US2042956A - Radio tuning device - Google Patents

Description

June 2, 1936. N NELSON 2,042,956

RADIO TUNING DEVICE Fi1ed`Feb. 24, 1930 s sheets-sheet 1 Xaqlor-i-- June 2, 1936. N. NELSON 2,042,956

RADIO TUNING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24. 195o s sheets-sheet 2 7/\4f 7/ ,Z1/Q /a f2' .fsf J7 a 67/ f-J'J' l K l l l l l M i wf/2 l I l l l l l l INVIA/ T012 June 2, 1936. N. NELSON 25042956 RADIO TUNING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE Nels Nelson, Upper Dai-by, ra. Application February 24. 1930, serial No. 430,926

7 Claims.

My invention relates to .new and useful improvements in a radio tuning device and has for one of its objects to provide a combination of elements which Will automatically and selectively tune, start and stop a radio receiving set at predetermined periods of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a time-controlled circuit maker and breaker for automatically and selectively timing, tuning, starting and stopping a radio receiving set.

AV further object of the invention is the provision of means to control the tuning shaft of the radio receiving set from opposite directions to insure accurate or positive tuning of the set to a predetermined broadcasting wave length.

With these and other ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to'make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a face view of the time controlled apparatus forming a part of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1 with portions left in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 without the motor casing.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the device similar to the showing in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail view of the switch mechanism for controlling the current to the radio set.

Fig. 8 is an enlargedside elevation of one of the station tuning plugs or selector keys.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged face view of one of the tuning shaft operating or control mechanisms in connection with its solenoid and part of the guide and stop means being shown in section.

Fig. 10 is an edge View of Fig. 9.

Fig. l1 is a perspective view of a plurality of the tuning shaft operating or control mechanisms, one set of discs being shown in a tuning position and the other set illustrated as in a neutral position.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the several main parts of the tuning deviceand the electrical circuits.

In carrying out the invention as herein embodied, I5 represents a face panel preferably of 'I'his face (Cl. Z50-20) able way or may be molded as a part thereof, the latter construction being preferable although not essential and said barrel has a plurality of transverse or lateral holes l1 spaced apart all the way around said barrel, the spacing preferably being uniform and said holes correspond and align with arcuately spaced apertures yI8 in the face panel. The latter may also have certain major divisions of time indicated thereon, 'such as hours, by the designation numerals I9 so that the apertures I8 represent minor divisions of time or quarter hours. The quarter hour divisions are used only as an example since any number of apertures can be used representing 5, 10, or even 30minute periodsof divisions of time.

The drum carries a number of laterally spaced rings 20 having portions exposed in all of the holes and said rings are preferably embedded in the Wall of the drum as plainly shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and each of thesel rings is connected by an electric conductor 2| with a solenoid 22 to be later described. These rings 20 might be properly termed station selector rings since' through them selected stations are tuned in or the radio re ceiving set is tuned to broadcasting Wave lengths previously selected.

Another ring 20a similar to the rings 20 and spaced therefrom and exposed only on the holes Il, which, for Want of a better term, I call a stopping selector ring because through it are selected the time or times when the radio receiving set is to be stopped or shut off.

In each of the holes I1 is a conductor strip 23 running substantially the entire length of the hole or at least extending a distance equal to the distance of the combined widths of the selector rings 20 although the forward ends of said conductor strips preferably terminate short of their Arespective holes and said strips are also preferably embedded in the wall of the drum with one end of each having a right angle lug 24 projecting through the drum wall and extending into the chamber 25 within the drum and formed by the wall of said drum, said lugs forming in effect a commutator ring as indicated at 26 in Fig. 2, it being understood that said lugs are spaced apart and insulated from each other.

The parts of the conductor strips 23 and the station selector rings 20 which are exposed in the holes I1 are preferably diagrammatically opposite each other as shown in Fig. 6, although this is not absolutely essential and somel other arrangement could be utilized so long as simultaneous contact can be made with an/exposed part of one of the station selector rings and the conductor strip in any of the holes I1 by a station tuning plug or key 21, Fig. 8.

