type and are characterized by the tact that the value or the condenser may be ad-v iusted in a very simple'manner, such, ior-ex- 4 ample, as by the simple manipulation ot a screw or the like. a y a The operationoi the devlceshould be readily apparent from the above without 'iurther description. As already stated, the purpose of the 5 device is to manually set the same for a complete twenty-tour hour period and then to per mit it to automatically operate the receiver either to tune in certaindesired broadcasting stations or to shut oi! the receiver or to place the receiver 5 in condition to permit its ordinary operation, all oi this being accomplished without further attention until the order is to be changed.

As an example oi-the operation'oi' the device. assuming the pointer is. to be in .the position 9 shown in Fig. 1,, lnwhich position it will be noted it is disposed opposite the selector element be tween the. times as indicated on the'drum 12 noon and l P. M. or 12:30 P.1d. with the pointer in this position the actuation of the hand dial I to move the selector elementdisposed directly below it will set this selector element to the de-v sired position tor the hall hour interval beginning with 12:30 P. M. The position to which the par- 1 ticular. selector element is to be moved may be observed on the disk I2 bynoting the numbers. I thereon. Thus as shown in Fig. i, the deslg- I nation on the disk I2 visible through the cut-out,

in the hand dial. is the number 1, which-number. I

may correspond to the position of the selector element shown in full lines in Fig. 6.

Now assuming that when in that position the groove 3| of said selector element which will be exposed for reception therein of the projection 13 of the lever 85, which lever will then be permitted to swing about its pivot for releasing the switch element H to close a circuit to the semiiixed condenser ii for bringing in broadcasting station WBBM. When, therefore, the time of 12:30 P. M. has arrived the particular selector element will be disposed at the lowermost point of the selector drum and will be in -the position to permit the swinging of the lever 85 about its pivot to bring about the closing of a circuit through the condenser II and at that time station WBBM will be heard from.

This particular station will be tuned in for the entire half hour period at the end of which a further rotary movement will be made by the selector drum bringing into operative position the next successive selector element which will be efl'ective for permitting the swinging of one of the levers 66 to III to bring about the desired operation of the receiver for the next half hour period. Particular attention is directed to the fact that the device is capable of not cnly tuning in automatically desired broadcasting stations, but also of completely shutting oi! the receiver at predetermined timesand for predetermined periods of time.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that the present invention provides a novel and improved structure which may readily accomplish the various objects for which it has been designed. It will be understood that the invention is not confined to the specific structural details herein shown and described, and that numerous .changes and modifications and the further use of equivalents of the present invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as outlined in the appended claims.

Having now described our invention in the manner in which the same operates, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for automatically conditioning a radio receiving set to receive radio waves from selected broadcasting stations, said receiving set having a plurality of semi-fixed tuning elements, switching mechanism to which said tuning elements are selectably responsive, a rotatable selector drum having a plurality of equally spaced circumferentially disposed selector elements for selectably actuating said switching mechanism,

means for intermittently rotating said drum to bring each selector element to a stationary position at the same point and to retain said drum in said stationary position for a predetermined time interval, means provided on each of said selector elements including a plurality of cam surfaces for co-operation with the actuating means for said switch mechanism whereby said selector elements may be set to bring about the desired operation of a predetermined part of said switching mechanism to bring in a predetermined broadcasting station.

2. In combination with a radio receiving set having a plurality of semi-fixed tuning elements, switching mechanism to which said tuning elements are selectably responsive, means for selectably actuating said switching mechanism to successively select different impulses to be received, said last mentioned means including an intermittently rotating drum upon the periphery of which are provided a plurality of equally spaced selector elements each of said selector elements being provided with a plurality of cam surfaces arranged on the periphery thereof in oifset relation to each other, each of said cam surfaces being arranged for co-operation with said switching mechanism to bring in a predetermined broadcasting station, means for rotating said drum to bring each selector element to a stationary position and to retain the same in said position for a predetermined time interval, and means for actuating each of said selector elements to bring the desired cam surfaces thereof into operative position with relation to the switching mechanism.

3. In combination with a radio receiving set, a plurality of tuning elements provided therefor, simple switching mechanism to which said tuning elements are responsive, means actuating said switching mechanism, said last mentioned means including a rotatable drum, time controlled means for intermittently rotating said drum, selector elements circumferentially disposed upon the periphery of said drum, said selector elements being mounted for rotary movement relative to said drum, each of said selector elements being provided with a plurality of cam surfaces arranged in oflset relation to each other, and means for actuating said selector elements to bring the desired cam surface thereon into operative position, whereby said selector elements may be set to bring about the desired operation of a predetermined part of said switching mechanism to bring in a predetermined broadcasting station.

WDLLIAM RICE. MAURICE H. GOLDBERG.

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