A station tuning plug or key consists of a head 28 of electric conductive material of suflicient size to snugly t in a hole l1 and give a rubbing the hole, said head being carried on a stem 426 which may be smaller than the head and may be of'non-conductive material while on the outer end of the stem is a button or other finger hold by which the plug or key may be readily manipulated. As a number of keys are used, they may be of diierent lengths so that certain ones will reach only certain of the station selector rings or they may be all of one length so as to reach the ring furthermost from the mouth of a hole and the distance the key or plug is inserted will bring the head into contact with a desired station selecting ring.

In proximity to the lugs 24 o r running in circularparallelism with the commutator ring 26 is a collector ring 3| insulatedfrom the other parts but connected by a conductor 32, Figs. 2 and 12, with a contact member 33 of an electric switch 34, Figs. 2, 3, and 12. The companion contact member of the switch is represented as including a spring arm normally maintaining the switch open so that the circuit including said switch is a normally open one but is periodically closed as will be presently described.

Said companion contact member 35 of the switch 34 is connected by a conductor 36 with one pole of a source of electrical energy 31 while from the other pole of said source leads a conductor 38 to the branch conductors 39 and 40. The branch conductor 39 is connected to the electro-magnet 4|, Figs. 7 and 12, which controls the pivoted relay or contact arm 42 for closing the circuit of the radio receiving set, said circuit being conventionally illustrated in Fig. 12 by the conductors 43 and their associated switch contact members 44. Another conductor 45 with branches runs from the electro-magnet 4| to all of the solenoids 22.

'I'he branch conductor 40 is connected to the electro-magnet 46, which controls the relay or contact arm 42 for opening the circuit of the radio receiving set and another conductor 41 runs from said electro-magnet 46 to the stopping selector ring 20a.

When the relay or contact arm 42 has been actuated by either electro-magnet to move it to one side of its longitudinal center or to the closed or opened position, it is held in such position by a compression spring 48, one end of which coacts with the free end of the contact arm while the other end of said spring is anchored to a support 49, such as a wall of the radio set or cabinet and the bracket 50 holding the electro-magnets and component parts may be fastened to the same support.

In order to furnish semi-automatic operation of the tuning device, shunts 5|, including manually operable normally open switches 52, are provided between the connection from the switch 34 to the source of current supply 31, and the connections from the station selector rings to the solenoids 22, and a shunt 53 including a manually operable-normally open switch 54, is provided between the connection from the switch 34 to the source of current supply 31, and the connection from the stopping selector ring 20a to the electro-magnet 46.

When a solenoid 22 is energized it will attract its plunger 55 and pull upon the two fiat band springs 56 and 51 which are coiled in opposite directions upon and fixed to the tuning discs 58 and 59' or more particularly the hubs 60 thereof. The springs act as connections be- 2,042,956 I contact with the electric conductive elements in tween theplungers and tuning discs and may run over suitable anti-friction devices 6I, such as rollers, iournalled. in the guide-stop 62.

The tuning discs are/iournalled upon the radio tuning or condenser shaft 63. so as to revolve 5 independently thereof, but in opposite directions and being arranged in pairs coact with a shaft turner, herein illustrated as an intermediate disc 64, carrying means 65, 66, such as pins projecting from opposite faces thereof `to be engaged, 10 from opposite directions by pins 61 and 68, or their equivalent, carried by the tuning discs 5l and 69 respectively. It might be said that each set of discs constitutes a tuning element and the pins of each set are differently arranged or lo- 15 cated so that when one tuning element is actuated Jit will move the tuning shaft from any position to a position where the receiving set will be tuned to a predetermined broadcasting wave length or station and when another of said tuning elements is actuated the tuning shaft will be moved to still another position, due to the different setting of the. pins, where said receiving set will be tuned to still another predetermined broadcasting wave length or station. As many 25 different tunings can be secured as there are tuning elements having diiferently set pins.

Each tuning disc has a finger 69 to engage the guide-stop 62 when said discs are in their normal neutral positions as shown in Fig. 9 as well as the right hand tuning element in Fig. 1 and said lingers are held in engagement with the guide-stop by the springs 56 which when the solenoid is de-energized tend to wind up on the hubs 60'and so rotate the tuning discs opposite to the directions which they were rotating by the movement of the plunger 55 when the solenoid was energized. Said tuning discs are also provided with lugs 16 in which are threaded screws 1| for co-operative engagement with the guide-stop 62 when said tuning discs are rotated for tuning the radio receiving set and said screws make it possible to obtain a micrometer adjustment for securing an exceedingly accurate tuning of the radio receiving set. These screws also make it possible to obtain the adjustment necessary in different localities where a receiving set may be installed or due to slight variances caused by different lengths of aerials or ground connections.

The contact 35 of the switch 34 is periodically actuated for closing the electric tuning circuit, for

instance, at fifteen minute intervals, by a cam wheel 12 constructed and arranged to actuate the contact 35 at the periods desired and for conven- 5 ience of illustration this cam wheel is shown and described as making one revolution in fifteen minutes, the same being mounted upon a shaft 13 driven by a motor 14, either a spring motor such as a clock mechanism oran electric motor such G0 as is used in electric time or signal clocks and from this motor also drives through a suitable train of gears a brush 15 having sliding contact with the commutator ring 26 and the collector ring 3| so that periodically or step by step a circuit is 65 partially completed between the collector ring 3|, brush 15.and lugs 24 of the strips 23. More speciflcally the means for imparting motion to the brush 15 includes a pinion 16 on the shaft 13 which pinion meshes with a gear 11 on the shaft 18 which is revolved by the gear 11 and therefore transmits motion to the pinion 19 also on the shaft 16, said pinion 19 meshing with a gear 6|) on a sleeve 8| to which the brush 15 is ilxed. A bearj ing strip 82 may be relatively narrow and suitably 75 end of each of the several shafts.

Where it is desirable to use the mechanism for indicating hours, the sleeve 6| which makes only one revolution to every forty-eight revolutions of the cam wheel 12 and therefore one revolution in twelve hours may have an hour hand 83 mounted on the end projecting through the face plate l and co-operating with the numerals I9 to indicate the different hours and in such a case a shaft 64 passes through the sleeve and has a minute hand 25 mounted on its outer endl while adiacent the inner end is fixed a pinion 86 to mesh with the gear 11 sovthat said shaft will be revolved once every hour or make one revolution to, every four of thecam wheel 12.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that while the tuning device is operating the brush 15 will make contact with the lug 24 of a different strip 23 every fifteen minutes and while a circuit including a particular lug and strip and the collector ring 3| may be partially completed by the brush 15 such a circuit will be further partially completed only when the cam wheel 12 closes the switch 34. Now, if said circuit is not still fur- 'ther completed, no operation takes place, but if said circuit is further completed as by one of the plugs or keys 21 havingbeen inserted in one of the holes I1, so as to partially complete a circuit between a station selector ring and a strip 23, then such a circuit is completed and an electric current will flow from the sourceof electrical energy 31 through the conductor 36, the closed switch 34, conductor 32, the strip 23with which the key 21a, Fig, l2, is engaged, through the head of said key to the station selector ring 2D with which the head of said key is on contact then through the conductor 2| to the solenoid 22a then through conductor 24, electro-magnet 4|, branch conductor 39 and conductor 38 back to the source of electrical energy. The flowing of this electrical current will simultaneously energize the solenoid 22a and the electrmagnet 4|, the former causing the tuning shaft to be rotated until the pins 61 and 68 on the tuning discs 58 and 59 respectively have engaged the pins 65 and 66 from opposite directions at which time the radio receiving set is properly tuned to a predetermined broadcasting wave length. It might be well to state at this time that regardless of the positions of the pins 65 and 66 due to the prior position of ythe disc 64, one of said pins will be engaged by the pin on one of the tuning discs so as to rotate the tuning shaft in proper direction to bring it into the predetermined tuned position. Since the pins on both tuning discs of al co-operating pair of such tuning discs finally engage both pins on the tuning shaft rotating disc, there can be no lapping of the tuning shaft.

As before stated, the electro-magnet 4| is energized simultaneously with the solenoid 22a so that the relay or contact arm 42 is attracted by said electro-magnet 4| to close the radio receiving set circuit and the latter circuit will be maintained in a closed condition by the spring 48 until the relay 42 is actuated in the opposite direction as will be presently described.

'I'he time apparatus continuing to function, the switch 34 will be open very shortly after having been closed so that the circuit above described will be opened and the solenoid 22a and the electro-#magnet 4| de-energized. This has no effect upon the relay 42 because it is held by the spring v46 but the springs 56 of the tuning unit which were actuated by the plunger 55 of the solenoid 22a, as soon as vsaid. solenoid 22a has de?- energized will wind up and return thetuning discs.

to their neutral positlons,.leaving the shaft turner 64 inthe position it was set by the tuning discs.

The continued operation of the time mechanism advances the brush 15 step by step from the lug 24 of one strip 23 to the lug of another of .such

lstrips and when reaching a lug of said strip where another plug or key has been inserted, a different tuning unit willl be operated at the time of the closing of the switch 34 so that the radio receiving set will be tuning to another broadcasting wave length in the same manner as above described.

Assuming that the broadcast to which the radio receiving set was tuned through the operation of the solenoid 22a is to continue for forty-ve minutes and if it is desired to shut oif the radio receiving set, then a plug or key 21h is inserted in the proper hole to produce afcontact between a l utes later a circuit will be completed in a man# ner similar to that first described but instead of one of the selector rings 20, it will include the `stopping selector ring 20a, conductor 41, electromagnet 46 and branch conductor 4|), and as soon as the electro-magnet 46 is energized, it will attract the relay or contact arm 42 toward it, thus opening the radio receiving set circuit which will thereafter be retained in an open condition by the spring 48 until again acted upon by the electro-magnet 4|.

As shown in Fig. 12, the same operations can be accomplished semi-automatically, for, if it is desired to tune the radio receiving set to a broadcasting wave length or station designated by the tuning unit controlled by the solenoid 22a a switch 52 in the circuit including said solenoid 22a is closed so as to complete a circuit through said solenoid and the electro-magnet 4| and when it is desired to stop the radio receiving set, the switch 54 is manually operated to complete the circuit through the electro-magnet 46 which will operate the relay in the same manner as when the. device is caused to function through the medium of the timecontrolling device.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that I have provided a full automatic device for tuning radio receiving sets which may also be semi-automatically operated if desired. By the use of such a device, a radio receiving set may be automatically tuned to predetermined broadcasting wave lengths or stations at predetermined times as well as simultaneously started. The device will also stop the receiving set at a time or times previously determined.

The functioning of the device thus makes it possible to tune the radio receiving set to different broadcasting Wave lengths at successive predetermined times or to stop the receiving set and then retune it and again start it at another time after a period of time has elapsed betweenl broadcasting periods. Also the device can be used to maintain the receiving set tuned to a `predetermined broadcasting wave length and started and stopped at the beginning and ending of selected broadcasts where undesired intervening broadcasts occur or the device will tune the receiving set the selected wave length, and start the receiving set at a predetermined time and then stop the receivingset at another predetermined time and during the interval between the starting and stopping of the receiving set many varied or different programs may be received.

said rotary contact member, said lugs being in' sulated fromeach other, meansnormally acting to continuously rotate said rotary contact member in one direction, a collector ring concentric with the rotary contact member, said contact member being constantly in engagement with said collector ring,` a switch, means operated by the means for rotating the rotary contact member to periodically close said switch, station selector rings, tuning elements for actuating the tuning shaft of a radio receiving set to tune said receiving set to different broadcast wave lengths, solenoids for operating said tuning elements, each of said solenoids being electrically connected with a separate station selector ring, and means for electrically bridging a selected contact lug with a selected station selector ring and thereby to tune the radio receiving set to a predetermined broadcast wave length' at a predetermined time.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 in combination Iwith an electro-magnet in circuit with all of the solenoids whereby said electro-magnet will be energized each time any solenoid is energized, a contact member associated with the radio receiving set circuit to be attracted by said electro-magnet for closing the radio circuit, means to maintain the contact member in a closed position, and means for selectively actuating said contact member to open the radio circuit.

3. A device of the kind described consisting of a plurality of contact strips, annularly arranged in spaced relation and insulated from each other, means at one end constituting lugs, a collector ring in annular parallelism with the lugs and insulated therefrom, station selector rings concentric with the series of contact strips, said station selector rings being spaced and insulated from each other and from the contact strips, a plurality of tuning elements on the tuning shaft of a radio receiving set, a separate solenoid for actuating eachof said tuning units, each of said solenoids being electrically connected with a separate station selector ring, a contact member having sliding engagement with the collector ring and the lugs of the contact strips, a normally open switch in circuit with the collector ring, means normally acting to continuously rotate the contact member whereby circuits will be completed through the collector ring, the lugs and the contact strips thereof successively at uniform periods of time, the means which rotates the contact member also .embodying means to periodically close the normally open switch, and means to simultaneously bridge one of the contact strips and one of the station selector rings whereby theradio receiving set will be tuned to a predetermined broadcast wave length at a predetermined time.'

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 in combination with a stopping selector ring arranged similar to the station selector rings, a pair of opposed electro-magnets, one of which is in circuit with the solenoids and the other with the station selector stopping ring, means to bridge d amate l said selectorring and. a'selected, contact strip, a contact arm betweentl'ie electro-magnets to be attracted by one of said magnets for closing the `radio circuit andattracted by the other of said magnets to open said radio circuit, and means to retain said contact arm-in either position.

5. As a sub-combination in a radio tuning -device, a drum having a. plurality of annularly spaced holes, contact strips in said holes, lugs projecting from said contact strips and arranged in spaced relation and insulated from each other to produce a commutatorringz a'collector ring in spaced parallel relation to the commutator ring,

a brush bridging said collector and commutator` rings, a. normally open switch within the drum, means to periodically operate said switch, means to continuously rotate said. switch operating means and the brush in certain time relation to partially complete circuits in which said switch and the commutator and collector rings are parts, station selector rings and a stopping selector, ring mounted in the drum and having portions exposed only in each of the holes, said station selector rings adapted to be connected with means for operating the tuning shaft of a radio receiving set as well as means for closing a switch in the radio circuit and said stopping selector ring adapted to be .connected with means for opening the switch of to a predetermined positionfband springs fixed to a hub on the tuning discs, a solenoid plunger to which said springs are connected, means to stop the tuning discs in a neutral position, adjustable means to stop the tuning discs at other predetermined positions, and a solenoid into which the plunger projects.

'1. A radio program selector comprising in cornbination with a tuning member, a time selector having receptacles and a plurality of contacts in alignment therewith, a station selector having a plurality of electric elements connected individually to said contacts in the time selector and associated with said tuning member in positions to correspond to stations to be selected, and removable key members insertable in said receptacles inthe time selector, and adapted to make selective connection between the timing mechanism and the station selector, with additional selective means for connecting and cutting off the electric supply to the radio receiver comprising an electric means for making the supply connection simultaneously with flow` of current for the time and station selecting means, and additional means for holding the supply circuit closed after the selecting circuits are open, with means for opening the electric supply circuit, and a circuit closing contact in the time selector connected with said circuit opening means, with a stop key adapted to be inserted in the time selector to make contact with said circuit closing contact at selected periods.

NELS NELSON.

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